Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2010

Registration No. 333-164916

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 2

to

Form S-11

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Governing Instruments)

 

 

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90025

(310) 445-5700

(Address, Including Zip Code and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,

of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Victor J. Coleman

Chief Executive Officer

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90025

(310) 445-5700

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Julian T.H. Kleindorfer, Esq.

Bradley A. Helms, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

355 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, California 90071

(213) 485-1234

 

David W. Bonser, Esq.

Samantha S. Gallagher, Esq.

Hogan Lovells US LLP

555 Thirteenth Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 637-5600

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If any of the Securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box:   ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement of the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check the following box.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x    Smaller reporting company   ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion,

Preliminary Prospectus dated                     , 2010

PROSPECTUS

            Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

This is the initial public offering of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. We are selling              shares of our common stock.

We currently expect the initial public offering price of our common stock to be between $            and $            per share. Currently, no public market exists for our shares. Our common stock has been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HPP,” subject to official notice of issuance. We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010.

As described herein, concurrently with this offering, we will complete the formation transactions, pursuant to which we will acquire from Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively, investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., and an investment vehicle whose general partner is owned by investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley, all of the interests in our historical operating companies and entities that own our initial properties, in exchange for cash, shares of our common stock, common units and/or series A preferred units of partnership interest in our operating partnership. In addition, concurrently with the completion of this offering, Victor J. Coleman and certain investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. will purchase $20.0 million in shares of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, funds affiliated with or managed by Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., together with our directors and executive officers, will beneficially own an approximate     % interest in our company on a fully diluted basis. We will use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to pay the cash consideration due in the formation transactions.

See “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 21 of this prospectus for certain risks relevant to an investment in our common stock.

 

 

 

     Per Share    Total

Public offering price

   $                 $             

Underwriting discount

   $      $  

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $      $  

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to              additional shares of our common stock from us, at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus to cover overallotments, if any.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The shares of common stock sold in this offering will be ready for delivery on or about                     , 2010.

 

 

 

BofA Merrill Lynch   Barclays Capital   Morgan Stanley

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Securities   BMO Capital Markets   Key Banc Capital Markets

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2010


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

   1

RISK FACTORS

   21

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   48

USE OF PROCEEDS

   49

DISTRIBUTION POLICY

   50

CAPITALIZATION

   54

DILUTION

   55

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

   56

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   59

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND AND MARKET OPPORTUNITY

   81

BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES

   89

MANAGEMENT

   122

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

   132

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

   144

POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES

   148
     Page

STRUCTURE AND FORMATION OF OUR COMPANY

   153

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.

   162

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

   178

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK

   180

MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

   186

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

   193

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

   196

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

   217

UNDERWRITING

   220

LEGAL MATTERS

   226

EXPERTS

   226

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   227

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   F-i

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, or in any free writing prospectus prepared by us, or information to which we have referred you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates that are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

We use market data and industry forecasts and projections throughout this prospectus, and in particular in the sections entitled “Industry Background and Market Opportunity” and “Business and Properties.” We have obtained substantially all of this information from a market study prepared for us in connection with this offering by Rosen Consulting Group, or RCG, a nationally recognized real estate consulting firm. We have paid RCG a fee of $40,000 for such services. Such information is included in this prospectus in reliance on RCG’s authority as an expert on such matters. See “Experts.” In addition, we have obtained certain market and industry data from publicly available industry publications. These sources generally state that the information they provide has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of the information are not guaranteed. The forecasts and projections are based on industry surveys and the preparers’ experience in the industry, and there is no assurance that any of the projected amounts will be achieved. We believe that the surveys and market research others have performed are reliable, but we have not independently verified this information. Any forecasts prepared by RCG are based on data (including third party data), models and experience of various professionals, and are based on various assumptions, all of which are subject to change without notice.

 

i


Table of Contents

This prospectus includes certain information regarding total return to investors achieved by Arden Realty, Inc. during the period in which Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively, served as President and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, respectively, of Arden Realty, Inc. The information regarding total return is not a guarantee or prediction of the returns that we may achieve in the future, and we can offer no assurance that we will replicate these returns.

This prospectus makes reference to the “percent leased” of the properties that will make up our initial portfolio. We calculate percent leased as (i) square feet under lease for which rent has commenced, divided by (ii) total square feet, expressed as a percentage.

 

 

 

ii


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as our historical and pro forma financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Unless the context suggests otherwise, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us” and “our company” are to Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries after giving effect to the formation transactions described in this prospectus, including Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership of which we are the sole general partner and which we refer to in this prospectus as our operating partnership. Our promoters are Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively. Unless otherwise indicated, the information contained in this prospectus is as of March 31, 2010 and assumes (1) that the underwriters’ overallotment option is not exercised, (2) the consummation of the concurrent private placement of $20.0 million of common stock to Victor J. Coleman and funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., (3) the consummation of the formation transactions described in this prospectus, including our acquisition of the Del Amo Office property, the timing and completion of which is uncertain, (4) the common stock to be sold in this offering is sold at $             per share, which is the mid-point of the range indicated on the front cover of this prospectus, and (5) the initial value of the common units of partnership interest in our operating partnership, or common units, to be issued in the concurrent private placement and formation transactions is equal to the public offering price of our common stock as set forth on the front cover of this prospectus.

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

We are a full-service, vertically integrated real estate company focused on owning, operating and acquiring high-quality office properties in select growth markets primarily in Northern and Southern California. Our investment strategy is focused on high barrier-to-entry, in-fill locations with favorable, long-term supply-demand characteristics. These markets include Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and the East Bay, which we refer to as our target markets. Upon the consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, we will own eight properties totaling approximately 2.0 million square feet, strategically located in many of our target markets.

We were formed as a Maryland corporation in 2009 to succeed the business of Hudson Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm founded by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively. Mr. Coleman co-founded Arden Realty, Inc., or Arden, in 1990 and served as President, Chief Operating Officer and Director after taking the company public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1996. Arden was a publicly traded real estate investment trust, or REIT, engaged in owning, acquiring, managing, leasing, developing and renovating office properties located in Southern California. Mr. Stern, while serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Arden, was responsible, together with other Arden personnel, for all acquisition, disposition, development and new investment activities. As senior members of Arden’s management team, Messrs. Coleman and Stern were instrumental in helping Arden become one of the largest owners of office properties in Southern California.

We believe current events in the financial markets, the credit crisis and the scarcity of available capital for commercial real estate have created significant market dislocation, thereby fostering a favorable acquisition environment. We have access to and are actively pursuing a pipeline of potential acquisitions consistent with our investment strategy. We believe Mr. Coleman’s and Mr. Stern’s successful history of operating a publicly traded real estate company, significant expertise in operating in the California office sector and extensive, long-term

 

 

1


Table of Contents

relationships with real estate owners, developers and lenders, coupled with our conservative capital structure and access to capital, will allow us to capitalize on the current market opportunity.

We plan to focus our investment strategy on office properties located in submarkets with growth potential as well as on underperforming properties that provide opportunities to implement a value-add strategy to increase occupancy rates and cash flow. This strategy includes active management, aggressive leasing efforts, focused capital improvement programs, the reduction and containment of operating costs and an emphasis on tenant satisfaction. We believe our senior management team’s experience in the California office sector will position us to improve cash flow in our initial portfolio, as well as any newly acquired properties, as the California economy and the real estate markets begin to recover.

Upon consummation of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, our initial portfolio will consist of six office properties totaling approximately 1.2 million square feet, which were approximately 79.1% leased as of March 31, 2010 (or 85.7% giving effect to leases signed but not commenced as of that date), and two state-of-the-art media and entertainment properties comprising 544,763 square feet of office and support space and approximately 312,669 square feet of sound-stage production facilities. We also own 1.85 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to our media and entertainment properties, which, together with redevelopment opportunities at our media and entertainment properties, could support over one million square feet of additional office and support space. Our properties are concentrated in premier submarkets that have high barriers to entry with limited supply of land, high construction costs and rigorous entitlement processes.

Our initial portfolio consists of assets contributed by entities owned by Hudson Capital, LLC; investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., or Farallon, which we refer to as the Farallon Funds; an investment vehicle whose general partner is owned by investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley, which we refer to as the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership; and third parties. We believe our long-standing relationships with our contributors, as well as with other real estate companies, financial institutions and local operators, will enhance our access to capital and ability to source leasing and acquisition opportunities. In addition, we expect our tenant relationships with leading media, entertainment, professional and financial services firms, such as NBC/Universal, CBS Studios, ABC Studios, 20th Century Fox, Technicolor Creative Services USA, Inc., or Technicolor, Saatchi & Saatchi North America, Inc., or Saatchi & Saatchi, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and U.S. Bank will allow us to maintain above average occupancy levels as compared to others in our target markets.

We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010. We will conduct substantially all of our business through our operating partnership, of which we will serve as the sole general partner and own approximately     % of the common units.

Industry Background and Market Opportunity

Overview

We believe the current dislocation in the real estate markets caused by the “credit crunch” and subsequent recession presents an attractive investment environment for well-capitalized buyers with solid operating expertise and strong industry relationships due to the following factors identified by RCG:

 

   

First, upcoming debt maturities and poor property performance will force undercapitalized owners to sell over-leveraged assets in order to pay down their debt and to avoid significant, future property-level capital expenditures.

 

 

2


Table of Contents
   

Second, weak operating fundamentals on over-leveraged assets will result in asset-level operating distress. Accordingly, a growing number of owners who are unable to satisfy their debt service obligations and repay upcoming debt maturities will likely force lenders to foreclose on properties. We believe lenders will seek to sell these real estate assets quickly following transfer of title.

 

   

Third, competition for real estate acquisitions has diminished as many prospective buyers have exited the market due to capital constraints and/or a focus on managing legacy assets. Also, many investment funds that were responsible for a disproportionate share of acquisition activity in the 2003-2007 period are now seeking liquidity as the lives of their investment vehicles expire.

California Opportunity

We believe that California’s dynamic, diversified and cyclical economy, coupled with the current weakness in the California real estate market will create attractive opportunities to acquire properties at significant discounts to intrinsic value. According to RCG, California had the highest number of distressed properties of any state in September 2009. Furthermore, RCG expects the number of distressed assets for sale to peak in 2010, with opportunities persisting for the next several years. While California is currently experiencing weak economic conditions, RCG believes that its economy is well positioned over the long term to outpace the national economy given its mix of innovative industries and strong demographics. The strengthening economy will in turn positively impact the demand for office space, real estate market fundamentals and, ultimately, real estate valuations. Improved real estate market conditions will also be supported by a limited supply of new commercial real estate, which is constrained in California due to limited availability of land, restrictive local entitlement processes and high building costs. We believe we are well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity due to our management team’s strong industry relationships and our existing presence in many of California’s major markets.

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe the following competitive strengths distinguish us from other owners and operators of office properties and will enable us to capitalize on the general dislocation in the real estate market to successfully expand and operate our portfolio.

 

   

Experienced Management Team with a Proven Track Record of Acquiring and Operating Assets and Managing a Public Office REIT . Our senior management team, led by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively, has an average of over 20 years of experience in owning, acquiring, developing, operating, financing and selling office properties in California. While working together at Arden, they helped the company grow significantly from its initial public offering in October 1996 to its eventual sale to GE Real Estate, a division of General Electric Capital Corporation, in 2006, near the peak of the real estate market.

 

   

Committed and Incentivized Management Team. Our senior management team will be dedicated to our successful operation and growth, with no real estate business interests outside of our company. Additionally, upon completion of this offering and consummation of the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, our senior management team will own approximately     % of our common stock on a fully diluted basis, thereby aligning management’s interests with those of our stockholders.

 

   

California Focus with Local and Regional Expertise . We will primarily focus on acquiring and managing office properties in both Northern and Southern California, both regions that we believe are well positioned for strong economic recoveries. Additionally, our senior executives have focused their entire real estate careers in California, providing us with a deep knowledge of the major California real estate markets and the local and regional industry participants.

 

 

3


Table of Contents
   

Long-Standing Relationships that Provide Access to an Extensive Pipeline of Investment and Leasing Opportunities. We believe our experience, in-depth market knowledge and extensive network of long-standing relationships with real estate developers, real estate owners, national and regional lenders, brokers, tenants and other market participants will drive our ability to identify and capitalize on attractive acquisition opportunities and enhance our leasing efforts. For example, we believe our relationships with two leading investment management firms, Farallon and Morgan Stanley, will provide us with critical market intelligence, an ongoing acquisition pipeline and potential joint venture partners.

 

   

Growth Oriented, Flexible and Conservative Capital Structure. We believe our flexible and conservative capital structure provides us with an advantage over many of our private and public competitors. Upon completion of this offering, we will have no legacy balance sheet issues and limited near-term maturities, which will allow management to focus on our business and growth strategies rather than balance sheet repair. In addition, we will have an initial debt-to-market capitalization ratio of approximately     %, which is substantially lower than many of our office REIT peers.

 

   

Irreplaceable Media and Entertainment Assets in a Premier California Submarket. Our Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson media and entertainment properties are located on Sunset Boulevard, just off of the Hollywood Freeway, in the heart of Hollywood, and serve as important facilities for major film and television companies. We believe these assets will remain critical to the media and entertainment business, one of Los Angeles’s most important industries, due to their attractive location, a limited supply of developable land and the extensive knowledge required to develop and operate such facilities.

Business and Growth Strategies

Our primary business objectives are to increase operating cash flows, generate long-term growth and maximize stockholder value. Specifically, we intend to pursue the following strategies to achieve these objectives:

 

   

Pursue Acquisitions of Distressed or Underperforming Office Properties. We intend to capitalize on the attractive investment environment by acquiring properties at meaningful discounts to our estimates of their intrinsic value. Additionally, we intend to acquire properties or portfolios that are distressed due to near-term debt maturities or underperforming properties where we believe better management, focused leasing efforts and/or capital improvements would improve the property’s operating performance and value. We believe that our extensive relationships coupled with our strong balance sheet and access to capital will allow us capitalize on value-add opportunities.

 

   

Focus on High Barrier-to-Entry Markets. We will target in-fill, suburban markets and central business districts primarily in California. These markets have historically had favorable long-term supply/demand characteristics and significant institutional ownership of real estate, which we believe have helped support real estate fundamentals and valuations over the long term. We believe that these factors will help preserve our capital during periods of economic decline and generate above average returns during periods of economic recovery and growth.

 

   

Proactive Asset and Property Management. We intend to actively manage our portfolio, employ aggressive leasing strategies and leverage our existing tenant relationships to increase the occupancy rates at our properties, attract higher quality tenants and maximize tenant retention rates. In addition, we have targeted ways to further improve net operating income through controlling or reducing operating costs.

 

 

4


Table of Contents
   

Repositioning and Development of Properties. We intend to leverage our real estate expertise to reposition and redevelop our existing properties, as well as properties that we acquire in the future, with the objective of increasing occupancy, rental rates and risk-adjusted returns on our invested capital. We believe our media and entertainment properties and undeveloped land offer significant growth potential, with over one million square feet of possible incremental development and redevelopment space.

 

   

Value Creation Through Capital Recycling Program. We intend to pursue an efficient asset allocation strategy that maximizes the value of our investments by selectively disposing of properties whose returns appear to have been maximized and redeploying capital into acquisition, development and redevelopment opportunities with higher return prospects, in each case in a manner that is consistent with our qualification as a REIT.

Summary Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 21 of this prospectus prior to deciding whether to invest in our common stock. Some of these risks include:

 

   

All of our properties are located in California, and we therefore are dependent on the California economy and are susceptible to adverse local regulations and natural disasters affecting California.

 

   

We derive a significant portion of our annualized rent from tenants in the media and entertainment industry, which makes us particularly susceptible to demand for rental space in that industry.

 

   

Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, the Farallon Funds will own an approximate     % beneficial interest in our company on a fully diluted basis and will have the ability to exercise significant influence on our company.

 

   

The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.

 

   

We may be unable to identify and complete acquisitions of properties that meet our criteria, which may impede our growth.

 

   

We expect to have approximately $94.3 million of indebtedness outstanding following this offering, which may expose us to interest rate fluctuations and the risk of default under our debt obligations.

 

   

Adverse economic and geopolitical conditions and dislocations in the credit markets could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

 

   

We have a limited operating history and may not be able to operate our business successfully or implement our business strategies as described in this prospectus.

 

   

We have no operating history as a REIT or a publicly traded company and may not be able to successfully operate as a REIT or a publicly traded company.

 

   

We may be unable to renew leases, lease vacant space or re-let space as leases expire.

 

   

Our success depends on key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed.

 

 

5


Table of Contents
   

Our board of directors may change our investment and financing policies without stockholder approval and we may become more highly leveraged, which may increase our risk of default under our debt obligations.

 

   

Failure to qualify as a REIT would have significant adverse consequences to us and the value of our common stock.

 

   

There has been no public market for our common stock prior to this offering and an active trading market for our common stock may not develop following this offering.

 

   

We may be unable to make distributions at expected levels.

 

 

6


Table of Contents

Our Properties

Our Initial Portfolio

Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we will own eight properties located in six California submarkets, containing a total of approximately 2.0 million square feet, which we refer to as our initial portfolio. The following table presents an overview of our initial portfolio, based on information as of March 31, 2010.

 

Property

  City   Year
Built/

Renovated
  Square
Feet (1)
  Percent
Leased (2)
    Annualized/
Annual

Rent (3)
  Annualized/
Annual Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot (4)

OFFICE PROPERTIES

           

Operating Properties

           

City Plaza

  Orange   1969/99   333,922   92.1 % (5)     $ 7,779,694   $ 25.30

First Financial

  Encino (LA)   1986   222,423   89.4        6,661,152     33.48

Del Amo Office (6)

  Torrance   1986   113,000   100.0        3,069,070     27.16

Technicolor Building

  Hollywood (LA)   2008   114,958   100.0        5,231,052     45.50

Tierrasanta

  San Diego   1985   104,234   96.8        2,346,562     23.25
                         

Total/Weighted Average Operating Properties:

      888,537   94.0   $ 25,087,529   $ 30.04
                         

Redevelopment Properties

           

875 Howard Street (7) (8)

  San Francisco   Various   286,270   33.0     1,181,699     12.50
                         

Total/Weighted Average Office Properties:

      1,174,807   79.1 % (9)     $ 26,269,228   $ 28.25
                         

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT PROPERTIES

         

Sunset Gower

  Hollywood (LA)   Various   543,709   66.1        10,818,963     30.12

Sunset Bronson

  Hollywood (LA)   Various   313,723   68.4        10,380,340     48.36
                         

Total/Weighted Average Media & Entertainment Properties:

      857,432   66.9        21,199,303     36.95
                         

LAND

           

Sunset Bronson—Lot A

  Hollywood (LA)   N/A   273,913      

Sunset Bronson—Redevelopment

  Hollywood (LA)   N/A   389,740      

Sunset Gower—Redevelopment

  Hollywood (LA)   N/A   423,396      

City Plaza

  Orange   N/A   360,000      
             

Total Land Assets:

      1,447,049      
             

Portfolio Total:

      3,479,288      
             

 

(1) Square footage for office and media and entertainment properties has been determined by management based upon estimated leaseable square feet, which may be less or more than the Building Owners and Managers Association, or BOMA, rentable area. Square footage may change over time due to remeasurement or releasing. Square footage for land assets represents management’s estimate of developable square feet, the majority of which remains subject to receipt of entitlement approvals that have not yet been obtained.
(2)

Percent leased for office properties is calculated as (i) square footage under commenced leases as of March 31, 2010, divided by (ii) total square feet, expressed as a percentage. Percent leased for media and entertainment properties is the average percent leased for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010. As a result of the short-term nature of the leases into which we enter at our media and entertainment properties, and because entertainment industry tenants generally do not

 

 

7


Table of Contents
  shoot on weekends due to higher costs, we believe stabilized occupancy rates at our media and entertainment properties are lower than those rates achievable at our traditional office assets, where tenants enter into longer-term lease arrangements.
(3) We present rent data for office properties on an annualized basis, and for media and entertainment properties on an annual basis. Annualized rent for office properties is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Total abatements with respect to the office properties for leases in effect as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $2,477,792. Annualized rent data for our office properties is as of March 31, 2010 and does not reflect scheduled lease expirations for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011. For lease expiration data, see “Business and Properties—Lease Expirations of Office Portfolio.” Annual rent for media and entertainment properties reflects actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010. For our non-gross leases, annualized rent is converted to gross by adding expense reimbursements to base rent where such expense reimbursements are known (as in the case of the Technicolor Building) and, where tenant pays such expenses directly, by adding broker- or owner-estimated expenses to base rent.
(4) Annualized rent per leased square foot for the office properties is calculated as (i) annualized rent divided by (ii) square footage under lease as of March 31, 2010. Annual rent per leased square foot for the media and entertainment properties is calculated as (i) actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, divided by (ii) average square feet under lease for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010.
(5) Does not include 3,531 square feet that will be leased to our subsidiary for property management offices.
(6) Our acquisition of this property is subject to closing conditions that may not be in our control. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”
(7) 875 Howard Street consists of two buildings, a retail building of approximately 95,000 square feet that is 100% leased and an office building of approximately 191,000 square feet that underwent redevelopment, which was completed on April 1, 2010.
(8) As of March 31, 2010, we had entered into two leases with respect to our 875 Howard Street property that had not commenced as of March 31, 2010. The following table sets forth certain data with respect to the uncommenced leases.

 

      Uncommenced Leases

Property

  Leased Square
Feet Under
Uncommenced
Leases (a)
  Annualized
Rent Under
Uncommenced
Leases (b)
    Annualized
Rent Per  Leased Square
Foot Under Uncommenced
Leases (c)

875 Howard Street

  76,873   $ 2,177,862 (d)     $ 28.33

 

  (a) One of the uncommenced leases commenced on April 1, 2010 and the other commences on December 31, 2010. See “Business and Properties—Uncommenced Leases.”
  (b) Annualized rent under uncommenced leases is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the first full month under the respective uncommenced leases, by (ii) 12. Total abatements under uncommenced leases entered into as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $1,131,894.
  (c) Annualized rent per leased square foot under uncommenced leases is calculated as (i) annualized rent under uncommenced leases, divided by (ii) leased square feet under uncommenced leases.
  (d) The uncommenced leases for the 875 Howard Street property are net of janitorial costs and utilities, and annualized rent for such leases has been converted to gross by adding the owner’s estimate of expenses to base rent.
(9) After giving effect to uncommenced leases signed as of March 31, 2010, the total percent leased for office properties would have been 85.7% as of March 31, 2010.

 

 

8


Table of Contents

Structure and Formation of Our Company

Our Operating Entities

Our Operating Partnership

Following the completion of this offering and the formation transactions, our operating partnership will, directly or indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries, hold substantially all of our assets and conduct substantially all of our operations. We will contribute the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement to our operating partnership in exchange for common units. As the sole general partner of our operating partnership, we will generally have the exclusive power under the partnership agreement to manage and conduct its business, subject to limited approval and voting rights of the limited partners described more fully under “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.”

Our Services Company

As part of the formation transactions, we formed Hudson Pacific Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation that is wholly owned by our operating partnership and that we refer to as our services company. We will elect with our services company to treat it as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes. Our services company generally may provide non-customary and other services to our tenants and engage in activities that we may not engage in directly without adversely affecting our qualification as a REIT.

Formation Transactions

Each property that will be owned by us, directly by our operating partnership or indirectly by one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, upon the completion of this offering is currently owned by a partnership or limited liability company, or property entity, in which Hudson Capital, LLC, the Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and/or other third parties own a direct or indirect interest. Pursuant to the formation transactions described below, the following have occurred or will occur concurrently with or prior to the completion of this offering. All monetary amounts are based on the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

   

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. was formed as a Maryland corporation on November 9, 2009. We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010.

 

   

Our operating partnership was formed as a Maryland limited partnership on January 15, 2010.

 

   

Our services company was formed as a Maryland corporation on February 12, 2010. We will elect with our services company to treat it as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes.

 

   

We will sell          shares of our common stock in this offering and          additional shares if the underwriters exercise their overallotment option in full, and we will contribute the net proceeds from this offering to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

 

 

9


Table of Contents
   

Pursuant to separate contribution agreements, each dated as of February 15, 2010, our operating partnership will, directly or indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries, acquire a 100% ownership interest in the entities that own all of our initial properties (other than the Del Amo Office property) in exchange for shares of our common stock, common units, series A preferred units and/or cash, as set forth in greater detail below:

 

   

Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern will contribute to our operating partnership their entire interests in Hudson Capital, LLC in exchange for (i) common units with a value of $9.0 million and (ii) an additional              common units, subject to prorations. Hudson Capital, LLC owns (i) an approximate 1.6% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Gower property and the Technicolor Building, (ii) an approximate 1.0% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Bronson property, and (iii) an approximate 0.9% interest in the property entity that owns the City Plaza property, and is the entity through which our predecessor carried on the property management business that we will continue after the consummation of this offering.

 

   

In exchange for their contribution to our operating partnership of the property entities that own 100% of the First Financial and Tierrasanta properties, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of its limited partners will receive series A preferred units of limited partnership interest in our operating partnership, or series A preferred units, with an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations), common units with an aggregate value of approximately $3.8 million (before closing costs and prorations) and approximately $7.2 million in cash. In connection with this contribution, our operating partnership will make up to approximately $55.1 million (and, under certain circumstances, up to approximately $70.0 million) of debt available for guarantee by the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership or certain of its owners, which may assist the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership or such owners in deferring taxes in connection with the formation transactions. In addition, pursuant to a tax protection agreement, we have agreed to make certain tax indemnity payments if we dispose of any interest with respect to such properties in a taxable transaction during the period from the closing of the offering through certain specified dates ranging from 2017 to 2027.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution to our operating partnership of (i) their approximate 98.4% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Gower property and the Technicolor Building, (ii) their approximate 99.0% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Bronson property, (iii) their approximate 99.1% interest in the property entity that owns the City Plaza property, and (iv) their approximate 94.0% interest in the property entity that owns the 875 Howard Street property, the Farallon Funds, as nominees of the contributors, will receive              shares of our common stock and common units, with an aggregate value of $             million, subject to prorations.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution to our operating partnership of its interests in the entity that owns the 875 Howard Street property, the Farallon Funds, as the nominees of the third party that owns the remaining interests in such entity, will receive common stock and common units with a value of $0.5 million.

 

   

The current management team of Hudson Capital, LLC will become our executive management team, and the current employees of Hudson Capital, LLC will become our employees.

 

   

Our operating partnership will use a portion of the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement to repay (i) in full $115.0 million of mortgage indebtedness secured by the Sunset Gower and Technicolor Building properties and (ii) in full approximately $39.0 million of the mortgage indebtedness secured by the 875 Howard Street property. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

 

10


Table of Contents
   

Each of the contributors in our formation transactions has entered into a contribution agreement, and each other recipient of cash or equity consideration has entered into a representation, warranty and indemnity agreement. These agreements provide for limited representations and warranties by the respective contributors or their nominees regarding the entities and assets being contributed in the formation transactions, and entitle us and our operating partnership to indemnification for breaches of those representations and warranties on a several but not joint basis by each contributor or its nominee, subject to a deductible of 1% of the aggregate total consideration received by them under their respective contribution agreement, and up to a maximum of 10% of their aggregate total consideration under their respective contribution agreement.

In addition, following completion of this offering, our operating partnership or a subsidiary of our operating partnership will acquire, directly or indirectly through a wholly owned subsidiary, a 100% ownership interest in the Del Amo Office property ground subleasehold interest and improvements for $27.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) in cash. The Farallon Funds will receive $             million of this cash in their capacity as indirect owners of the limited partners of the entity that owns the Del Amo Office property ground subleasehold interest and improvements.

The acquisition of the Del Amo Office property is subject to conditions that could prevent or delay our acquisition of the property. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”

Concurrent Private Placement

Concurrently with the completion of this offering, Mr. Coleman and the Farallon Funds will purchase $20.0 million in shares of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. The proceeds will be contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

Benefits of the Formation Transactions and Concurrent Private Placement to Related Parties

In connection with this offering, the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement, the Farallon Funds and certain of our executive officers and directors will receive material benefits, including the following. Amounts below are based on the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

Victor J. Coleman

 

   

Mr. Coleman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will purchase $2.0 million in shares of our common stock in the concurrent private placement at a price equal to the initial public offering price.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution of his interest in Hudson Capital, LLC (in which he holds a 65% ownership interest), Mr. Coleman will receive (i) common units with a value of approximately $5.8 million and (ii) an additional              common units. As a result, Mr. Coleman will own         % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, or         % on a fully diluted basis if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full.

 

   

In connection with Mr. Coleman’s contribution, our operating partnership is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to make up to $3.0 million of indebtedness of our operating partnership (or a subsidiary thereof) available to Mr. Coleman and Mr. Stern together for guarantee, which may allow Mr. Coleman to defer the recognition of gain in connection with the formation transactions.

 

 

11


Table of Contents

Howard S. Stern

 

   

In exchange for the contribution of his interest in Hudson Capital, LLC (in which he holds a 35% ownership interest), Mr. Stern, our President and one of our directors, will receive (i) common units with a value of approximately $3.2 million and (ii) an additional              common units. As a result, Mr. Stern will own         % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, or         % on a fully diluted basis if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full.

 

   

In connection with his contribution, our operating partnership is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to make up to $3.0 million of indebtedness of our operating partnership (or a subsidiary thereof) available to Mr. Stern and Mr. Coleman together for guarantee, which may allow Mr. Stern to defer the recognition of gain in connection with the formation transactions.

Richard B. Fried and The Farallon Funds

 

   

Richard B. Fried, a Managing Member and co-head of the real estate group at Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., will serve as one of our directors.

 

   

The Farallon Funds will purchase $18.0 million in shares of our common stock in the concurrent private placement at a price equal to the initial public offering price.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution by affiliates of the Farallon Funds of their interests in the property entities that own each of the Sunset Gower property, the Technicolor Building, the Sunset Bronson property, the City Plaza property and the 875 Howard Street property, the Farallon Funds will receive (i)              shares of our common stock, (ii)              common units and (iii) $             in cash. As a result, the Farallon Funds will own         % of our outstanding common stock,         % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, or         % on a fully diluted basis if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full. In addition, the Farallon Funds, as nominees of the third party that owns the remaining interests in the 875 Howard Street property, will receive common stock and common units with a value of $0.5 million.

Employment Agreements

We have entered into employment agreements with our executive officers that will become effective as of the closing of this offering, which provide for salary, bonus and other benefits, including accelerated equity vesting upon a change in control and severance upon a termination of employment under certain circumstances. The material terms of the agreements with our named executive officers are described under “Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” and “Executive Compensation—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Indemnification Agreements

We also expect to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers at the closing of this offering, providing for procedures for indemnification by us to the fullest extent permitted by law and advancements by us of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from their service to us or, at our request, service to other entities, as officers or directors.

Registration Rights Agreement

We have entered into a registration rights agreement with the various persons receiving shares of our common stock and/or common units in the formation transactions or the concurrent private placement, including the

 

 

12


Table of Contents

Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of our executive officers. Under the registration rights agreement, subject to certain limitations, commencing not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, we will file one or more registration statements covering the resale of the shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement, and the resale of the shares of our common stock issued or issuable, at our option, in exchange for common units issued in the formation transactions. We may, at our option, satisfy our obligation to prepare and file a resale registration statement by filing a registration statement registering the issuance by us of shares of our common stock registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, to the holders of units upon redemption of such units and, to the extent such shares constitute restricted securities, their resale. Commencing on the date that is 180 days following completion of this offering, the Farallon Funds have the right, on one occasion, to require us to register shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement for resale in an underwritten offering registered pursuant to the Securities Act; provided, such registration shall be limited to a number of shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds and their affiliates in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement. Commencing upon our filing of a resale registration statement not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, under certain circumstances, we are also required to undertake an underwritten offering upon the written request of holders of at least 10% in the aggregate of the securities originally issued in the formation transactions, provided that we are not obligated to effect more than two such underwritten offerings in addition to the demand registration. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Registration Rights.”

Consequences of this Offering, the Concurrent Private Placement and the Formation Transactions

The completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement and formation transactions will have the following consequences. All amounts are based on the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

   

Through our interest in our operating partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries, we will indirectly own a fee simple or ground subleasehold interest in and operate all of the properties in our initial portfolio.

 

   

We will indirectly own our services company through our operating partnership, which will own 100% of its common stock.

 

   

We will be the sole general partner of our operating partnership and will own         % of the common units therein, equal to the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

   

Purchasers of our common stock in this offering will own         % of our outstanding common stock, or         % on a fully diluted basis, assuming the exchange of all outstanding common units for shares of our common stock.

 

   

The continuing investors, including Messrs. Coleman and Stern, the Farallon Funds and the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, that elected to receive common stock or common or series A preferred units in the formation transactions will own         % of our outstanding common stock, or         % on a fully diluted basis, assuming the exchange of all common units for shares of our common stock. If the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full, the continuing investors, including Messrs. Coleman and Stern, the Farallon Funds and the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, will own         % of our outstanding common stock, or         % on a fully diluted basis.

 

   

We expect to have total consolidated indebtedness of approximately $94.3 million.

 

 

13


Table of Contents
   

Each common unit owned by us and the limited partners in our operating partnership is intended to have economic rights that are substantially identical to one share of our common stock. The series A preferred units will be entitled to preferential distributions at a rate of 6.25% per annum on the liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit and will be convertible at the option of the holder into common units or redeemable into cash or, at our option, exchangeable for registered shares of common stock, in each case after an initial holding period of not less than three years from the consummation of this offering. See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.—Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units” for a description of the conversion and redemption rights of series A preferred units.

The following diagram depicts our expected ownership structure and the expected ownership structure of our operating partnership upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions (assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their overallotment option):

LOGO

 

(1) Reflects shares of our common stock acquired by the Farallon Funds in the concurrent private placement and formation transactions.
(2) Reflects shares of our common stock with a value of $2.0 million acquired by Victor J. Coleman in the concurrent private placement.
(3) Reflects approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) in liquidation preference of series A preferred units that may be converted into common units commencing three years after the consummation of this offering.
(4) Our acquisition of this property is subject to closing conditions. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”

 

 

14


Table of Contents

Restrictions on Transfer

Under the partnership agreement, unitholders do not have redemption or exchange rights, except under limited circumstances, for a period of 14 months (or three years in the case of series A preferred units), and may not otherwise transfer their units, except under certain limited circumstances, for a period of 14 months from the completion of this offering. After the expiration of this 14-month period, transfers of units by limited partners and their assignees are subject to various conditions, including our right of first refusal, described under “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.—Transfers and Withdrawals.” In addition, each of our contributors, senior officers and directors has agreed not to sell or otherwise transfer or encumber any shares of our common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into our common stock (including common units) owned by them at the completion of this offering or thereafter acquired by them for a period of 180 days after the completion of this offering (or, in the case of the Farallon Funds, 365 days; provided , that, commencing on the date that is 180 days after the consummation of this offering, the Farallon Funds may (i) sell shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement pursuant to a demand registration statement or (ii) distribute such amount of shares to their limited partners, members or stockholders) without the written consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.

Restrictions on Ownership of Our Stock

Due to limitations on the concentration of ownership of REIT stock imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, our charter generally prohibits any person from actually, beneficially or constructively owning more than 9.8% in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock or more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate outstanding shares of all classes and series of our stock. We refer to these restrictions as the “ownership limits.” Our charter permits our board of directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, to exempt a person, prospectively or retroactively, from one or both of the ownership limits if, among other limitations, the person’s ownership of our stock in excess of the ownership limits could not cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT. Our board of directors will grant to certain Farallon Funds and certain of their affiliates, which we refer to collectively as the Farallon excepted holders, an exemption from the ownership limits, subject to various conditions and limitations, as described under “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

Distribution Policy

We intend to pay cash dividends to holders of our common stock. We intend to pay a pro rata dividend with respect to the period commencing on the completion of this offering and ending             , 2010, based on $             per share for a full quarter. On an annualized basis, this would be $             per share, or an annual dividend rate of approximately     %, based on the initial public offering price of $             per share, which is the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. We intend to maintain our initial dividend rate for the 12-month period following completion of this offering unless actual results of operations, economic conditions or other factors differ materially from the assumptions used in our estimate. We intend to make dividend distributions that will enable us to meet the distribution requirements applicable to REITs and to eliminate or minimize our obligation to pay income and excise taxes. Dividends declared by us will be authorized by our board of directors in its sole discretion out of funds legally available for such and will depend upon a number of factors, including restrictions under applicable law and the requirements for our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. We do not intend to reduce the expected dividend per share if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised.

 

 

15


Table of Contents

Our Tax Status

We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010. We believe that our organization and proposed method of operation will enable us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. To maintain REIT status, we must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that we annually distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our stockholders. As a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on our taxable income we currently distribute to our stockholders. If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may be subject to some federal, state and local taxes on our income or property. In addition, the income of any taxable REIT subsidiary that we own will be subject to taxation at regular corporate rates. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Corporate Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90025. Our telephone number is 310-445-5700. Our website address is www.hudsonpacificproperties.com. The information on, or otherwise accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

 

16


Table of Contents

The Offering

 

Common stock offered by us

             shares (plus up to an additional              shares of our common stock that we may issue and sell upon the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option in full).

 

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering

             shares (1)

 

Common stock and common units to be outstanding after this offering

            shares and common units (1) (2)

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting underwriting discount and commissions and estimated expenses, will be approximately $             million ($             million if the underwriters exercise their overallotment option in full). The net proceeds we will receive in the concurrent private placement of our common stock will be $20.0 million. We will contribute the net proceeds of the concurrent private placement and this offering to our operating partnership. Our operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement as follows:

 

   

$115.0 million to repay in full that certain mortgage indebtedness secured by our Sunset Gower and Technicolor Building properties;

 

   

approximately $39.0 million to repay in full that certain mortgage indebtedness secured by our 875 Howard Street property;

 

   

approximately $7.2 million to acquire interests in the First Financial and Tierrasanta properties;

 

   

approximately $27.5 million to acquire the Del Amo Office property;

 

   

up to $13.8 million (determined as of March 31, 2010) to fund the build-out and lease-up of the 875 Howard Street property; and

 

   

the remaining approximately $             million for general working capital purposes, including funding future acquisitions, capital expenditures, tenant improvements, leasing commissions and, potentially, paying dividends.

 

Risk Factors

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 21 and other information included in this prospectus before investing in our common stock.

 

Proposed New York Stock Exchange symbol

“HPP”

  

 

(1) Includes (a)              shares of our common stock to be issued to Victor J. Coleman and the Farallon Funds in the concurrent private placement, (b)              shares of restricted stock to be granted to our executive officers and certain other employees concurrently with the completion of this offering, and (c)              shares of restricted stock to be granted to our non-employee directors concurrently with the completion of this offering. Excludes (i)               shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option in full, (ii) shares of common stock issuable upon exchange of our series A preferred units expected to be issued in the formation transactions, with an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations), which are convertible or redeemable after the third anniversary of this offering, and (iii)               shares of our common stock available for issuance in the future under our equity incentive plan.
(2) Includes              common units expected to be issued in the formation transactions, which units may, subject to certain limitations, be redeemed for cash or, at our option, exchanged for shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis.

 

 

17


Table of Contents

Summary Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth summary selected financial and operating data on (i) a pro forma basis for our company and (ii) a combined historical basis for the “Hudson Pacific Predecessor.” The Hudson Pacific Predecessor is comprised of the real estate activity and holdings of the entities that own the following properties being contributed to us in the formation transactions: Sunset Gower; the Technicolor Building; Sunset Bronson; and City Plaza. We have not presented historical information for Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. because we have not had any corporate activity since our formation other than the issuance of 100 shares of common stock to Victor J. Coleman in connection with our initial capitalization and because we believe that a discussion of the results of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. would not be meaningful.

You should read the following summary selected financial data in conjunction with our combined historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The historical combined balance sheet information as of March 31, 2010 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor and the combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor have been derived from the historical unaudited combined financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus and includes all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the historical financial statements for such periods. The historical combined balance sheet information as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor and the combined statements of operations information for each of the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor have been derived from the historical audited combined financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Our unaudited summary selected pro forma consolidated financial statements and operating information as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009 assumes completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions as of the beginning of the periods presented for the operating data and as of the stated date for the balance sheet data. Our pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what our actual financial position and results of operations would have been as of the date and for the periods indicated, nor does it purport to represent our future financial position or results of operations.

 

 

18


Table of Contents

The Company (Pro Forma) and the Hudson Pacific Predecessor (Historical)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    Pro Forma
Consolidated
    Historical Combined     Pro Forma
Consolidated
    Historical Combined  
    2010     2010     2009     2009     2009     2008     2007  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)                    
   

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

             

REVENUES

             

Rental

  $ 10,961      $ 7,891      $ 7,382      $ 41,392      $ 28,970      $ 25,866      $ 4,215   

Tenant recoveries

    814        579        674        3,994        2,870        2,293        58   

Other property related revenue

    1,972        1,653        1,901        8,662        7,419        7,296        2,683   

Other

    19        19        25        78        78        133        7   
                                                       

Total revenues

    13,766        10,142        9,982        54,126        39,337        35,588        6,963   

OPERATING EXPENSES

             

Property operating expenses

    5,163        3,995        4,262        17,251        17,691        15,651        2,710   

Other property related expense

    591        528        401        1,647        1,397        1,689        1,337   

General and administrative

    1,935        290        302        7,231        1,049        1,023        363   

Management fees

    30        251        305        120        1,169        1,073        255   

Depreciation and amortization

    3,748        2,498        2,449        15,650        9,980        6,599        741   
                                                       

Total operating expenses

    11,467        7,562        7,719        41,899        31,286        26,035        5,406   
                                                       

Income from operations

    2,299        2,580        2,263        12,227        8,051        9,553        1,557   

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

             

Interest expense

    2,013        2,052        2,097        8,148        8,352        10,244        3,860   

Interest income

    (3     (3     (3     (17     (17     (45     (43

Unrealized loss (gain) on interest rate collar

    (207     (207     (18     (410     (410     835        —     

Loss on sale of lot

    —          —          —          —          —          208        —     

Other

    —          —          90        95        95        21        —     
                                                       

Total other expense (income)

    1,803        1,842        2,166        7,816        8,020        11,263        3,817   
                                                       

Net income (loss)

  $ 496      $ 738      $ 97      $ 4,411      $ 31      $ (1,710   $ (2,260
                                           

Less: Income attributable to preferred non-controlling partnership interest

    187        —          —        $ 743        —          —          —     

Less: Income attributable to common non-controlling partnership interest

    55        —          —          652        —          —          —     
                         

Income attributable to the company

  $ 254        —          —          3,016        —          —          —     
                                                       

Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

             

Investment in real estate, net

  $ 508,158      $ 352,727        —          —        $ 353,505      $ 353,024        —     

Total assets

    610,359        386,554        —          —          384,615        386,702        —     

Notes payable

    93,740        152,000        —          —          152,000        152,000        —     

Total liabilities

    127,359        169,904        —          —          169,686        177,305        —     

Preferred non-controlling partnership interest

    11,968        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Non-controlling partnership interest

    83,467        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Members’/stockholders’ equity

    387,565        216,650        —          —          214,929        209,397        —     

Total equity

    471,032        216,650        —          —          214,929        209,397        —     

Per Share Data:

             

Pro forma basic earnings per share

      —          —            —          —          —     

Pro forma diluted earnings per share

      —          —            —          —          —     

Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

      —          —            —          —          —     

Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

      —          —            —          —          —     

Other Data:

             

Pro forma funds from operations (1)

  $ 4,057        —          —        $ 19,318        —          —          —     

Pro forma diluted funds from operations per share

      —          —            —          —          —     

Cash flows from:

             

Operating activities

    —        $ 1,927      $ 1,690        —        $ (88   $ 19,832      $ (4,910

Investing activities

    —          (654     (1,932     —          (7,537     (178,424     (192,321

Financing activities

    —          983        2,609        —          4,926        163,451        197,327   

 

 

19


Table of Contents

 

(1) We calculate funds from operations before non-controlling interest, or FFO, in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable operating property, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. Management uses FFO as a supplemental performance measure because, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. We also believe that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs. However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures and leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effects and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. Other equity REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition as we do, and, therefore, our FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs’ FFO. Accordingly, FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income available to common stockholders (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of our financial performance. FFO should not be used as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our cash needs, including our ability to service indebtedness or make distributions. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income to pro forma FFO before non-controlling interest for the periods presented:

 

     Pro Forma  
     Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2010
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009
 
     (In thousands)     (In thousands)  

Net income

   $ 496      $ 4,411   

Adjustments:

    

Distribution to preferred non-controlling partnership interest

     (187     (743

Real estate depreciation and amortization

     3,748        15,650   

Loss on sale of lot, net

     —          —     
                

Funds from operations before non-controlling interest

   $ 4,057      $ 19,318   
                

 

 

20


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves risks. In addition to other information contained in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the following factors before acquiring shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. The occurrence of any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to make cash distributions to our stockholders, which could cause you to lose all or a part of your investment in our common stock. Some statements in this prospectus, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business

All of our properties are located in California, and we are dependent on the California economy and are susceptible to adverse local regulations and natural disasters affecting California.

All of our properties are located in California, which exposes us to greater economic risks than if we owned a more geographically dispersed portfolio. Further, our properties are concentrated in certain submarkets, exposing us to risks associated with those specific areas. We are susceptible to adverse developments in the California economic and regulatory environment (such as business layoffs or downsizing, industry slowdowns, relocations of businesses, increases in real estate and other taxes, costs of complying with governmental regulations or increased regulation), as well as to natural disasters that occur in our markets (such as earthquakes and other events). For example, prior to the acquisition of our City Plaza property located in Orange County, California, the area was impacted significantly by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, which had a material adverse effect on property values, vacancy rates and rents in the area. Had we owned City Plaza at that time, we would have been exposed to those adverse effects, which were more pronounced in Orange County than in other parts of the state and country. We anticipate that we will be exposed to similar risks related to the geographic concentration of our properties in the future. In addition, the State of California continues to suffer from severe budgetary constraints and is regarded as more litigious and more highly regulated and taxed than many other states, all of which may reduce demand for office space in California. Any adverse developments in the economy or real estate market in California, or any decrease in demand for office space resulting from the California regulatory or business environment, could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and the per share trading price of our common stock. We cannot assure you of the growth of the California economy or of our future growth rate.

We derive a significant portion of our annual rent from tenants in the media and entertainment industry, which makes us particularly susceptible to demand for rental space in that industry.

The Sunset Gower, Sunset Bronson and Technicolor Building properties in our initial portfolio are leased to media and entertainment tenants and a significant portion of our annual rent is derived from tenants in the media and entertainment industry. Consequently, we are susceptible to adverse developments affecting the demand by media and entertainment tenants for office, production, and support space in Southern California and, more specifically, in Hollywood, such as writer, director and actor strikes, industry slowdowns and the relocation of media and entertainment businesses to other locations. Although our Technicolor Building property is principally occupied and suitable for general office purposes, it may require modifications prior to or at the commencement of a lease term if it were to be released to more traditional office users. Although our Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson properties contain both sound stages and space suitable for office use, they have historically served the entertainment and media industry and will continue to depend on that sector for future tenancy. In addition, our media and entertainment properties tend to be subject to short-term leases of less than one year. As a result, were there to be adverse developments affecting the demand by media and entertainment tenants for office, production, and support space, it could affect the occupancy of our media and entertainment properties more quickly than if we had longer term leases. Any adverse development in the media and entertainment industry could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and the per share trading price of our common stock.

 

21


Table of Contents

The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.

We intend to enter into a definitive agreement to acquire the Del Amo Office property and its related ground sublease from the current ground tenant. The acquisition is subject to closing conditions, including consent to the assignment of the ground sublease, which could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property. If we are unable to complete the acquisition of the Del Amo Office property or experience significant delays in executing the acquisition of the property, our revenues will not include the approximately $2.8 million of annualized rent from this property. In addition, we will have no specific designated use for the net proceeds from this offering allocated to the purchase of the property and investors will be unable to evaluate in advance the manner in which we will invest, or the economic merits of the properties we may ultimately acquire with, such proceeds.

The ground sublease for the Del Amo Office property is subject and subordinate to a ground lease, the termination of which could result in a termination of the ground sublease.

The property on which the Del Amo Office building is located is subleased by Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, or Del Amo, through a long-term ground sublease. The ground sublease is subject and subordinate to the terms of a ground lease between the fee owner of the Del Amo Office property and the sub-landlord under the ground sublease. The fee owner has not granted to the subtenant under the ground sublease any rights of non-disturbance. Accordingly, a termination of the ground lease for any reason, including a rejection thereof by the ground tenant under the ground lease in a bankruptcy proceeding, could result in a termination of the ground sublease. In the event of a termination of the ground sublease, the Company may lose its interest in the Del Amo Office building and may no longer have the right to receive any of the rental income from the Del Amo Office building. In addition, the failure of the Company to have any non-disturbance rights from the fee owner may impair the Company’s ability to obtain financing for the Del Amo Office building.

The Del Amo Office property is not currently located on its own tax parcel, which could result in a tax lien and/or foreclosure of the Del Amo Office property.

The Del Amo Office property is not currently located on its own tax parcel. While we intend to file all necessary documents with the applicable governmental authorities to segregate the real estate tax liability for the Del Amo Office property from the real estate tax liability for the larger tax parcel of which it is a part, if we are unable to segregate such real estate tax liability for the Del Amo Office property from the larger tax parcel, then the failure of the ground tenant under the ground lease or the fee owner to pay real property taxes on the larger tract could result in a tax lien and/or foreclosure of the Del Amo Office property. In the event of a foreclosure of the Del Amo Office property, the Company may lose its interest in the Del Amo Office building and may no longer have the right to receive any of the rental income from the Del Amo Office building. In addition, the failure of the Del Amo Office property to be a separate tax parcel may impair the Company’s ability to obtain financing for the Del Amo Office building.

We may be unable to identify and complete acquisitions of properties that meet our criteria, which may impede our growth.

Our business strategy involves the acquisition of underperforming office properties. These activities require us to identify suitable acquisition candidates or investment opportunities that meet our criteria and are compatible with our growth strategies. We continue to evaluate the market of available properties and may attempt to acquire properties when strategic opportunities exist. However, we may be unable to acquire any of the properties identified as potential acquisition opportunities under “Business and Properties—Acquisition Pipeline” and elsewhere in this prospectus, or that we may identify in the future. Our ability to acquire properties on favorable terms, or at all, may be exposed to the following significant risks:

 

   

potential inability to acquire a desired property because of competition from other real estate investors with significant capital, including publicly traded REITs, private equity investors and

 

22


Table of Contents
 

institutional investment funds, which may be able to accept more risk than we can prudently manage, including risks with respect to the geographic proximity of investments and the payment of higher acquisition prices;

 

   

we may incur significant costs and divert management attention in connection with evaluating and negotiating potential acquisitions, including ones that we are subsequently unable to complete;

 

   

even if we enter into agreements for the acquisition of properties, these agreements are subject to customary conditions to closing, including the satisfactory completion of our due diligence investigations; and

 

   

we may be unable to finance the acquisition on favorable terms or at all.

If we are unable to finance property acquisitions or acquire properties on favorable terms, or at all, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected. In addition, failure to identify or complete acquisitions of suitable properties could slow our growth.

Our future acquisitions may not yield the returns we expect.

Our future acquisitions and our ability to successfully operate the properties we acquire in such acquisitions may be exposed to the following significant risks:

 

   

even if we are able to acquire a desired property, competition from other potential acquirers may significantly increase the purchase price;

 

   

we may acquire properties that are not accretive to our results upon acquisition, and we may not successfully manage and lease those properties to meet our expectations;

 

   

our cash flow may be insufficient to meet our required principal and interest payments;

 

   

we may spend more than budgeted amounts to make necessary improvements or renovations to acquired properties;

 

   

we may be unable to quickly and efficiently integrate new acquisitions, particularly acquisitions of portfolios of properties, into our existing operations, and as a result our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected;

 

   

market conditions may result in higher than expected vacancy rates and lower than expected rental rates; and

 

   

we may acquire properties subject to liabilities and without any recourse, or with only limited recourse, with respect to unknown liabilities such as liabilities for clean-up of undisclosed environmental contamination, claims by tenants, vendors or other persons dealing with the former owners of the properties, liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and claims for indemnification by general partners, directors, officers and others indemnified by the former owners of the properties.

If we cannot operate acquired properties to meet our financial expectations, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

 

23


Table of Contents

We may acquire properties or portfolios of properties through tax deferred contribution transactions, which could result in stockholder dilution and limit our ability to sell such assets.

In the future we may acquire properties or portfolios of properties through tax deferred contribution transactions in exchange for partnership interests in our operating partnership, which may result in stockholder dilution. This acquisition structure may have the effect of, among other things, reducing the amount of tax depreciation we could deduct over the tax life of the acquired properties, and may require that we agree to protect the contributors’ ability to defer recognition of taxable gain through restrictions on our ability to dispose of the acquired properties and/or the allocation of partnership debt to the contributors to maintain their tax bases. These restrictions could limit our ability to sell an asset at a time, or on terms, that would be favorable absent such restrictions.

Our growth depends on external sources of capital that are outside of our control and may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required under the Code, among other things, to distribute annually at least 90% of our net taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain. In addition, we will be subject to income tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our net taxable income, including any net capital gains. Because of these distribution requirements, we may not be able to fund future capital needs, including any necessary acquisition financing, from operating cash flow. Consequently, we intend to rely on third-party sources to fund our capital needs. We may not be able to obtain the financing on favorable terms or at all. Any additional debt we incur will increase our leverage and likelihood of default. Our access to third-party sources of capital depends, in part, on:

 

   

general market conditions;

 

   

the market’s perception of our growth potential;

 

   

our current debt levels;

 

   

our current and expected future earnings;

 

   

our cash flow and cash distributions; and

 

   

the market price per share of our common stock.

Recently, the credit markets have been subject to significant disruptions. If we cannot obtain capital from third-party sources, we may not be able to acquire or develop properties when strategic opportunities exist, meet the capital and operating needs of our existing properties, satisfy our debt service obligations or make the cash distributions to our stockholders necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT.

We expect to have approximately $94.3 million of indebtedness outstanding following this offering, which may expose us to interest rate fluctuations and the risk of default under our debt obligations.

Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we anticipate that our total consolidated indebtedness will be approximately $94.3 million, of which $37.0 million (or approximately 39.2%) is variable rate debt, and we may incur significant additional debt to finance future acquisition and development activities. Concurrently with the completion of this offering, we expect to enter into a secured credit facility.

Payments of principal and interest on borrowings may leave us with insufficient cash resources to operate our properties or to pay the dividends currently contemplated or necessary to maintain our REIT

 

24


Table of Contents

qualification. Our level of debt and the limitations imposed on us by our debt agreements could have significant adverse consequences, including the following:

 

   

our cash flow may be insufficient to meet our required principal and interest payments;

 

   

we may be unable to borrow additional funds as needed or on favorable terms, which could, among other things, adversely affect our ability to meet operational needs;

 

   

we may be unable to refinance our indebtedness at maturity or the refinancing terms may be less favorable than the terms of our original indebtedness;

 

   

because a portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates, increases in interest rates could increase our interest expense;

 

   

we may be forced to dispose of one or more of our properties, possibly on unfavorable terms or in violation of certain covenants to which we may be subject;

 

   

we may violate restrictive covenants in our loan documents, which would entitle the lenders to accelerate our debt obligations; and

 

   

our default under any loan with cross default provisions could result in a default on other indebtedness.

If any one of these events were to occur, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected. Furthermore, foreclosures could create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, which could hinder our ability to meet the REIT distribution requirements imposed by the Code. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding After this Offering.”

Mortgage debt obligations expose us to the possibility of foreclosure, which could result in the loss of our investment in a property or group of properties subject to mortgage debt.

Incurring mortgage and other secured debt obligations increases our risk of property losses because defaults on indebtedness secured by properties may result in foreclosure actions initiated by lenders and ultimately our loss of the property securing any loans for which we are in default. Any foreclosure on a mortgaged property or group of properties could adversely affect the overall value of our portfolio of properties. For tax purposes, a foreclosure of any of our properties that is subject to a nonrecourse mortgage loan would be treated as a sale of the property for a purchase price equal to the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage. If the outstanding balance of the debt secured by the mortgage exceeds our tax basis in the property, we would recognize taxable income on foreclosure, but would not receive any cash proceeds.

Our secured credit facility will restrict our ability to engage in some business activities.

We anticipate that our secured credit facility will contain customary negative covenants and other financial and operating covenants that, among other things:

 

   

restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

restrict our ability to make certain investments;

 

   

limit our ability to make capital expenditures;

 

25


Table of Contents
   

restrict our ability to merge with another company;

 

   

restrict our ability to make distributions to stockholders; and

 

   

require us to maintain financial coverage ratios.

These limitations will restrict our ability to engage in some business activities, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock. In addition, our secured credit facility may contain specific cross-default provisions with respect to specified other indebtedness, giving the lenders the right to declare a default if we are in default under other loans in some circumstances.

Adverse economic and geopolitical conditions and dislocations in the credit markets could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

Our business may be affected by market and economic challenges experienced by the U.S. economy or real estate industry as a whole, including the current dislocations in the credit markets and general global economic downturn. These current conditions, or similar conditions existing in the future, may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock as a result of the following potential consequences, among others:

 

   

significant job losses in the financial and professional services industries may occur, which may decrease demand for our office space, causing market rental rates and property values to be negatively impacted;

 

   

our ability to obtain financing on terms and conditions that we find acceptable, or at all, may be limited, which could reduce our ability to pursue acquisition and development opportunities and refinance existing debt, reduce our returns from our acquisition and development activities and increase our future interest expense;

 

   

reduced values of our properties may limit our ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices or to obtain debt financing secured by our properties and may reduce the availability of unsecured loans; and

 

   

one or more lenders under our secured credit facility could refuse to fund their financing commitment to us or could fail and we may not be able to replace the financing commitment of any such lenders on favorable terms, or at all.

In addition, the economic downturn has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the businesses of many of our tenants. As a result, we may see increases in bankruptcies of our tenants and increased defaults by tenants, and we may experience higher vacancy rates and delays in re-leasing vacant space, which could negatively impact our business and results of operations.

Failure to hedge effectively against interest rate changes may adversely affect financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

If interest rates increase, then so will the interest costs on our unhedged or partially hedged variable rate debt, which could adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to pay principal and interest on our debt and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders. Further, rising interest rates could limit our ability to refinance existing debt when it matures. We seek to manage our exposure to interest rate volatility by using interest rate hedging arrangements that involve risk, such as the risk that counterparties may fail to honor their obligations

 

26


Table of Contents

under these arrangements, and that these arrangements may not be effective in reducing our exposure to interest rate changes. Failure to hedge effectively against interest rate changes may materially adversely affect financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock. In addition, while such agreements are intended to lessen the impact of rising interest rates on us, they also expose us to the risk that the other parties to the agreements will not perform, we could incur significant costs associated with the settlement of the agreements, the agreements will be unenforceable and the underlying transactions will fail to qualify as highly-effective cash flow hedges under Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 815, Derivative and Hedging.

We have a limited operating history and may not be able to operate our business successfully or implement our business strategies as described in this prospectus.

Upon completion of the offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we will own eight properties located throughout California, containing a total of approximately 2.0 million net rentable square feet. Four of the properties have not been under our management. These properties may have characteristics or deficiencies unknown to us that could affect such properties’ valuation or revenue potential. In addition, there can be no assurance that the operating performance of the properties will not decline under our management. We cannot assure you that we will be able to operate our business successfully or implement our business strategies as described in this prospectus. Furthermore, we can provide no assurance that our senior management team will replicate its success in its previous endeavors, and our investment returns could be substantially lower than the returns achieved by their previous endeavors.

We have no operating history as a REIT or a publicly traded company and may not be able to successfully operate as a REIT or a publicly traded company.

We have no operating history as a REIT or a publicly traded company. We cannot assure you that the past experience of our senior management team will be sufficient to successfully operate our company as a REIT or a publicly traded company, including the requirements to timely meet disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Upon completion of this offering, we will be required to develop and implement control systems and procedures in order to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT and satisfy our periodic and current reporting requirements under applicable SEC regulations and comply with New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, listing standards, and this transition could place a significant strain on our management systems, infrastructure and other resources. Failure to operate successfully as a public company or maintain our qualification as a REIT would have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock. See “—Risks Related to Our Status as a REIT—Failure to qualify as a REIT would have significant adverse consequences to us and the value of our common stock.”

We face significant competition, which may decrease or prevent increases of the occupancy and rental rates of our properties.

We compete with numerous developers, owners and operators of office properties, many of which own properties similar to ours in the same submarkets in which our properties are located. If our competitors offer space at rental rates below current market rates, or below the rental rates we currently charge our tenants, we may lose existing or potential tenants and we may be pressured to reduce our rental rates below those we currently charge or to offer more substantial rent abatements, tenant improvements, early termination rights or below- market renewal options in order to retain tenants when our tenants’ leases expire. As a result, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

 

27


Table of Contents

We depend on significant tenants, and many of our properties are single-tenant properties or are currently occupied by single tenants.

As of March 31, 2010, the 20 largest tenants in our office portfolio represented approximately 80.1% of the total annualized rent generated by our office properties. The inability of a significant tenant to pay rent or the bankruptcy or insolvency of a significant tenant may adversely affect the income produced by our properties. If a tenant becomes bankrupt or insolvent, federal law may prohibit us from evicting such tenant based solely upon such bankruptcy or insolvency. In addition, a bankrupt or insolvent tenant may be authorized to reject and terminate its lease with us. Any claim against such tenant for unpaid, future rent would be subject to a statutory cap that might be substantially less than the remaining rent owed under the lease.

Furthermore, Saatchi & Saatchi leases 100% of the Del Amo Office property under the terms of an office lease that permits Saatchi & Saatchi to terminate the lease as to all of the leased premises prior to the stated lease expiration on December 31, 2011, December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2016, in each case upon nine months prior notice and in exchange for payment of an early termination fee estimated to be approximately $5.0 million for 2011, approximately $3.1 million for 2014 and approximately $1.9 million for 2016. As of March 31, 2010, the Saatchi & Saatchi lease comprised approximately 11.7% of our annualized office rent. To the extent that Saatchi & Saatchi exercises its early termination right, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow will be adversely affected, and we can provide no assurance that we will be able to generate an equivalent amount of net rental revenue by leasing the vacated space to new third party tenants.

Our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected if any of our significant tenants were to become unable to pay their rent or become bankrupt or insolvent.

We may be unable to renew leases, lease vacant space or re-let space as leases expire.

As of March 31, 2010, leases representing 3.1% of the square footage of the office properties in our initial portfolio will expire in the remainder of 2010, and an additional 14.3% of the square footage of the office properties in our initial portfolio was available (taking into account uncommenced leases signed as of March 31, 2010). Furthermore, substantially all of the square footage of the media and entertainment properties in our initial portfolio (other than the KTLA lease of the KTLA building) will expire in the remainder of 2010. We cannot assure you that leases will be renewed or that our properties will be re-let at net effective rental rates equal to or above the current average net effective rental rates or that substantial rent abatements, tenant improvements, early termination rights or below-market renewal options will not be offered to attract new tenants or retain existing tenants. If the rental rates for our properties decrease, our existing tenants do not renew their leases or we do not re-let a significant portion of our available space and space for which leases will expire, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

We may be required to make rent or other concessions and/or significant capital expenditures to improve our properties in order to retain and attract tenants, causing our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock to be adversely affected.

To the extent adverse economic conditions continue in the real estate market and demand for office space remains low, we expect that, upon expiration of leases at our properties, we will be required to make rent or other concessions to tenants, accommodate requests for renovations, build-to-suit remodeling and other improvements or provide additional services to our tenants. As a result, we may have to make significant capital or other expenditures in order to retain tenants whose leases expire and to attract new tenants in sufficient numbers. Additionally, we may need to raise capital to make such expenditures. If we are unable to do so or capital is otherwise unavailable, we may be unable to make the required expenditures. This could result in non-renewals by tenants upon expiration of their leases, which could cause an adverse effect to our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

 

28


Table of Contents

The actual rents we receive for the properties in our initial portfolio may be less than our asking rents, and we may experience lease roll down from time to time.

As a result of various factors, including competitive pricing pressure in our submarkets, adverse conditions in the Northern or Southern California real estate markets, a general economic downturn, such as the current global economic downturn, and the desirability of our properties compared to other properties in our submarkets, we may be unable to realize the asking rents across the properties in our initial portfolio. In addition, the degree of discrepancy between our asking rents and the actual rents we are able to obtain may vary both from property to property and among different leased spaces within a single property. If we are unable to obtain rental rates that are on average comparable to our asking rents across our initial portfolio, then our ability to generate cash flow growth will be negatively impacted. In addition, depending on asking rental rates at any given time as compared to expiring leases in our initial portfolio, from time to time rental rates for expiring leases may be higher than starting rental rates for new leases.

The value we ascribed to the properties and assets to be acquired by us in the formation transactions may exceed the aggregate fair market value of such properties and assets.

We have not obtained any third-party appraisals of the properties and other assets to be acquired by us from certain of our affiliates and from unaffiliated third parties in connection with this offering or the formation transactions, nor any independent third-party valuations or fairness opinions in connection with the formation transactions. The amount of consideration that we will pay is based on management’s estimate of fair market value, including an analysis of market sales comparables, market capitalization rates for other properties and assets and general market conditions for such properties and assets. In certain instances, the amount of consideration we will pay was not negotiated on an arm’s length basis and management’s estimate of fair market value may exceed the appraised fair market value of these properties and assets.

The value of common units and shares of our common stock we will issue as consideration for the properties and assets to be acquired by us in the formation transactions may exceed the aggregate fair market value of such properties and assets.

The value of the common units and shares of our common stock that we will issue as consideration for the properties and assets that we will acquire will increase or decrease if the per share trading price of our common stock increases or decreases. The initial public offering price of our common stock will be determined in consultation with the underwriters. Among the factors that will be considered are our record of operations, our management, our estimated net income, our estimated funds from operations, our estimated cash available for distribution, our anticipated dividend yield, our growth prospects, the current market valuations, financial performance and dividend yields of publicly traded companies considered by us and the underwriters to be comparable to us and the current state of the commercial real estate industry and the economy as a whole. The initial public offering price does not necessarily bear any relationship to our book value of our properties and assets. As a result, the equity consideration to be given in exchange by us for the contribution of properties and other assets in the formation transactions may exceed the fair market value of these properties and assets.

Our success depends on key personnel whose continued service is not guaranteed.

Our continued success and our ability to manage anticipated future growth depend, in large part, upon the efforts of key personnel, particularly Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, who have extensive market knowledge and relationships and exercise substantial influence over our operational, financing, acquisition and disposition activity. Among the reasons that they are important to our success is that each has a national or regional industry reputation that attracts business and investment opportunities and assists us in negotiations with lenders, existing and potential tenants and industry personnel. If we lose their services, our relationships with such personnel could diminish.

 

29


Table of Contents

Many of our other senior executives also have extensive experience and strong reputations in the real estate industry, which aid us in identifying opportunities, having opportunities brought to us, and negotiating with tenants and build-to-suit prospects. The loss of services of one or more members of our senior management team, or our inability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel, could adversely affect our business, diminish our investment opportunities and weaken our relationships with lenders, business partners, existing and prospective tenants and industry personnel, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

Potential losses, including from adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and title claims, may not be covered by insurance.

Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we will carry commercial property (including earthquake), liability and terrorism coverage on all the properties in our initial portfolio under a blanket insurance policy, in addition to other coverages, such as trademark and pollution coverage, that may be appropriate for certain of our properties. We will select policy specifications and insured limits that we believe to be appropriate and adequate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice. However, we will not carry insurance for losses such as loss from riots or war because such coverage is not available or is not available at commercially reasonable rates. Some of our policies, like those covering losses due to terrorism or earthquakes, will be insured subject to limitations involving large deductibles or co-payments and policy limits that may not be sufficient to cover losses, which could effect certain of our properties that are located in areas particularly susceptible to natural disasters. All of the properties we currently own are located in California, an area especially subject to earthquakes. While we will carry earthquake insurance on our properties, the amount of our earthquake insurance coverage may not be sufficient to fully cover losses from earthquakes. In addition, we may discontinue earthquake , terrorism or other insurance on some or all of our properties in the future if the cost of premiums for any such policies exceeds, in our judgment, the value of the coverage discounted for the risk of loss. As a result, we may be required to incur significant costs in the event of adverse weather conditions and natural disasters.

If we or one or more of our tenants experiences a loss that is uninsured or that exceeds policy limits, we could lose the capital invested in the damaged properties as well as the anticipated future cash flows from those properties. In addition, if the damaged properties are subject to recourse indebtedness, we would continue to be liable for the indebtedness, even if these properties were irreparably damaged. Furthermore, we may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable costs in the future as the costs associated with property and casualty renewals may be higher than anticipated.

In the event that we experience a substantial or comprehensive loss of one of our properties, we may not be able to rebuild such property to its existing specifications. Further reconstruction or improvement of such a property would likely require significant upgrades to meet zoning and building code requirements.

We may become subject to litigation, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

In the future we may become subject to litigation, including claims relating to our operations, offerings, and otherwise in the ordinary course of business. Some of these claims may result in significant defense costs and potentially significant judgments against us, some of which are not, or cannot be, insured against. We generally intend to vigorously defend ourselves; however, we cannot be certain of the ultimate outcomes of any claims that may arise in the future. Resolution of these types of matters against us may result in our having to pay significant fines, judgments, or settlements, which, if uninsured, or if the fines, judgments, and settlements exceed insured levels, could adversely impact our earnings and cash flows, thereby having an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock. Certain litigation or the resolution of certain litigation may affect the availability or cost of some of our insurance coverage, which could adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows, expose us to increased risks that would be uninsured, and/or adversely impact our ability to attract officers and directors.

 

30


Table of Contents

Joint venture investments could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on co-venturers’ financial condition and disputes between us and our co-venturers.

We may co-invest in the future with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities, acquiring non-controlling interests in or sharing responsibility for managing the affairs of a property, partnership, joint venture or other entity. In such event, we would not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the property, partnership, joint venture or other entity. Investments in partnerships, joint ventures or other entities may, under certain circumstances, involve risks not present were a third party not involved, including the possibility that partners or co-venturers might become bankrupt or fail to fund their share of required capital contributions. Partners or co-venturers may have economic or other business interests or goals which are inconsistent with our business interests or goals, and may be in a position to take actions contrary to our policies or objectives, and they may have competing interests in our markets that could create conflict of interest issues. Such investments may also have the potential risk of impasses on decisions, such as a sale, because neither we nor the partner or co-venturer would have full control over the partnership or joint venture. In addition, prior consent of our joint venture partners may be required for a sale or transfer to a third party of our interests in the joint venture, which would restrict our ability to dispose of our interest in the joint venture. If we become a limited partner or non-managing member in any partnership or limited liability company and such entity takes or expects to take actions that could jeopardize our status as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we may be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. Disputes between us and partners or co-venturers may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses and prevent our officers and/or directors from focusing their time and effort on our business. Consequently, actions by or disputes with partners or co-venturers might result in subjecting properties owned by the partnership or joint venture to additional risk. In addition, we may in certain circumstances be liable for the actions of our third-party partners or co-venturers. Our joint ventures may be subject to debt and, in the current volatile credit market, the refinancing of such debt may require equity capital calls.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of integrated internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results.

Effective internal and disclosure controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud and to operate successfully as a public company. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be harmed. As part of our ongoing monitoring of internal controls we may discover material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls. As a result of weaknesses that may be identified in our internal controls, we may also identify certain deficiencies in some of our disclosure controls and procedures that we believe require remediation. If we discover weaknesses, we will make efforts to improve our internal and disclosure controls. However, there is no assurance that we will be successful. Any failure to maintain effective controls or timely effect any necessary improvement of our internal and disclosure controls could harm operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, which could affect our ability to remain listed with the NYSE. Ineffective internal and disclosure controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the per share trading price of our common stock.

Risks Related to the Real Estate Industry

Our performance and value are subject to risks associated with real estate assets and the real estate industry.

Our ability to pay expected dividends to our stockholders depends on our ability to generate revenues in excess of expenses, scheduled principal payments on debt and capital expenditure requirements. Events and conditions generally applicable to owners and operators of real property that are beyond our control may decrease cash available for distribution and the value of our properties. These events include many of the risks set forth above under “—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business,” as well as the following:

 

   

local oversupply or reduction in demand for office or media and entertainment-related space;

 

31


Table of Contents
   

adverse changes in financial conditions of buyers, sellers and tenants of properties;

 

   

vacancies or our inability to rent space on favorable terms, including possible market pressures to offer tenants rent abatements, tenant improvements, early termination rights or below-market renewal options, and the need to periodically repair, renovate and re-let space;

 

   

increased operating costs, including insurance premiums, utilities, real estate taxes and state and local taxes;

 

   

civil unrest, acts of war, terrorist attacks and natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods, which may result in uninsured or underinsured losses;

 

   

decreases in the underlying value of our real estate; and

 

   

changing submarket demographics.

In addition, periods of economic downturn or recession, rising interest rates or declining demand for real estate, or the public perception that any of these events may occur, could result in a general decline in rents or an increased incidence of defaults under existing leases, which would adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

Illiquidity of real estate investments could significantly impede our ability to respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties and harm our financial condition.

The real estate investments made, and to be made, by us are relatively difficult to sell quickly. As a result, our ability to promptly sell one or more properties in our initial portfolio in response to changing economic, financial and investment conditions is limited. Return of capital and realization of gains, if any, from an investment generally will occur upon disposition or refinancing of the underlying property. We may be unable to realize our investment objectives by sale, other disposition or refinancing at attractive prices within any given period of time or may otherwise be unable to complete any exit strategy. In particular, our ability to dispose of one or more properties within a specific time period is subject to certain limitations imposed by our tax protection agreements, as well as weakness in or even the lack of an established market for a property, changes in the financial condition or prospects of prospective purchasers, changes in national or international economic conditions, such as the current economic downturn, and changes in laws, regulations or fiscal policies of jurisdictions in which the property is located.

In addition, the Code imposes restrictions on a REIT’s ability to dispose of properties that are not applicable to other types of real estate companies. In particular, the tax laws applicable to REITs effectively require that we hold our properties for investment, rather than primarily for sale in the ordinary course of business, which may cause us to forego or defer sales of properties that otherwise would be in our best interest. Therefore, we may not be able to vary our initial portfolio in response to economic or other conditions promptly or on favorable terms, which may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

We could incur significant costs related to government regulation and litigation over environmental matters.

Under various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the environment, as a current or former owner or operator of real property, we may be liable for costs and damages resulting from the presence or discharge of hazardous or toxic substances, waste or petroleum products at, on, in, under or migrating from such property, including costs to investigate, clean up such contamination and liability for harm to natural resources. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such contamination, and the liability may be joint and several. These liabilities could be substantial and the cost of any required remediation, removal, fines or other costs could exceed the value of the

 

32


Table of Contents

property and/or our aggregate assets. In addition, the presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination at our properties may expose us to third-party liability for costs of remediation and/or personal or property damage or materially adversely affect our ability to sell, lease or develop our properties or to borrow using the properties as collateral. In addition, environmental laws may create liens on contaminated sites in favor of the government for damages and costs it incurs to address such contamination. Moreover, if contamination is discovered on our properties, environmental laws may impose restrictions on the manner in which property may be used or businesses may be operated, and these restrictions may require substantial expenditures. Some of our properties have been or may be impacted by contamination arising from current or prior uses of the property, or adjacent properties, for commercial or industrial purposes. Such contamination may arise from spills of petroleum or hazardous substances or releases from tanks used to store such materials. As a result, we could potentially incur material liability for these issues, which could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and the per share trading price of our common stock.

Environmental laws also govern the presence, maintenance and removal of asbestos-containing building materials, or ACBM, and may impose fines and penalties for failure to comply with these requirements or expose us to third-party liability (e.g., liability for personal injury associated with exposure to asbestos). Such laws require that owners or operators of buildings containing ACBM (and employers in such buildings) properly manage and maintain the asbestos, adequately notify or train those who may come into contact with asbestos, and undertake special precautions, including removal or other abatement, if asbestos would be disturbed during renovation or demolition of a building. Some of our properties contain ACBM and we could be liable for such damages, fines or penalties, as described below in “Business and Properties—Regulation—Environmental Matters.”

In addition, the properties in our initial portfolio also are subject to various federal, state and local environmental and health and safety requirements, such as state and local fire requirements. Moreover, some of our tenants routinely handle and use hazardous or regulated substances and wastes as part of their operations at our properties, which are subject to regulation. Such environmental and health and safety laws and regulations could subject us or our tenants to liability resulting from these activities. Environmental liabilities could affect a tenant’s ability to make rental payments to us. In addition, changes in laws could increase the potential liability for noncompliance. This may result in significant unanticipated expenditures or may otherwise materially and adversely affect our operations, or those of our tenants, which could in turn have an adverse effect on us.

We cannot assure you that costs or liabilities incurred as a result of environmental issues will not affect our ability to make distributions to you or that such costs or other remedial measures will not have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock. If we do incur material environmental liabilities in the future, we may face significant remediation costs, and we may find it difficult to sell any affected properties.

Our properties may contain or develop harmful mold or suffer from other air quality issues, which could lead to liability for adverse health effects and costs of remediation.

When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth may occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not addressed over a period of time. Some molds may produce airborne toxins or irritants. Indoor air quality issues can also stem from inadequate ventilation, chemical contamination from indoor or outdoor sources, and other biological contaminants such as pollen, viruses and bacteria. Indoor exposure to airborne toxins or irritants above certain levels can be alleged to cause a variety of adverse health effects and symptoms, including allergic or other reactions. As a result, the presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants at any of our properties could require us to undertake a costly remediation program to contain or remove the mold or other airborne contaminants from the affected property or increase indoor ventilation. In addition, the presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants could expose us to liability from our tenants, employees of our tenants or others if property damage or personal injury is alleged to have occurred.

 

33


Table of Contents

We may incur significant costs complying with various federal, state and local laws, regulations and covenants that are applicable to our properties.

The properties in our initial portfolio are subject to various covenants and federal, state and local laws and regulatory requirements, including permitting and licensing requirements. Local regulations, including municipal or local ordinances, zoning restrictions and restrictive covenants imposed by community developers may restrict our use of our properties and may require us to obtain approval from local officials or restrict our use of our properties and may require us to obtain approval from local officials of community standards organizations at any time with respect to our properties, including prior to acquiring a property or when undertaking renovations of any of our existing properties. Among other things, these restrictions may relate to fire and safety, seismic or hazardous material abatement requirements. There can be no assurance that existing laws and regulatory policies will not adversely affect us or the timing or cost of any future acquisitions or renovations, or that additional regulations will not be adopted that increase such delays or result in additional costs. Our growth strategy may be affected by our ability to obtain permits, licenses and zoning relief. Our failure to obtain such permits, licenses and zoning relief or to comply with applicable laws could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

In addition, federal and state laws and regulations, including laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, impose further restrictions on our properties and operations. Under the ADA, all public accommodations must meet federal requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. Some of our properties may currently be in non-compliance with the ADA. If one or more of the properties in our initial portfolio is not in compliance with the ADA or any other regulatory requirements, we may be required to incur additional costs to bring the property into compliance and we might incur governmental fines or the award of damages to private litigants. In addition, we do not know whether existing requirements will change or whether future requirements will require us to make significant unanticipated expenditures that will adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

We are exposed to risks associated with property development.

We may engage in development and redevelopment activities with respect to certain of our properties. To the extent that we do so, we will be subject to certain risks, including the availability and pricing of financing on favorable terms or at all; construction and/or lease-up delays; cost overruns, including construction costs that exceed our original estimates; contractor and subcontractor disputes, strikes, labor disputes or supply disruptions; failure to achieve expected occupancy and/or rent levels within the projected time frame, if at all; and delays with respect to obtaining or the inability to obtain necessary zoning, occupancy, land use and other governmental permits, and changes in zoning and land use laws. These risks could result in substantial unanticipated delays or expenses and, under certain circumstances, could prevent completion of development activities once undertaken, any of which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure

Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, the Farallon Funds will own an approximate     % beneficial interest in our company on a fully diluted basis and will have the ability to exercise significant influence on our company.

Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, the Farallon Funds will own approximately     % of our outstanding common stock and     % of our outstanding common units, which represent an approximate     % beneficial interest in our company on a fully diluted basis. Consequently, the Farallon Funds may be able to significantly influence the outcome of matters submitted for stockholder action, including the election of our board of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, including business combinations, consolidations and mergers. In addition, one member of our initial board of directors is a managing member of Farallon. As a result, the Farallon Funds have substantial influence on us and could exercise their influence in a manner that conflicts with the interests of other stockholders.

 

34


Table of Contents

The series A preferred units that will be issued to some contributors in exchange for the contribution of their properties will have certain preferences, which could limit our ability to pay dividends or other distributions to the holders of our common stock or engage in certain business combinations, recapitalizations or other fundamental changes.

In exchange for the contribution of properties to our initial portfolio pursuant to the formation transactions, some contributors will receive series A preferred units in our operating partnership, which units will have a preference as to distributions and upon liquidation that could limit our ability to pay a dividend or make another distribution to the holders of our common stock. Our series A preferred units are senior to any other class of securities our operating partnership may issue in the future without the consent of the holders of series A preferred units. As a result, we will be unable to issue partnership units in our operating partnership senior to the series A preferred units without the consent of the holders of series A preferred units. Any preferred stock in our company that we issue will be structurally junior to the series A preferred units.

In addition, we may only engage in a fundamental change, including a recapitalization, a merger and a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, as a result of which our common stock ceases to be publicly traded or common units cease to be exchangeable (at our option) for publicly traded shares of our stock, without the consent of holders of series A preferred units if following such transaction we will maintain certain leverage ratios and equity requirements, and pay certain minimum tax distributions to holders of our outstanding series A preferred units. Alternatively, we may redeem all or any portion of the then outstanding series A preferred units for cash (at a price per unit equal to the redemption price). If we choose to redeem the outstanding series A preferred units in connection with a fundamental change, this could reduce the amount of cash available to be paid to holders of our common stock. In addition, these provisions could increase the cost of any such fundamental change transaction, which may discourage a merger, combination or change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests.

Conflicts of interest exist or could arise in the future between the interests of our stockholders and the interests of holders of units in our operating partnership, which may impede business decisions that could benefit our stockholders.

Conflicts of interest exist or could arise in the future as a result of the relationships between us and our affiliates, on the one hand, and our operating partnership or any partner thereof, on the other. Our directors and officers have duties to our company under applicable Maryland law in connection with their management of our company. At the same time, we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, have fiduciary duties and obligations to our operating partnership and its limited partners under Maryland law and the partnership agreement of our operating partnership in connection with the management of our operating partnership. Our fiduciary duties and obligations as general partner to our operating partnership and its partners may come into conflict with the duties of our directors and officers to our company.

Additionally, the partnership agreement provides that we and our directors and officers will not be liable or accountable to our operating partnership for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived if we, or such director or officer acted in good faith. The partnership agreement also provides that we will not be liable to the operating partnership or any partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the operating partnership or any limited partner, except for liability for our intentional harm or gross negligence. Moreover, the partnership agreement provides that our operating partnership is required to indemnify us and our directors, officers and employees, officers and employees of the operating partnership and our designees from and against any and all claims that relate to the operations of our operating partnership, except (1) if the act or omission of the person was material to the matter giving rise to the action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) for any transaction for which the indemnified party received an improper personal benefit, in money, property or services or otherwise, in violation or breach of any provision of the partnership agreement or (3) in the case of a criminal proceeding, if the indemnified person had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. No reported decision of a Maryland appellate court has

 

35


Table of Contents

interpreted provisions similar to the provisions of the partnership agreement of our operating partnership that modify and reduce our fiduciary duties or obligations as the general partner or reduce or eliminate our liability for money damages to the operating partnership and its partners, and we have not obtained an opinion of counsel as to the enforceability of the provisions set forth in the partnership agreement that purport to modify or reduce the fiduciary duties that would be in effect were it not for the partnership agreement.

We may pursue less vigorous enforcement of terms of the contribution and other agreements with members of our senior management and our affiliates because of our dependence on them and conflicts of interest.

Each of Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern and affiliates of the Farallon Funds are parties to contribution agreements with us pursuant to which we have acquired or will acquire interests in our properties and assets. In addition, Messrs. Coleman and Stern are parties to employment agreements with us. We may choose not to enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, our rights under these agreements because of our desire to maintain our ongoing relationship with members of our senior management and the Farallon Funds, with possible negative impact on stockholders.

Our charter and bylaws, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership and Maryland law contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a change of control transaction, even if such a change in control may be in your interest, and as a result may depress the market price of our common stock.

Our charter contains certain ownership limits. Our charter contains various provisions that are intended to preserve our qualification as a REIT and, subject to certain exceptions, authorize our directors to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve our qualification as a REIT. For example, our charter prohibits the actual, beneficial or constructive ownership by any person of more than 9.8% in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock or more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate outstanding shares of all classes and series of our stock. Our board of directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, may exempt a person, prospectively or retroactively, from these ownership limits if certain conditions are satisfied. In connection with the formation transactions and this offering, our board of directors will grant to the Farallon excepted holders an exemption from the ownership limits, subject to various conditions and limitations. See “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” The restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock may:

 

   

discourage a tender offer or other transactions or a change in management or of control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests; or

 

   

result in the transfer of shares acquired in excess of the restrictions to a trust for the benefit of a charitable beneficiary and, as a result, the forfeiture by the acquirer of the benefits of owning the additional shares.

We could increase the number of authorized shares of stock, classify and reclassify unissued stock and issue stock without stockholder approval. Our board of directors, without stockholder approval, has the power under our charter to amend our charter to increase the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we are authorized to issue, to authorize us to issue authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock into one or more classes or series of stock and set the terms of such newly classified or reclassified shares. See “Description of Stock—Common Stock” and “—Preferred Stock.” As a result, we may issue series or classes of common stock or preferred stock with preferences, dividends, powers and rights, voting or otherwise, that are senior to, or otherwise conflict with, the rights of holders of our common stock. Although our board of directors has no such intention at the present time, it could establish a class or series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of such series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interest.

 

36


Table of Contents

Certain provisions of Maryland law could inhibit changes in control, which may discourage third parties from conducting a tender offer or seeking other change of control transactions that could involve a premium price for our common stock or that our stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interest. Certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, may have the effect of inhibiting a third party from making a proposal to acquire us or of impeding a change of control under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of shares of our common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-prevailing market price of such shares, including:

 

   

“business combination” provisions that, subject to limitations, prohibit certain business combinations between us and an “interested stockholder” (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our shares or an affiliate thereof or an affiliate or associate of ours who was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of our then outstanding voting stock at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question) for five years after the most recent date on which the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, and thereafter impose fair price and/or supermajority and stockholder voting requirements on these combinations; and

 

   

“control share” provisions that provide that “control shares” of our company (defined as shares that, when aggregated with other shares controlled by the stockholder, entitle the stockholder to exercise one of three increasing ranges of voting power in electing directors) acquired in a “control share acquisition” (defined as the direct or indirect acquisition of ownership or control of issued and outstanding “control shares”) have no voting rights except to the extent approved by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares.

As permitted by the MGCL, we have elected, by resolution of our board of directors, to exempt from the business combination provisions of the MGCL, any business combination that is first approved by our disinterested directors and, pursuant to a provision in our bylaws, to exempt any acquisition of our stock from the control share provisions of the MGCL. However, our board of directors may by resolution elect to repeal the exemption from the business combination provisions of the MGCL and may by amendment to our bylaws opt in to the control share provisions of the MGCL at any time in the future.

Certain provisions of the MGCL permit our board of directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is currently provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement certain corporate governance provisions, some of which (for example, a classified board) are not currently applicable to us. These provisions may have the effect of limiting or precluding a third party from making an unsolicited acquisition proposal for us or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of shares of our common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then current market price. Our charter contains a provision whereby we elect, at such time as we become eligible to do so, to be subject to the provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 8 of the MGCL relating to the filling of vacancies on our board of directors. See “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws.”

Certain provisions in the partnership agreement of our operating partnership may delay or prevent unsolicited acquisitions of us. Provisions in the partnership agreement of our operating partnership may delay or make more difficult unsolicited acquisitions of us or changes of our control. These provisions could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an unsolicited acquisition of us or change of our control, although some stockholders might consider such proposals, if made, desirable. These provisions include, among others:

 

   

redemption rights of qualifying parties;

 

   

transfer restrictions on units;

 

37


Table of Contents
   

our ability, as general partner, in some cases, to amend the partnership agreement and to cause the operating partnership to issue units with terms that could delay, defer or prevent a merger or other change of control of us or our operating partnership without the consent of the limited partners;

 

   

the right of the limited partners to consent to transfers of the general partnership interest and mergers or other transactions involving us under specified circumstances; and

 

   

restrictions on debt levels and equity requirements required pursuant to our series A preferred units, as well as required distributions to holders of series A preferred units of our operating partnership, following certain changes of control of us.

Our charter, bylaws, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership and Maryland law also contain other provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interest. See “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws—Removal of Directors,” “—Control Share Acquisitions,” “—Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business” and “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.”

Our board of directors may change our investment and financing policies without stockholder approval and we may become more highly leveraged, which may increase our risk of default under our debt obligations.

Our investment and financing policies are exclusively determined by our board of directors. Accordingly, our stockholders do not control these policies. Further, our organizational documents do not limit the amount or percentage of indebtedness, funded or otherwise, that we may incur. Our board of directors may alter or eliminate our current policy on borrowing at any time without stockholder approval. If this policy changed, we could become more highly leveraged which could result in an increase in our debt service. Higher leverage also increases the risk of default on our obligations. In addition, a change in our investment policies, including the manner in which we allocate our resources across our portfolio or the types of assets in which we seek to invest, may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, real estate market fluctuations and liquidity risk. Changes to our policies with regards to the foregoing could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited.

Upon completion of this offering, as permitted by Maryland law, our charter will eliminate the liability of our directors and officers to us and our stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from:

 

   

actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

 

   

a final judgment based upon a finding of active and deliberate dishonesty by the director or officer that was material to the cause of action adjudicated.

In addition, our charter will authorize us to obligate our company, and our bylaws will require us, to indemnify our directors and officers for actions taken by them in those and certain other capacities to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. As a result, we and our stockholders may have more limited rights against our directors and officers than might otherwise exist. Accordingly, in the event that actions taken in good faith by any of our directors or officers impede the performance of our company, your ability to recover damages from such director or officer will be limited.

Tax protection agreements could limit our ability to sell or otherwise dispose of certain properties.

In connection with the formation transactions, we will enter into tax protection agreements with certain third-party contributors that provide that if we dispose of any interest with respect to the First Financial or

 

38


Table of Contents

Tierrasanta properties in a taxable transaction during the period from the closing of the offering through certain specified dates ranging until 2027, we will indemnify the third-party contributors for their tax liabilities attributable to their share of the greater of the built-in gain that exists with respect to such property interest as of the time of this offering and the built-in gain that existed with respect to such property interests when held by the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership (and, in either case, tax liabilities incurred as a result of the reimbursement payment). Certain contributors’ rights under the tax protection agreement with respect to these properties will, however, expire at various times (depending on the rights of such partner) during the period beginning in 2017 and prior to the expiration, in 2027, of the maximum period for indemnification. The First Financial and Tierrasanta properties represented 34.3% of our initial office portfolio’s annualized rent as of March 31, 2010. We have no present intention to sell or otherwise dispose of the properties or interest therein in taxable transactions during the restriction period. If we were to trigger the tax protection provisions under these agreements, we would be required to pay damages in the amount of the taxes owed by these contributors (plus additional damages in the amount of the taxes incurred as a result of such payment). In addition, although it may otherwise be in our stockholders’ best interest that we sell one of these properties, it may be economically prohibitive for us to do so because of these obligations.

Our tax protection agreements may require our operating partnership to maintain certain debt levels that otherwise would not be required to operate our business.

Our tax protection agreements will provide that during the period from the closing of the offering through certain specified dates ranging from 2017 to 2027, our operating partnership will offer certain holders of units who continue to hold the units received in respect of the formation transactions the opportunity to guarantee debt. If we fail to make such opportunities available, we will be required to indemnify such holders for their tax liabilities resulting from our failure to make such opportunities available to them (and any tax liabilities incurred as a result of the indemnity payment). See “Structure and Formation of Our Company—Benefits of the Formation Transactions and Concurrent Private Placement to Related Parties—Tax Protection Agreement.” We agreed to these provisions in order to assist certain contributors in deferring the recognition of taxable gain as a result of and after the formation transactions. These obligations may require us to maintain more or different indebtedness than we would otherwise require for our business.

We are a holding company with no direct operations and, as such, we will rely on funds received from our operating partnership to pay liabilities, and the interests of our stockholders will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities and obligations of our operating partnership and its subsidiaries.

We are a holding company and will conduct substantially all of our operations through our operating partnership. We do not have, apart from an interest in our operating partnership, any independent operations. As a result, we will rely on distributions from our operating partnership to pay any dividends we might declare on shares of our common stock. We will also rely on distributions from our operating partnership to meet any of our obligations, including any tax liability on taxable income allocated to us from our operating partnership. In addition, because we are a holding company, your claims as stockholders will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities and obligations (whether or not for borrowed money) of our operating partnership and its subsidiaries. Therefore, in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization, our assets and those of our operating partnership and its subsidiaries will be available to satisfy the claims of our stockholders only after all of our and our operating partnership’s and its subsidiaries’ liabilities and obligations have been paid in full.

Our operating partnership may issue additional common units to third parties without the consent of our stockholders, which would reduce our ownership percentage in our operating partnership and would have a dilutive effect on the amount of distributions made to us by our operating partnership and, therefore, the amount of distributions we can make to our stockholders.

After giving effect to this offering, we will own     % of the outstanding common units and we may, in connection with our acquisition of properties or otherwise, issue additional common units to third parties. Such

 

39


Table of Contents

issuances would reduce our ownership percentage in our operating partnership and affect the amount of distributions made to us by our operating partnership and, therefore, the amount of distributions we can make to our stockholders. Because you will not directly own common units, you will not have any voting rights with respect to any such issuances or other partnership level activities of our operating partnership.

We may assume unknown liabilities in connection with our formation transactions.

As part of our formation transactions, we will acquire entities and assets that are subject to existing liabilities, some of which may be unknown or unquantifiable at the time this offering is completed. These liabilities might include liabilities for cleanup or remediation of undisclosed environmental conditions, claims by tenants, vendors or other persons dealing with our predecessor entities (that had not been asserted or threatened prior to this offering), tax liabilities and accrued but unpaid liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business. While in some instances we may have the right to seek reimbursement against an insurer, any recourse against third parties, including the contributors of our assets, for certain of these liabilities will be limited. There can be no assurance that we will be entitled to any such reimbursement or that ultimately we will be able to recover in respect of such rights for any of these historical liabilities.

Risks Related to Our Status as a REIT

Failure to qualify as a REIT would have significant adverse consequences to us and the value of our common stock.

We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010. We have not requested and do not plan to request a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that we qualify as a REIT, and the statements in the prospectus are not binding on the IRS or any court. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will qualify as a REIT, or that we will remain qualified as such in the future. If we lose our REIT status, we will face serious tax consequences that would substantially reduce the funds available for distribution to you for each of the years involved because:

 

   

we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders in computing our taxable income and would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates;

 

   

we also could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and possibly increased state and local taxes; and

 

   

unless we are entitled to relief under applicable statutory provisions, we could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which we were disqualified.

Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce our cash available for, among other things, our operations and distributions to stockholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, we will not be required to make distributions to our stockholders. As a result of all these factors, our failure to qualify as a REIT also could impair our ability to expand our business and raise capital, and could materially and adversely affect the value of our common stock.

Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions for which there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations. The complexity of these provisions and of the applicable Treasury regulations that have been promulgated under the Code, or the Treasury Regulations, is greater in the case of a REIT that, like us, holds its assets through a partnership. The determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our control may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT. In order to qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy a number of requirements, including requirements regarding the ownership of our stock, requirements regarding the composition of our assets and a requirement that at least 95%

 

40


Table of Contents

of our gross income in any year must be derived from qualifying sources, such as “rents from real property.” Also, we must make distributions to stockholders aggregating annually at least 90% of our net taxable income, excluding net capital gains. In addition, legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions may materially adversely affect our investors, our ability to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes or the desirability of an investment in a REIT relative to other investments.

Even if we qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, we may be subject to some federal, state and local income, property and excise taxes on our income or property and, in certain cases, a 100% penalty tax, in the event we sell property as a dealer. In addition, our taxable REIT subsidiaries will be subject to tax as regular corporations in the jurisdictions they operate.

If our operating partnership failed to qualify as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, we would cease to qualify as a REIT and suffer other adverse consequences.

We believe that our operating partnership will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As a partnership, our operating partnership will not be subject to federal income tax on its income. Instead, each of its partners, including us, will be allocated, and may be required to pay tax with respect to, its share of our operating partnership’s income. We cannot assure you, however, that the IRS will not challenge the status of our operating partnership or any other subsidiary partnership in which we own an interest as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. If the IRS were successful in treating our operating partnership or any such other subsidiary partnership as an entity taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would fail to meet the gross income tests and certain of the asset tests applicable to REITs and, accordingly, we would likely cease to qualify as a REIT. Also, the failure of our operating partnership or any subsidiary partnerships to qualify as a partnership could cause it to become subject to federal and state corporate income tax, which would reduce significantly the amount of cash available for debt service and for distribution to its partners, including us.

Our ownership of taxable REIT subsidiaries will be limited, and we will be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on certain income or deductions if our transactions with our taxable REIT subsidiaries are not conducted on arm’s length terms.

We will own an interest in one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries and may acquire securities in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with such REIT to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. If a taxable REIT subsidiary owns more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of another corporation, such other corporation will also be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Other than some activities relating to lodging and health care facilities, a taxable REIT subsidiary may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of its parent REIT. A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal income tax as a regular C corporation. In addition, a 100% excise tax will be imposed on certain transactions between a taxable REIT subsidiary and its parent REIT that are not conducted on an arm’s length basis.

A REIT’s ownership of securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary is not subject to the 5% or 10% asset tests applicable to REITs. Not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities (including securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries), other than those securities includable in the 75% asset test. We anticipate that the aggregate value of the stock and securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries and other nonqualifying assets will be less than 25% of the value of our total assets, and we will monitor the value of these investments to ensure compliance with applicable ownership limitations. In addition, we intend to structure our transactions with our taxable REIT subsidiaries to ensure that they are entered into on arm’s length terms to avoid incurring the 100% excise tax described above. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to comply with the 25% limitation or to avoid application of the 100% excise tax discussed above.

 

41


Table of Contents

To maintain our REIT status, we may be forced to borrow funds during unfavorable market conditions.

To qualify as a REIT, we generally must distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our net taxable income each year, excluding net capital gains, and we will be subject to regular corporate income taxes to the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our net taxable income each year. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which distributions paid by us in any calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of our ordinary income, 95% of our capital gain net income and 100% of our undistributed income from prior years. In order to maintain our REIT status and avoid the payment of income and excise taxes, we may need to borrow funds to meet the REIT distribution requirements even if the then prevailing market conditions are not favorable for these borrowings. These borrowing needs could result from, among other things, differences in timing between the actual receipt of cash and inclusion of income for federal income tax purposes, or the effect of non-deductible capital expenditures, the creation of reserves or required debt or amortization payments. These sources, however, may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Our access to third-party sources of capital depends on a number of factors, including the market’s perception of our growth potential, our current debt levels, the market price of our common stock, and our current and potential future earnings. We cannot assure you that we will have access to such capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all, which may cause us to curtail our investment activities and/or to dispose of assets at inopportune times, and could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

We may in the future choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive.

We may distribute taxable dividends that are payable in our stock. Under recent IRS guidance, up to 90% of any such taxable dividend with respect to calendar years 2008 through 2011, and in some cases declared as late as December 31, 2012, could be payable in our stock. Taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. For more information on the tax consequences of distributions with respect to our common stock, see “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Federal Income Tax Considerations for Holders of Our Common Stock.” Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders determine to sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, such sales may have an adverse effect on the per share trading price of our common stock.

Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends.

The maximum tax rate applicable to income from “qualified dividends” payable to U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates has been reduced by legislation to 15% (through the end of 2010). Dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates. Although these rules do not adversely affect the taxation of REITs or dividends payable by REITs, to the extent that the reduced rates continue to apply to regular corporate qualified dividends, investors who are individuals, trusts and estates may perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the shares of REITs, including the per share trading price of our common stock.

The tax imposed on REITs engaging in “prohibited transactions” may limit our ability to engage in transactions which would be treated as sales for federal income tax purposes.

A REIT’s net income from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily

 

42


Table of Contents

for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Although we do not intend to hold any properties that would be characterized as held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of our business, unless a sale or disposition qualifies under certain statutory safe harbors, such characterization is a factual determination and no guarantee can be given that the IRS would agree with our characterization of our properties or that we will always be able to make use of the available safe harbors.

Complying with REIT requirements may affect our profitability and may force us to liquidate or forgo otherwise attractive investments.

To qualify as a REIT, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the nature and diversification of our assets, the sources of our income and the amounts we distribute to our stockholders. We may be required to liquidate or forgo otherwise attractive investments in order to satisfy the asset and income tests or to qualify under certain statutory relief provisions. We also may be required to make distributions to stockholders at disadvantageous times or when we do not have funds readily available for distribution. As a result, having to comply with the distribution requirement could cause us to: (i) sell assets in adverse market conditions; (ii) borrow on unfavorable terms; or (iii) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions, capital expenditures or repayment of debt. Accordingly, satisfying the REIT requirements could have an adverse effect on our business results, profitability and ability to execute our business plan. Moreover, if we are compelled to liquidate our investments to meet any of these asset, income or distribution tests, or to repay obligations to our lenders, we may be unable to comply with one or more of the requirements applicable to REITs or may be subject to a 100% tax on any resulting gain if such sales constitute prohibited transactions.

Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could have a negative effect on us.

The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Changes to the tax laws, with or without retroactive application, could adversely affect our investors or us. We cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect our investors or us. New legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly and negatively affect our ability to qualify as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of such qualification.

Risks Related to this Offering

There has been no public market for our common stock prior to this offering and an active trading market for our common stock may not develop following this offering.

Prior to this offering, there has not been any public market for our common stock, and there can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or be sustained or that shares of our common stock will be resold at or above the initial public offering price. Our common stock has been approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “HPP,” subject to official notice of issuance. The initial public offering price of our common stock has been determined by agreement among us and the underwriters, but there can be no assurance that our common stock will not trade below the initial public offering price following the completion of this offering. See “Underwriting.” The market value of our common stock could be substantially affected by general market conditions, including the extent to which a secondary market develops for our common stock following the completion of this offering, the extent of institutional investor interest in us, the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of their equity securities in comparison to other equity securities (including securities issued by other real estate-based companies), our financial performance and general stock and bond market conditions.

We may be unable to make distributions at expected levels.

Our estimated initial annual distributions represent     % of our estimated initial cash available for distribution for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 as calculated in “Distribution Policy.” Accordingly, we may be unable to pay our estimated initial annual distribution to stockholders out of cash available for distribution. If sufficient cash is not available for distribution from our operations, we may have to fund

 

43


Table of Contents

distributions from working capital, borrow to provide funds for such distributions, or reduce the amount of such distributions. If cash available for distribution generated by our assets is less than our current estimate, or if such cash available for distribution decreases in future periods from expected levels, our inability to make the expected distributions could result in a decrease in the market price of our common stock. In the event the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised, pending investment of the proceeds therefrom, our ability to pay such distributions out of cash from our operations may be further materially adversely affected.

All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will be based upon, among other factors, our historical and projected results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and liquidity, maintenance of our REIT qualification and other tax considerations, capital expenditure and other expense obligations, debt covenants, contractual prohibitions or other limitations and applicable law and such other matters as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We may not be able to make distributions in the future. In addition, some of our distributions may include a return of capital. To the extent that we decide to make distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distributions would generally be considered a return of capital for federal income tax purposes to the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares, and thereafter as gain on a sale or exchange of such shares. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Federal Income Tax Considerations for Holders of Our Common Stock.” If we borrow to fund distributions, our future interest costs would increase, thereby reducing our earnings and cash available for distribution from what they otherwise would have been.

Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern and the Farallon Funds will receive benefits in connection with this offering, which create a conflict of interest because they have interests in the successful completion of this offering that may influence their decisions affecting the terms and circumstances under which the offering and formation transactions are completed.

In connection with this offering and our formation transactions, Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern and the Farallon Funds will own approximately              shares of our common stock and approximately              common units, representing a     % beneficial interest on a fully diluted basis. In addition, the Farallon Funds would receive approximately $             million in cash in connection with our purchase of the Del Amo Office property. These transactions create a conflict of interest because Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern and the Farallon Funds have interests in the successful completion of this offering. These interests may influence their decisions and the decisions of Richard B. Fried, a director of our company and a managing member of Farallon, affecting the terms and circumstances under which this offering and the formation transactions are completed. For more information concerning benefits to be received by Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern and the Farallon Funds in connection with this offering, see “Structure and Formation of Our Company—Benefits of the Formation Transactions and Concurrent Private Placement to Related Parties” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

Affiliates of our underwriters will receive benefits in connection with this offering.

The Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, whose general partner is owned by investment funds managed by an affiliate of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, one of our underwriters, will contribute properties to us in the formation transactions and therefore will receive benefits from this offering and the formation transactions, specifically cash, common units and series A preferred units, in addition to customary underwriting discounts and commissions. Additionally, we expect that affiliates of our underwriters, including Barclays Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Key Banc Capital Markets Inc., will participate as lenders under our proposed $195 million secured credit facility. We expect that, under this facility, an affiliate of Barclays Capital Inc. will act as administrative agent and joint arranger, and an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated will act as syndication agent and joint arranger. These transactions create potential conflicts of interest because the underwriters have an interest in the successful completion of this offering beyond the underwriting discounts and commissions they will receive. These interests may influence the decision regarding the terms and circumstances under which the offering and formation transactions are completed.

 

44


Table of Contents

The market price and trading volume of our common stock may be volatile following this offering.

Even if an active trading market develops for our common stock, the per share trading price of our common stock may be volatile. In addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. If the per share trading price of our common stock declines significantly, you may be unable to resell your shares at or above the public offering price. We cannot assure you that the per share trading price of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future.

Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common stock include:

 

   

actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results or dividends;

 

   

changes in our funds from operations or earnings estimates;

 

   

publication of research reports about us or the real estate industry;

 

   

increases in market interest rates that lead purchasers of our shares to demand a higher yield;

 

   

changes in market valuations of similar companies;

 

   

adverse market reaction to any additional debt we incur in the future;

 

   

additions or departures of key management personnel;

 

   

actions by institutional stockholders;

 

   

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

   

the realization of any of the other risk factors presented in this prospectus;

 

   

the extent of investor interest in our securities;

 

   

the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based companies;

 

   

our underlying asset value;

 

   

investor confidence in the stock and bond markets, generally;

 

   

changes in tax laws;

 

   

future equity issuances;

 

   

failure to meet earnings estimates;

 

   

failure to meet and maintain REIT qualifications;

 

   

changes in our credit ratings; and

 

   

general market and economic conditions.

 

45


Table of Contents

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the price of their common stock. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common stock.

We may use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to make distributions to our stockholders, which would, among other things, reduce our cash available to acquire properties and may reduce the returns on your investment in our common stock.

Prior to the time we have fully invested the net proceeds of this offering, we may fund distributions to our stockholders out of the net proceeds of these offerings, which would reduce the amount of cash we have available to acquire properties and may reduce the returns on your investment in our common stock. The use of these net proceeds for distributions to stockholders could adversely affect our financial results. In addition, funding distributions from the net proceeds of this offering may constitute a return of capital to our stockholders, which would have the effect of reducing each stockholder’s tax basis in our common stock.

Differences between the book value of contributed properties and the price paid for shares of common stock in this offering will result in an immediate and material dilution of the book value per share of our common stock.

As of March 31, 2010, the aggregate historical combined net tangible book value of the interests and assets to be transferred to our operating partnership was approximately $199.2 million, or $             per share of our common stock held by continuing investors, assuming the exchange of units into shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. As a result, the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after the completion of this offering and the formation transactions will be less than the initial public offering price. The purchasers of shares of our common stock offered hereby will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $             per share in the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock.

Market interest rates may have an effect on the value of our common stock.

One of the factors that will influence the price of our common stock will be the dividend yield on the common stock (as a percentage of the price of our common stock) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates, which are currently at low levels relative to historical rates, may lead prospective purchasers of our common stock to expect a higher dividend yield and higher interest rates would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for distribution. Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of our common stock to decrease.

The number of shares of our common stock available for future issuance or sale could adversely affect the per share trading price of our common stock.

We are offering              shares of our common stock as described in this prospectus. Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, Messrs. Coleman and Stern and the other third party contributors, together with our directors and management, will beneficially own approximately     % of our outstanding common stock, and the Farallon Funds alone will beneficially own     % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis. Each of the contributors and our executive officers and directors may sell the shares of our common stock that they acquire in the formation transactions or are granted in connection with the offering at any time following the expiration of the lock-up period for such shares, which expires 180 days after the date of this prospectus (or, in the case of the Farallon Funds, 365 days; provided , that, commencing on the date that is 180 days after the consummation of this offering, the Farallon Funds may (i) sell shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement pursuant to a demand registration statement or (ii) distribute

 

46


Table of Contents

such amount of shares to their limited partners, members or stockholders), or earlier with the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.

We cannot predict whether future issuances or sales of shares of our common stock or the availability of shares for resale in the open market will decrease the per share trading price per share of our common stock. The per share trading price of our common stock may decline significantly when the restrictions on resale by certain of our stockholders lapse or upon the registration of additional shares of our common stock pursuant to registration rights granted in connection with this offering and the concurrent private placement. In particular, we will enter into a registration rights agreement with the Farallon Funds in connection with which we will be obligated to register a number of shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued or issuable to the Farallon Funds pursuant to the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement pursuant to a demand for registration that may be made at any time on or after the date that is 180 days after the consummation of this offering, in addition to other registration rights granted to the Farallon Funds and the various persons receiving shares of our common stock and/or units in the formation transactions. The shares of common stock that may be registered 180 days after the consummation of this offering on behalf of the Farallon Funds, as described above, represent approximately     % of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock upon completion of this offering. As a result, a substantial number of shares may be sold pursuant to the registration rights granted to the Farallon Funds. The sale of such shares by the Farallon Funds, or the perception that such a sale may occur, could materially and adversely affect the per share trading price of our common stock.

The issuance of substantial numbers of shares of our common stock in the public market, or upon exchange of units, or the perception that such issuances might occur could adversely affect the per share trading price of the shares of our common stock.

The exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option, the exchange of units for common stock, the exercise of any options or the vesting of any restricted stock granted to certain directors, executive officers and other employees under our equity incentive plan, the issuance of our common stock or units in connection with future property, portfolio or business acquisitions and other issuances of our common stock could have an adverse effect on the per share trading price of our common stock, and the existence of units, options, shares of our common stock reserved for issuance as restricted shares of our common stock or upon exchange of units may adversely affect the terms upon which we may be able to obtain additional capital through the sale of equity securities. In addition, future issuances of shares of our common stock may be dilutive to existing stockholders.

Future offerings of debt or equity securities, which would be senior to our common stock upon liquidation, and/or preferred equity securities which may be senior to our common stock for purposes of dividend distributions or upon liquidation, may adversely affect the per share trading price of our common stock.

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of debt or equity securities (or causing our operating partnership to issue debt securities), including medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes or series of preferred stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will be entitled to receive our available assets prior to distribution to the holders of our common stock. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Our preferred stock, if issued, could have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend payments that could limit our ability pay dividends to the holders of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the per share trading price of our common stock and diluting their interest in us.

 

47


Table of Contents

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We make statements in this prospectus that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. In particular, statements pertaining to our capital resources, portfolio performance and results of operations contain forward-looking statements. Likewise, our pro forma financial statements and all of our statements regarding anticipated growth in our funds from operations and anticipated market conditions, demographics and results of operations are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “intends,” “plans,” “pro forma,” “estimates” or “anticipates” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions.

Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and you should not rely on them as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements depend on assumptions, data or methods which may be incorrect or imprecise and we may not be able to realize them. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:

 

   

adverse economic or real estate developments in our markets;

 

   

general economic conditions;

 

   

defaults on, early terminations of or non-renewal of leases by tenants;

 

   

fluctuations in interest rates and increased operating costs;

 

   

our failure to obtain necessary outside financing;

 

   

our failure to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness;

 

   

lack or insufficient amounts of insurance;

 

   

decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates;

 

   

difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions;

 

   

our failure to successfully operate acquired properties and operations;

 

   

our failure to maintain our status as a REIT;

 

   

environmental uncertainties and risks related to adverse weather conditions and natural disasters;

 

   

financial market fluctuations;

 

   

changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates; and

 

   

other factors affecting the real estate industry generally.

While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact our future results, performance or transactions, see the section above entitled “Risk Factors.”

 

48


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We are offering shares of our common stock at the anticipated public offering price of $             per share. After deducting the underwriting discount and commissions and estimated expenses of this offering and the formation transactions, we expect net proceeds from this offering of approximately $            , or approximately $             if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full. The net proceeds we will receive in the concurrent private placement of our common stock will be $20.0 million. We will contribute the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement to our operating partnership in exchange for common units, and our operating partnership will use the proceeds as described below:

 

   

$115.0 million to repay in full mortgage indebtedness (including principal and related accrued interest) secured by our Sunset Gower and Technicolor Building properties, which bears interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 3.50% (subject to a cap on the LIBOR portion of the interest rate of 4.75%), and is scheduled to mature on March 15, 2010 (see our combined historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus regarding the current status of the extension of this maturity date);

 

   

approximately $39.0 million to repay in full mortgage indebtedness (including principal and related accrued interest) secured by the 875 Howard Street property, which bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.75% (subject to a cap on the LIBOR portion of the interest rate of not greater than 6.25%), and is scheduled to mature on February 13, 2011, with a one-year extension option;

 

   

approximately $7.2 million to acquire interests in the First Financial and Tierrasanta properties;

 

   

approximately $27.5 million to acquire the Del Amo Office property in connection with the formation transactions; and

 

   

up to $13.8 million (determined as of March 31, 2010) to fund the build-out and lease-up of the 875 Howard Street property.

We expect to have approximately $             million of remaining unapplied net proceeds upon completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement and consummation of the formation transactions (or $             million if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full). In addition, to the extent we are unable to consummate the acquisition of the Del Amo Office property, we will have an additional $27.5 million of unapplied net proceeds. Any remaining net proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes, including funding capital expenditures, tenant improvements, leasing commissions, future acquisitions and, potentially, paying dividends. Pending application of cash proceeds, we will invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing accounts and short-term, interest-bearing securities in a manner that is consistent with our intention to qualify for taxation as a REIT.

See our pro forma financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

49


Table of Contents

DISTRIBUTION POLICY

We intend to pay regular quarterly dividends to holders of our common stock. We intend to pay a pro rata initial dividend with respect to the period commencing on the completion of this offering and ending                 , 2010, based on $         per share for a full quarter. On an annualized basis, this would be $         per share (of which we currently estimate         % may represent a return of capital for tax purposes), or an annual distribution rate of approximately         %, based on an estimated initial public offering price at the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus. We estimate that this initial annual distribution rate will represent approximately         % of estimated cash available for distribution for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011. Our intended initial annual distribution rate has been established based on our estimate of cash available for distribution for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011, which we have calculated based on adjustments to our pro forma net income for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010 (after giving effect to the offering and the formation transactions). This estimate was based on our pro forma operating results and does not take into account our growth strategy, nor does it take into account any unanticipated expenditures we may have to make or any debt we may have to incur. In estimating our cash available for distribution for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011, we have made certain assumptions as reflected in the table and footnotes below.

Our estimate of cash available for distribution does not include the effect of any changes in our working capital resulting from changes in our working capital accounts. Our estimate also does not reflect the amount of cash estimated to be used for investing activities for acquisition and other activities, other than a reserve for recurring capital expenditures, and amounts estimated for leasing commissions and tenant improvements for renewing space. It also does not reflect the amount of cash estimated to be used for financing activities, other than scheduled loan principal payments on mortgage and other indebtedness that will be outstanding upon completion of this offering. Any such investing and/or financing activities may have a material effect on our estimate of cash available for distribution. Because we have made the assumptions set forth above in estimating cash available for distribution, we do not intend this estimate to be a projection or forecast of our actual results of operations or our liquidity, and we have estimated cash available for distribution for the sole purpose of determining the amount of our initial annual distribution rate. Our estimate of cash available for distribution should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP) or as an indicator of our liquidity or our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions. In addition, the methodology upon which we made the adjustments described below is not necessarily intended to be a basis for determining future dividends or other distributions.

We intend to maintain our initial distribution rate for the 12-month period following completion of this offering unless actual results of operations, economic conditions or other factors differ materially from the assumptions used in our estimate. Dividends and other distributions made by us will be authorized by our board of directors in its sole discretion out of funds legally available for distribution to our stockholders and will be dependent upon a number of factors, including restrictions under applicable law, the requirements for our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes and other factors described below. We believe that our estimate of cash available for distribution constitutes a reasonable basis for setting the initial distribution rate; however, we cannot assure you that the estimate will prove accurate, and actual distributions may therefore be significantly different from the expected distributions. We do not intend to reduce the expected dividends per share if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised; however, this could require us to pay dividends from net offering proceeds.

We anticipate that, at least initially, our distributions will exceed our then current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined for federal income tax purposes due to the write-off of prepayment fees paid with offering proceeds and non-cash expenses, primarily depreciation and amortization charges that we expect to incur. Therefore, we anticipate that a portion of these distributions will represent a return of capital for federal income tax purposes. The percentage of our stockholder distributions that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, if any, may vary substantially from year to year. For a discussion of the tax treatment of distributions to holders of our common stock, see “Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

50


Table of Contents

We cannot assure you that our estimated dividends will be made or sustained or that our board of directors will not change our distribution policy in the future. Any dividends or other distributions we pay in the future will depend upon our actual results of operations, economic conditions, debt service requirements and other factors that could differ materially from our expectations. Our actual results of operations will be affected by a number of factors, including the revenue we receive from our properties, our operating expenses, interest expense, the ability of our tenants to meet their obligations and unanticipated expenditures. For more information regarding risk factors that could materially adversely affect our actual results of operations, please see “Risk Factors.”

Federal income tax law requires that a REIT distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income excluding net capital gains, and that it pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that it annually distributes less than 100% of its REIT taxable income including capital gains. In addition, a REIT will be required to pay a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which the distributions it makes in a calendar year are less than the sum of 85% of its ordinary income, 95% of its capital gain net income and 100% of its undistributed income from prior years. For more information, please see “Federal Income Tax Considerations.” We anticipate that our estimated cash available for distribution will be sufficient to enable us to meet the annual distribution requirements applicable to REITs and to avoid or minimize the imposition of corporate and excise taxes. However, under some circumstances, we may be required to pay distributions in excess of cash available for distribution in order to meet these distribution requirements or to avoid or minimize the imposition of tax and we may need to borrow funds to make some distributions.

 

51


Table of Contents

The following table describes our pro forma net income for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, and the adjustments we have made thereto in order to estimate our initial cash available for distribution for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 (amounts in thousands except share data, per share data, square footage data and percentages):

 

Pro forma net income for the year ended December 31, 2009

   $ 4,411   

Less: Pro forma net income for the three months ended March 31, 2009

     (54

Add: Pro forma net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010

     496   
        

Pro forma net income for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010

     4,853   

Add: pro forma real estate depreciation and amortization

     15,284   

Add: amortization of trade name intangible

     102   

Add: non-cash interest expense  (1)

     1,745   

Less: unrealized gain on interest rate collar

     (598

Less: net effect of straight-line rents and above (below) market lease intangible amortization  (2)

     (3,424

Add: net increases in contractual rent income for office properties  (3)

     1,559   

Less: net decreases in contractual rent income due to lease expirations for office properties, assuming no renewals  (4)

     (866

Add: non-cash compensation expense  (5)

     1,633   
        

Estimated cash flow from operating activities for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011

   $ 20,288   

Estimated cash flows used in investing activities

  

Less: estimated annual provision for recurring office property tenant improvements and leasing commissions  (6)

   $ (714

Less: estimated annual provision for recurring office property capital expenditures  (7)

     (141

Less: estimated annual provision for recurring media and entertainment property capital expenditures  (8)

     (1,521
        

Total estimated cash flows used in investing activities

     (2,376
        

Estimated cash available for distribution for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011

   $ 17,912   
        

Our share of estimated cash available for distribution (9)

  
        

Distribution to preferred non-controlling partnership interests (10)

   $ 748   
        

Non-controlling partnership interests’ share of estimated cash available for distribution

  
        

Total estimated initial annual distribution to stockholders

   $     
        

Estimated initial annual distribution per share (11)

  
        

Payout ratio based on our share of estimated cash available for distribution (12)

  
        

 

(1) Includes (i) $494 representing one year of amortization of deferred financing costs associated with the debt on Sunset Bronson, (ii) $810 representing one year of amortization of the $2,429 origination fee associated with the secured credit facility, amortized over a three-year period and (iii) $441 of amortization of the fair value adjustment related to the debt on GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC.
(2) Represents the conversion of estimated rental revenues on in-place leases for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010 from a GAAP basis to a cash basis of recognition. Includes approximately $(3,334) of straight-line rent adjustment for the office properties. Also includes approximately $(90) of net below market lease intangible amortization for office properties.
(3) Represents the net increase in contractual rental income net of abatements from existing leases and from new leases and renewals that were not in effect for the full 12 months ended March 31, 2010 or that will go into effect during the 12 months ending March 31, 2011, based upon leases entered into through March 31, 2010.
(4) Assumes no lease renewals or new leases (other than month-to-month leases) unless a new or renewal lease has been entered into by March 31, 2010.
(5) Represents non-cash compensation expense related to restricted stock granted to our executive officers and to six non-employee directors, that vests ratably over a three year period.
(6)

Reflects estimated annual provision for tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 based on the weighted average tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions for renewed and retenanted space at the office properties in our portfolio incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 with respect to First Financial and Tierrasanta, and for the period since our acquisition in 2008 with respect to City Plaza, multiplied by the number of rentable square feet of leased space for which leases expire in First Financial, Tierrasanta and City Plaza during the 12 months ending March 31, 2011. Because the Technicolor Building (which was a build-to-suit project for a single tenant) was placed into service in June 2008, the

 

52


Table of Contents
  875 Howard Street redevelopment has been only recently completed and the Del Amo Office property is under a long-term lease to a single tenant, there are no lease expirations for these properties in the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 and historical data relating to the cost of tenant improvements and leasing commissions for such buildings is not meaningful. The weighted average annual per square foot cost of tenant improvements and leasing commissions at First Financial, Tierrasanta and City Plaza is presented below.

 

     Year Ended December 31,    Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2010
   Weighted Average
January 1, 2007-
March 31, 2010
     2007    2008    2009      

Average tenant improvement costs and lease commissions per square foot

   $ 16.09    $ 25.49    $ 18.43    $ 2.64    $ 14.96

Square feet for which leases expire during the 12 months ending March 31, 2011

                 47,726
                  

Total estimated tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011

               $ 713,970
                  

In connection with the leasing of 875 Howard Street, we expect to incur approximately $13.8 million for tenant improvements and leasing commissions related to first generation tenant improvements and other non-recurring development costs. We plan to fund such expenditures with available proceeds under our proposed secured credit facility or from the proceeds of this offering.

(7) For the 12 months ending March 31, 2011, the estimated cost of recurring building improvements (excluding costs of tenant improvements) at our office properties is approximately $141 based on the weighted average annual capital expenditures of $0.12 per square foot during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 with respect to First Financial, Tierrasanta and Del Amo Office, and for the period since our acquisition in 2008 with respect to City Plaza, multiplied by 1,174,807 square feet in our office portfolio. Because the Technicolor Building was placed into service in June 2008 and the 875 Howard Street redevelopment has been only recently completed, meaningful historical data relating to the cost of recurring building improvements for such buildings is not available. The following table sets forth certain information regarding historical recurring capital expenditures at First Financial, Tierrasanta, City Plaza and Del Amo through March 31, 2010.

 

     Year Ended December 31,    Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2010
   Weighted Average
January 1, 2007-
March 31, 2010
     2007    2008    2009      

Recurring capital expenditures

   $ 40,324    $ 102,934    $ 150,777    $ 9,473   

Total square feet of office properties

     439,657      773,579      773,579      773,579   

Recurring capital expenditures per square foot

   $ 0.09    $ 0.13    $ 0.19    $ 0.01    $ 0.12

 

(8) Represents the actual average capital expenditures at our media and entertainment properties for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, which amount we believe is indicative of the capital expenditures we will incur for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011.
(9) Our estimated cash available for distribution and estimated initial annual cash distributions to our stockholders is based on an estimated approximate         % of outstanding common units in our operating partnership.
(10) Represents the preferential distributions at a rate of 6.25% per annum on the Series A preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of $11,968 (after estimated closing costs and prorations).
(11) Based on a total of          shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering, including          shares to be sold in this offering.
(12) Calculated as estimated initial annual distribution per share divided by our share of estimated cash available for distribution per share for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011.

 

53


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth the historical combined capitalization of our Hudson Pacific Predecessor as of March 31, 2010 and our pro forma consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2010, adjusted to give effect to this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, and use of the net proceeds as set forth in “Use of Proceeds.” You should read this table in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Selected Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of March 31, 2010
     Historical
Combined
   Pro Forma
Consolidated
     (In thousands, except
share amounts)

Notes payable and other secured loans (1)

   $ 152,000    $ 93,740

Preferred non-controlling partnership interest

     —     

Non-controlling partnership interest

     —     

Stockholders’ equity:

     

Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

     —        —  

Common stock, $.01 par value per share, 490,000,000 shares authorized,              shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis (2)

     —     

Additional paid in capital

     —     

Members’ equity

     216,650      —  
             

Total equity

     216,650   
             

Total capitalization

   $ 368,650   
             

 

(1) We also expect to enter into a $195,000 secured credit facility, which will be undrawn at the closing of this offering.
(2) Pro forma common stock outstanding includes (a)                  shares of our common stock to be issued in this offering and the concurrent private placement, (b)                     shares of restricted stock to be granted to our executive officers and certain other employees concurrently with the completion of this offering, and (c)                     shares of restricted stock to be granted to our non-employee directors concurrentley with the completion of this offering, and excludes (i)              shares issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option in full, (ii)              additional shares of common stock available for future issuance under our stock incentive plan, (iii)              shares that may be issued, at our option, upon exchange of common units to be issued in the formation transactions, and (iv) shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the terms of the series A preferred units to be issued in connection with the formation transactions, which are convertible into common units based upon the trading price of our common stock at the time of conversion or redeemable for cash or, at our option, exchangeable for registered shares of common stock with a value equal to the redemption price, in each case after the third anniversary of this offering.

 

54


Table of Contents

DILUTION

Purchasers of shares of our common stock offered in this prospectus will experience an immediate and substantial dilution of the net tangible book value per share of our common stock from the initial public offering price. As of March 31, 2010, we had a combined net tangible book value of approximately $199.2 million, or $             per share of our common stock held by continuing investors, assuming the exchange of common units into shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. After giving effect to the sale of the shares of our common stock offered hereby, including the use of proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds,” and the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, and the deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering and formation expenses, the pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2010 attributable to common stockholders would have been $             million, or $             per share of our common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $             per share to continuing investors and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $             per share to new public investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

  

Net tangible book value per share before the concurrent private placement and formation transactions and this offering (1)

  

Net increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to the concurrent private placement and formation transactions and this offering

  

Pro forma net tangible book value per share after the concurrent private placement and formation transactions and this offering (2)

  
    

Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors (3)

  
    

 

(1) Net tangible book value per share of our common stock before the concurrent private placement and formation transactions and this offering is determined by dividing net tangible book value based on March 31, 2010 net book value of the tangible assets (consisting of members’ equity less intangible assets, which are comprised of deferred financing and leasing costs, acquired above market leases net of acquired below-market leases, acquired in place lease value and tradename) of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor by the number of shares of our common stock held by continuing investors after this offering, assuming the exchange for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis of the common units to be issued in connection with the formation transactions.
(2) Based on pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $             million divided by the sum of              shares of our common stock and common units to be outstanding after this offering, not including (i)              shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option, (ii) shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the terms of the series A preferred units to be issued in connection with the formation transactions, which are convertible into common units, based upon the trading price of our common stock at the time of conversion or redeemable for cash or, at our option, exchangeable for registered shares of common stock with a value equal to the redemption price, in each case after the third anniversary of this offering, and (iii)              shares of our common stock available for issuance in the future under our equity incentive plan.
(3) Dilution is determined by subtracting pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to the concurrent private placement, the formation transactions and this offering from the initial public offering price paid by a new investor for a share of our common stock.

 

55


Table of Contents

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth summary selected financial and operating data on (i) a pro forma basis for our company and (ii) a combined historical basis for the “Hudson Pacific Predecessor.” The Hudson Pacific Predecessor is comprised of the real estate activity and holdings of the entities that own the following properties being contributed to us in the formation transactions: Sunset Gower; the Technicolor Building; Sunset Bronson; and City Plaza. We have not presented historical information for Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. because we have not had any corporate activity since our formation other than the issuance of 100 shares of common stock to Victor J. Coleman in connection with our initial capitalization and because we believe that a discussion of the results of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. would not be meaningful.

You should read the following summary selected financial data in conjunction with our combined historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

The historical combined balance sheet information as of March 31, 2010 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor and the combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor have been derived from the historical unaudited combined financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus and includes all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the historical financial statements for such periods. The historical combined balance sheet information as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor and the combined statements of operations information for each of the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor have been derived from the historical audited combined financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Our unaudited summary selected pro forma consolidated financial statements and operating information as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009 assumes completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions as of the beginning of the periods presented for the operating data and as of the stated date for the balance sheet data. Our pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what our actual financial position and results of operations would have been as of the date and for the periods indicated, nor does it purport to represent our future financial position or results of operations.

 

56


Table of Contents

The Company (Pro Forma) and the Hudson Pacific Predecessor (Historical)

 

    Three Months Ended March 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    Pro Forma
Consolidated
    Historical Combined     Pro Forma
Consolidated
    Historical Combined  
    2010     2010     2009     2009     2009     2008     2007  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)                    
   

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

             

REVENUES

             

Rental

  $ 10,961      $ 7,891      $ 7,382      $ 41,392      $ 28,970      $ 25,866      $ 4,215   

Tenant recoveries

    814        579        674        3,994        2,870        2,293        58   

Other property related revenue

    1,972        1,653        1,901        8,662        7,419        7,296        2,683   

Other

    19        19        25        78        78        133        7   
                                                       

Total revenues

    13,766        10,142        9,982        54,126        39,337        35,588        6,963   

OPERATING EXPENSES

             

Property operating expenses

    5,163        3,995        4,262        17,251        17,691        15,651        2,710   

Other property related expense

    591        528        401        1,647        1,397        1,689        1,337   

General and administrative

    1,935        290        302        7,231        1,049        1,023        363   

Management fees

    30        251        305        120        1,169        1,073        255   

Depreciation and amortization

    3,748        2,498        2,449        15,650        9,980        6,599        741   
                                                       

Total operating expenses

    11,467        7,562        7,719        41,899        31,286        26,035        5,406   
                                                       

Income from operations

    2,299        2,580        2,263        12,227        8,051        9,553        1,557   

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

             

Interest expense

    2,013        2,052        2,097        8,148        8,352        10,244        3,860   

Interest income

    (3     (3     (3     (17     (17     (45     (43

Unrealized loss (gain) on interest rate collar

    (207     (207     (18     (410     (410     835        —     

Loss on sale of lot

    —          —          —          —          —          208        —     

Other

    —          —          90        95        95        21        —     
                                                       

Total other expense (income)

    1,803        1,842        2,166        7,816        8,020        11,263        3,817   
                                                       

Net income (loss)

  $ 496      $ 738      $ 97      $ 4,411      $ 31      $ (1,710   $ (2,260
                                           

Less: Income attributable to preferred non-controlling partnership interest

    187        —          —        $ 743        —          —          —     

Less: Income attributable to common non-controlling partnership interest

    55        —          —          652        —          —          —     
                         

Income attributable to the company

  $ 254        —          —          3,016        —          —          —     
                                                       

Balance Sheet Data (at period end):

             

Investment in real estate, net

  $ 508,158      $ 352,727        —          —        $ 353,505      $ 353,024        —     

Total assets

    610,359        386,554        —          —          384,615        386,702        —     

Notes payable

    93,740        152,000        —          —          152,000        152,000        —     

Total liabilities

    127,359        169,904        —          —          169,686        177,305        —     

Preferred non-controlling partnership interest

    11,968        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Non-controlling partnership interest

    83,467        —          —          —          —          —          —     

Members’/stockholders’ equity

    387,565        216,650        —          —          214,929        209,397        —     

Total equity

    471,032        216,650        —          —          214,929        209,397        —     

Per Share Data:

             

Pro forma basic earnings per share

      —          —            —          —          —     

Pro forma diluted earnings per share

      —          —            —          —          —     

Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

      —          —            —          —          —     

Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

      —          —            —          —          —     

Other Data:

             

Pro forma funds from operations (1)

  $ 4,057        —          —        $ 19,318        —          —          —     

Pro forma diluted funds from operations per share

      —          —            —          —          —     

Cash flows from:

             

Operating activities

    —        $ 1,927      $ 1,690        —        $ (88   $ 19,832      $ (4,910

Investing activities

    —          (654     (1,932     —          (7,537     (178,424     (192,321

Financing activities

    —          983        2,609        —          4,926        163,451        197,327   

 

57


Table of Contents

 

(1) We calculate funds from operations before non-controlling interest, or FFO, in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable operating property, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. Management uses FFO as a supplemental performance measure because, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. We also believe that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs. However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures and leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effects and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. Other equity REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition as we do, and, therefore, our FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs’ FFO. Accordingly, FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income available to common stockholders (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of our financial performance. FFO should not be used as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our cash needs, including our ability to service indebtedness or make distributions. The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income to pro forma FFO before non-controlling interest for the periods presented:

 

     Pro Forma  
     Three Months
Ended
March 31, 2010
    Year Ended
December 31,
2009
 
     (In thousands)     (In thousands)  

Net income

   $ 496      $ 4,411   

Adjustments:

    

Distribution to preferred non-controlling partnership interest

     (187     (743

Real estate depreciation and amortization

     3,748        15,650   

Loss on sale of lot, net

     —          —     
                

Funds from operations before non-controlling interest

   $ 4,057      $ 19,318   
                

 

58


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with selected combined financial data, the audited combined financial statements of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, and the unaudited combined financial statements of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor as of March 31, 2010 and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, and related notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. Where appropriate, the following discussion includes analysis of the effects of the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, certain other transactions and this offering. These effects are reflected in the pro forma combined financial statements located elsewhere in this prospectus. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our” and “our company” mean the Hudson Pacific Predecessor for the periods presented and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries upon consummation of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions.

Overview

Our Company

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. is a Maryland corporation formed in 2009 to acquire the entities owning various real estate assets and to succeed the business of Hudson Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm founded by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively. Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. has not had any corporate activity since its formation, other than the issuance of 100 shares of its common stock to Victor J. Coleman in connection with the initial capitalization of the company and activities in preparation for this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions. Accordingly, we believe that a discussion of the results of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. would not be meaningful, and we have therefore set forth below a discussion regarding the historical operations of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor only. The Hudson Pacific Predecessor is comprised of the real estate activity and holdings of SGS Realty II, LLC, Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC and HFOP City Plaza, LLC, which are a subset of the entities contributing properties to our initial portfolio in the formation transactions. Collectively, these entities own the Sunset Gower, Technicolor Building, Sunset Bronson and City Plaza properties. The Hudson Pacific Predecessor does not include: GLB Encino, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which we refer to as the First Financial entity; Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which we refer to as the Tierrasanta entity; Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company which we refer to as the Del Amo Office entity; and Howard Street Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company which we refer to as the 875 Howard Street entity; collectively, we refer to these entities as the non-predecessor entities. For periods after consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, our operations will include their operations. We have not included a separate discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of the First Financial entity, the Tierrasanta entity, the Del Amo Office entity or the 875 Howard Street entity because we believe that a discussion of our predecessor is more meaningful for investors. Elsewhere in this prospectus, we have included the audited statements of revenues and certain expenses of the First Financial entity and the Tierrasanta entity for the year ended December 31, 2009, the audited statements of revenues and certain expenses of the 875 Howard Street entity for the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, and the unaudited statements of revenues and certain expenses for those same entities for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

Formation Transactions

Concurrently with this offering, we will complete the formation transactions, pursuant to which we will acquire, through a series of purchase and contribution transactions, the entities that own interests in seven properties in our initial portfolio. We also intend to enter into a definitive agreement to acquire the Del Amo Office property, which acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions, including consent to the assignment of the ground sublease. To acquire the interests in the properties to be included in our initial portfolio from the holders thereof, or the prior investors, we will issue to the prior investors an aggregate of              shares of our

 

59


Table of Contents

common stock and              common units, approximately $12.5 million in liquidation preference of our series A preferred units (subject to closing costs and prorations), and we will also pay $7.2 million in cash to the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, which will be provided from the net proceeds of this offering. In addition, we intend to use approximately $27.5 million in cash in connection with our acquisition of the Del Amo Office property, which is subject to certain closing conditions, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”

Because the Hudson Pacific Predecessor is our predecessor for accounting purposes, any interests contributed by or purchased from the Hudson Pacific Predecessor in the formation transactions will be recorded at historical cost. In addition, we have determined that we are the acquiring entity for accounting purposes and that the contribution of interests in the Hudson Pacific Predecessor and the 875 Howard Street entity is a transaction between entities under common control. As a result, the contribution of interests in the 875 Howard Street entity will be recorded at historical cost. The contribution or acquisition of interests other than those owned by the Hudson Pacific Predecessor and other than the 875 Howard Street entity in the formation transactions will be accounted for as an acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting and recognized at the estimated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities on the date of such contribution or acquisition. The fair values of tangible assets acquired are determined on an as-if-vacant basis. The as-if-vacant fair value of tangible assets will be allocated to land, building and improvements, tenant improvements and furniture and fixtures based on our own market knowledge and published market data, including current rental rates, expected downtime to lease up vacant space, tenant improvement construction costs, leasing commissions and recent sales on a per square foot basis for comparable properties in our submarkets. The estimated fair value of intangible assets consisting of acquired in-place at-market leases are the costs we would have incurred to lease the property to the occupancy level of the property at the date of acquisition. Such estimates include the fair value of leasing commissions and legal costs that would be incurred to lease this property to this occupancy level. Additionally, we evaluate the time period over which such occupancy level would be achieved and include an estimate of the net operating costs (primarily real estate taxes, insurance and utilities) incurred during the lease-up period, which generally ranges up to 6-12 months. Above-market and below-market in-place lease values are recorded as an asset or liability based on the present value (using an interest rate that reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and our estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding in-place leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease for above-market leases and the remaining non-cancelable term plus the term of any below-market fixed rate renewal options for below-market leases. The fair value of the debt assumed was determined using current market interest rates for comparable debt financings.

Upon consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, we expect our operations to be carried on through our operating partnership, which we formed on January 15, 2010, and subsidiaries of our operating partnership, including our taxable REIT subsidiary. Consummation of the formation transactions will enable us to (i) consolidate our asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisition and financing businesses into our operating partnership; (ii) consolidate the ownership of our initial property portfolio under our operating partnership; (iii) facilitate this offering; and (iv) qualify as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2010. As a result, we expect to be a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate company (excepting only certain limited third party construction management and leasing arrangements at our 875 Howard Street property), with approximately 60 employees providing substantial in-house expertise in asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisitions, repositioning, redevelopment and financing.

Concurrent Private Placement

Concurrently with the completion of this offering, Victor J. Coleman and the Farallon Funds will purchase $20.0 million in shares of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. The proceeds will be contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

 

60


Table of Contents

Secured Revolving Credit Facility

We have obtained commitment letters for a secured credit facility allowing borrowings of up to $195 million. For additional information regarding the secured credit facility, please refer to “—Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.

Revenue Base

Upon consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, we will acquire from our predecessor and the non-predecessor entities an aggregate of eight properties comprised of approximately 1.2 million square feet of office and approximately 857,432 square feet of media and entertainment space. As of March 31, 2010, the office properties to be acquired were approximately 79.1% leased (or 85.7%, giving effect to uncommenced leases), and the average trailing 12-month percent leased of the media and entertainment properties was 66.9%. All of these properties are located in California.

Office Leases . Historically, the Hudson Pacific Predecessor primarily leased its office properties to tenants on a full-service gross or net lease basis, and we expect to continue to do so in the future. A full-service gross lease has a base year expense stop, whereby the tenant pays a stated amount of expenses as part of the rent payment, while future increases (above the base year stop) in property operating expenses are billed to the tenant based on such tenant’s proportionate square footage in the property. The property operating expenses are reflected in operating expenses, but only the increased property operating expenses above the base year stop recovered from tenants are reflected as tenant recoveries in the statements of income. In a net lease, the tenant is responsible for all property taxes and operating expenses. As such, the base rent payment does not include any operating expenses, but rather all such expenses are billed to the tenant. The full amount of the expenses for this lease type is reflected in operating expenses, and the reimbursement is reflected in tenant recoveries. The tenants in City Plaza have full-service gross leases, and the tenant in the Technicolor Building has a net lease.

Media and Entertainment Leases . Historically, the Hudson Pacific Predecessor primarily leased its media and entertainment properties to tenants on a full-service gross or net lease basis, and we expect to continue to do so in the future. Under the full-service gross leases in our media and entertainment properties, the tenant pays a full-service gross rent amount and an additional amount for property related items, which are often required to make effective use of the leased space, such as rental of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and internet). Lighting revenue is recognized on a net basis. In a net lease in our media and entertainment properties, the tenant is responsible for all property taxes and operating expenses. As such, the base rent payment does not include any operating expense, but rather all such expenses are billed to the tenant. The full amount of the expenses for this lease type is reflected in operating expenses, and the reimbursement is reflected in tenant recoveries. Expenses associated with provision of lighting rental, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and internet) are reflected in other property-related expense. All of the tenants in Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson have full-service gross leases, other than KTLA, which has a net lease.

Interest Rate Contracts . Any change in fair value of interest rate contracts of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor was recorded as a gain or loss in the statement of operations because such contracts did not qualify as effective hedges under FASB ASC Topic 815, as discussed in more detail below under “—Interest Rate Risk.”

We intend to enter into or transfer existing interest rate contracts that will effectively hedge in part our variable rate debt from future changes in interest rates. We expect these interest rate contracts to qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment under FASB ASC Topic 815, and as such, all future changes in fair value of the new interest rate contracts for periods after this offering will be recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of the new or transferred interest rate contracts’ change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

 

61


Table of Contents

Factors That May Influence Our Operating Results

Business and Strategy . We plan to focus our investment strategy on office properties located in submarkets with growth potential as well as on underperforming properties or portfolios that provide opportunities to implement a value-add strategy to increase occupancy rates and cash flow. Additionally, we intend to acquire properties or portfolios that are distressed due to near-term debt maturities or underperforming properties where we believe better management, focused leasing efforts and/or capital improvements would improve the property’s operating performance and value. Our strategy also includes active management, aggressive leasing efforts, focused capital improvement programs, the reduction and containment of operating costs and an emphasis on tenant satisfaction, which we believe will minimize turnover costs and improve occupancy.

From the acquisition of our first property in August 2007 through January 2010, we have acquired or developed four real estate properties containing an aggregate 1.3 million net rentable square feet. We intend to pursue acquisitions of additional properties as a key part of our growth strategy, often including properties that may have substantial vacancy, which enables us to increase cash flow through lease-up. We expect to continue to acquire properties subject to existing mortgage financing and other indebtedness or to incur indebtedness in connection with acquiring or refinancing these properties. Debt service on such indebtedness will have a priority over any dividends with respect to our common stock.

Rental Revenue . The amount of net rental revenue generated by the properties in our initial portfolio depends principally on our ability to maintain the occupancy rates of currently leased space and to lease currently available space and space that becomes available from lease terminations. As of March 31, 2010, the percent leased for the office properties that will comprise our initial portfolio was approximately 79.1% (or 85.7% giving effect to uncommenced leases), and the percent leased for the media and entertainment properties (based on 12-month trailing average) that will comprise our initial portfolio was approximately 66.9%. The amount of rental revenue generated by us also depends on our ability to maintain or increase rental rates at our properties. We believe that the average rental rates for our office properties generally are equal to or slightly above the current average quoted market rate, with the exception of our lease of 94,505 square feet to Burlington Coat Factory at our 875 Howard Street property, which we believe to be substantially below market rates. We believe the average rental rates for our media and entertainment properties are generally equal to current average quoted market rates. Negative trends in one or more of these factors could adversely affect our rental revenue in future periods. Future economic downturns or regional downturns affecting our submarkets or downturns in our tenants’ industries that impair our ability to renew or re-let space and the ability of our tenants to fulfill their lease commitments, as in the case of tenant bankruptcies, could adversely affect our ability to maintain or increase rental rates at our properties. In addition, growth in rental revenue will also partially depend on our ability to acquire additional properties that meet our investment criteria.

Conditions in Our Markets. The properties in our initial portfolio are all located in California submarkets. Positive or negative changes in economic or other conditions in California, including the state budgetary shortfall, employment rates, natural hazards and other factors, may impact our overall performance.

Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses generally consist of utilities, property and ad valorem taxes, insurance and site maintenance costs. Increases in these expenses over tenants’ base years are generally passed on to tenants in our full-service gross leased properties and are generally paid in full by tenants in our net lease properties. As a public company, we estimate our annual general and administrative expenses will increase due to increased legal, insurance, accounting and other expenses related to corporate governance, SEC reporting and other compliance matters, compared to the Hudson Pacific Predecessor’s operations. In addition, we expect the properties in our portfolio to be reassessed after the consummation of this offering. We believe the amount of property taxes we pay in the future will decrease due to the expected downward reassessment of many of our properties following the completion of the formation transactions. Given the uncertainty of the amounts involved, we have not included the impact of any anticipated property tax decrease in our pro forma financial statements.

 

62


Table of Contents

Taxable REIT Subsidiary . As part of the formation transactions, on February 12, 2010, we formed Hudson Pacific Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation that is wholly owned by our operating partnership and which we refer to as our services company. We will elect, together with our services company, to treat our services company as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes. Our services company generally may provide non-customary and other services to our tenants and engage in activities that we may not engage in directly without adversely affecting our qualification as a REIT. We anticipate that our services company will provide a number of services to certain tenants at our media and entertainment properties or other properties. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Our Company—Income Tests.” In addition, our operating partnership may contribute some or all of its interests in certain wholly owned subsidiaries or their assets to our services company. We also anticipate that we will lease space to our services company at one or more of our media and entertainment properties. We may form additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. Any income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries will not be included in our taxable income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests, except to the extent such income is distributed to us as a dividend, in which case such dividend income will qualify under the 95%, but not the 75%, gross income test. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Our Company—Income Tests.” Because a taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal income tax, and state and local income tax (where applicable), as a regular corporation, the income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries generally will be subject to an additional level of tax as compared to the income earned by our other subsidiaries.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of the historical financial condition and results of operations of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor are based upon their combined financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses in the reporting period. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates and assumptions. We have provided a summary of our significant accounting policies in the notes to the combined financial statements of the Hudson Pacific Predecessor included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have summarized below those accounting policies that require material subjective or complex judgments and that have the most significant impact on our financial conditions and results of operations. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis, based upon information currently available and on various assumptions that we believe are reasonable as of the date hereof. Other companies in similar businesses may use different estimation policies and methodologies, which may impact the comparability of our results of operations and financial conditions to those of other companies.

Investment in Real Estate Properties

The properties in our initial portfolio are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. We allocate the cost of an acquisition, including the assumption of liabilities, to the acquired tangible assets and identifiable intangibles based on their estimated fair values in accordance with GAAP. We assess fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and/or capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors, including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The fair value of tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it was vacant.

We record acquired “above- and below-” market leases at fair value using discount rates that reflect the risks associated with the leases acquired. The amount recorded is based on the present value of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for each in-place lease, measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease for above market leases and the initial term plus the extended term for any leases with below-market renewal options. Other intangible assets acquired include amounts for in-place lease values that are based on management’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease. Factors considered include

 

63


Table of Contents

estimates of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods, market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, we include estimates of lost rents at market rates during the hypothetical expected lease-up periods, which are dependent on local market conditions. In estimating costs to execute similar leases, we consider leasing commissions and legal and other related costs.

We capitalize direct construction and development costs, including pre-development costs, interest, property taxes, insurance and other costs directly related and essential to the acquisition, development or construction of a real estate project. Construction and development costs are capitalized while substantial activities are ongoing to prepare an asset for its intended use. We consider a construction project as substantially complete and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year after cessation of major construction activity. Costs incurred after a project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, or after development activities have ceased, are expensed as incurred. Costs previously capitalized related to abandoned acquisitions or developments are charged to earnings. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

We compute depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of a range of 39 years for building and improvements, 15 years for land improvements, five to seven years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, and over the life of the lease for tenant improvements. Depreciation is discontinued when a property is identified as held for sale. Above- and below-market lease intangibles are amortized primarily to revenue over the remaining non-cancellable lease terms and bargain renewal periods, if any. Other in-place lease intangibles are amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancellable lease term and bargain renewal periods, if any.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We assess the carrying value of real estate assets and related intangibles whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable in accordance with GAAP. Impairment losses are recorded on real estate assets held for investment when indicators of impairment are present and the future undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. We recognize impairment losses to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the properties. Properties held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less cost to sell.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand and in banks, plus all short term investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased. We maintain some of our cash in bank deposit accounts, which, at times, may exceed the federally insured limit. No losses have been experienced related to such accounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of amounts held by lenders to provide for future real estate taxes and insurance expenditures, repairs and capital improvements reserves, general and other reserves and security deposits.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are comprised of amounts due for monthly rents and other charges. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts, including an allowance for straight-line rent receivables, for estimated losses resulting from tenant defaults or the inability of tenants to make contractual rent and tenant recovery payments. We monitor the liquidity and creditworthiness of our tenants and operators on an ongoing basis. This evaluation considers industry and economic conditions, property performance, credit enhancements and other factors. For

 

64


Table of Contents

straight-line rent amounts, our assessment is based on amounts estimated to be recoverable over the term of the lease. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, we believe that the collectability of straight-line rent balances are reasonably assured; accordingly, no allowance was established against straight-line rent receivables. We evaluate the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on specific identification of uncollectible accounts and our historical collection experience. We recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the current business environment and our historical experience. Historical experience has been within our expectations.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. For assets acquired subject to leases, we recognize revenue upon acquisition of the asset provided the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. If the lease provides for tenant improvements, we determine whether the tenant improvements are owned, for accounting purposes, by the tenant or us. When we are the owner of the tenant improvements, the tenant is not considered to have taken physical possession or have control of the physical use of the leased asset until the tenant improvements are substantially completed. When the tenant is the owner of the tenant improvements, any tenant improvement allowance that is funded is treated as a lease incentive and amortized as a reduction of revenue over the lease term.

Certain leases provide for additional rents contingent upon a percentage of the tenant’s revenue in excess of specified base amounts or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized when actual results reported by the tenant, or estimates of tenant results, exceed the base amount or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized only after the contingency has been removed (when the related thresholds are achieved), which may result in the recognition of rental revenue in periods subsequent to when such payments are received.

Other property related revenue is revenue that is derived from the tenants’ use of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and internet) at our Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson properties. Other property related revenue is recognized when these items are provided.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as we are generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, have discretion in selecting the supplier and bear the associated credit risk.

We recognize gains on sales of properties upon the closing of the transaction with the purchaser. Gains on properties sold are recognized using the full accrual method when (i) the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured, (ii) we are not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale, (iii) the initial investment from the buyer is sufficient and (iv) other profit recognition criteria have been satisfied. Gains on sales of properties may be deferred in whole or in part until the requirements for gain recognition have been met.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the respective loan on the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We manage interest rate risk associated with borrowings by entering into interest rate derivative contracts. We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value and the changes in fair value are reflected as income or expense. If the derivative is a

 

65


Table of Contents

hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income, which is a component of equity. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

We held one interest rate collar instrument and one interest rate cap instrument for the year ended December 31, 2008. We did not use hedge accounting for these instruments.

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Under GAAP, we measure certain financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. In addition, we are required to measure other financial instruments and balances at fair value on a non-recurring basis (e.g., carrying value of impaired real estate and long-lived assets). Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The GAAP fair value framework uses a three-tiered approach, with fair value measurements being classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

   

Level 1: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2: quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

 

   

Level 3: prices or valuation techniques where little or no market data is available, that requires inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

When available, we utilize quoted market prices from an independent third-party source to determine fair value and classify such items in Level 1 or Level 2. In instances where the market for a financial instrument is not active, regardless of the availability of a nonbinding quoted market price, observable inputs might not be relevant and could require us to make a significant adjustment to derive a fair value measurement. Additionally, in an inactive market, a market price quoted from an independent third party may rely more on models with inputs based on information available only to that independent third party. When we determine that the market for a financial instrument owned by us is illiquid or when market transactions for similar instruments do not appear orderly, we use several valuation sources (including internal valuations, discounted cash flow analysis and quoted market prices) and establish a fair value by assigning weights to the various valuation sources.

Changes in assumptions or estimation methodologies can have a material effect on these estimated fair values. In this regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.

We consider the following factors to be indicators of an inactive market: (i) there are few recent transactions; (ii) price quotations are not based on current information; (iii) price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers (for example, some brokered markets); (iv) indexes that previously were highly correlated with the fair values of the asset or liability are demonstrably uncorrelated with recent indications of fair value for that asset or liability; (v) there is a significant increase in implied liquidity risk premiums, yields or performance indicators (such as delinquency rates or loss severities) for observed transactions or quoted prices when compared with our estimate of expected cash flows, considering all available market data about credit and other nonperformance risk for the asset or liability; (vi) there is a wide bid-ask spread or significant increase in the bid-ask spread; (vii) there is a significant decline or absence of a market for new issuances (that is, a primary market) for the asset or liability or similar assets or liabilities; and (viii) little information is released publicly (for example, a principal-to-principal market).

 

66


Table of Contents

We consider the following factors to be indicators of non-orderly transactions: (i) there was not adequate exposure to the market for a period before the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets or liabilities under current market conditions; (ii) there was a usual and customary marketing period, but the seller marketed the asset or liability to a single market participant; (iii) the seller is in or near bankruptcy or receivership (that is, distressed), or the seller was required to sell to meet regulatory or legal requirements (that is, forced); and (iv) the transaction price is an outlier when compared with other recent transactions for the same or similar assets or liabilities.

Results of Operations

The following table identifies each of the properties in our initial portfolio acquired through March 31, 2010 and their date of acquisition.

 

Acquired Properties

   Acquisition/Completion
Date
   Square Feet

Sunset Gower

   08/17/2007    543,709

Sunset Bronson

   01/30/2008    313,723

Technicolor Building

   06/01/2008    114,958

City Plaza

   08/26/2008    333,922
       

Total

      1,306,312
       

For analytical presentation, all percentages used in this discussion of our results of operations are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial statements contained in this prospectus.

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2010 to the three months ended March 31, 2009

Revenue

Total Revenue . Total revenue consists of rental revenue, tenant recoveries, other property related revenue and other revenue. Total revenues remained relatively flat at $10.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $10.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The period over period changes in the items that comprise total revenue are attributable primarily to the factors discussed below.

Rental Revenue . Rental revenue includes rental revenues from our office and media and entertainment properties, percentage rent on retail space contained within our properties, and lease termination income. Total rental revenue increased $0.5 million, or 7%, to $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase in rental revenues was primarily due to higher rental revenues from our Sunset Bronson and City Plaza properties, partially offset by lower rental revenues from our Sunset Gower property.

Tenant Recoveries . Total tenant recoveries decreased $0.1 million, or 14%, to $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, primarily due to lower property operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Other Property Related Revenue . Other property related revenue is revenue that is derived from the tenants’ rental of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and internet). Total other property related revenue decreased $0.2 million, or 13%, to $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in equipment rental income.

 

67


Table of Contents

Operating Expenses

Total Operating Expenses . Total operating expenses consist of property operating expenses, as well as general and administrative expenses, other property related expenses, management fees and depreciation and amortization. Total operating expenses decreased by $0.2 million, or 2%, to $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. This decrease in total operating expenses is attributable primarily to the factors discussed below.

Property Operating Expenses . Property operating expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 6%, to $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease in property operating expenses was primarily due to lower operating expenses at our City Plaza property.

Other Property Related Expense . Other property related expense increased $0.1 million, or 32%, to $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to an increase in third party equipment rental expense.

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses remained relatively flat for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009. These expenses include accounting, legal and other professional services, office supplies, entertainment, travel, and automobile expenses, telecommunications and computer-related expenses, and other miscellaneous items.

Management Fees . Management fees reflect amounts historically paid to an affiliated external manager and a third party manager. Upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions, we will be internally managed (other than with respect to the 875 Howard Street property), the third party management agreement (other than with respect to the 875 Howard Street property) will be terminated and these management fees will generally be eliminated in consolidation. Management fee expense remained relatively flat for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization expense remained relatively flat at $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Other Expense (Income)

Interest Expense . Interest expense remained relatively flat at $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Unrealized Gain on Interest Rate Collar . For the three months ended March 31, 2010, there was unrealized gain on interest rate collar of $(0.2) million. There was a de minimus unrealized loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Net Income

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $0.7 million compared to net income of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The net increase was due to an increase in rental revenues, a decrease in property operating expenses, and an unrealized gain on interest rate collar.

 

68


Table of Contents

Comparison of year ended December 31, 2009 to year ended December 31, 2008

Revenue

Total Revenue . Total revenue consists of rental revenue, tenant recoveries, other property related revenue and other revenue. Total revenues increased by $3.7 million, or 11%, to $39.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $35.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase in total revenue is attributable primarily to the factors discussed below.

Rental Revenue . Rent includes rental revenues from our office and media and entertainment properties, percentage rent on retail space contained within our properties, and lease termination income. Total rental revenue increased by $3.1 million, or 12%, to $29.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $25.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Total rental revenues were primarily impacted by our acquisition activity during 2008 and the completion of the Technicolor Building. First, we acquired City Plaza on August 26, 2008, resulting in the inclusion of four months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to 12 months of operations in the year ended December 31 2009. Second, the Technicolor Building was placed into service and the related lease commenced on June 1, 2008, which resulted in the inclusion of seven months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to twelve months of operations in the year ended December 31 2009. Third, we acquired the Sunset Bronson property on January 30, 2008, which resulted in the inclusion of 11 months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to 12 months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2009. The increase in rental revenues due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above was partially offset by a decline in rental revenues at Sunset Bronson due in part to seismic retrofitting and retrofitting of control room facilities with high-definition technology in the year ended December 31, 2009, which caused portions of the property to be unavailable for lease during the retrofitting.

Tenant Recoveries . Total tenant recoveries increased by $0.6 million, or 25%, to $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Other Property Related Revenue . Other property related revenue is revenue that is derived from the tenants’ rental of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and internet). Total other property related revenue increased by $0.1 million, or 2%, to $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Operating Expenses

Total Operating Expenses . Total operating expenses consist of property operating expenses, as well as general and administrative expenses, other property related expenses, management fees and depreciation and amortization. Total operating expenses increased by $5.3 million, or 20%, to $31.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $26.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This increase in total operating expenses is attributable primarily to the factors discussed below.

Property Operating Expenses . Property operating expenses increased by $2.0 million, or 13%, to $17.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The change in property operating expenses was due to our acquisition activity and the completion of the Technicolor Building referred to above.

Other Property Related Expense . Other property related expense decreased $0.3 million, or 17%, to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in third party equipment rental expense.

 

69


Table of Contents

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses remained relatively flat for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the year ended December 31, 2008. These expenses include accounting, legal and other professional services, office supplies, entertainment, travel, and automobile expenses, telecommunications and computer-related expenses, and other miscellaneous items.

Management Fees . Management fees reflect amounts historically paid to an affiliated external manager and a third party manager. Upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions, we will be internally managed (other than with respect to the 875 Howard Street property), the third party management agreement (other than with respect to the 875 Howard Street property) will be terminated and these management fees will generally be eliminated in consolidation. Management fee expense increased $0.1 million, or 9%, to $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization expense increased $3.4 million, or 51%, to $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Other Expense (Income)

Interest Expense . Interest expense decreased $1.9 million, or 18%, to $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the LIBOR rate on our floating rate loans and the repayment of approximately $23.9 million of the Sunset Gower loan in May 2008. This decrease was partially offset by the increased interest expense on debt obtained on the Sunset Bronson property in May 2008 and the commencement of recognition of interest expense upon completion of the Technicolor Building in June 2008.

Unrealized Gain on Interest Rate Collar . For the year ended December 31, 2009, there was unrealized gain on interest rate collar of $(0.4) million. There was an unrealized loss of $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Loss on Sale of Lot. For the year ended December 31, 2009, there was no gain or loss on sale of lot. For the year ended December 31, 2008 there was a $0.2 million loss on the sale of a lot.

Net Income (Loss)

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $31,000 compared to a net loss of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. A net decrease in income from operations of $1.5 million was offset by a decrease in non-operating expenses of $3.2 million, or 29%, to $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in non-operating expenses was primarily due to a decrease in interest expense and an unrealized gain on interest rate collar.

Comparison of year ended December 31, 2008 to period ended December 31, 2007

Revenue

Total Revenue . Total revenues increased by $28.6 million, or 411%, to $35.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $7.0 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase in total revenue is attributable primarily to the factors discussed below.

Rental Revenue . Total rental revenue increased by $21.7 million, or 514%, to $25.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $4.2 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. Rental revenue

 

70


Table of Contents

was primarily impacted by our acquisition activity during 2008 and the completion of the Technicolor Building. First, we acquired City Plaza on August 26, 2008, resulting in the inclusion of approximately four months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, whereas there were no operations in the period ended December 31, 2007. Second, the Technicolor Building was placed into service and the related lease commenced on June 1, 2008, which resulted in the inclusion of seven months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, whereas there were no operations in the period ended December 31, 2007. Third, we acquired the Sunset Bronson property on January 30, 2008, which resulted in the inclusion of eleven months of operations in the year ended December 31, 2008, whereas there were no operations in the period ended December 31, 2007.

Tenant Recoveries . Tenant recoveries increased by $2.2 million, or 3,853%, to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $58,000 for the period ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Other Property Related Revenue . Total other property related revenue increased by $4.6 million, or 172%, to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $2.7 million for the period ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Operating Expenses

Total Operating Expenses . Total operating expenses increased by $20.6 million, or 382%, to $26.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $5.4 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. This increase in operating expense is attributable primarily to the factors discussed below.

Property Operating Expenses . Total property operating expenses increased by $12.9 million, or 478%, to $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $2.7 million for the period ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Other Property Related Expense . Other property related expense increased $0.4 million, or 26%, to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $1.3 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

General and Administrative Expenses . General and administrative expenses increased by $0.7 million, or 182%, to $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $0.4 million for the period ended December 31, 2007, primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Management Fees . Management fees reflect amounts historically paid to an affiliated external manager and a third party manager. Upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions, we will be internally managed (other than with respect to the 875 Howard Street property), the third party management agreement will be terminated (other than with respect to the 875 Howard Street property) and these management fees will generally be eliminated in consolidation. Management fees increased $0.8 million, or 321%, to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $0.3 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Depreciation and Amortization . Depreciation and amortization expense increased $5.9 million, or 791%, to $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $0.7 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily due to the timing of the acquisition and construction activity referred to above.

Other Expense (Income)

Interest Expense . Interest expense increased $6.4 million, or 165%, to $10.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $3.9 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase was

 

71


Table of Contents

primarily due to the acquisition and construction activity referred to above. First, the Technicolor Building was placed into service in June 2008, which resulted in the commencement of recognition of interest expense upon its completion in June 2008. Second, we obtained debt on the Sunset Bronson property as of May 2008 (which resulted in the inclusion of approximately eight months of interest expense in the year ended December 31, 2008, whereas there was no interest expense in the period ended December 31, 2007). These increases are in part offset by the decrease in the LIBOR rate on our floating rate loans and the repayment of approximately $23.9 million of the Sunset Gower loan in May 2008.

Unrealized Loss on Interest Rate Collar . For the year ended December 31, 2008, there was unrealized loss on interest rate collar of $0.8 million. There was no such unrealized loss for the period ended December 31, 2007, as the loan for our Sunset Bronson property, which is subject to the interest rate collar, was not obtained until May 2008.

Loss on Sale of Lot. There was a loss on sale of lot of $0.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2008, with no comparable activity in the period ended December 31, 2007.

Net Loss

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $1.7 million compared to $2.3 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. A net increase in income from operations of $8.0 million attributable primarily to our acquisition activity during 2008 and the completion of the Technicolor Building was offset by an increase in non-operating expenses of $7.4 million, or 195%, to $11.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $3.8 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase in non-operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in interest expense on debt obtained on the Sunset Bronson property in May 2008 and the commencement of recognition of interest expense upon completion of the Technicolor Building in June 2008. We experienced a net loss in both periods primarily due to expenses exceeding revenues, as described above, and largely driven by interest expense and depreciation and amortization.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Analysis of Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe that this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions will improve our financial performance through changes in our capital structure, including a reduction in our leverage. After completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we expect our ratio of debt to total market capitalization to be approximately     %. Our total market capitalization is defined as the sum of the market value of our outstanding common stock (which may decrease, thereby increasing our debt to total capitalization ratio), including restricted stock that we may issue to certain of our directors and executive officers, plus the aggregate value of common units not owned by us, plus the liquidation preference of outstanding series A preferred units, plus the book value of our total consolidated indebtedness. Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we expect to have approximately $             of available cash. In addition, we have obtained commitment letters for a secured credit facility that will allow borrowings of up to $195 million. We intend to use the secured credit facility, among other things, to finance the acquisition of other properties, to provide funds for tenant improvements and capital expenditures and to provide for working capital and other corporate purposes.

Our short-term liquidity requirements primarily consist of operating expenses and other expenditures associated with our properties, distributions to our limited partners and dividend payments to our stockholders required to maintain our REIT status, capital expenditures and, potentially, acquisitions. We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements through net cash provided by operations, reserves established from existing cash, the proceeds of this offering and, if necessary, by drawing upon our secured credit facility.

 

72


Table of Contents

Our long-term liquidity needs consist primarily of funds necessary to pay for the repayment of debt at maturity, property acquisitions and non-recurring capital improvements. We expect to meet our long-term liquidity requirements with net cash from operations, long-term secured and unsecured indebtedness and the issuance of equity and debt securities. We also may fund property acquisitions and non-recurring capital improvements using our secured credit facility pending permanent financing.

We believe that, upon the completion of this offering, and as a publicly traded REIT, we will have access to multiple sources of capital to fund our long-term liquidity requirements, including the incurrence of additional debt and the issuance of additional equity. However, as a new public company, we cannot assure you that this will be the case. Our ability to incur additional debt will be dependent on a number of factors, including our degree of leverage, the value of our unencumbered assets and borrowing restrictions that may be imposed by lenders. Our ability to access the equity capital markets will be dependent on a number of factors as well, including general market conditions for REITs and market perceptions about our company.

Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering

Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we expect to have approximately $94.3 million of outstanding consolidated indebtedness, of which we expect approximately $37.0 million, or 39.2%, will be variable rate debt, subject to a collar on the LIBOR portion of the interest rate of not less than 2.55% and not greater than 3.87%.

The following table sets forth information as of March 31, 2010 (on a pro forma basis and not including fair value adjustments) with respect to the indebtedness that we expect will be outstanding upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions.

 

Debt

   Pro Forma
Amount
Outstanding
   Interest Rate ( 1 )    Annual
Debt

Service
   Maturity
Date
   Balance at
Maturity

Mortgage loan secured by Sunset Bronson

   $ 37,000,000    LIBOR + 3.65%    $ 2,325,860    05/30/10    $ 37,000,000

Mortgage loan secured by First Financial

   $ 43,000,000    5.34%    $ 2,328,090    12/01/11    $ 43,000,000

Mortgage loan secured by Tierrasanta

   $ 14,300,000    5.62%    $ 814,820    12/01/11    $ 14,300,000

Secured Revolving Credit Facility

              

 

(1) Interest with respect to the indebtedness is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. The indebtedness encumbering the Sunset Bronson property is floating rate indebtedness, subject to a collar on the LIBOR portion of the interest rate of not less than 2.55% and no greater than 3.87%. Its interest rate above is calculated based on one-month LIBOR of 2.55%, which exceeded the one-month LIBOR as of March 31, 2010 of 0.25%.

Description of Certain Debt

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the loan agreements evidencing our material debt to be outstanding upon the closing of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions. The following is only a summary and it does not include all of the provisions of such agreements, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Mortgage Loan Secured by Sunset Bronson

The Sunset Bronson property (other than the Sunset Bronson—Lot A land asset) will be subject to senior mortgage debt in a principal amount of $37.0 million, which is currently held by Wachovia Bank, National Association.

Maturity and Interest . The loan has a maturity date of May 30, 2010, which date may be extended by up to three additional periods of 12 months, in each case upon the satisfaction of certain conditions (including the

 

73


Table of Contents

satisfaction of a debt service ratio of at least 1.35 to 1.00 and a loan-to-value ratio based on appraisal value of not greater than 48%) and the payment of an extension fee for each extension equal to 0.25% of the sum of the outstanding loans and undisbursed commitment amount. Management is in the process of documenting an extension of this loan with the lender, which it may determine to extend for an initial nine months, through March 1, 2011. The loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the 30-day LIBOR, plus 3.65%. Currently, the loan is subject to a collar on the LIBOR portion of the interest rate of no greater than 3.87% or less than 2.55% until June 1, 2010. From and after June 1, 2010, the applicable interest rate must be at least 5.90% per annum.

Security . The loan was made to a single borrower subsidiary, and is secured by a first-priority deed of trust lien on the Sunset Bronson property (other than the Sunset Bronson – Lot A land asset), a security interest in all personal property used in connection with that property and an assignment of all leases and rents relating to the property. The loan is guaranteed by Hudson Sunset Gower, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for customary non-recourse carve-out purposes. We expect to replace Hudson Sunset Gower, LLC as the guarantor in connection with the closing of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions.

Prepayment . The loan may be voluntarily prepaid without penalty or premium in minimum aggregate amounts of $1.0 million.

Events of Default . The loan agreement contains customary events of default, including defaults in the payment of principal or interest, defaults in compliance with the covenants contained in the documents evidencing and securing the loan, cross defaults to other material debt and bankruptcy or other insolvency events, as well as termination of the parking lot lease with respect to the Sunset Bronson—Lot A land asset. We expect to hold (directly or indirectly through our operating partnership’s wholly owned subsidiaries) the lessor and lessee interests under this parking lot lease in connection with the closing of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions.

Mortgage Loan Secured by First Financial

The First Financial Plaza property is subject to senior mortgage debt in a principal amount of $43.0 million, which is currently held by SunAmerica Life Insurance Company.

Maturity and Interest . The loan has a maturity date of December 1, 2011, which date may be extended for an additional five years upon modified terms at the option of the lender if the borrower fails to repay all amounts due at maturity. The loan bears interest at a fixed rate per annum of 5.34%.

Security . The loan was made to a single borrower subsidiary, and is secured by a first-priority deed of trust lien on the First Financial Plaza property, a security interest in all personal property used in connection with the First Financial Plaza property and an assignment of all leases and rents relating to the property. In the event that the debt service coverage of the borrower falls below a defined threshold, the borrower will become subject to a cash management and lockbox arrangement.

Prepayment . The loan may be voluntarily prepaid in full upon 30 days advance notice with a prepayment premium equal to the greater of (i) 1% of the outstanding principal amount or (ii) the present value of all scheduled payments of principal and interest remaining under the promissory note, discounted at a rate, when compounded monthly, equal to the semi-annual yield on U.S. Treasuries with maturities equivalent to the maturity of the loan, less the amount of principal being prepaid, calculated as of the prepayment date. The prepayment premium does not apply to payments made during the 90-day period immediately prior to the maturity date. Partial voluntary prepayments are not permitted.

Events of Default . The promissory note contains customary events of default, including defaults in the payment of principal or interest and defaults in compliance with the covenants contained in the documents evidencing and securing the loan.

 

74


Table of Contents

Mortgage Loan Secured by Tierrasanta

The Tierrasanta property is subject to senior mortgage debt in a principal amount of $14.3 million, which is securitized debt that is currently held by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee for the Registered Holders of CD 2007-CD4 Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates.

Maturity and Interest . The loan has a maturity date of December 1, 2011, and bears interest at a rate per annum of 5.62%.

Security . The loan was made to a single borrower subsidiary, and is secured by a first-priority deed of trust lien on the Tierrasanta property, a security interest in all personal property used in connection with the Tierrasanta property and an assignment of all leases, rents and security deposits relating to the property.

Prepayment . The loan may be voluntarily defeased in whole or in part, subject to satisfaction of customary defeasance requirements in effect for a prepayment prior to June 1, 2011, at which time the loan may be voluntarily prepaid without penalty or premium.

Events of Default . The loan agreement contains customary events of default, including defaults in the payment of principal or interest, defaults in compliance with the covenants contained in the documents evidencing the loan and bankruptcy or other insolvency events.

Secured Revolving Credit Facility

We have received commitments for a $195.0 million secured revolving credit facility from a group of lenders for which Barclays Bank PLC will act as administrative agent and joint lead arranger and Bank of America Securities LLC will act as syndication agent and joint lead arranger. We expect the facility to have a term of three years. We also expect the facility to have an accordion feature that may allow us, during the first two years of the term, to increase the availability thereunder by $50.0 million to $245.0 million. We intend to use this facility principally to refinance existing debt, fund acquisitions, redevelop and expand current properties and for other general corporate purposes.

The secured revolving credit facility is expected to bear interest at the rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 325 basis points to 400 basis points, depending on our leverage ratio, provided that LIBOR is subject to a floor of 1.50%. The amount available for us to borrow under the facility will be subject to the lesser of the appraisal value of our properties that form the borrowing base of the facility and a minimum implied debt service coverage ratio.

Our operating partnership’s ability to borrow under this secured revolving credit facility will be subject to our ongoing compliance with a number of customary restrictive covenants, including:

 

   

a maximum leverage ratio (defined as consolidated total indebtedness to total asset value) of 0.60 : 1.00,

 

   

a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (defined as consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to consolidated fixed charges) of 1.75 : 1.00,

 

   

a maximum consolidated floating rate debt ratio (defined as consolidated floating rate indebtedness to total asset value) of 0.25 : 1.00,

 

   

a maximum recourse debt ratio (defined as recourse indebtedness other than indebtedness under the revolving credit facility but including unsecured lines of credit to total asset value) of 0.10 : 1.00, and

 

   

a minimum tangible net worth equal to at least 85% of our tangible net worth at the closing of this offering plus 75% of the net proceeds of any additional equity issuances.

 

75


Table of Contents

Under the secured revolving credit facility, our distributions may not exceed the greater of (1) 95.0% of our FFO or (2) the amount required for us to qualify and maintain our REIT status. If a default or event of default occurs and is continuing, we may be precluded from making certain distributions.

We expect that we and certain of our subsidiaries will guarantee the obligations under the revolving credit facility and that we and certain of our subsidiaries will pledge specified assets (including real property), stock and other interests as collateral for the revolving credit facility obligations.

The commitments are subject to closing conditions that are expected to include, among other things, satisfactory review by lenders of appraisals, environmental reports, engineering reports and seismic reports, successful completion of this offering, absence of material adverse effect, payment of fees, and the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive documentation satisfactory to Barclays Bank PLC and the other lenders. There can be no assurance that all of the closing conditions will be satisfied.

Contractual Obligations

The following table provides information with respect to our commitments at December 31, 2009 on a pro forma basis to reflect the obligations we expect to have upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions, including any guaranteed or minimum commitments under contractual obligations. The table does not reflect available debt extensions.

 

     Payments Due by Period

Contractual Obligation

   Total    Less than
1 year
    1-3 years     3-5 years     More than
5 years

Principal payments on mortgage loans (1)

   $ 94,300,000    $ 37,000,000 (2)     $ 57,300,000      $ —        $ —  

Interest payments (1)(3)

     13,970,599      5,468,770        5,206,861        3,294,968        —  

Operating leases

     611,635      383,771        211,632        16,232        —  

Tenant-related commitments

     2,295,919      2,295,919        —          —          —  

Ground lease (4)

     9,105,340      181,201        362,402        362,402        8,199,335
                                     

Total:

   $ 120,283,493    $ 45,329,661      $ 63,080,895      $ 3,673,602      $ 8,199,335
                                     

 

(1) Does not include potential payments of principal or interest under our secured credit facility, as no amounts were outstanding as of December 31, 2009 or expected to be drawn as of the offering.
(2) The loan provides for three one-year extension rights to extend maturity of loan through May 30, 2013. Management is in the process of documenting an extension of this loan with the lender, which it may determine to extend for an initial nine months, through March 1, 2011.
(3) Interest with respect to the indebtedness is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed. The indebtedness encumbering the Sunset Bronson property is floating rate indebtedness, subject to a collar on the LIBOR portion of the interest rate of not less than 2.55% and no greater than 3.87%. Its interest above is calculated based on one-month LIBOR floor of 2.55%, which exceeded the one-month LIBOR as of December 31, 2010 of 0.23%.
(4) Reflects current annual base rents of $181,200 and $1 under the Sunset Gower and Del Amo Office ground leases expiring March 31, 2060, and June 30, 2049, respectively. Assumes Sunset Gower ground rent is fixed at the current rent, although such ground rent is subject to periodic fair market value adjustments.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

At March 31, 2010, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Interest Rate Risk

FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivative and Hedging, requires us to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that do not qualify as hedges must be adjusted to fair value and the changes in fair value must be reflected as income or expense. If the derivative qualifies as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income, which is

 

76


Table of Contents

a component of stockholders equity. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings. Our existing investments in interest rate collar and interest rate cap contracts do not qualify as effective hedges, and as such, the changes in such contracts’ fair market values are being recorded in earnings. Our predecessor recognized gains relating to the fair market value change of their interest rate contracts of $(0.2) million and $(0.4) million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009.

We intend to enter into or transfer existing interest rate contracts that will effectively hedge in part our variable rate debt from future changes in interest rates. We expect these interest rate contracts to qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment under FASB ASC Topic 815, and as such, all future changes in fair value of the new interest rate contracts for periods after this offering will be recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of the new interest rate contracts’ change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

As of March 31, 2010, we had $152.0 million of debt subject to interest rate contracts with a net fair value of $(0.2) million.

Cash Flows

Comparison of three months ended March 31, 2010 to three months ended March 31, 2009

Cash and cash equivalents were $4.5 million and $7.3 million at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $0.2 million to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $1.7 million provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to the increase in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to net income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and an increase in prepaid expenses and accrued liabilities, which was partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $1.2 million to $0.7 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $1.9 million for three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in investments in real estate, primarily as a result of capital investments associated with the Technicolor Building in the three months ended March 31, 2009, with less comparable activity during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased $1.6 million to $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 compared to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The decrease was due to a decrease in net contributions by members of $1.6 million for capital investments associated with the Technicolor Building.

Comparison of year ended December 31, 2009 to year ended December 31, 2008

Cash and cash equivalents were $2.3 million and $5.0 million at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Net cash used in operating activities increased by $19.9 million to $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $19.8 provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to (i) the receipt of $16.3 million of pre-paid rent from KTLA in the year ended December 31, 2008 with no comparable activity in the year ended December 31, 2009, and (ii) an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities primarily associated with the placing into service of the Technicolor Building in June 2008.

 

77


Table of Contents

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $170.9 million to $7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $178.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to (i) $192.5 million of additions to investments in real estate properties in the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of the acquisition of Sunset Bronson and City Plaza properties compared to $7.6 million of additions to investments in real estate in the year ended December 31, 2009 primarily as a result of capital investments associated with the Technicolor Building, (ii) $11.4 million of proceeds from sale of lot in the year ended December 31, 2008 with no comparable activity in the year ended December 31, 2009, and (iii) restricted cash inflow of $2.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of the reduction of the restricted cash required for the Sunset Bronson Note payable, with no comparable activity in the year ended December 31, 2009.

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased $158.5 million to $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $163.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to (i) decrease in net contributions by members of $142.4 million from $147.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of the acquisition of Sunset Bronson and City Plaza properties compared to $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 primarily as a result of capital investments associated with the Technicolor Building, (ii) proceeds from notes payable of $41.6 million for Sunset Bronson and net repayments of notes payable of $23.9 million for Sunset Gower in the year ended December 31, 2008 with no comparable activity during the year ended December 31, 2009, and (iii) payment of $0.6 million of loan costs associated with the extension of the note payable on Sunset Gower in the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $2.2 million of loan costs associated with the Sunset Bronson note payable in the year ended December 31, 2008.

Comparison of year ended December 31, 2008 to period ended December 31, 2007

Cash and cash equivalents were $5.0 million and $0.1 million, at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $24.7 million to $19.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $(4.9) million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The increase was primarily due to (i) the receipt of $16.3 million of pre-paid rent from KTLA in the year ended December 31, 2008 with no comparable activity in the period ended December 31, 2007, (ii) partially offset with an increase in cash interest payments for the year ended December 31, 2008 largely due to the financing of Sunset Bronson in May 2008, and (iii) fluctuations in operating assets and liabilities and due to the fact that the period ended December 31, 2007 reflect five months of operations compared to a full year for 2008.

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $13.9 million to $178.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $192.3 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The decrease was primarily due to (i) $192.4 million of additions to investments in real estate properties in the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of the acquisition of Sunset Bronson and City Plaza properties as well as the development costs related to the Technicolor Building compared to $192.3 million of additions to investments in real estate in the period ended December 31, 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Sunset Gower in August 2007, (ii) $11.4 million of proceeds from sale of lot in the year ended December 31, 2008 with no comparable activity in the period ended December 31, 2007, and (iii) an increase in restricted cash inflow of $2.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of the reduction of the restricted cash required for the Sunset Bronson Note payable, with no comparable activity in the period ended December 31, 2007.

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased $33.9 million to $163.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $197.3 million for the period ended December 31, 2007. The decrease was primarily due to (i) proceeds from notes payable of $41.6 million for Sunset Bronson and net payments of notes payable of $23.9 million for Sunset Gower in the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $134.3 million of proceeds from notes payable in connection with the August 2007 acquisition of Sunset Gower for the period ended December 31, 2007, (ii) partially offset by an increase in net contributions by members of $82.4 million to $147.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $65.5 million for the period ended December 31, 2007.

 

78


Table of Contents

Funds from Operations

We calculate funds from operations before non-controlling interest, or FFO, in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net income (loss) (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of depreciable operating property, plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

FFO is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. Management uses FFO as a supplemental performance measure because it believes that FFO is beneficial to investors as a starting point in measuring our operational performance. Specifically, in excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization and gains and losses from property dispositions, which do not relate to or are not indicative of our operating performance, FFO provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, captures trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs. We also believe that, as a widely recognized measure of the performance of REITs, FFO will be used by investors as a basis to compare our operating performance with that of other REITs.

However, because FFO excludes depreciation and amortization and captures neither the changes in the value of our properties that result from use or market conditions nor the level of capital expenditures and leasing commissions necessary to maintain the operating performance of our properties, all of which have real economic effects and could materially impact our results from operations, the utility of FFO as a measure of our performance is limited. In addition, other equity REITs may not calculate FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition as we do, and, therefore, our FFO may not be comparable to such other REITs’ FFO. Accordingly, FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income available to common stockholders (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of our financial performance. While management believes that FFO is an important supplemental non-GAAP financial measure, management believes it is also important to stress that FFO should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity. Further, FFO is not necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of our cash needs, including our ability to service indebtedness or make distributions.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income to pro forma FFO before non-controlling interest for the periods presented.

 

     Pro Forma  
     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2010
    Year Ended
December 31, 2009
 
    

(In thousands)

 

Net income

   $ 496      $ 4,411   

Adjustments:

    

Distribution to preferred non-controlling partnership interest

     (187     (743

Real estate depreciation and amortization

  

 

3,748

  

    15,650   

Loss on sale of lot, net

     —          —     
                

Funds from operations before non-controlling interest

   $ 4,057      $ 19,318   
                

Inflation

Substantially all of our office leases provide for separate real estate tax and operating expense escalations. In addition, most of the leases provide for fixed rent increases. We believe that inflationary increases may be at least partially offset by the contractual rent increases and expense escalations described above.

 

79


Table of Contents

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2009, the FASB issued additional disclosure provisions of ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments—Overall , or ASC 825-10 (previously Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, 161). ASC 825-10 requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies in addition to the annual financial statements. ASC 825-10 is effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009. Prior period presentation is not required for comparative purposes at initial adoption. The adoption of ASC 825-10 on June 30, 2009 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855, Subsequent Events , or ASC 855 (previously SFAS 165). ASC 855 provides general guidelines to account for the disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. These guidelines are consistent with current accounting requirements, but clarify the period, circumstances, and disclosures for properly identifying and accounting for subsequent events. ASC 855 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 855 on June 30, 2009 did not have a material impact on our combined financial position or results of operations.

In June 2009, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or the Codification, was issued in the form of ASC 105, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles , or ASC 105 (previously SFAS 168). Upon issuance, the Codification became the single source of authoritative, nongovernmental U.S. GAAP. The Codification reorganized U.S. GAAP pronouncements into accounting topics, which are displayed using a single structure. Certain SEC guidance is also included in the Codification and will follow a similar topical structure in separate SEC sections. ASC 150 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of the Codification on September 30, 2009 did not have a material impact on our combined financial position or results of operations.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Our future income, cash flows and fair values relevant to financial instruments are dependent upon prevalent market interest rates. Market risk refers to the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. As more fully described in the interest rate risk section, we use derivative financial instruments to manage, or hedge, interest rate risks related to our borrowings. We only enter into contracts with major financial institutions based on their credit rating and other factors.

Upon completion of this offering, we expect to have an interest rate collar in place with respect to the $37.0 million loan relating to the Sunset Bronson property. If LIBOR were to either increase or decrease by 10%, or approximately 3.4 basis points, the resulting increase or decrease in interest expense would have no impact on our future earnings and cash flows as the resulting LIBOR would remain below the 2.55% floor under the existing interest rate collar.

Interest risk amounts were determined by considering the impact of hypothetical interest rates on our financial instruments. These analyses do not consider the effect of any change in overall economic activity that could occur in that environment. Further, in the event of a change of that magnitude, we may take actions to further mitigate our exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects, these analyses assume no changes in our financial structure.

As of March 31, 2010, on a pro forma basis, our total outstanding debt was approximately $94.3 million, which was comprised of $37.0 million of variable rate secured mortgage loans subject to the interest rate collar described above and $57.3 million of fixed rate secured mortgage loans. As of March 31, 2010, the fair value of our pro forma fixed rate secured mortgage loans was approximately $56.7 million.

 

80


Table of Contents

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND AND MARKET OPPORTUNITY

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this Industry Background and Market Opportunity section is derived from the market studies prepared by RCG.

Overview

We believe that the current dislocation in the commercial real estate capital markets and corresponding depressed real estate operating fundamentals will provide us with an opportunity to acquire assets in our target markets that generate attractive risk-adjusted returns and expand our initial portfolio.

Prior to the summer of 2007, real estate values increased dramatically, fueled by improving operating fundamentals as well as readily available and historically inexpensive debt and equity capital. Asset level debt financing, principally in the form of mortgages that were ultimately sold in the commercial mortgage backed securities market, was widely accessible at historically attractive terms and high loan-to-value ratios, or LTVs. Unprecedented levels of transaction activity ensued, as investors aggressively pursued transactions with the expectation that strong underlying operating performance and access to inexpensive debt and equity capital would be sustainable in the long term. According to RCG, $502.3 billion of transactions occurred nationally at the peak of the real estate cycle in 2007, representing the purchase and sale of 19,446 properties. This included over $206.2 billion of office transactions, with a disproportionate share of institutional quality deals being transacted by financial sponsors utilizing high leverage to finance the acquisitions.

The onset of the “credit crunch” in the summer of 2007 and subsequent deterioration in operating fundamentals caused significant disruption within the commercial real estate capital markets. As a result of the substantial contraction in the credit market, there are fewer lenders making commercial real estate loans than before, and such lenders are charging higher interest rates and invoking stricter lending standards in the form of lower LTVs and higher debt service coverage ratios. In addition, property fundamentals have deteriorated due to the recent recession, resulting in decreased property level cash flow. The combination of these factors has resulted in a challenging refinancing environment, lower asset valuations and significantly lower asset transaction volumes, all of which have created stress on property owners, many of whom borrowed prior to the credit crunch. According to RCG, transaction volume for 2009 was $53.7 billion, down from over $502.3 billion in 2007. Office transactions for 2009 totaled only $15.6 billion and the volume of distressed commercial assets across property types grew to $181.9 billion by the end of 2009, marking a more than two and a half times increase year-over-year. Office properties comprised 15.3% of the volume of distressed assets, or $27.5 billion.

We believe current market conditions will present an attractive investment environment for well-capitalized buyers for the next several years. First, upcoming debt maturities and property-level capital expenditures will force undercapitalized owners to sell over-leveraged assets. RCG estimates that approximately $195 billion in commercial mortgages will mature in 2010, increasing to approximately $220 billion in 2011 and peaking at approximately $225 billion in each of 2012 and 2013. Second, weak operating fundamentals on over-leveraged assets will result in asset-level operating distress and subsequent foreclosures by lenders. According to RCG, Fitch Ratings reported a delinquency rate of 6.3% in February 2010 in its U.S. CMBS portfolio, representing $28.5 billion in unpaid principal balances. Additionally, the delinquency rate on bank debt, primarily construction and development loans, rose to 15.6% as of December 2009 as compared to 8.8% a year earlier. We believe lenders will seek to monetize these real estate assets quickly following transfer of title. Third, competition for real estate acquisitions has diminished as many prospective buyers have exited the market due to capital constraints and a focus on managing legacy assets. Also, many investment funds that were responsible for a disproportionate share of acquisition activity in the 2003-2007 period, are now seeking liquidity as the lives of their investment vehicles expire. Finally, given the capital-intensive nature of operating office properties, we believe well-capitalized owners will have an advantage in attracting new tenants relative to owners with higher leverage, which will result in superior operating results.

 

81


Table of Contents

California Opportunity

We believe that California’s dynamic, diversified and cyclical economy, coupled with the current weakness in the California real estate market, creates attractive opportunities to acquire properties at significant discounts to intrinsic value and benefit from the anticipated economic recovery.

According to RCG, California’s economy produced $1.8 trillion in goods and services in 2008, making it the world’s eighth largest economy, ahead of entire countries such as Russia, Spain, Brazil and Canada. The state’s non-farm labor force totaled more than 13.8 million people as of December 2009, accounting for more than one out of every ten jobs in the country. California’s economy is anchored by a strong mix of innovative industries, including high technology, media and entertainment, bio technology, clean energy and healthcare, which RCG believes will drive a strong recovery. According to RCG, California is a global leader in the technology industry with more than one million jobs and many of the leading technology companies headquartered in the state. Additionally, California is a worldwide center for entertainment employment, with more than 228,500 people employed in the motion picture, sound and broadcasting industries and as independent artists, writers and performers as of 2008. Furthermore, a strong venture capital industry in California helps drive innovation and growth in all of the state’s key sectors. According to RCG, California received approximately $2.5 billion of venture capital investments in the fourth quarter of 2009, or approximately 50% of all venture capital investment in the United States over that period.

According to RCG, California’s employment will stabilize in 2010, with payrolls expected to remain virtually flat, and the growth rate expanding thereafter with 681,100 jobs created by 2014. Gross state product, or GSP, is expected to grow along with employment, with GSP expected to remain flat in 2010, to increase 1.5% in 2011 and achieve growth of 2.5% by 2014. According to RCG, the California economy is well-positioned over the longer term to outpace national gross domestic product, or GDP, growth as the California economy has historically outperformed the national economy following periods of recession or economic downturn, while its educated and entrepreneurial workforce, highly accredited university system, innovative industry clusters and temperate weather will lead to continued economic and population growth.

We believe that California presents a particularly unique and compelling market to capitalize on the dislocation in the commercial real estate markets. According to RCG, California had the highest number of distressed properties of any state in the country in September 2009, with 10,239 properties in distress, while RCG reported nearly $19.0 billion of distressed assets in the state, nearly $4.2 billion of which were office properties.

However, RCG believes that improving economic conditions will ultimately positively impact the demand for office space and result in improving commercial real estate market fundamentals. The recovery will also be supported by a limited supply of new commercial real estate, which is constrained in California due to limited availability of land, restrictive local entitlement processes and high building costs. Specifically, within our target markets of Silicon Valley, the East Bay, San Francisco, Los Angeles County, Orange County and San Diego County, RCG reports only 28 million square feet of new office space having been developed since 2005, out of an aggregate of 529 million square feet of office space, representing a 1.3% annual growth rate. We expect limited ground-up and rehabilitative office development in the next several years. RCG estimates new stock through 2014 will be limited to six million square feet, equating to a 0.7% cumulative growth rate and a 0.2% annual growth rate.

Our Target Markets

We will primarily target high-barrier-to-entry, in-fill locations in California markets with favorable, long-term supply-demand characteristics. Accordingly, our target markets include the largest metropolitan markets in California, specifically Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and the East Bay. Set forth below is a description of each of the aforementioned target markets.

 

82


Table of Contents

Los Angeles

Economy. We define the Los Angeles market as consisting solely of Los Angeles County. As of August 2009, this market had an estimated population of 10.2 million and supported approximately 3.9 million jobs. Los Angeles’s diversified economy generated $513.6 billion of GDP in 2008, making it one of the largest economies in the world. Several industries are clustered in Los Angeles, including media and entertainment, trade and tourism. In particular, Los Angeles is the center of the entertainment industry for both film and television production in the United States. One out of 12 workers in Los Angeles County is tied to the entertainment industry. Additionally, media and new media businesses, such as video games and other forms of digital content production, are vital and growing elements of the local economy that leverage the proximity to the center of the traditional entertainment business for creative talent and financing. Wholesale trade is also a significant industry in the Los Angeles area, which is home to the largest port in the United States, the Long Beach and Los Angeles port complex, supporting a combined 496,000 jobs in the Southern California region.

Los Angeles has been affected by the recession as much as other cities and regions in the United States – the unemployment rate exceeded 12.5% as of December 2009. However, the economy is expected to stabilize and begin to recover in 2010. RCG expects job declines to continue through 2010 at a decelerating pace, with employment gains resuming in 2011, accelerating from 0.8% to 1.6% in 2014.

 

LOGO    LOGO

Overall Office Market. The Los Angeles office market totals more than 180 million square feet. Office market conditions have softened throughout the region largely as a result of job losses that have reduced demand for office space and increased vacancies. However, recent construction activity remained subdued relative to the last upturn – an average of 1.7 million square feet was delivered annually between 2007 and 2009 compared to an average of 2.6 million square feet from 1999 to 2002. Accordingly, operating fundamentals should recover more quickly than in previous recessions. The overall vacancy rate was approximately 17.0% as of the fourth quarter of 2009, below the peak in the prior two recessions. RCG projects vacancy rates to increase slightly in 2010 to 17.6% before decreasing to 13.4% in 2014. Additionally, rents declined approximately 6.9% during 2009 and RCG projects continued declines in 2010. However, RCG projects rents to increase an average of 3.4% per year from 2011 to 2014.

Orange County

Economy . Orange County is located directly south of Los Angeles County. It is the smallest county in Southern California and the most densely populated with a population of approximately 3.0 million and an employment base of more than 1.4 million as of December 2009. Several industries are concentrated in Orange County, including professional business and financial services. In addition, Orange County is a top tourist destination owing to the presence of the Disneyland theme park and a large number of beaches. Orange County

 

83


Table of Contents

has been and remains a highly desirable place to live and work, thereby attracting an affluent and highly educated workforce. According to RCG, more than 35% of the population of Orange County has a bachelor’s degree, exceeding the national average of 28%.

Although the local economy has historically weathered economic downturns better than that of other economies in Southern California, Orange County was at the epicenter of the subprime mortgage industry. As a result, the market’s economy suffered significantly from the housing downturn and the ensuing credit crisis and recession. As of December 2009, the unemployment rate was 9.8%, well above the local average of 4.7% since 1990. However, the economy has begun to stabilize, and RCG expects job growth to remain flat in 2010, but increase to the mid-1% range in 2012 and to 2.0% in 2014. RCG projects the unemployment rate to fall to 5.8% by 2013.

LOGO

Overall Office Market. The Orange County office market is comprised of approximately 81 million square feet, with a majority of the space constructed after 1980 as low-to mid-rise buildings. The market has experienced weak demand given the soft economic conditions that prevail in the market. Additionally, more than 5.3 million square feet of space was constructed, much of it speculative, from 2006 to 2008 as the local economy grew rapidly in response to the housing boom. As a result, vacancy increased to 16.6% by December 2008 and vacancy has since increased to 20.2% as of December 2009, while rents declined 15.3% from the end of 2008 through December 2009. RCG projects that vacancy will increase to 21.1% in 2010 before decreasing to 15.6% by 2014. Meanwhile, RCG projects rental rates to decline by 5.3% in 2010 before beginning to increase in 2011, reaching a 6.0% annual growth rate by 2014. Overall, RCG believes that the Orange County office market will strengthen over the long term given the limited amount of developable land and continued population and economic growth.

 

LOGO   LOGO

 

84


Table of Contents

San Diego

Economy. San Diego has a diversified economy that supports approximately 1.2 million jobs. The biotechnology and high technology industries are important drivers of the local economy. According to RCG, San Diego possesses the most geographically dense cluster of biotechnology firms in the world, and ranked second in the nation for scientific research and development services in 2009. Additionally, the United States military, the government sector and aerospace and defense companies play a significant role in the San Diego economy. The military maintains 12 Navy and Marine bases in the region, which generated approximately 375,000 jobs and an estimated economic impact of $24.6 billion. During 2008, San Diego was estimated to have received the highest level of Department of Defense spending of any region in the United States.

 

LOGO

LOGO

LOGO

San Diego’s economy has historically outperformed the nation in terms of job creation, due to the diversified nature of the economy and continued population growth. Workers and employers alike are attracted to San Diego by its temperate weather, high quality of life and renowned research institutions and universities. However, similar to most markets in the country, the local economy was affected by the housing bust and recession, albeit less severely than other markets. RCG expects the economy to stabilize in 2010 with employment growth resuming in 2011, with an average annual increase of 1.6% from 2011 through 2014.

Overall Office Market . The San Diego office market totals approximately 55.9 million square feet, with approximately 9.6 million located downtown and the remaining 46.3 million located in the suburban submarkets. The weak economic conditions have led to soft operating fundamentals, which have been exacerbated by the construction of approximately 7.4 million square feet that occurred largely in the suburbs from 2005 through 2008. As a result, vacancy has increased to 21.3% by December 2009, with a 22.3% vacancy rate in the suburbs and a 16.6% vacancy rate downtown. RCG projects that vacancy will rise to 21.8% by December 2010 before decreasing to 12.2% by 2014. Meanwhile, RCG projects rental rates to decline by 3.5% in 2010 before resuming annual growth in 2011. RCG projects average annual rent growth of 4.4% from 2011 to 2014. Overall, RCG believes that the demand for office space in San Diego will remain healthy over the long term, driven by the diversified and high tech economy as well as the desirability of the region as a place to live and work.


 

85


Table of Contents

San Francisco

Economy . The San Francisco market, consisting of the City of San Francisco, together with San Mateo and Marin counties, had a population of approximately 1.8 million and a job base of approximately 934,000 as of December 2009. The economy is driven by professional services and an array of innovative growth industries, including high technology, biotechnology, clean technology, software development and multimedia design and production. The San Francisco region contains approximately 23.6% of the greater Bay Area’s high technology employment, while the South San Francisco and Mission Bay submarkets have concentrations of biotechnology firms and research institutions including Amgen, Genentech, UC San Francisco and California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Additionally, San Francisco is a major finance center on the West Coast, home to the San Francisco branch of the Federal Reserve, Wells Fargo and numerous other financial institutions.

 

LOGO

LOGO

LOGO

 

San Francisco’s economy has been affected by the credit crisis and national recession, although the region only began to feel the full effects in late 2008. A total of 44,000 jobs, or 4.6% of total employment, were lost in 2009. However, RCG believes that the economy stabilized as of late 2009 and job growth will begin again in 2010 with a projected 0.5% increase in employment. Thereafter, RCG projects a modest increase in job growth, averaging 1.3% annually from 2011 through 2014.

Overall Office Market. The San Francisco office market totals approximately 107.4 million square feet and consists of three primary submarkets: the central business district or CBD, the non-CBD and the Peninsula. The recession has led to significant job losses and a cutback in consumer spending in the region, which in turn has led to weakened office market fundamentals. However, despite the weak demand environment, the San Francisco office market has experienced limited new construction in recent years. As a result of high construction costs, limited availability of land and a regulatory regime that is relatively hostile to developers, only approximately 3.7 million square feet of new office space was constructed in the CBD over the past 15 years, while only 872,000 square feet was completed annually from 2005 to 2008 in the non-CBD submarkets. The limited new supply should help mitigate downturns and foster recoveries. As of December 2009, the vacancy rate was 15.5%, a 2.3% increase from December 2008, while asking rental rates had declined by approximately 25.9% over the same period. RCG projects that vacancy will decrease to 14.8% by the end of 2010, before gradually decreasing to 10.4% by 2014. Meanwhile, RCG projects asking rental rates to decline by 4.0% in 2010 before resuming annual growth in 2011, followed by an average annual rent growth of 5.4% from 2011 through 2014. Overall, RCG believes that the San Francisco office market will remain healthy over the long term, driven by limited new supply and expansion of employment in high-growth industries.


 

86


Table of Contents

Silicon Valley

Economy. The Silicon Valley market had a population of approximately 1.9 million as of 2009 and a job base of over 900,000 as of August 2009. According to RCG, Silicon Valley is the largest center of high technology employment in North America. The presence of world-class research institutions, such as Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley, combined with a vibrant venture capital industry, has fueled decades of innovation and growth, spawning many major technology companies, including Cisco Systems, Google, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle Sun Microsystems, and Yahoo, all of which continue to be based in the area.

 

LOGO

LOGO

LOGO

 

The Silicon Valley economy is highly cyclical given its dependence on the high technology sector. Accordingly, the region experienced the adverse effects of the recent recession, which reduced consumer and corporate demand for high technology products and services. A total of 35,200 non-farm jobs, or 3.9% of total employment, were lost during 2009. However, RCG believes that the economy will generate 0.8% job growth in 2010, followed by a 1.1% increase in 2011 and continued modest increases through 2013. RCG believes that the Silicon Valley economy will perform well over the medium to long term given the confluence of several critical factors that have made the area an engine of innovation and growth, including its highly educated work force, proximity to several top tier research universities, robust venture capital industry and high quality of life.

Overall Office Market. The Silicon Valley office market features approximately 43.4 million square feet, the majority of which consists of low- and mid-rise buildings located in suburban submarkets geared toward high technology tenants. The major submarkets for high technology companies include suburban San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara and Mountain View. The weak economy has resulted in soft market fundamentals, which have been somewhat exacerbated by the 1.5 million square feet that was added to the inventory in 2009. As of December 2009, the vacancy rate was 22.8%. RCG projects that office market conditions will remain weak in the short term, given the estimated delivery of approximately 854,000 additional square feet during 2010. Vacancy is projected to increase to 22.4% in 2010, before gradually decreasing to 13.7% by 2014. Additionally, RCG projects asking rental rates to decline by 4.9% in 2010 before increasing by 1.5% in 2011, reaching 4.1% annual rent growth by 2014. In general, RCG has a positive outlook on the Silicon Valley office market over the long term, given continued support from federal government incentives and a robust venture capital industry that will finance growth in new businesses.


 

87


Table of Contents

The East Bay

Economy. The East Bay market is comprised of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and, as of 2009, had a population of approximately 2.5 million and an employment base of over 977,000. The East Bay has historically been a lower cost alternative to the San Francisco market with an economy driven by trade, government, and educational and health services. University of California, Berkeley, Kaiser Permanente, Safeway, the State of California and Alameda County are the five largest employers and, combined, employ approximately 7.0% of the East Bay’s workforce. Additionally, the Port of Oakland, the fifth largest port in the United States, supports and generates, directly and indirectly, approximately 55,000 jobs and $7 billion of economic activity, respectively. Finally, the East Bay possesses several clusters of high growth businesses, including biotechnology firms such as Genentech and digital media firms such as Pixar.

 

LOGO

LOGO

LOGO

 

The East Bay economy has historically performed relatively well during recessions given its large educational, government and healthcare sectors, which tend to be less prone to cyclical trends than high technology and other sectors that are prevalent in the greater Bay Area. However, the region has lost approximately 9.0% of its employment base between January 2008 and December 2009. As of December 2009, the area had an unemployment rate of 11.8%. RCG believes that the economy will begin to grow in 2010, with job growth accelerating to an average annual growth rate of 1.2% from 2011 to 2014. RCG believes that the East Bay economy is well positioned over the medium to long term given its diversified economic base together with its proximity to large clusters of high growth industries in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

Overall Office Market. The East Bay office market contains approximately 59 million square feet. The market has historically been a lower cost alternative to San Francisco where a number of companies have housed their back-office operations. However, several large corporations maintain headquarters in the market, including Chevron, Clorox, Kaiser Permanente and Safeway. The contraction in employment in the region resulted in an increase in the vacancy rate to 18.7% as of December 2009, and a 12.1% decline in asking rental rates during 2009. RCG projects the vacancy rate to decrease to 18.5% by the end of 2010 and continue to decline through 2014. RCG projects a slow recovery in the East Bay office market as high growth companies seek lower cost space and a rebound in consumer and business spending lead to increased activity at the port. RCG projects that vacancy will decrease to 15.1% and annual rent growth to increase to 3.7% annually by 2014.


 

88


Table of Contents

BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES

Overview

We are a full-service, vertically integrated real estate company focused on owning, operating and acquiring high-quality office properties in select growth markets primarily in Northern and Southern California. Our investment strategy is focused on high barrier-to-entry, in-fill locations with favorable, long-term supply-demand characteristics. These markets include Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and the East Bay, which we refer to as our target markets. Upon consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, we will own eight properties totaling approximately 2.0 million square feet, strategically located in many of our target markets.

We were formed as a Maryland corporation in 2009 to succeed the business of Hudson Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm founded by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively. Mr. Coleman co-founded Arden Realty, Inc. (NYSE: ARI), or Arden, in 1990 and served as President, Chief Operating Officer and Director after taking the company public on the NYSE in 1996. Arden was a publicly traded real estate investment trust, or REIT, engaged in owning, acquiring, managing, leasing, developing and renovating office properties located in Southern California. Mr. Stern, while serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Arden, oversaw the expansion of the company’s portfolio from 12 million square feet to approximately 20 million square feet and was responsible, together with other Arden personnel, for all acquisition, disposition, development and new investment activities. As senior members of Arden’s management team, Messrs. Coleman and Stern were instrumental in helping Arden become one of the largest owners of office properties in Southern California. In May 2006, Arden was sold to GE Real Estate, a division of General Electric Capital Corporation, for $4.8 billion in total enterprise value, compared to an enterprise value of $583 million at the time of its initial public offering. An investment in the common stock of Arden at the time of its initial public offering until its final sale generated a total return to stockholders of approximately 338% per share for each share purchased at the initial public offering price of $20.00 per share (assuming reinvestment of all cash dividends since the initial public offering in 1996) compared to a total return of 263% for the MSCI US REIT Index over the same period.

We believe Mr. Coleman’s and Mr. Stern’s successful history of operating a publicly traded real estate company, significant expertise in operating in the California office sector and extensive, long-term relationships with real estate owners, developers and lenders, coupled with our conservative capital structure and access to capital, will allow us to identify and capitalize on attractively priced investment opportunities in the current distressed environment. We believe the current conditions of the financial markets have created significant dislocation between market and intrinsic value in office properties, thereby producing a favorable environment to acquire office properties. Specifically, we believe that given the current scarcity of available capital for commercial real estate, many California real estate owners will encounter increasing distress as they are required to refinance debt and may be forced to sell certain assets to remain solvent. In addition, we believe our senior management team’s experience in the California office sector will position us to improve occupancy rates and operating performance in our initial portfolio, as well as at any newly acquired properties, as the California economy and the real estate markets begin to recover.

We plan to focus our investment strategy on office properties located in submarkets with growth potential as well as on underperforming properties or portfolios that provide opportunities to implement a value-add strategy to increase occupancy rates and cash flow. This strategy includes active management, aggressive leasing efforts, focused capital improvement programs, the reduction and containment of operating costs and an emphasis on tenant satisfaction.

Upon consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, our initial portfolio will consist of six office properties totaling approximately 1.2 million square feet, which were approximately 79.1% leased as of March 31, 2010 (or 85.7%, giving effect to leases signed but not commenced as of that date), and two

 

89


Table of Contents

state-of-the-art media and entertainment properties comprising approximately 544,763 square feet of office and support space and approximately 312,669 square feet of sound-stage production facilities. We also own 1.85 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to our media and entertainment properties, which together with redevelopment opportunities at our media and entertainment properties, could support over one million square feet of additional office and support space. In addition, our City Plaza property is subject to a development agreement that, subject to the payment of certain fees and the satisfaction of other conditions, permits the development of an additional 360,000 square foot building and parking structure. Our properties are concentrated in premier submarkets that have high barriers to entry with limited supply of land, high construction costs and rigorous entitlement processes.

Our initial portfolio consists of assets contributed by entities owned by Hudson Capital, LLC, the Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and third parties. We believe our long-standing relationships with our contributors, as well as with other real estate companies, financial institutions and local operators, will enhance our access to capital and ability to source leasing and acquisition opportunities. We have access to and are actively pursuing a pipeline of potential acquisitions consistent with our investment strategy. In addition, we expect our tenant relationships with leading media, entertainment, professional and financial services firms, such as NBC/Universal, CBS Studios, ABC Studios, 20th Century Fox, Technicolor, Saatchi & Saatchi, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and U.S. Bank will allow us to maintain above average occupancy levels as compared to others in our target markets.

We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010. We will conduct substantially all of our business through our operating partnership, of which we will serve as the sole general partner and own approximately     %.

Our Competitive Strengths

We believe the following competitive strengths distinguish us from other owners and operators of office properties and will enable us to capitalize on the general dislocation in the real estate market to successfully expand and operate our portfolio.

 

   

Experienced Management Team with a Proven Track Record of Acquiring and Operating Assets and Managing a Public Office REIT . Our senior management team, led by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively, has an average of over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, with a focus dedicated exclusively to owning, acquiring, developing, operating, financing and selling office properties in California. In particular, Messrs. Coleman and Stern, who have worked together for approximately 10 years through all stages of the real estate market cycle, have overseen the acquisition and operation of more than 20 million square feet, with an aggregate purchase price in excess of $10 billion. A significant portion of our senior management team’s experience was acquired while operating Arden, which they helped grow from an enterprise value of approximately $583 million at its initial public offering in October 1996 to approximately $4.8 billion in 2006, when Arden was sold to GE Real Estate, a division of General Electric Capital Corporation, near the peak of the real estate market.

 

   

Committed and Incentivized Management Team . Our senior management team will be dedicated to our successful operation and growth with no real estate business interests outside of our company. Additionally, upon completion of this offering and consummation of the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, our senior management team will own approximately         % of our common stock on a fully diluted basis, thereby aligning management’s interests with those of our stockholders.

 

   

California Focus with Local and Regional Expertise . We will primarily focus on acquiring and managing office properties in both Northern and Southern California, where our senior management

 

90


Table of Contents
 

has significant expertise and relationships. According to RCG, California has historically experienced strong rebounds in its real estate market after prior recessions as demand for commercial real estate in California is driven by its dynamic, innovative and diversified economy that RCG believes will continue to grow and create demand for office space over the long term. California outpaced the rate of national job creation during several cycles, including the periods following the mid-1970s recession, the late 1980s recession, and during the late 1990s. Additionally, many of California’s leading markets are supply constrained as a result of the scarcity of available land, high construction costs and restrictive entitlement processes, which we believe have helped drive strong rebounds in the California real estate market after prior recessions. We believe our experience, in-depth market knowledge and meaningful industry relationships with brokers, tenants, landlords, lenders and other market participants enhances our ability to identify and capitalize on attractive acquisition opportunities, particularly those that arise in California.

 

   

Long-Standing Relationships that Provide Access to an Extensive Pipeline of Investment and Leasing Opportunities . We have an extensive network of long-standing relationships with real estate developers, individual and institutional real estate owners, national and regional lenders, brokers, tenants and other participants in the California real estate market. We believe these relationships will provide us access to an ongoing pipeline of attractive acquisition opportunities and additional growth capital, both of which may not be available to our competitors. For example, our relationships with two leading investment management firms, Farallon, affiliates of which are contributing assets in conjunction with this offering, and Morgan Stanley, which manages certain funds that own the general partner of an investment vehicle that is likewise contributing assets in conjunction with this offering, will provide us with critical market intelligence, future acquisition opportunities and potential joint venture partners. Additionally, we focus on establishing strong relationships with our tenants in order to understand their long-term business needs, which we believe will enhance our ability to retain quality tenants, facilitate our leasing efforts and maximize cash flows from our properties.

 

   

Growth Oriented, Flexible and Conservative Capital Structure . We expect to be well-capitalized following the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement. We will have cash on hand and expect to enter into a $195 million secured credit facility, which together with our available cash, should give us a significant amount of capital to pursue acquisitions and execute our growth strategy. Upon completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement, we will have approximately $94.3 million of debt outstanding, with approximately $57.3 million maturing in 2011, which will permit management to focus on our business and growth strategies rather than on balance sheet repair. Upon the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement, we will have an initial debt-to-market capitalization ratio of approximately     %, which is substantially lower than that of many of our office REIT peers. We believe our flexible and conservative capital structure provides us with an advantage over many of our private and public competitors as the combined adverse effects of many of our competitors’ highly leveraged capital structures and declines in the operating performance of their existing properties will constrain their ability to make acquisitions.

 

   

Irreplaceable Media and Entertainment Assets in a Premier California Submarket . Our Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson media and entertainment properties are located on Sunset Boulevard, just off of the Hollywood Freeway, in the heart of Hollywood. These facilities, which are situated on approximately 15.6 and 10.6 acres, respectively, were originally built in the 1920s as the headquarters of Columbia Pictures and Warner Brothers and represent a unique and irreplaceable assemblage of land in densely populated Los Angeles. We are the largest owner and operator of independent media and entertainment properties in Los Angeles and possess large, modern sound stages, plentiful office space with state-of-the-art telecommunications and data network infrastructure. Our properties are important facilities for major film and television companies and

 

91


Table of Contents
 

independent producers, most of which outsource a portion of their productions to independent media and entertainment properties. We believe our media and entertainment properties are attractively located and benefit from high barriers to entry, with a limited supply of readily developable land. In addition, there are substantial costs associated with acquiring and developing suitable land and extensive knowledge required to develop and operate such facilities. As a result of these high barriers to entry, there is effectively no new supply of media and entertainment space in the urban core of Los Angeles. We believe the limited supply of media and entertainment properties, coupled with the continued demand for such properties in Los Angeles, which remains the center of the entertainment industry in the United States, will help ensure that these assets remain critical to the industry.

Business and Growth Strategies

Our primary business objectives are to increase operating cash flows, generate long-term growth and maximize stockholder value. Specifically, we intend to pursue the following strategies to achieve these objectives:

 

   

Pursue Acquisitions of Distressed and/or Underperforming Office Properties . We intend to capitalize on the attractive investment environment by acquiring properties at meaningful discounts to our estimates of their intrinsic value. Additionally, we intend to acquire properties or portfolios that are distressed due to near-term debt maturities or underperforming properties where we believe better management, focused leasing efforts and/or capital improvements would improve the property’s operating performance and value. We believe our success implementing this strategy is exemplified by our recent acquisition of City Plaza, a 333,922 square foot Class-A office building located in Orange, California. Our predecessor acquired the loan on the City Plaza property in August 2008 at a substantial discount and subsequently obtained title to the property. Our acquisition of City Plaza illustrates how our relationships with other real estate owners, lenders, joint venture partners and tenants can create a competitive advantage to capitalize on new acquisition opportunities. In that case, long-standing ties to the existing owner and their project lender and our record of performance facilitated that acquisition through a joint venture with Farallon. We believe that our extensive relationships with real estate owners, developers and lenders, together with our strong balance sheet and access to liquidity, will allow us capitalize on similar value-add opportunities.

 

   

Focus on High Barrier-to-Entry Markets . We will target in-fill, suburban markets and central business districts primarily in California. These markets have historically had favorable long-term supply/demand characteristics and significant institutional ownership of real estate, which we believe have helped support real estate fundamentals and valuations over the long term. We believe that these factors will help preserve our capital during periods of economic decline and generate above average returns during periods of economic recovery and growth.

 

   

Proactive Asset and Property Management . We intend to actively manage our portfolio, employ aggressive leasing strategies and leverage our existing tenant relationships to increase the occupancy rates at our properties, attract high quality tenants and maximize tenant retention rates. In addition, we are focused on extending lease durations at our media and entertainment properties to provide greater visibility and less volatility in cash flows. We believe our successful leasing of the City Plaza property illustrates our proactive asset management. At the time of its acquisition in August 2008, the property was only approximately 38% leased. By employing aggressive leasing strategies, leveraging our extensive tenant relationships and focusing on tenant retention, we have increased the leased square footage of the property to approximately 92.1% as of March 31, 2010. We believe that we will be able to apply our management and leasing expertise to newly acquired, underperforming properties in order to similarly maximize the performance of such properties.

 

92


Table of Contents
       We have also targeted ways to improve net operating income through controlling or reducing operating costs. For example, the close proximity of our two Hollywood media and entertainment properties has enabled us to proactively cut various operating costs. Leveraging our economies of scale, we restructured our security staffing at these locations to eliminate certain redundancies in personnel. We also reduced costs by consolidating service contracts, such as elevator maintenance services, fire life safety maintenance, pest control services and lot sweeping services.

 

   

Repositioning and Development of Properties . We intend to leverage our real estate expertise to reposition and redevelop our existing properties, as well as properties that we acquire in the future, with the objective of increasing occupancy, rental rates and risk-adjusted returns on our invested capital. Our media and entertainment properties encompass approximately 26 acres in the heart of Hollywood – one of the largest land holdings under common control in the market. In addition, we control two land parcels adjacent to our Sunset Bronson property that are available for new ground-up developments in a supply and land-constrained market. We believe our media and entertainment properties and undeveloped land offer significant growth potential, with over one million square feet of potential incremental development and redevelopment space. We believe the limited supply of media and entertainment space in the market, as well as the aging of much of the existing inventory, creates a unique opportunity to reshape this asset class. We also have a fully-entitled development agreement for our City Plaza property that allows for a new 360,000 square foot building and parking structure to be developed on our 11.5 acre site that we believe could be a valuable long-term asset. Our senior management team’s development and redevelopment experience includes:

 

   

the development of Technicolor’s worldwide headquarters, a six-story, build-to-suit, 114,958 square foot office and production building at our Sunset Gower property;

 

   

the development of the Howard Hughes Center, a 70-acre development located adjacent to Interstate 405 near Los Angeles International Airport, which involved the master planning, development and construction of a business park with four Class-A, multi-story office buildings totaling approximately 972,000 square feet and structured parking totaling approximately 2,700 stalls. We also obtained entitlements to build 600 residential units on vacant parcels throughout the center; and

 

   

the redevelopment of the Westwood Center, a 328,000 square foot, Class-A office building located in West Los Angeles, which involved the complete redesign and reconstruction of building exterior curtain walls, structural systems, elevators, common areas, tenant areas and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, or MEP.

 

   

Value Creation Through Capital Recycling Program . We intend to pursue an efficient asset allocation strategy that maximizes the value of our investments by selectively disposing of properties whose returns appear to have been maximized and redeploying capital into acquisition, development and redevelopment opportunities with higher return prospects, in each case in a manner that is consistent with our qualification as a REIT. Our management team has a demonstrated history of selling assets and reinvesting proceeds in acquisition, development and redevelopment opportunities with higher returns in target submarkets.

Acquisition Pipeline

We have an extensive network of long-standing relationships with real estate developers, individual and institutional real estate owners and national and regional lenders in the California and West Coast real estate markets. We believe our network of relationships will provide us access to an ongoing pipeline of attractive acquisition opportunities, which may not be available to our competitors. Our network of relationships is evident

 

93


Table of Contents

from the composition of our initial portfolio, which is comprised of assets contributed by two leading investment management firms, Farallon and Morgan Stanley. Our relationships with these firms provide us with valuable market intelligence, as well as potential future acquisition opportunities from additional assets within their respective portfolios.

We are currently in discussions regarding a number of acquisition opportunities in our target markets that have come to our attention through our network of relationships. As of May 10, 2010, we were tracking and evaluating acquisition opportunities that include approximately 15 single-asset and portfolio transactions located throughout California with an estimated aggregate purchase price of over $1.5 billion and over 5.0 million total square feet. Approximately two-thirds of the potential property acquisitions we are evaluating are off-market transactions sourced through our network of relationships. Although we are continuing to engage in discussions and preliminary negotiations with sellers and have commenced the process of conducting diligence on some of these assets or have submitted non-binding indications of interest, in light of our pending initial public offering, we have not agreed upon terms relating to, or entered into binding commitments with respect to, any of these potential acquisition opportunities. As such, there can be no assurance that we will complete any of the potential acquisitions we are currently evaluating.

Our Initial Portfolio

Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we will own eight properties located in six California submarkets, containing a total of approximately 2.0 million square feet, which we refer to as our initial portfolio. The following table presents an overview of our initial portfolio, based on information as of March 31, 2010.

 

Property

  City   Year
Built/

Renovated
  Square
Feet (1)
  Percent
Leased (2)
    Annualized/
Annual

Rent (3)
  Annualized/
Annual Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot (4)

OFFICE PROPERTIES

           

Operating Properties

           

City Plaza

  Orange   1969/99   333,922   92.1 % (5)     $ 7,779,694   $ 25.30

First Financial

  Encino (LA)   1986   222,423   89.4        6,661,152     33.48

Del Amo Office (6)

  Torrance   1986   113,000   100.0        3,069,070     27.16

Technicolor Building

  Hollywood (LA)   2008   114,958   100.0        5,231,052     45.50

Tierrasanta

  San Diego   1985   104,234   96.8        2,346,562     23.25
                         

Total/Weighted Average Operating Properties:

      888,537   94.0   $ 25,087,529   $ 30.04
                         

Redevelopment Properties

           

875 Howard Street (7) (8)

  San Francisco   Various   286,270   33.0     1,181,699     12.50
                         

Total/Weighted Average Office Properties:

      1,174,807   79.1 % (9)     $ 26,269,228   $ 28.25
                         

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT PROPERTIES

         

Sunset Gower

  Hollywood (LA)   Various   543,709   66.1        10,818,963     30.12

Sunset Bronson

  Hollywood (LA)   Various   313,723   68.4        10,380,340     48.36
                         

Total/Weighted Average Media & Entertainment Properties:

      857,432   66.9        21,199,303     36.95
                         

LAND

           

Sunset Bronson—Lot A

  Hollywood (LA)   N/A   273,913      

Sunset Bronson—Redevelopment

  Hollywood (LA)   N/A   389,740      

Sunset Gower—Redevelopment

  Hollywood (LA)   N/A   423,396      

City Plaza

  Orange   N/A   360,000      
             

Total Land Assets:

      1,447,049      
             

Portfolio Total:

      3,479,288      
             

 

94


Table of Contents

 

(1) Square footage for office and media and entertainment properties has been determined by management based upon estimated leaseable square feet, which may be less or more than the Building Owners and Managers Association, or BOMA, rentable area. Square footage may change over time due to remeasurement or releasing. Square footage for land assets represents management’s estimate of developable square feet, the majority of which remains subject to receipt of entitlement approvals that have not yet been obtained.
(2) Percent leased for office properties is calculated as (i) square footage under commenced leases as of March 31, 2010, divided by (ii) total square feet, expressed as a percentage. Percent leased for media and entertainment properties is the average percent leased for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010. As a result of the short-term nature of the leases into which we enter at our media and entertainment properties, and because entertainment industry tenants generally do not shoot on weekends due to higher costs, we believe stabilized occupancy rates at our media and entertainment properties are lower than those rates achievable at our traditional office assets, where tenants enter into longer-term lease arrangements.
(3) We present rent data for office properties on an annualized basis, and for media and entertainment properties on an annual basis. Annualized rent for office properties is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Total abatements with respect to the office properties for leases in effect as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $2,477,792. Annualized rent data for our office properties is as of March 31, 2010 and does not reflect scheduled lease expirations for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011. For lease expiration data, see “Business and Properties—Lease Expirations of Office Portfolio.” Annual rent for media and entertainment properties reflects actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010. For our non-gross leases, annualized rent is converted to gross by adding expense reimbursements to base rent where such expense reimbursements are known (as in the case of the Technicolor Building) and, where tenant pays such expenses directly, by adding broker- or owner-estimated expenses to base rent.
(4) Annualized rent per leased square foot for the office properties is calculated as (i) annualized rent divided by (ii) square footage under lease as of March 31, 2010. Annual rent per leased square foot for the media and entertainment properties is calculated as (i) actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, divided by (ii) average square feet under lease for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010.
(5) Does not include 3,531 square feet that will be leased to our subsidiary for property management offices.
(6) Our acquisition of this property is subject to closing conditions that may not be in our control. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”
(7) 875 Howard Street consists of two buildings, a retail building of approximately 95,000 square feet that is 100% leased and an office building of approximately 191,000 square feet that underwent redevelopment, which was completed on April 1, 2010.
(8) As of March 31, 2010, we had entered into two leases with respect to our 875 Howard Street property that had not commenced as of March 31, 2010. The following table sets forth certain data with respect to the uncommenced leases.

 

      Uncommenced Leases

Property

  Leased Square
Feet Under
Uncommenced
Leases (a)
  Annualized
Rent Under
Uncommenced
Leases (b)
    Annualized
Rent Per  Leased Square
Foot Under Uncommenced
Leases (c)

875 Howard Street

  76,873   $ 2,177,862 (d)     $ 28.33

 

  (a) One of the uncommenced leases commenced on April 1, 2010 and the other commences on December 31, 2010. See “Business and Properties—Uncommenced Leases.”
  (b) Annualized rent under uncommenced leases is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the first full month under the respective uncommenced leases by (ii) 12. Total abatements under uncommenced leases entered into as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $1,131,894.
  (c) Annualized rent per leased square foot under uncommenced leases is calculated as (i) annualized rent under uncommenced leases, divided by (ii) leased square feet under uncommenced leases.
  (d) The uncommenced leases for the 875 Howard Street property are net of janitorial costs and utilities, and annualized rent for such leases has been converted to gross by adding the owner’s estimate of expenses to base rent.
(9) After giving effect to uncommenced leases signed as of March 31, 2010, the total percent leased for office properties would have been 85.7% as of March 31, 2010.

 

95


Table of Contents

Office Portfolio

Our initial portfolio consists of six office properties comprising an aggregate of approximately 1.2 million square feet. As of March 31, 2010, our office properties were approximately 79.1% leased to approximately 80 tenants (or 85.7% leased, giving effect to leases signed but not commenced as of that date). All of our office properties are located in prime California submarkets. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for our office portfolio was 49 months.

Tenant Diversification of Office Portfolio

Our initial office portfolio is currently leased to a variety of companies. The following table sets forth information regarding the 20 largest tenants in our initial office portfolio based on annualized rent as of March 31, 2010.

 

Tenant

 

Property

  Lease
Expiration
  Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
    Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
  Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Annualized
Rent
 

Technicolor Creative Services USA, Inc.

  Technicolor Building   05/31/20   —        114,958   9.8   $ 5,231,052   19.9

Saatchi & Saatchi North America, Inc. (2 )

  Del Amo Office   12/31/19   12/31/11      113,000   9.6        3,069,070   11.7   

Kondaur Capital Corp.

  City Plaza   03/31/13   —        122,425   10.4        2,938,200   11.2   

Pepperdine University

  First Financial   01/31/19   —        35,351   3.0        1,367,730   5.2   

Burlington Coat Factory (3 )

  875 Howard Street   02/28/13   03/31/11      94,505   8.0        1,181,699   4.5   

Medical Specialties

  City Plaza   12/31/16   —        29,369   2.5        704,856   2.7   

RBF Consulting

  Tierrasanta   03/31/14   03/31/12 (6 )     31,422   2.7        700,711   2.7   

Walsworth, Franklin, Bevins (4)

  City Plaza   12/31/19   12/31/16      28,141   2.4        675,384   2.6   

Master Halco

  City Plaza   02/28/19   02/28/17 (6 )     19,876   1.7        663,262   2.5   

California Bank & Trust

  Tierrasanta   06/30/18   —        23,208   2.0        620,582   2.4   

Liberty Mutual Insurance

  City Plaza   08/31/11   —        18,550   1.6        498,995   1.9   

Marcus & Millichap (5 )

  First Financial   09/30/16   09/30/11      14,500   1.2        461,100   1.8   

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

  First Financial   04/30/16   04/30/12 (6 )     15,838   1.3        437,129   1.7   

Brady, Vorwerck, Ryder & Caspino

  City Plaza   08/31/19   08/31/14 (6 )     18,350   1.6        429,390   1.6   

Vitas Healthcare Corp.

  First Financial   02/28/14   02/28/11 (6 )     13,390   1.1        385,230   1.5   

Martini, Losue & Akpo

  First Financial   11/30/14   —        10,293   0.9        377,136   1.4   

Haber Corporation

  First Financial   09/30/12   —        12,973   1.1        419,759   1.6   

Calco Insurance Brokers & Agents

  City Plaza   09/30/11   —        11,964   1.0        314,414   1.2   

United States Fire Insurance Co.

  City Plaza   03/31/16   —        14,207   1.2        289,823   1.1   

U.S. Bank

  First Financial   12/31/16   —        8,048   0.7        278,380   1.1   
                           

Total:

        750,368   63.9   $ 21,043,901   80.1
                           

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Total abatements for the 20 largest tenants in our office portfolio as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $2,436,687. For our non-gross leases, annualized rent is converted to gross by adding expense reimbursements to base rent where such expense reimbursements are known, and, where the tenant pays such expenses directly, by adding broker- or owner-estimated expense to base rent.
(2) This lease is subject to early termination options on December 31, 2011, December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2016, in each case in exchange for payment of an early termination fee estimated to be approximately $5.0 million for 2011, $3.1 million for 2014 and $1.9 million for 2016.

 

96


Table of Contents
(3) This lease is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2013; however, the tenant has a continuing early termination right that can be exercised upon one year’s prior notice. We believe this lease is currently substantially below market rental rates.
(4) This lease is subject to early termination by the tenant in exchange for payment of an early termination fee of unamortized leasing costs.
(5) This lease is subject to early termination options with respect to 3,036 square feet on September 30, 2011 and with respect to 11,464 square feet on September 30, 2014, in each case in exchange for payment of an early termination fee.
(6) Each of these leases is subject to early termination by the tenant in exchange for payment of an early termination fee.

Uncommenced Leases

As of March 31, 2010, we have entered into two leases with respect to our 875 Howard Street property that have not yet commenced. The following table sets forth data for these two uncommenced leases.

 

Tenant

  Lease
Commencement
  Lease
Expiration
  Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent ( 1 )

Carat USA

  04/01/10   03/31/17   03/31/16   33,291   2.8        1,131,894

Heald College

  12/01/10   11/30/20   11/30/17   43,582   3.7        1,045,968
                     

Total Uncommenced Leases:

        76,873   6.5   $ 2,177,862
                     

 

(1) For uncommenced leases, annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) the first full month of contractual rents to be received under the applicable lease (defined as cash rents (before abatements)), by (ii) 12. The Carat USA and Heald College leases are net of janitorial costs and utilities and have been grossed up by adding the owner’s estimate of expenses to base rent to make them equivalent to full service gross leases. Total abatements under uncommenced leases as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $1,131,894.

Lease Distribution of Office Portfolio

The following table sets forth information relating to the distribution of leases in our initial office portfolio, based on net rentable square feet under lease as of March 31, 2010.

 

Square Feet Under Lease

   Number
of
Leases
   Percentage
of All
Leases
    Total Leased
Square Feet
   Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Leased
Square Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Annualized
Rent
 

2,500 or less

   33    41.3   47,767    5.1   $ 1,439,945    5.5

2,501-10,000

   28    35.0      139,694    15.0        4,063,763    15.5   

10,001-20,000

   10    12.5      149,941    16.1        4,276,237    16.3   

20,001-40,000

   5    6.3      147,491    15.9        4,069,263    15.5   

40,001-100,000

   1    1.3      94,505    10.2        1,181,699    4.5   

Greater than 100,000

   3    3.8      350,383    37.7        11,238,322    42.8   
                                   

Office Portfolio Total:

   80    100.0   929,781    100.0   $ 26,269,228    100.0
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010 by (ii) 12. Total abatements for leases in effect as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $2,477,792.

 

97


Table of Contents

Lease Expirations of Office Portfolio

The following table sets forth a summary schedule of the lease expirations for leases in place as of March 31, 2010 plus available space, for each of the ten full calendar years beginning January 1, 2010 at the properties in our initial office portfolio. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, the information set forth in the table assumes that tenants exercise no renewal options and all early termination rights.

 

Year of Lease Expiration

   Number
of Leases
Expiring
   Square
Footage of
Expiring
Leases
   Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Square Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of Office
Portfolio
Annualized
Rent
    Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square Foot

Vacant ( 2 )

   —      245,026    20.9   $ —      —     $ —  

2010

   12    36,940    3.1        1,046,483    4.0        28.33

2011 ( 3 )

   19    296,387    25.2        6,676,608    25.4        22.53

2012

   15    105,594    9.0        2,885,891    11.0        27.33

2013

   13    145,921    12.4        3,772,404    14.4        25.85

2014

   10    67,219    5.7        1,919,177    7.3        28.55

2015

   1    2,806    0.2        82,384    0.3        29.36

2016

   4    79,765    6.8        1,948,443    7.4        24.43

2017

   2    20,642    1.8        681,646    2.6        33.02

2018

   1    23,208    2.0        620,582    2.4        26.74

2019

   1    35,351    3.0        1,367,730    5.2        38.69

Thereafter

   2    115,948    9.9        5,267,880    20.1        45.43
                                 

Office Portfolio Total/Weighted Average:

   80    1,174,807    100.0   $ 26,269,228    100.0   $ 28.25
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Total abatements for leases in effect as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $2,477,792. For our non-gross leases, annualized rent is converted to gross by adding expense reimbursements to base rent where such expense reimbursements are known and, where the lease has not commenced or the tenant pays such expenses directly, by adding broker- or owner-estimated expenses to base rent.
(2) Includes redevelopment space at our 875 Howard Street property and does not reflect the impact of uncommenced leases. After giving effect to uncommenced leases signed as of March 31, 2010, vacant space would represent only 14.3% of office portfolio square feet.
(3) Includes the Burlington Coat Factory lease representing 94,505 square feet of space at our 875 Howard Street property, which has an expiration date of February 28, 2013 but is subject to a continuing early termination right that can be exercised upon one year’s prior notice. Also includes the Saatchi & Saatchi lease representing 113,000 square feet of space at our Del Amo Office property, which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2019. However, the lease is subject to early termination options on December 31, 2011, December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2016, in each case in exchange for payment of an early termination fee estimated to be approximately $5.0 million for 2011, $3.1 million for 2014 and $1.9 million for 2016. If neither Saatchi & Saatchi nor Burlington Coat Factory exercise their early termination rights in 2011, leases representing only 7.6% of our office portfolio will expire in 2011. This 7.6% represents $2,425,839 in annualized rent and 9.2% of office portfolio annualized rent.

Description of Our Office Properties

City Plaza, Orange, California

City Plaza is a nineteen-story, steel-framed, Class-A office building located in Orange, California. The property, built in 1969 and renovated in 1999, contains 333,922 net rentable square feet situated on a 11.5 acre lot with 1,138 parking spaces. The property is located near the intersection of two major freeways, Interstate 5 and Highway 22, at the geographic center of Orange County, a location that has attracted many diverse, high- quality tenants from across Orange County, including United States Fire Insurance Company, Calco Insurance Brokers, Walsworth, Franklin, Bevins & McCall, Kondaur Capital Corp. and Brady, Vorwerck Rider & Caspino. Additionally, the property is located adjacent to The Block, a 715,000 square-foot regional mall providing an array of amenities, including restaurants, retail establishments and movie theaters that are attractive to potential

 

98


Table of Contents

and existing tenants, as well as local residents. Our predecessor acquired the loan on City Plaza in August 2008 at a substantial discount and subsequently obtained title to the property from the borrower. At the time of acquisition, the property was only approximately 38% leased. We have since signed 19 leases, including both new and renewed leases, representing approximately 245,000 square feet. We believe our success in leasing City Plaza during 2009 was a result of our aggressive leasing strategies, extensive relationships with real estate brokers and tenants in Orange County and our financial strength relative to many other landlords in Orange County that may be over-leveraged. As of March 31, 2010, City Plaza was approximately 92.1% leased to 30 tenants operating in various industries.

City Plaza Primary Tenants

The following table summarizes information regarding the primary tenants of City Plaza as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
  Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
    Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1 )
  Annualized
Rent Per
Leased

Square
Foot
  Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
 

Kondaur Capital Corp. ( 2 )

  Financial   03/31/13   —        1 x 5
years
  122,425   36.7   $ 2,938,200   $ 24.00   37.8

Medical Specialties (3 )

  Medical
Processing
  12/31/16   —        1 x 5
years
  29,369   8.8        704,856     24.00   9.1   

Walsworth, Franklin, Bevins

  Legal   12/31/19   12/31/16      1 x 5
years
  28,141   8.4        675,384     24.00   8.7   

Master Halco

  Industrial /
Fencing
  02/28/19   02/28/17 (4 )     1 x 5
years
  19,876   6.0        663,262     33.37   8.5   

Liberty Mutual Insurance

  Insurance   08/31/11   —        1 x 5
years
  18,550   5.6        498,995     26.90   6.4   
                                   

Total / Weighted Average:

          218,361   65.4   $ 5,480,697   $ 25.10   70.4
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12.
(2) Kondaur Capital Corp. entered into a new lease covering 122,425 square feet of space that commenced on March 15, 2010. The new lease is subject to a six-and-one-half month free rent period from April to October 2010. Total abatements under the new lease for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $1,591,525.
(3) Total abatements under the Medical Specialties lease for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $97,897. In connection with the entry into a lease with this tenant, we assumed the tenant’s remaining obligation under its prior lease, which we estimate at $440,789 per year through August 2011. This obligation may be reduced if we are able to sublease the tenant’s previous space or if the tenant’s previous landlord offers to acquire our leasehold interest.
(4) The early termination right is subject to an early termination fee.

 

99


Table of Contents

City Plaza Lease Expirations

The following table sets forth the lease expirations for leases in place at City Plaza as of March 31, 2010, plus available space, for each of the ten full calendar years beginning January 1, 2010. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, the information set forth in the table assumes that tenants exercise no renewal options and all early termination rights. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for this property was 48 months without giving effect to uncommenced leases.

 

Year of Lease Expiration

   Number
of Leases
Expiring
   Square Footage
of Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Property
Square Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of Property
Annualized
Rent
    Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square Foot

Vacant (2 )

   —      26,466    7.9   $ —      —     $ —  

2010

   3    5,844    1.8        174,852    2.2        29.92

2011

   9    45,873    13.7        1,210,930    15.6        26.40

2012

   6    16,091    4.8        503,427    6.5        31.29

2013 (3)

   4    125,210    37.5        3,019,210    38.8        24.11

2014 (4 )

   3    22,079    6.6        519,567    6.7        23.53

2015

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2016

   3    71,717    21.5        1,670,063    21.5        23.29

2017 (5 )

   2    20,642    6.2        681,646    8.8        33.02

2018

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2019

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

Thereafter

   —      —      —          —      —          —  
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

   30    333,922    100.0   $ 7,779,694    100.0   $ 25.30
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Total abatements for leases in effect as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $2,153,015.
(2) Includes 3,531 square feet that will be leased to our subsidiary for property management offices but does not reflect the impact of uncommenced leases.
(3) Includes 122,425 square feet of space under the Kondaur Capital Corp. lease, which expires on March 31, 2013.
(4) Includes the Brady, Vorwerck, Ryder & Caspino lease representing 18,350 square feet of space, which is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2019. However, this lease is subject to a one-time early termination right on August 31, 2014 in exchange for an early termination fee.
(5) Includes the Master Halco lease representing 19,876 square feet of space, which is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2019. However, this lease is subject to a one-time early termination right on February 28, 2017 in exchange for an early termination fee.

City Plaza Percent Leased and Rent

The following table sets forth the percentage leased, annualized rent per leased square foot and annualized net effective rent per leased square foot for City Plaza as of the dates indicated below:

 

Date (1)

   Percent
Leased
     Annualized Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot
   Annualized Net
Effective  Rent Per
Leased Square  Foot (2 )

March 31, 2010

   92.1    $ 25.30    $ 24.07

December 31, 2009

   72.8 (3)        25.39      25.56

December 31, 2008

   43.0         27.75      28.08

 

(1) Because we did not own this property prior to 2008, we are unable to show data for years prior to this time.
(2) Annualized net effective rent per leased square foot represents (i) the contractual rent for leases in place as of the dates indicated above, calculated on a straight-line basis to amortize free rent periods and abatements, but without regard to tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions, divided by (ii) the net rentable square footage under lease as of the same date.

 

100


Table of Contents

Other than recurring capital expenditures, we have no plans with respect to major renovation, improvement or redevelopment of City Plaza.

Upon completion of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions, City Plaza is expected to be included in the portfolio of properties available to secure our secured credit facility. For more information regarding our secured credit facility, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

Also in connection with our acquisition of the City Plaza property, we agreed to assume certain costs of design and construction, in the amount of approximately $1.0 million, related to the reconfiguration of certain surface parking areas and the construction of a new road way that will be located on both the City Plaza property and adjacent property, which improvements will improve access to both the City Plaza property and the adjacent retail center from the highway. The construction of these improvements has not yet commenced, and the agreement pursuant to which such payment is due has lapsed. However, we have agreed in principal with the adjacent property owner that is responsible for the construction to extend the agreement.

With respect to our City Plaza property, we are obligated under a parking easement agreement to provide 1,250 parking spaces for use by the adjacent property owner. However, due to a condemnation event that occurred subsequent to the granting of such parking easement, we are currently only able to provide 1,122 parking spaces for such use. We are in discussions with the holder of the easement to address the current deficiency.

The current real estate tax rate for City Plaza is $10.3156 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for City Plaza at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $722,155 (at a taxable assessed value of $70 million). In addition, there was $23,963.80 in various direct assessments imposed on City Plaza by the City of Orange and County of Orange for the 2009 tax year. We expect a downward reassessment of this property following completion of the formation transactions.

First Financial, Encino, California

First Financial is a six-story, steel-framed office building located in Encino, California at the intersection of Ventura and Balboa Boulevards. The property, built in 1986, contains 222,423 net rentable square feet and a 49,560 square foot four-story parking garage with 690 parking spaces. The property has access to two major freeways, the Ventura (Highway 101) and San Diego (Interstate 405) Freeways, and is located near many of Los Angeles’s residential communities in the central part of the San Fernando Valley. As of March 31, 2010, First Financial was approximately 89.4% leased to 38 tenants (including the property management tenant).

 

101


Table of Contents

First Financial Primary Tenants

The following table summarizes information regarding the primary tenants of First Financial as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
    Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
    Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent ( 1 )
  Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square
Foot
  Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
 

Pepperdine University

  Educational   01/31/19      —        2 x 5
years
  35,351   15.9   $ 1,367,730   $ 38.69   20.5

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

  Financial   04/30/16      04/30/12 ( 2 )     2 x 1 – 5
years
  15,838   7.1        437,129     27.60   6.6   

Marcus & Millichap (3 )

  Real Estate   09/30/16      09/30/11      1 x 5
years
  14,500   6.5        461,100     31.80   6.9   

Vitas Healthcare Corp.

  Healthcare   02/28/14      02/28/11 ( 4 )     1 x 5
years
  13,390   6.0        385,230     28.77   5.8   

Haber Corporation

  Accounting   09/30/12      —        1 x 5
years
  12,973   5.8        419,759     32.36   6.3   
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

          92,052   41.4   $ 3,070,948   $ 33.36   46.1
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12.
(2) The early termination right is subject to an early termination fee of $234,212.
(3) This lease is subject to early termination options with respect to 3,036 square feet on September 30, 2011 and with respect to 11,464 square feet on September 30, 2014, in each case in exchange for payment of an early termination fee based on a formula set forth in the lease. Total abatements under this lease for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $79,156.
(4) The early termination right is subject to an early termination fee.

First Financial Lease Expirations

The following table sets forth the lease expirations for leases in place at First Financial as of March 31, 2010, plus available space, for each of the ten full calendar years beginning January 1, 2010. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, the information set forth in the table assumes that tenants exercise no renewal options and all early termination rights. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for this property was 47 months.

 

Year of Lease Expiration

   Number of
Leases
Expiring
   Square Footage
of Expiring
Leases
   Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
    Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square Foot

Vacant

   —      23,468    10.6   $ —      —     $ —  

2010

   7    19,516    8.8        619,906    9.3        31.76

2011 (2 )

   6    28,571    12.8        893,634    13.4        31.28

2012 (3 )

   6    43,149    19.4        1,338,688    20.1        31.02

2013

   9    20,711    9.3        753,194    11.3        36.37

2014 (4 )

   6    39,813    17.9        1,290,407    19.4        32.41

2015

   1    2,806    1.3        82,384    1.2        29.36

2016

   1    8,048    3.6        278,380    4.2        34.59

2017

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2018

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2019

   1    35,351    15.9        1,367,730    20.5        38.69

Thereafter

   1    990    0.4        36,828    0.6        37.20
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

   38    222,423    100.0   $ 6,661,152    100.0   $ 33.48
                                   

 

102


Table of Contents

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Total abatements for leases in effect as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $106,816.
(2) Includes the Vitas Healthcare Corp. lease representing 13,390 square feet, which is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2019. However, this lease is subject to a one-time early termination right on February 28, 2011 in exchange for an early termination fee based on a formula set forth in the lease.
(3) Includes the Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated lease representing 15,838 square feet, which is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2016. However, this lease is subject to a one-time early termination right on April 30, 2012 in exchange for an early termination fee of $234,212.
(4) Includes the Marcus & Millichap lease representing 14,500 square feet, which is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2016. However, the tenant has a right to terminate the lease with respect to 3,036 square feet on September 30, 2011. The tenant also has a right to terminate the remaining 11,464 square feet on September 30, 2014 in exchange for an early termination fee based on a formula set forth in the lease.

First Financial Percent Leased and Rent

The following table sets forth the percentage leased, annualized rent per leased square foot and annualized net effective rent per leased square foot for First Financial as of the dates indicated below:

 

Date

   Percent
Leased
    Annualized Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot
   Annualized Net
Effective Rent Per
Leased Square  Foot (1 )

March 31, 2010

   89.4   $ 33.48    $ 31.86

December 31, 2009

   92.1        32.81      30.93

December 31, 2008

   93.2        30.40      29.61

December 31, 2007

   95.1        28.34      22.96

December 31, 2006

   98.7        27.34      26.55

December 31, 2005

   92.5        26.71      26.59

 

(1) Annualized net effective rent per leased square foot represents (i) the contractual rent for leases in place as of the dates indicated above, calculated on a straight-line basis to amortize free rent periods and abatements, but without regard to tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions, divided by (ii) the net rentable square footage under lease as of the same date.

Other than recurring capital expenditures, we have no plans with respect to major renovation, improvement or redevelopment of First Financial.

Upon completion of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions, First Financial will be subject to a $43.0 million mortgage loan, as described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

The current real estate tax rate for First Financial is $10.00 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for First Financial at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $617,100 (at a taxable assessed value of $61,710,000). In addition, there was $155,465 in various direct assessments and voted indebtedness imposed on First Financial by the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles for the 2009 tax year.

Del Amo Office, Torrance, California

In connection with this offering and the formation transactions, we intend to enter into an agreement to acquire the Del Amo Office property and its related ground sublease for cash. Our acquisition of the property is contingent upon, among other things, the completion of this offering, the assignment of the ground sublease and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. As a result, although we currently believe the acquisition of this property is probable, we may not acquire this property in a timely manner, or at all.

 

103


Table of Contents

The Del Amo Office property is a five-story, steel-framed office building located on Sepulveda Boulevard in Torrance, California. The property, built in 1986, contains 113,000 net rentable square feet and is situated on 2.3 acres with 150 parking spaces. The property is 100% leased to Saatchi & Saatchi North America, Inc., a leading advertising agency, pursuant to a written lease. Saatchi & Saatchi has been a tenant at this property for over 20 years, over which period significant capital improvements have been made to the property. The current term of the office lease expires December 31, 2019, provided that Saatchi & Saatchi has the option to terminate the office lease on any of the following dates: December 31, 2011, December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2016, in each case in exchange for the payment of an early termination fee, based on an amount equal to the unamortized tenant improvement allowances, brokerage commissions and abated rent granted to Saatchi & Saatchi for the initial 15-year term. We estimate the early termination fee to be approximately $5.0 million, $3.1 million and $1.9 million for the termination rights exercisable on December 31, 2011, December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Saatchi & Saatchi also has one 10-year extension option, at a rental rate equal to 95% of the projected prevailing rental rate as of the first day of the option term (based on a formula set forth in the office lease). The office lease provides for the payment of monthly base rent, plus tenant’s share (100%) of all increases in direct costs of operation, repair and maintenance of the building and common areas, including real property taxes and assessments levied or assessed against the building (including in connection with a change of ownership), over such costs for the 2005 base year.

The following table summarizes information regarding the Del Amo Office property lease as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
  Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
    Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1 )
  Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square
Foot
  Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
 

Saatchi & Saatchi

  Advertising   12/31/19   12/31/11 ( 2 )     1 x 10
years
  113,000   100.0   $ 3,069,070   $ 27.16   100.0
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

          113,000   100.0   $ 3,069,070   $ 27.16   100.0
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12.
(2) The Saatchi & Saatchi lease provides the tenant with the option to terminate the office lease on any of the following dates in each case upon nine months prior notice: December 31, 2011, December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2016, in each case in exchange for the payment of an early termination fee, as described above.

The property on which the Del Amo Office building is located is subleased by Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, or Del Amo, through a long-term ground sublease entered into on February 12, 1985 between Sears, Roebuck & Co., as sublessor, and Del Amo (as successor-in-interest to Del Amo Mills Limited Partnership, successor-in-interest to The Torrance Company), as sublessee. The current term of the ground sublease expires June 30, 2049. The ground sublease is subject and subordinate to the terms of a ground lease dated June 29, 1959 between certain persons and entities therein referred to as The Sears Investors, as lessor, and Sears, Roebuck and Co., as lessee, and an improvement agreement and agreement to ground sublease dated September 15, 1983 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and The Torrance Company, predecessor to Del Amo. The fee owner of the property has not granted to the subtenant under the ground sublease any rights of non-disturbance. Accordingly, a termination of the ground lease for any reason, including a rejection thereof by the ground tenant under the ground lease in a bankruptcy proceeding, could result in a termination of the ground sublease. In the event of a termination of the ground sublease, the Company may lose its interest in the Del Amo Office building and may no longer have the right to receive any of the rental income from the Del Amo Office building. In addition, the failure of the Company to have any non-disturbance rights from the fee owner may impair the Company’s ability to obtain financing for the Del Amo Office building. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The ground sublease for the Del Amo Office property is subject and subordinate to a ground lease, the termination of which could result in a termination of the ground sublease.”

 

104


Table of Contents

Fixed Net Rent under the ground sublease is $1.00 per year, with sublessee being responsible for all impositions, insurance premiums, operating charges, maintenance charges, construction costs and other charges, costs and expenses that arise or may be contemplated under any provisions of the ground sublease, including its pro rata share of all exterior common area maintenance costs charged to sublessor with respect to the larger tract of land of which the property is a part, and all real property taxes applicable to the property (and if not separately assessed, then sublessee’s liability shall be for such equitable portion of the real property taxes as the property bears to all of the land and improvements included within the tax parcel assessed, as determined mutually by sublessor and sublessee).

The sublessee is also responsible for sublessor’s obligations under the ground lease applicable to the property, other than those obligations involving the payment of rent or other charges. The ground sublease is not expressly terminable for any reason by either party other than in connection with a casualty or condemnation. The sublessee has the right to mortgage its leasehold interest in the property, but is not otherwise permitted to assign, mortgage, pledge, encumber or in any manner transfer the ground sublease, or any part thereof, further sublease the property, or any part thereof (other than subleasing of space within the improvements to tenants in occupancy from time to time), or sell, transfer, mortgage, pledge, lease, license or encumber the improvements or the interest of sublessee in any lease of the improvements or the rentals thereunder, without the prior written consent of sublessor, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Other than normally recurring capital expenditures, we have no plans with respect to major renovation, improvement or redevelopment of the Del Amo Office property.

Upon consummation of our acquisition of the Del Amo Office property, such property is expected to be included in the portfolio of properties available to secure our secured credit facility. For more information regarding our secured credit facility, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

The Del Amo Office property is not currently located on its own tax parcel. Therefore, the current real estate tax rate for the Del Amo Office property is based upon the property’s pro rata share of the land square footage of the larger parcel of which it is a part. Using this proration, the current real estate tax rate for the Del Amo Office property is $10 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for the Del Amo Office property at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $39,062 (at a taxable assessed value of $38,172,509). In addition, there was $6,169 in various direct assessments imposed on the Del Amo Office property by the City of Torrance and County of Los Angeles for the 2009 tax year. However, as described above, Saatchi & Saatchi is obligated to reimburse us for 100% of real property taxes and assessments over such costs for a 2005 base year. Under the acquisition agreement, the seller will agree to cooperate with us following the closing to file all necessary documents with the applicable governmental authorities to segregate the real estate tax liability for the Del Amo Office property from the real estate tax liability for the larger tax parcel of which it is a part. While we believe that such segregation will be approved by the applicable governmental authorities, our ability to effect the same may also be contingent upon the cooperation of Sears, Roebuck & Co., the ground tenant under the ground lease, and the fee owner of the property. If we are unable to segregate the real estate tax liability for the Del Amo Office property from the larger tax parcel, then the failure of the ground tenant under the ground lease or the fee owner to pay real property taxes on the larger tract could result in a tax lien and/or foreclosure of the Del Amo Office property. In the event of a foreclosure of the Del Amo Office property, the Company may lose its interest in the Del Amo Office building and may no longer have the right to receive any of the rental income from the Del Amo Office building. In addition, the failure of the Del Amo Office property to be a separate tax parcel may impair the Company’s ability to obtain financing for the Del Amo Office building. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The Del Amo Office property is not currently located on its own tax parcel, which could result in a tax lien and/or foreclosure of the Del Amo Office property.”

 

105


Table of Contents

Technicolor Building, Hollywood, California

The Technicolor Building is a six-story, steel-framed Class-A office and motion picture technical production building located in Hollywood, California. The property comprises 114,958 square feet and is located on the Sunset Gower property (described below), with frontage on Sunset Boulevard, one of the main surface arteries in Los Angeles. The property was completed in 2008 and serves as the worldwide headquarters for Technicolor, one of the leading post-production companies in the entertainment industry. The property includes both traditional office space and space dedicated to post-production uses, such as video and sound content screening, editing and data storage and, as Technicolor’s primary office and post-production facility, it is essential to its worldwide operations. The property is 100% leased to Technicolor through May 31, 2020. Pursuant to the terms of its lease, Technicolor is obligated to reimburse us for 100% of the expenses related to the operation of the property, including, but not limited to, real property taxes, utilities and insurance premiums (excluding structural, roof and core MEP system capital replacements).

The following table summarizes information regarding the Technicolor Building lease as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
  Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
  Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square
Foot
  Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
 

Technicolor

  Media &
Entertainment
  05/31/20   2 x 5
years
  114,958   100.0   $ 5,231,052   $ 45.50   100.0
                                 

Total/Weighted Average:

        114,958   100.0   $ 5,231,052   $ 45.50   100.0
                                 

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. This net lease has been grossed-up by adding expense reimbursements to base rent to make it equivalent to a full-service gross lease. Total abatements as of March 31, 2010 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $217,960.

Technicolor Building Percent Leased and Rent

The following table sets forth the percentage leased, annualized rent per leased square foot and annualized net effective rent per leased square foot for the Technicolor Building as of the dates indicated below:

 

Date (1)

   Percent
Leased
    Annualized Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot
   Annualized Net
Effective Rent Per
Leased Square  Foot ( 2 )

March 31, 2010

   100   $ 45.50    $ 50.22

December 31, 2009

   100        45.50      50.22

December 31, 2008

   100        44.18      50.22

 

(1) Because the property was placed into service on June 1, 2008, we are unable to show data for full years prior to 2008.
(2) Annualized net effective rent per leased square foot represents (i) the contractual rent for leases in place as of the dates indicated above, calculated on a straight-line basis to amortize free rent periods and abatements, but without regard to tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions (any non-gross leases have been grossed-up by adding expense reimbursements to base rent to make them equivalent to full-service gross leases), divided by (ii) the net rentable square footage under lease as of the same date.

Upon completion of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions, we expect the Technicolor Building, together with the Sunset Gower property, will be included in the portfolio of properties available to secure our secured credit facility. For more information regarding our secured credit facility, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources— Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

 

106


Table of Contents

The current real estate tax for the Technicolor Building is included in the real estate tax for Sunset Gower. We expect that the Technicolor Building will be taxed separately for the 2010 tax year. However, as described above, Technicolor is obligated to reimburse us for 100% of its allocated share of real property taxes and related fees.

Tierrasanta, San Diego, California

Tierrasanta is a wood-framed office complex located in the Kearny Mesa submarket of San Diego, California. Built in 1985, Tierrasanta consists of four buildings that contain an aggregate of 104,234 net rentable square feet situated on a 6.5 acre lot with 382 parking spaces. The property is located directly adjacent to Interstate 15 and has access to two major highways, Highway 163 and Highway 52. As of March 31, 2010, Tierrasanta was approximately 96.8% leased to 9 tenants. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for this property was 40 months.

Tierrasanta Primary Tenants

The following table summarizes information regarding the tenants of Tierrasanta as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
  Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
  Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1 )
  Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square
Foot
  Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
 

RBF  Consulting (2 )

  Construction
Services
  03/31/14   03/31/12   1 x 5
years
  31,422   30.1   $ 700,711   $ 22.30   29.8

California Bank & Trust

  Financial   06/30/18   —     1 x 5
years
  23,208   22.3        620,582     26.74   26.4   

NxGen

  Technology   08/31/12   —     —     9,629   9.2        203,172     21.10   8.7   

Quake Global, Inc.

  Technology   11/30/10   —     —     8,690   8.3        190,746     21.95   8.1   

Diversified Copier

  Technology   06/30/11   —     1 x 3
years
  8,305   8.0        198,739     23.93   8.5   
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

          81,254   78.0   $ 1,913,949   $ 23.56   81.5
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. Any non-gross leases have been grossed-up by adding owner-estimated expenses to base rent to make them equivalent to full-service gross leases.
(2) The tenant has an option to terminate, subject to the payment of an early termination fee based on a formula set forth in the lease.

Other than normally recurring capital expenditures, we have no plans with respect to major renovation, improvement or redevelopment of Tierrasanta.

Upon completion of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions, Tierrasanta will be subject to a $14.3 million mortgage loan, as described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

The current real estate tax rate for Tierrasanta is $10.00 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for Tierrasanta at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $124,806 (at a taxable assessed value of $12,480,645). In addition, there was $12,979 in various direct assessments and voted indebtedness imposed on Tierrasanta by the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego for the 2009 tax year.

875 Howard Street, San Francisco, California

Our 875 Howard Street property is located in San Francisco, California and consists of two buildings totaling approximately 286,000 square feet. One of the buildings is an approximately 191,000 square foot,

 

107


Table of Contents

six-story building that underwent redevelopment from its prior use as a museum to use as an office property. The redevelopment included a new lobby, demolition of all floors to core and shell and the completion of exterior upgrades, all of which were completed on April 1, 2010. The other building is an approximately 95,000 square foot, three-story retail building leased to Burlington Coat Factory. The property is located in the South of Market area in San Francisco, a submarket that has historically had a high concentration of high technology and internet-related tenants. We believe that as venture capital investments in technology related companies increase, our property will attract many of the high technology and internet tenants that tend to be located in the South of Market submarket. Additionally, the property is located across the street from the Moscone Convention Center near Market Street, which provides an array of amenities, including access to San Francisco’s primary mass transit corridor, restaurants, retail establishments and movie theaters, all of which are attractive to potential and existing tenants.

One of our contributors, Farallon, acquired the property in 2007 with its operating partner, TMG Partners, or TMG, when the office component of the property was occupied by the California Academy of Sciences, which was scheduled to vacate the property in 2008. Farallon and TMG acquired the property with the intent to redevelop the office space that had been underutilized when the California Academy of Sciences occupied the space. Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we intend to enter into an agreement with TMG relating to this property, pursuant to which we will pay a 3% commission on hard costs of first generation tenant improvements and a leasing commission equal to $2 per square foot of new space leased during the term of the agreement. This agreement terminates upon the earlier of two years or the date on which the property is 95% leased. As of March 31, 2010, the 875 Howard Street retail building was approximately 100% leased to Burlington Coat Factory, while two leases representing approximately 40% of the office building have been executed as of such date, one of which commenced on April 1, 2010 upon the completion of the tenant improvements and the other of which commences on December 1, 2010. Overall, as of March 31, 2010, the property was 60% leased, including the two uncommenced leases described above.

The Burlington Coat Factory lease is subject to a continuous termination right by the tenant on one year’s prior notice. However, we believe Burlington Coat Factory’s lease is at substantially below market rates as of March 31, 2010, which we believe may encourage the tenant to exercise one or more of its two five-year renewal options at the current rental rate.

875 Howard Street Primary Tenants

The following table summarizes information regarding the primary tenants of 875 Howard Street as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
  Earliest
Optional
Termination
Date by
Tenant
  Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1 )
  Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square
Foot
  Percentage
of
Property
Annualized
Rent
 

Burlington Coat Factory (2)

  Retail   02/28/13   03/31/11   2 x 5
years
  94,505   33.0   $ 1,181,699   $ 12.50   100.0

Total/Weighted Average:

          94,505   33.0   $ 1,181,699   $ 12.50   100.0
                                   

Uncommenced Leases

                 

Heald  College (3)

  Educational   11/30/20   11/30/17   1 x 5
years
  43,582   15.2   $ 1,045,968   $ 24.00  

Carat USA (4)

  Media &
Entertainment
  03/31/17   03/31/16   1 x 5
years
  33,291   11.6        1,131,894     34.00  
                               

Total/Weighted Average:

          76,873   26.9   $ 2,177,862   $ 28.33  
                               

 

108


Table of Contents

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. For uncommenced leases, annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) the first full month of contractual rents to be received under the applicable lease (defined as cash rents (before abatements)), by (ii) 12. The Carat USA and Heald College leases are net of janitorial costs and utilities, and have been grossed up by adding the owner’s estimate of expenses to base rent to make them equivalent to full service gross leases. The Burlington Coat Factory lease is a net lease and has been grossed up by adding the owner’s estimate of expenses to base rent to make it equivalent to full service gross leases.
(2) The tenant has a continuing early termination right that can be exercised upon one year’s prior notice.
(3) The Heald College lease commences on December 1, 2010. The early termination right is subject to an early termination payment of $1,751,358.
(4) The Carat USA lease commenced on April 1, 2010. Total abatements under this lease for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011 are $1,131,894. The early termination right is subject to an early termination fee of $412,106.

875 Howard Street Lease Expirations

The following table sets forth the lease expirations for leases in place at 875 Howard Street as of March 31, 2010, plus available space, for each of the ten full calendar years beginning January 1, 2010. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, the information set forth in the table assumes that tenants exercise no renewal options and all early termination rights. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for this property was 12 months due to the continuous termination right of Burlington Coat Factory on one year’s prior notice; to date, such notice has not been provided.

 

Year of Lease Expiration

   Number
of Leases
Expiring
   Square Footage
of Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Property
Square Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of Property
Annualized
Rent
    Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square Foot

Vacant (2 )

   —      191,765    67.0   $ —      —     $ —  

2010

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2011 (3)

   1    94,505    33.0        1,181,699    100.0        12.50

2012

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2013

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2014

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2015

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2016

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2017

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2018

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2019

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

Thereafter

   —      —      —          —      —          —  
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

   1    286,270    100.0   $ 1,181,699    100.0   $ 12.50
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12. The Burlington Coat Factory lease is a net lease and has been grossed up by adding the owner’s estimate of expenses to base rent to make it equivalent to full service gross leases.
(2) Includes redevelopment space and does not reflect the impact of the uncommenced Heald College and Carat USA leases.
(3) Includes the Burlington Coat Factory lease representing 94,505 square feet of space that has an expiration date of December 31, 2013 and is subject to a continuing early termination right that can be exercised upon one year’s prior notice. To date, such notice has not been provided. Excluding Burlington Coat Factory, none of our 875 Howard Street property leases would expire in 2011.

 

109


Table of Contents

875 Howard Street Percent Leased and Rent

The following table sets forth the percentage leased, annualized rent per leased square foot and annualized net effective rent per leased square foot for 875 Howard Street as of the dates indicated below:

 

Date (1)

   Percent
Leased (2 )
    Annualized Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot
   Annualized Net
Effective Rent Per
Leased Square  Foot (3)

March 31, 2010

   33.0   $ 12.50    $ 12.50

December 31, 2009

   33.0        12.50      12.50

December 31, 2008

   100.0        13.62      13.62

December 31, 2007

   100.0        12.66      12.66

 

(1) Because we did not own this property prior to 2007, we are unable to show data for years prior to 2007.
(2) After giving effect to the uncommenced leases, percent leased would have been 59.9% as of March 31, 2010.
(3) Annualized net effective rent per leased square foot represents (i) the contractual rent for leases in place as of the dates indicated above, calculated on a straight-line basis to amortize free rent periods and abatements, but without regard to tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions (any non-gross leases have been grossed-up to make them equivalent to full-service gross leases), divided by (ii) the net rentable square footage under lease as of the same date.

Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the formation transactions, we expect 875 Howard Street will be included in the portfolio of properties available to secure our secured credit facility. For more information regarding our secured credit facility, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

The current real estate tax rate for 875 Howard Street is $11.63 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for 875 Howard Street at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $180,417.28 (at a taxable assessed value of $15,513,094).

Media and Entertainment Portfolio

Our initial portfolio of operating properties includes two properties that we consider to be media and entertainment properties, encompassing an aggregate of 857,432 square feet. We define our media and entertainment properties as those properties in our portfolio that are primarily used for the physical production of media content, such as television, feature films, commercials, music videos and photographs. These properties generally also feature a traditional office component that is leased to production companies and content providers. For the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, our media and entertainment properties were approximately 66.9% leased on average to approximately 79 tenants as of March 31, 2010. Our media and entertainment properties are located in prime Southern California submarkets.

Leasing Characteristics of Media and Entertainment Properties

The duration of typical lease terms for tenants of media and entertainment properties tends to be shorter as compared to those of traditional office properties. Generally, terms of the media and entertainment leases are one year or less, as tenants are never certain as to whether their productions will continue to be carried by networks or cable channels. However, historically, many entertainment tenants have exercised renewal options such that their actual tenancy is extended for multiple years. As an example, productions such as Judge Judy , Judge Joe Brown , Family Feud and Hannah Montana have been tenants at Sunset Bronson Studios for between three and 12 years. At Sunset Gower Studios, NBC’s Heroes and Showtime’s Dexter have been tenants for four and three years, respectively. Additionally, occupancy levels for sound stage space and office and support space tend to run in parallel, as a majority of stage users also require office and support space. In addition, we require tenants at our media and entertainment properties to use our facilities for items such as lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (telephone and internet). As a result, our other property-related revenues tend to track overall occupancy of our media and entertainment properties. As a result of the

 

110


Table of Contents

short-term nature of the leases into which we enter at our media and entertainment properties, and because entertainment industry tenants generally do not shoot on weekends due to higher costs, we believe stabilized occupancy rates at our media and entertainment properties are lower than those rates achievable at our traditional office assets, where tenants enter into longer-term lease arrangements.

Entertainment Industry Overview

The entertainment industry is one of Los Angeles’s core economic strengths and one of the region’s most high-profile economic sectors. Although feature film and television production have historically dominated the entertainment industry in southern California, the industry has grown to also include the information services sector, largely driven by media-related industries such as publishing, broadcasting and telecommunications activities. According to RCG, the sector is 2.4 times more concentrated in Los Angeles than it is nationally, reflecting the large cluster of media and entertainment firms in the area. The media and entertainment industry employed roughly 228,500 people in California as of 2008 in motion pictures, sound and broadcasting, as well as independent artists, writers and performers. In addition, the actual number of employees in the industry may be much higher than reported, since many of them are independent contractors whose employment may not be reflected on regular payrolls. At least one out of 12 workers in Los Angeles County is employed in the entertainment industry.

Additionally, the video game and digital media development industries are experiencing growing demand as film studios increasingly utilize digital effects and computer-generated graphics to complete their films as well as create video game content based on their films. Advances in technology and a growing supply of skilled labor in this field have also contributed to industry expansion. Video game development will likely be a source for growth in the local economy as consumer spending improves nationally. Likewise, digital media is forging a new path for the entertainment industry, generating growth in alternative types of production and fueling job gains in the region. Digital media is expected to be a key driver of economic recovery during the coming years as consumer demand for digital content increases in spite of the recent recession. Given the financial pressure created by the weak economy, many advertisers and producers are turning to digital content as a means to reduce costs while also appealing to increased consumer demand for media featuring more user control over content. RCG expects spending on digital entertainment in the United States to rise to 25% of entertainment expenditures by 2013, compared with 15% in 2008. Consequently, we believe the increasing demand for digital content will likely generate increased demand for media-related office space in Los Angeles during the years to come.

Even as alternative media grows in popularity, traditional production still dominates economic activity in Los Angeles. According to RCG, nearly 37,976 on-location production days, which include production of feature films, commercials and television programs, took place in Los Angeles County during 2009. This number does not include productions that took place at media and entertainment property locations, however, so the actual number of production days is likely to be much higher. In addition to feature films and television programs already in production, pilot production is also an important driver of the entertainment industry. During the 2009-2010 cycle, 76 pilots were produced in the Los Angeles area, which was a 28.8% increase from the previous year when 59 pilots were produced and spending on the productions exceeded $200 million. The rebounding economic conditions should support further increases in production activity, including commercials, which already increased 61% during the first quarter of 2010 following three years of annual declines. We believe that Los Angeles will continue to be the premiere location for production activities, attracting and retaining some of the most creative talent in the world.

Although production on location occurs throughout Los Angeles County, film and television media and entertainment properties are primarily concentrated north and west of the downtown region within the Hollywood, San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities and West Los Angeles submarkets. There is a total inventory of approximately 287 sound stages in the Los Angeles area, with roughly 55% or over 3,000,000 square feet located at the facilities of major media and entertainment companies such as Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, Sony, Fox and Disney. Of the approximately 130 sound stages located at independent media and entertainment

 

111


Table of Contents

properties in Los Angeles, roughly 53% are clustered in the Hollywood area where the Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson media and entertainment properties are located. The 23 stages that are situated at Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson represent approximately 33% of the total sound stage inventory at independent studios in the Hollywood area and roughly 23% of total stage inventory in the Hollywood area, at both major and independent media and entertainment properties. Other competing independent media and entertainment properties not in the Hollywood area are located in such submarkets as Downtown Los Angeles and Manhattan Beach.

Description of Our Media and Entertainment Properties

Sunset Gower, Hollywood, California

Sunset Gower is a 15.6 acre media and entertainment property located in the heart of Hollywood, four blocks west of the Hollywood (101) Freeway. The property encompasses almost an entire city block, bordered by Sunset Boulevard to the north, Gower Street to the west, Gordon Street to the east and Fountain Avenue to the south. The property, a fixture in the Los Angeles-based entertainment industry since it was built in the 1920s, served as Columbia Pictures’ headquarters through 1972 and is now one of the largest independent media and entertainment properties in the United States. Sunset Gower provides a fully-integrated environment for its media and entertainment-focused tenants within which they can access creative and technical talent for film and television production and post-production. Sunset Gower typically serves as home to single camera television and motion picture production tenants. The property is comprised of 368,149 square feet of office and support space, along with 12 sound stage facilities totaling 175,560 square feet. In addition, there are 1,490 parking spaces (situated in both surface and structured parking lots). Included in the total office square feet is a building, known as 6060 Sunset, which is comprised of approximately 17,000 square feet and was purchased separately from the Sunset Gower property and completely renovated, including core and shell upgrades. The renovation was completed in October 2009 and we believe that this space will be well suited for longer term media and entertainment tenants. For the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, Sunset Gower was approximately 66.1% leased as of March 31, 2010.

Approximately 0.59 acres of the site is subject to a ground lease held by SGS Holdings, LLC pursuant to a lease dated August 26, 1949 between Elizabeth K. Chadwick, as lessor, and SGS Holdings (as successor-in-interest to Columbia Pictures Corporation), as lessee (expiring March 31, 2060); the remaining portion of the Sunset Gower property is owned by SGS Holdings in fee, with the exception of 6060 Sunset, which is owned by SGS Realty II, LLC.

In addition to Sunset Gower’s existing facilities, the current zoning designation for Sunset Gower, M1-1 – Limited Industrial, City of Los Angeles, permits a floor area ratio, or FAR, of 1.5x, which implies a maximum allowable density of 1,022,933 square feet, or an incremental 423,436 square feet above the existing 599,497 floor area ratio, including the Technicolor Building. However, as of March 31, 2010, we had no immediate plans to develop additional facilities on the property.

Leases at Sunset Gower are typically for one year or less. However, historically, many media and entertainment property tenants have exercised renewal options such that the actual tenancy of many of these tenants may be for multiple years. As an example, at our Sunset Gower media and entertainment property, productions such as NBC’s Heroes and Showtime’s Dexter have been tenants for four and three years, respectively. Additionally, occupancy for sound stage space and office and support space tend to parallel one another, as a majority of stage users also require office and support space.

 

112


Table of Contents

Sunset Gower Primary Tenants

The following table summarizes information regarding the primary tenants of Sunset Gower for the year ended March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
    Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet (1)
  Percentage
of
Property
Square
Feet
    Annual
Rent (2)
  Annual
Rent  Per
Leased
Square
Foot (3)
  Percentage
of
Property
Annual
Rent
 

NBC Studios ( Heroes )

  Television/

Entertainment

  05/31/10 (4)     —     123,993   22.8   $ 3,027,257   $ 24.41   28.0

Blind Decker Productions ( Dexter )

  Television/
Entertainment
  12/31/10 (5)     —     60,184   11.1        1,806,817     30.02   16.7   
                                 

Total/Weighted Average:

        184,177   33.9   $ 4,834,074   $ 26.25   44.7
                                 

 

(1) Reflects average square feet under lease to such tenant during the period of its tenancy. Of the 123,993 square feet leased to NBC Studios, approximately 41,097 square feet is office and support space and approximately 82,896 square feet is sound stage space. Of the 60,184 square feet leased to Blind Decker Productions, approximately 22,096 square feet is office and support space and approximately 38,088 square feet is sound stage space.
(2) Annual rent reflects actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010.
(3) Annual rent per leased square foot is calculated as actual rent for the year 12 months ended March 31, 2010 divided by average square feet under lease for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010.
(4) NBC Studios is obligated to maintain their lease if Heroes is renewed for another season.
(5) Blind Decker Productions is obligated to maintain their lease if Dexter is renewed for another season.

Sunset Gower Percent Leased and Rent

The following table sets forth the percentage leased, annual rent per leased square foot and annual net effective rent per leased square foot for Sunset Gower as of the dates indicated below:

 

Date (1)

   Percent
Leased (2)
    Annual Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot (3)
   Annual Net
Effective Rent Per
Leased Square  Foot (4)

March 31, 2010

   66.1   $ 30.12    $ 30.12

December 31, 2009

   68.2        29.93      29.93

December 31, 2008

   74.2       28.03      28.03

 

(1) Because we did not own this property prior to 2007, we are unable to show data for full years prior to 2008.
(2) Percent leased is the average percent leased for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above. As a result of the short-term nature of the leases into which we enter at our media and entertainment properties, and because entertainment industry tenants generally do not shoot on weekends due to higher costs, we believe stabilized occupancy rates at our media and entertainment properties are lower than those rates achievable at our traditional office assets, where tenants enter into longer-term lease arrangements.
(3) Annual rent per leased square foot is calculated as actual rent for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above divided by average square feet under lease for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above.
(4) Annual net effective rent per leased square foot represents (i) actual rent for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above, calculated on a straight-line basis to amortize free rent periods and abatements, but without regard to tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions, divided by (ii) the average square feet under lease for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above.

 

113


Table of Contents

Sunset Gower Lease Expirations

The following table sets forth the lease expirations for leases in place at Sunset Gower as of March 31, 2010, plus available space, for each of the ten full calendar years beginning January 1, 2010. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, the information set forth in the table assumes that tenants exercise no renewal options and all early termination rights. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for this property was 4.4 months without giving effect to uncommenced leases.

 

Year of Lease Expiration

   Number
of Leases
Expiring
   Square Footage
of Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Property
Square Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of Property
Annualized
Rent
    Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square Foot

Vacant

   —      160,428    29.5   $ —      —     $ —  

2010

   62    371,619    68.4        10,855,273    97.0        29.21

2011

   4    5,012    0.9        136,851    1.2        27.30

2012

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2013

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2014

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2015

   1    6,650    1.2        202,476    1.8        30.45

2016

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2017

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2018

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2019

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

Thereafter

   —      —      —          —      —          —  
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

   67    543,709    100.0   $ 11,194,600    100.0   $ 29.21
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12.

Sunset Gower has an ongoing capital improvement program. Our capital expenditure budget at Sunset Gower for 2010 is $1.0 million. This amount reflects improvements largely consisting of deferred maintenance items.

Upon completion of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions, we expect that Sunset Gower, together with the Technicolor Building, will be included in the portfolio of properties available to secure our secured credit facility. For more information regarding our secured credit facility, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering—Secured Revolving Credit Facility.”

The current real estate tax rate for the Sunset Gower property (including the Technicolor Building) is $12.2044 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for Sunset Gower (including the Technicolor Building) at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $2,652,184 (at a taxable assessed value of $217,313,600). In addition, there was $171,668 in various direct assessments imposed on Sunset Gower (including the Technicolor Building) by the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles for the 2009 tax year. We expect a downward reassessment of this property following completion of the formation transactions.

Sunset Bronson, Hollywood, California

Sunset Bronson is a 10.6 acre media and entertainment property located in the heart of Hollywood, one block west of the Hollywood (101) Freeway and in close proximity to the Sunset Gower property. The property encompasses a full city block, bordered by Sunset Boulevard to the north, Bronson Avenue to the west, Van Ness Avenue to the east and Fernwood Avenue to the south. The property, which was built in phases from 1924

 

114


Table of Contents

through 1981, formerly served as Warner Brothers Studios’ headquarters and has been continuously operated as a media and entertainment property since the 1920s. The property includes a Historical-Cultural Monument designation for the Site of the Filming of the First Talking Film ( The Jazz Singer ) that is specific to the building structure that fronts Sunset Boulevard. Similar to nearby Sunset Gower, Sunset Bronson is a multi-use property with a full complement of production, post-production and support facilities that enable its media and entertainment focused tenants to conduct their business in a collaborative and efficient setting. In contrast to Sunset Gower, which typically serves single camera television and motion picture productions, Sunset Bronson caters to multi-camera television productions, such as game shows, talk shows or courtroom shows that record in video and require a control room to manage and edit the productions’ multiple cameras. Excluding the KTLA portion of the property, which is described below, Sunset Bronson consists of approximately 86,108 square feet of office and support space and nine sound stage facilities with approximately 137,109 square feet, along with 466 parking spaces. The property has three digital control rooms, one of which has high-definition technology, which allow tenants to edit productions filmed with high-definition cameras. For the 12 months ended March 31, 2010, Sunset Bronson was approximately 68.4% leased to 13 tenants as of March 31. 2010.

Sunset Bronson also includes the KTLA facility, which is a multi-use office, broadcasting and production facility located on the Sunset Bronson property described above. The KTLA facility is 100% leased by KTLA Channel 5, one of the largest independent television stations in Los Angeles and has served as KTLA’s only broadcast facility and its primary office and production location for over 50 years. In connection with the acquisition of the Sunset Bronson property, KTLA, Inc., a subsidiary of Tribune Company, entered into a five-year lease for approximately 90,506 square feet, which includes 83,531 square feet of office and support space and 6,975 square feet encompassing two sound stages. At closing, our predecessor received a prepayment of $16.3 million from KTLA in prepayment of its rents for the initial five-year term of its lease. On December 8, 2008, Tribune Company and several of its affiliates, including KTLA, Inc., filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. On June 25, 2009, KTLA assumed its lease for the KTLA facility and cured all outstanding pre-petition amounts due us.

We have entered into an amendment to the KTLA lease that extends the lease term through January 31, 2016. Net rents will be approximately $2,707,940 from February 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014, $2,789,178 from February 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015 and $2,872,859 from February 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016.

Leases at Sunset Bronson (other than the KTLA lease) are typically for one year or less. However, historically, many media and entertainment property tenants have exercised renewal options such that the actual tenancy of many of these tenants may be for multiple years. For example, productions such as Judge Judy , Judge Joe Brown , Family Feud and Hannah Montana have been tenants at our Sunset Bronson media and entertainment property for between three and 12 years. Additionally, occupancy for sound stage space and office and support space tend to parallel one another, as a majority of stage users also require office and support space.

In addition to Sunset Bronson’s existing facilities, the current zoning designation for Sunset Bronson, M1-1 – Limited Industrial, City of Los Angeles, permits a FAR of 1.5x, which implies a maximum allowable density of 689,553 square feet or an incremental 391,824 square feet above the existing 297,729 total FAR, including the KTLA portion of the property. As of March 31, 2010, we have engaged an architect and land use counsel and we are in the process of finalizing its master plan.

 

115


Table of Contents

Sunset Bronson Primary Tenants

The following table summarizes information regarding the primary tenants of Sunset Bronson as of March 31, 2010:

 

Tenant

  Principal
Nature of
Business
  Lease
Expiration
  Renewal
Options
  Total
Leased
Square
Feet (1)
  Percentage
of

Property
Square
Feet
    Annual
Rent (2)
  Annual
Rent  Per
Leased
Square
Foot (3)
  Percentage
of

Property
Annual

Rent
 

KTLA

  Television/
Entertainment
  01/31/16   —     90,506   28.8   $ 4,666,009   $ 51.55   45.2
                                 

Total/Weighted Average:

        90,506   28.8   $ 4,666,009   $ 51.55   45.2
                                 

 

(1) Reflects average square feet under lease to such tenant during the period of its tenancy.
(2) Annual rent reflects actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010. Any non-gross leases have been grossed-up to make them equivalent to full-service gross leases. As of February 1, 2013, annualized rent will be $4,144,662 through lease expiration, and will be subject to abatements of $1,015,652, $1,035,962, and $1,056,882.
(3) Annual rent per leased square foot is calculated as actual rent for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010 divided by average square feet under lease for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010.

Sunset Bronson Percent Leased and Rent

The following table sets forth the percentage leased, annual rent per leased square foot and annual net effective rent per leased square foot for the Sunset Bronson property as of the dates indicated below:

 

Date (1)

   Percent
Leased (2 )
    Annual Rent
Per Leased
Square Foot (3)
   Annual Net
Effective Rent Per
Leased Square  Foot (4)

March 31, 2010

   68.4   $ 48.36    $ 46.33

December 31, 2009

   68.5        46.79      45.35

 

(1) Because we did not own this property prior to 2008, we are unable to show data for full years prior to 2009.
(2) Percent leased is the average percent leased for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above. As a result of the short-term nature of the leases into which we enter at our media and entertainment properties, and because entertainment industry tenants generally do not shoot on weekends due to higher costs, we believe stabilized occupancy rates at our media and entertainment properties are lower than those rates achievable at our traditional office assets, where tenants enter into longer-term lease arrangements.
(3) Annual rent per leased square foot is calculated as actual rent for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above divided by average square feet under lease for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above.
(4) Annual net effective rent per leased square foot represents (i) actual rent for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above, calculated on a straight-line basis to amortize free rent periods and abatements, but without regard to tenant improvement allowances and leasing commissions, divided by (ii) the average square feet under lease for the three or 12 month period ended as of each of the respective measurement dates indicated above.

 

116


Table of Contents

Sunset Bronson Lease Expirations

The following table sets forth the lease expirations for leases in place at Sunset Bronson as of March 31, 2010, plus available space, for each of the ten full calendar years beginning January 1, 2010. Unless otherwise stated in the footnotes, the information set forth in the table assumes that tenants exercise no renewal options and all early termination rights. As of March 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining lease term for this property was 25.6 months without giving effect to uncommenced leases.

 

Year of Lease Expiration

   Number
of Leases
Expiring
   Square Footage
of Expiring
Leases
   Percentage of
Property
Square Feet
    Annualized
Rent (1)
   Percentage
of Property
Annualized
Rent
    Annualized
Rent Per
Leased
Square Foot

Vacant

   —      43,343    23.6   $ —      —     $ —  

2010

   10    147,791    47.1        6,336,859    54.9        42.88

2011

   2    32,083    10.2        1,957,950    17.0        61.03

2012

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2013

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2014

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2015

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2016

   1    90,506    28.8        3,256,382    28.2        35.98

2017

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2018

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

2019

   —      —      —          —      —          —  

Thereafter

   —      —      —          —      —          —  
                                   

Total/Weighted Average:

   13    313,723    100.0   $ 11,551,191    100.0   $ 42.72
                                   

 

(1) Annualized rent is calculated by multiplying (i) rental payments (defined as cash rents (before abatements)) for the month ended March 31, 2010, by (ii) 12.

Sunset Bronson has an ongoing capital improvement program. Our capital expenditure budget at Sunset Bronson for 2010 is $450,000. This amount reflects improvements largely consisting of deferred maintenance items.

Upon completion of this offering and the consummation of the formation transactions, Sunset Bronson will be subject to a $37.0 million mortgage loan, as described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Consolidated Indebtedness to be Outstanding after this Offering.”

The current real estate tax rate for Sunset Bronson is $12.2044 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total annual tax for Sunset Bronson at this rate for the 2009 tax year is $1,356,034 (at a taxable assessed value of $111,110,156). In addition, various direct assessments in the amount of $124,730 were imposed on Sunset Bronson by the City of Los Angeles and County of Los Angeles for the 2009 tax year. We expect a downward reassessment of this property following completion of the formation transactions.

Sunset Bronson Lot A

In connection with our acquisition of Sunset Bronson in 1998, we acquired a 67,408 square foot undeveloped lot located on the northwest corner of Sunset Boulevard and Bronson Avenue. The lot is located two blocks west of the I-101 Freeway, in between the Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson properties. The site is currently used as a surface parking lot and can be developed to include up to 60,855 square feet of retail and office space based on current zoning, with the opportunity to add additional developable square footage through certain municipal land entitlement approvals. We estimate that with further entitlements, we could increase the developable square footage to approximately 273,913 square feet. The lot also includes a signage take down

 

117


Table of Contents

credit that allows for a 2,496 square foot supergraphic sign to be placed on the property, conditioned upon approval by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.

Depreciation

The following table sets forth for each property in our initial portfolio and component thereof upon which depreciation is taken, the (i) federal tax basis upon consummation of the offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, (ii) rate, (iii) method, and (iv) life claimed with respect to such property or component thereof for purposes of depreciation.

 

Property

  

Federal

Tax Basis

  

Rate

   Method (1)   

Life

Claimed

City Plaza

   $ 50,111,098    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

First Financial

   $ 66,500,000    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

KTLA

   $ 32,075,481    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

Del Amo Office

   $ 26,950,000    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

875 Howard Street

   $ 44,000,000    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

Sunset Bronson

   $ 34,388,281    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

Sunset Gower

   $ 118,139,339    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

Sunset Bronson – Lot A

   $ 33,532,717    Various    Straight-line   

Technicolor Building

   $ 53,403,432    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

Tierrasanta

   $ 15,700,000    Various    Straight-line    39/15 years

 

(1) Unless otherwise noted, depreciation method and life claimed for each property and component thereof is determined by reference to the IRS-mandated method for depreciating assets placed into service after 1986, known as the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System.

In addition, we have an aggregate of approximately $7,838,430 in additional tax basis of depreciable furniture, fixtures and equipment associated with the properties in our initial portfolio as of December 31, 2009. Depreciation on this furniture, fixtures and equipment is computed on the straight-line and double declining balance methods over the claimed life of such property, which is either five or seven years.

Regulation

General

Our properties are subject to various covenants, laws, ordinances and regulations, including regulations relating to common areas and fire and safety requirements. We believe that each of the properties in our initial portfolio has the necessary permits and approvals to operate its business.

Americans With Disabilities Act

Our properties must comply with Title III of the ADA to the extent that such properties are “public accommodations” as defined by the ADA. The ADA may require removal of structural barriers to access by persons with disabilities in certain public areas of our properties where such removal is readily achievable. The company has developed and undertaken a continuous capital improvement program at certain properties in the past. These capital improvement programs will continue to progress after the offering and certain ADA upgrades will continue to be integrated into the planned improvements, specifically at the media and entertainment properties where the company is able to utilize in-house construction crews to minimize costs for required ADA related improvements. However, some of our properties may currently be in noncompliance with the ADA. Such noncompliance could result in the incurrence of additional costs to attain compliance, the imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. The obligation to make readily achievable accommodations is an ongoing one, and we will continue to assess our properties and to make alterations as appropriate in this respect.

 

118


Table of Contents

Environmental Matters

Under various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the environment, as a current or former owner or operator of real property, we may be liable for costs and damages resulting from the presence or discharge of hazardous or toxic substances, waste or petroleum products at, on, in, under, or migrating from such property, including costs to investigate, clean up such contamination and liability for natural resources. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such contamination, and the liability may be joint and several. These liabilities could be substantial and the cost of any required remediation, removal, fines, or other costs could exceed the value of the property and/or our aggregate assets. In addition, the presence of contamination or the failure to remediate contamination at our properties may expose us to third-party liability for costs of remediation and/or personal or property damage or materially adversely affect our ability to sell, lease or develop our properties or to borrow using the properties as collateral. In addition, environmental laws may create liens on contaminated sites in favor of the government for damages and costs it incurs to address such contamination. Moreover, if contamination is discovered on our properties, environmental laws may impose restrictions on the manner in which property may be used or businesses may be operated, and these restrictions may require substantial expenditures.

Some of our properties contain, have contained, or are adjacent to or near other properties that have contained or currently contain storage tanks for the storage of petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. Similarly, some of our properties were used in the past for commercial or industrial purposes, or are currently used for commercial purposes, that involve or involved the use of petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances, or are adjacent to or near properties that have been or are used for similar commercial or industrial purposes. As a result, some of our properties have been or may be impacted by contamination arising from the releases of such hazardous substances or petroleum products. Where we have deemed appropriate, we have taken steps to address identified contamination or mitigate risks associated with such contamination; however, we are unable to ensure that further actions will not be necessary. As a result of the foregoing, we could potentially incur materially liability.

Independent environmental consultants have conducted Phase I Environmental Site Assessments at all of the properties in our initial portfolio using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Practice E 1527-05. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a report prepared for real estate holdings that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities. Site assessments are intended to discover and evaluate information regarding the environmental condition of the surveyed property and surrounding properties. These assessments do not generally include soil samplings, subsurface investigations or an asbestos survey. None of the recent site assessments identified any known past or present contamination that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our business, assets or operations. However, the assessments are limited in scope and may have failed to identify all environmental conditions or concern. A prior owner or operator of a property or historic operations at our properties may have created a material environmental condition that is not known to us or the independent consultants preparing the site assessments. Material environmental conditions may have arisen after the review was completed or may arise in the future, and future laws, ordinances or regulations may impose material additional environmental liability.

Environmental laws also govern the presence, maintenance and removal of asbestos-containing building materials, or ACBM, and may impose fines and penalties for failure to comply with these requirements or expose us to third-party liability (e.g., liability for personal injury associated with exposure to asbestos). Such laws require that owners or operators of buildings containing ACBM (and employers in such buildings) properly manage and maintain the asbestos, adequately notify or train those who may come into contact with asbestos, and undertake special precautions, including removal or other abatement, if asbestos would be disturbed during renovation or demolition of a building. Some of our properties contain ACBM and we could be liable for such damages, fines or penalties.

 

119


Table of Contents

In addition, the properties in our portfolio also are subject to various federal, state, and local environmental and health and safety requirements, such as state and local fire requirements. Moreover, some of our tenants routinely handle and use hazardous or regulated substances and wastes as part of their operations at our properties, which are subject to regulation. Such environmental and health and safety laws and regulations could subject us or our tenants to liability resulting from these activities. Environmental liabilities could affect a tenant’s ability to make rental payments to us. In addition, changes in laws could increase the potential liability for noncompliance. We sometimes require our tenants to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations and to indemnify us for any related liabilities. But in the event of the bankruptcy or inability of any of our tenants to satisfy such obligations, we may be required to satisfy such obligations. In addition, we may be held directly liable for any such damages or claims regardless of whether we knew of, or were responsible for, the presence or disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and irrespective of tenant lease provisions. The costs associated with such liability could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on us.

When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth may occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or is not addressed over a period of time. Some molds may produce airborne toxins or irritants. Indoor air quality issues can also stem from inadequate ventilation, chemical contamination from indoor or outdoor sources, and other biological contaminants such as pollen, viruses and bacteria. Indoor exposure to airborne toxins or irritants above certain levels can be alleged to cause a variety of adverse health effects and symptoms, including allergic or other reactions. As a result, the presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants at any of our properties could require us to undertake a costly remediation program to contain or remove the mold or other airborne contaminants from the affected property or increase indoor ventilation. In addition, the presence of significant mold or other airborne contaminants could expose us to liability from our tenants, employees of our tenants or others if property damage or personal injury occurs. We are not presently aware of any material adverse indoor air quality issues at our properties.

Insurance

Upon completion of this offering and consummation of the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we will carry commercial property (including earthquake), liability and terrorism coverage on all the properties in our initial portfolio under a blanket insurance policy, in addition to other coverages, such as trademark and pollution coverage, that may be appropriate for specific properties. We believe the policy specifications and insured limits are appropriate and adequate given the relative risk of loss, the cost of the coverage and industry practice; however, our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to fully cover our losses. We will not carry insurance for certain losses, including, but not limited to, losses caused by riots or war. Some of our policies, like those covering losses due to terrorism, earthquakes and floods, will be insured subject to limitations involving substantial self insurance portions and significant deductibles and co-payments for such events. In addition, the properties in our initial portfolio are located in California, an area subject to an increased risk of earthquakes. While we will carry earthquake insurance on our properties, the amount of our earthquake insurance coverage may not be sufficient to fully cover losses from earthquakes. In addition, we may reduce or discontinue earthquake, terrorism or other insurance on some or all of our properties in the future if the cost of premiums for any of these policies exceeds, in our judgment, the value of the coverage discounted for the risk of loss. In the event that we experience a substantial or comprehensive loss of one of our properties, we may not be able to rebuild certain of our properties due to current zoning and land use regulations. In addition, our title insurance policies may not insure for the current aggregate market value of our initial portfolio, and we do not intend to increase our title insurance coverage as the market value of our initial portfolio increases. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—Potential losses, including from adverse weather conditions, natural disaster and title claims, may not be covered by insurance.”

Competition

We compete with a number of developers, owners and operators of office and commercial real estate, many of which own properties similar to ours in the same markets in which our properties are located and some of

 

120


Table of Contents

which have greater financial resources than we do. In operating and managing our portfolio, we compete for tenants based on a number of factors, including location, rental rates, security, flexibility and expertise to design space to meet prospective tenants’ needs and the manner in which the property is operated, maintained and marketed. As leases at our properties expire, we may encounter significant competition to renew or re-let space in light of the large number of competing properties within the markets in which we operate. As a result, we may be required to provide rent concessions or abatements, incur charges for tenant improvements and other inducements, including early termination rights or below-market renewal options, or we may not be able to timely lease vacant space. In that case, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, per share trading price of our common stock and ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and to pay dividends to you may be adversely affected.

We also face competition when pursuing acquisition and disposition opportunities. Our competitors may be able to pay higher property acquisition prices, may have private access to opportunities not available to us and otherwise be in a better position to acquire a property. Competition may also have the effect of reducing the number of suitable acquisition opportunities available to us, increase the price required to consummate an acquisition opportunity and generally reduce the demand for commercial office space in our markets. Likewise, competition with sellers of similar properties to locate suitable purchasers may result in us receiving lower proceeds from a sale or in us not being able to dispose of a property at a time of our choosing due to the lack of an acceptable return.

Employees

Upon the completion of this offering and the formation transactions, we expect to have approximately 60 employees.

Principal Executive Offices

Our headquarters is located at 11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California. We believe that our current facilities are adequate for our present and future operations; however, based on the anticipated growth of our company, we may add regional offices or relocate our headquarters, depending upon our future operational needs.

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently a party, as plaintiff or defendant, to any legal proceedings that we believe to be material or which, individually or in the aggregate, would be expected to have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation if determined adversely to us.

 

121


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Our Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers

Upon completion of this offering, our board of directors will consist of nine directors, a majority of whom are independent within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE. Each of our directors will be elected by our stockholders to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. See “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws—Our Board of Directors.” We expect the first annual meeting of our stockholders after this offering will be held in 2011. Subject to rights pursuant to any employment agreements, officers serve at the pleasure of our board of directors.

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the individuals who will be our directors and executive officers upon completion of this offering:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Victor J. Coleman*

   48    Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Howard S. Stern*

   48    President and Director

Christopher Barton*

   45    Executive Vice President, Operations and Development

Mark T. Lammas*

   43    Chief Financial Officer

Dale Shimoda*

   42    Executive Vice President, Finance

Alexander Vouvalides

   31    Vice President, Asset Management

Richard B. Fried

   41    Director

Theodore R. Antenucci†

   45    Director Nominee

Mark Burnett†

   49    Director Nominee

Jonathan M. Glaser†

   47    Director Nominee

Mark D. Linehan†

   48    Director Nominee

Robert M. Moran, Jr†.

   47    Director Nominee

Barry A. Porter†

   52    Director Nominee

 

* Denotes our named executive officers.
Independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards. It is expected that this individual will become a director immediately upon completion of this offering.

Biographical Summaries of Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Other Officers

The following are biographical summaries of the experience of our directors, executive officers and certain other officers.

Victor J. Coleman will serve as Chief Executive Officer and as Chairman of our board of directors. Prior to the formation of our company, Mr. Coleman founded and served as a managing partner of our predecessor, Hudson Capital, LLC, a private real estate investment company based in Los Angeles, California. In 1990, Mr. Coleman co-founded and led Arden Realty, Inc. as its President and Chief Operating Officer and as a director, taking that company public on the NYSE in 1996 and selling it to GE Real Estate, a division of General Electric Capital Corporation, in 2006. Prior to that sale, Mr. Coleman was primarily responsible for all facets of Arden Realty, Inc.’s strategic planning and growth, as well as management of that company’s team of top real estate professionals. Mr. Coleman is an active community leader, has been the recipient of the Humanitarian Award for the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and is on the Founding Board of Directors for the Ziman Center for Real Estate (2004 - present) at the Anderson School, UCLA, and the Boards of Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, the Archer School (2007 - present) and the Bel Air Chapter of YPO. Mr. Coleman’s previous experience as a director also includes service on the board of other public companies such as Douglas Emmett, Inc. (2006 - 2009) and People’s Choice (2003 - 2006). He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Coleman was selected by our board of directors to serve as a director based on his deep knowledge of our company and his experience in the real estate investment industry.

 

122


Table of Contents

Howard S. Stern will serve as President and as a director on our board of directors. Prior to the formation of our company, Mr. Stern served as a managing partner of our predecessor, Hudson Capital, LLC, where he acted as President of the Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson media and entertainment properties in Hollywood, and oversaw the daily operations of 23 production sound stages and over approximately 550,000 square feet of office. Before joining Hudson Capital, LLC, Mr. Stern served as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Arden Realty, Inc. from 2003 until its sale in 2006, where he was responsible for acquisition, disposition, development, structured finance and new investment activities. In his early tenure with Arden Realty, Inc., which began in 2001, he first served as Vice President of Strategic Planning, then as First Vice President of Operations and Leasing. Before his tenure at Arden Realty, Inc., Mr. Stern spent five years as Vice President of the Archon Group, a subsidiary of Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he oversaw all Western Region mezzanine financing and real estate management activities. Mr. Stern is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics, and has a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Southern California. Mr. Stern was selected by our board of directors to serve as a director based on his deep knowledge of our company and his experience in the real estate investment industry.

Christopher Barton will serve as Executive Vice President, Operations and Development. Prior to the formation of our company, Mr. Barton served as Vice President of Construction & Development of our predecessor, Hudson Capital, LLC, where he was responsible for operations and development, including establishing and monitoring property budgets, managing property staff and administering vendor contracts. He also managed the development and construction of the Technicolor Building and renovation activity at the Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson properties. With twenty years of experience in development and construction, encompassing mixed use, office, industrial, and residential projects, Mr. Barton has developed over 2.5 million square feet of commercial property, from conceptual site plan analysis and entitlements through completion. Prior to joining Hudson Capital, LLC in November 2006, Mr. Barton served as First Vice President for Arden Realty, Inc., from January 1997, where he was responsible for conceptual development, land entitlements, financial analysis and construction management for all real estate developments, including the Howard Hughes Center project, a planned 2.7 million square foot mixed-use development in Los Angeles, California. Before his tenure at Arden Realty, Inc., Mr. Barton was Project Manager at Beers-Skanska Construction Company where he managed large scale construction projects in the southeast United States, including the Celebration Place office building complex for Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Barton holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and Master of Business Administration degree in both Real Estate and Finance from the University of Georgia.

Mark T. Lammas will serve as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to the formation of our company, Mr. Lammas was a consultant to our predecessor, Hudson Capital, LLC, from September 2009. Before that time, Mr. Lammas was a Senior Vice President (from 1998 to 2005), then Executive Vice President (from 2006 to 2009) of Maguire Properties, Inc. where he principally oversaw finance and other transactional matters, since first joining that company as its General Counsel in 1998, then assuming other senior executive responsibilities after that company went public on the NYSE in 2003. During his tenure, Mr. Lammas directed that company’s major capital market transactions, including corporate and asset financings and common and preferred equity offerings, acted as its principal liaison with institutional partners, and was responsible for compliance with corporate financial covenants and the accuracy of all financial reports and public disclosures. Prior to joining Maguire Properties in 1998, Mr. Lammas was an attorney with Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, where he specialized in representing developers, institutional investors and pension funds in their acquisition, development, financing, investing, and entity structuring and restructuring activities. Mr. Lammas is a graduate of the Boalt Hall School of Law (University of California, Berkeley). He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Political Economies of Industrial Societies, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

Dale Shimoda will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance. Prior to the formation of our company, Mr. Shimoda was a consultant to our predecessor, Hudson Capital, LLC, on various financial and operational

 

123


Table of Contents

matters, primarily related to its media and entertainment properties at Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson. Prior to his engagement with Hudson Capital, LLC, Mr. Shimoda was Vice President of Acquisitions at Arden Realty, Inc., where he underwrote and performed due diligence on most of that company’s acquisitions. Mr. Shimoda has also worked in capital transactions at the Yarmouth Group, a New York-based pension fund advisor owned by Lend Lease, and as a management consultant at Ernst & Young and Robert Charles Lesser & Co. Mr. Shimoda is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

Alexander Vouvalides will serve as Vice President, Asset Management. Prior to the formation of our company, Alexander Vouvalides joined our predecessor, Hudson Capital, LLC, in 2009 as an Associate focused on acquisitions and investments, primarily responsible for acquisition analyses, financial due diligence, and asset management assignments. Before joining Hudson Capital, LLC, he was an Associate in the Real Estate Finance & Securitization Group at Credit Suisse working in both the firm’s New York and Los Angeles offices, where he underwrote and closed major acquisition and recapitalization loans across various asset types including office, hotel, retail, land and construction. Prior to that, Mr. Vouvalides worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications group at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York. Mr. Vouvalides graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Richard B. Fried will serve as a member of our board of directors. His selection as a member of our board was made in connection with the negotiation of our formation transactions. Mr. Fried is currently a Managing Member and co-head of the real estate group at Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., an investment management company that he has been with since 1995. Mr. Fried also currently serves as a Board Member of One California Bank, a position he has held since the bank’s inception in 2007. Previously, Mr. Fried was a Vice President in acquisitions for Security Capital Industrial Trust (now called ProLogis), a real estate investment trust specializing in industrial properties. Mr. Fried has also worked as an associate in capital markets at JMB Institutional Realty Corporation. Mr. Fried graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Our board of directors determined that Mr. Fried should serve as a director based on an agreement made with Farallon in connection with the negotiation of the formation transactions.

Biographical Summaries of Director Nominees

The following are biographical summaries of the experience of our non-employee director nominees.

Theodore R. Antenucci will serve as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Antenucci is the President and Chief Investment Officer of ProLogis and is also a member of the company’s Executive Committee. ProLogis is a leading global provider of distribution facilities with over $32 billion in real estate assets under management. Mr. Antenucci oversees all major transactions and provides oversight and direction to the senior management teams. Mr. Antenucci also serves on the board of directors for ProLogis European Properties, a public fund trading on the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam. Before joining ProLogis in September 2005, Mr. Antenucci served as President of Catellus Commercial Development Commercial, with responsibility for all development, construction and acquisition activities. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President of Catellus Commercial Group, where he managed the company’s industrial development activities throughout the western United States. Prior to joining Catellus in 1995, Mr. Antenucci was Vice President of real estate for Omnitrax, one of the largest short line operators in the United States. Additionally, Mr. Antenucci has served on the Board of Directors of Pittman Development Group since April 4, 2004. Mr. Antenucci earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Mr. Antenucci was selected by our board based on his experience as an executive and board member of a REIT and his extensive real estate and development expertise in the Southern California market. Mr. Antenucci will be a member of our board’s audit committee.

Mark Burnett will serve as a member of our board of directors. Since the 1990s, Mr. Burnett has created and led several successful production companies and has produced numerous hit television series including Survivor , Apprentice , Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? and Shark Tank . He has extensive experience in the

 

124


Table of Contents

creation and development of unscripted series in the U.S. and internationally. Mr. Burnett’s series reach a wide international audience, and he is a leader in the business of integrating brands and products into series content. In addition, Mr. Burnett has served two elected terms on the Board of the British Academy of Film and Television. Our board of directors determined that Mr. Burnett should serve on the board based on his familiarity with the entertainment and production business. Mr. Burnett will be a member of our board’s nominating and corporate governance committee.

Jonathan M. Glaser will serve as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Glaser has been Managing Member of JMG Capital Management LLC since he founded the company in 1992. JMG Capital Management LLC is the General Partner to JMG Capital Partners, L.P., an investment limited partnership that has been a leader in various capital market strategies, private placements and additional financing strategies. Prior to founding JMG, Mr. Glaser was a member floor trader on both the American Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange. Mr. Glaser received a Juris Doctor degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Glaser should serve on our board based on his capital markets expertise, as well as his extensive experience in portfolio management, financial oversight and directorship service. Mr. Glaser has been designated chair of our board’s compensation committee and will be a member of our board’s audit committee.

Mark D. Linehan will serve as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Linehan has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wynmark Company since he founded the company in 1993. Wynmark Company is a private real estate investment and development company with interests in properties in California, Nevada, Oregon and Montana. Prior to founding Wynmark Company, Mr. Linehan was a Senior Vice President with the Trammell Crow Company in Los Angeles, California. Before that, Mr. Linehan was with Kenneth Leventhal & Co. (now Ernst & Young LLP), a Los Angeles based public accounting firm. In addition, Mr. Linehan is actively involved with the community through his service on the board of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Goleta Valley Hospital, as well as his previous board memberships with the Signet Corporation and the Camino Real Park Foundation. Mr. Linehan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Linehan was selected by our board based on his extensive experience in real estate investment and development as well as his expertise in accounting matters. Mr. Linehan has been designated chair of our audit committee and will be a member of our board’s compensation committee.

Robert M. Moran, Jr. will serve as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Moran co-founded and co-owns FJM Investments LLC, a private real estate investment company that owns interest in properties in the western United States and British Columbia, Canada. Previously, Mr. Moran developed his extensive experience in real estate investment activities at Westridge Investments, LLC and as Chief Investment Officer of Cornerstone Properties, Inc. He also served as a founding partner at William Wilson & Associates, as well as the Director of Acquisitions in four real estate opportunity funds resulting in the $1.2 billion sale to Cornerstone Properties, Inc. In addition, Mr. Moran has significant experience in real estate lending, having worked at Travelers Insurance, Wells Fargo Bank, Manufacturers Hanover and Chemical Bank. Mr. Moran received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Moran should serve as a director on our board based on his familiarity with the Northern California real estate market and his experience with REITs and public companies. Mr. Moran has been designated chair of our board’s nominating and corporate governance committee.

Barry A. Porter will serve as a member of our board of directors. Mr. Porter co-founded Clarity Partners L.P. in 2000 and has served as a Managing General Partner of the partnership since then. Clarity Partners L.P. is a private equity firm focused exclusively on investments in media, communications and business services. In 2007 Mr. Porter co-founded Clarity China L.P., a private equity firm specializing in investments in growth companies in the Greater China region. He serves on the Investment Committee of that partnership, which has also invested in real estate in China. Mr. Porter serves on the board of BASE Entertainment, one of the top live

 

125


Table of Contents

entertainment businesses in Las Vegas, and will also serve on the board of Impredia, the leading Hispanic news and information company in the United States. Prior to co-founding Clarity Partners, Mr. Porter held senior executive positions at Global Crossing, a company he co-founded in 1997 that was involved in the international fiber optic telecommunications business. Before that, Mr. Porter was a Managing Director at Pacific Capital Group, a firm he joined after serving as a Senior Managing Director in the investment banking group of Bear Stearns. In addition, Mr. Porter has worked as an attorney at the Los Angeles firm of Wyman, Bautzer, Rothman, Kuchel and Silbert. He received his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated from the Wharton School of Business, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with dual majors in Finance and Political Science. Mr. Porter was selected by our board of directors to serve as a director based on his expertise in public companies, capital markets, and his accounting and financial background. Mr. Porter will be a member of our board’s compensation and our nominating and corporate governance committees.

Additional Background of Our Executive Officers

Mr. Coleman co-founded Arden in 1990 and served as President, Chief Operating Officer and Director from the time the company went public on the NYSE in 1996 until its sale in 2006. Mr. Stern, while serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Arden, oversaw the expansion of the company’s portfolio from 12 million square feet to approximately 20 million square feet and was responsible for all acquisition, disposition, development and new investment activities. As senior members of Arden’s management team, Messrs. Coleman and Stern were instrumental in helping Arden become one of the largest owners of office properties in Southern California.

Arden Realty, Inc.

Arden Realty, Inc. was a publicly traded real estate investment trust that operated just under 20 million square feet of office space in more than 220 office buildings in Southern California. Mr. Coleman co-founded Arden in 1990 as a private company, and served as its President, Chief Operating Officer and Director after taking the company public on the NYSE in 1996. Arden completed its initial public offering in October 1996 with an initial equity market capitalization of approximately $491 million. In May 2006, Arden was acquired by GE Real Estate, a division of General Electric Capital Corporation, for $4.8 billion in total enterprise value, or $45.25 per share in cash. Over the ten-year period that Arden was a publicly traded company, the portfolio grew from 4.0 million square feet of properties to 18.5 million square feet at the time of the sale.

Arden’s initial equity market capitalization of $491 million is calculated by multiplying Arden’s initial public offering price of $20.00 per share by the 21,679,500 shares sold in its initial public offering (inclusive of 2,827,000 overallotment shares) and 2,889,071 operating units. Total enterprise value of $4.8 billion represents market capitalization plus total debt and preferred equity, minus cash and cash equivalents at the time of Arden’s sale. Over the ten-year period that Arden was a public company, market capitalization increased steadily from $491 million in 1996 to $1.7 billion in 2001, decreased to $1.4 billion in 2002, and thereafter increased steadily to $3.1 billion by the time of Arden’s sale. Total enterprise value increased steadily from $583 million at the initial public offering to $3.0 billion in 2001, decreased to $2.9 billion in 2002 and thereafter increased steadily each year to $4.8 billion by the time of Arden’s sale.

An investment in the common stock of Arden at the time of its initial public offering until its sale to GE Real Estate, generated a total return to stockholders of 338% per share for each share purchased at the initial public offering price of $20 per share (assuming reinvestment of all cash dividends since the initial public offering in October 1996), significantly outperforming the 263% returned by the benchmark MSCI US REIT Index and the 120% returned by the S&P 500 over the same period. The total return calculation represents the total return performance derived from publicly available information, and demonstrates the stock price performance as well as dividends paid. We can provide no assurances, however, that Arden’s stock performance was not impacted by general market trends and other external factors unrelated to management’s performance.

 

126


Table of Contents

The MSCI US REIT Index represents approximately 85% of the publicly traded U.S. REIT market with each REIT in the index having a market capitalization of at least $100 million. It is comprised of equity REIT securities that belong to the MSCI US Investable Market 2500 Index. The MSCI US REIT Index includes only REIT securities that are of reasonable size in terms of full and free float-adjusted market capitalization to ensure that the performance of the equity REIT universe can be captured and replicated in actual institutional and retail portfolios of different sizes. The REITs that are included in the MSCI US REIT Index reflect a broad spectrum of real estate sectors, including REITs that operate in the office, retail, hotel, multifamily, industrial, healthcare and storage sectors in one or more regions of the United States or across the entire United States. We believe that the MSCI US REIT Index is an industry benchmark used by investors for purposes of comparing stock performance and stockholder returns. However, comparison of Arden’s stock performance to the performance of the MSCI US REIT Index may be limited due to the differences between Arden and the other companies represented in the MSCI US REIT Index, including with respect to size, asset type, geographic concentration and investment strategy. The information regarding total return to stockholders achieved by Arden is not a guarantee or prediction of the returns that we may achieve in the future, and we can offer no assurance that we will be able to replicate these returns.

The table below provides a comparison of Arden’s stock performance against the MSCI US REIT Index and the S&P 500, together with Arden’s net income during the same period.

Arden Total Return & Net Income Trend

 

    Year-End
12/31/2005 (1)
    Year-End
12/31/2004
    Year-End
12/31/2003
    Year-End
12/31/2002
    Year-End
12/31/2001
    Year-End
12/31/2000
    Year-End
12/31/1999
    Year-End
12/31/1998
    Year-End
12/31/1997 (2)
    10/9/96
(Inception)
to 12/31/1996
 

Total Return:

                   

Arden Realty Inc.

    25.3     32.3     47.8     (9.5 )%      13.9     35.1     (6.1 )%      (19.3 )%      18.0     40.0

RMS

    12.1     31.5     36.7     3.6     12.8     26.8     (4.6 )%      (16.9 )%      18.6     19.0

S&P 500

    4.9     10.9     28.7     (22.1 )%      (11.9 )%      (9.1 )%      21.0     28.6     33.4     7.5

Arden Net Income   ($000)

  $ 65,499      $ 73,775      $ 58,509      $ 70,175      $ 97,759      $ 96,710      $ 96,626      $ 90,675      $ 39,630      $ (5,672 ) (3)  

 

(1) Last full calendar year of operation; Arden announced sale to GE Real Estate in December 2005 and closed the sale in May 2006.
(2) First full calendar year of operation following the initial public offering.
(3) Includes $13 million in extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt.

Arden faced various adverse business developments. For example, from late 1997 to late 1999 Arden experienced a general downturn in its stock price and limited access to the capital markets, reflecting general global economic and market conditions and the weak demand for real estate investments as investors focused more heavily on the technology sector. From 2001 through 2005, Arden experienced a decline in its net income. Net income decreased from $97.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2001 to $65.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. This decrease was primarily the result of higher depreciation, which increased from $89.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2001 to $137.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, and lower occupancy levels, which began declining as of the end of 2000 from 94.4% to a low of 90.1% as of the end of 2002. These declines in occupancy levels and net income were due to reduced demand for office space, resulting primarily from adverse developments in the technology and telecommunications sectors and the resulting economic downturn. In addition, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business, Arden had properties that underperformed or failed to meet operational or financial expectations.

Corporate Governance Profile

We have structured our corporate governance in a manner we believe closely aligns our interests with those of our stockholders. Notable features of our corporate governance structure include the following:

 

   

our board of directors is not staggered, with each of our directors subject to re-election annually;

 

   

of the nine persons who will serve on our board of directors immediately after the completion of this offering, we expect our board of directors to determine that 6, or 66.7%, of our directors satisfy

 

127


Table of Contents
 

the listing standards for independence of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act;

 

   

we anticipate that at least one of our directors will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC;

 

   

we have opted out of the control share acquisition statute in the MGCL and have exempted from the business combination provisions of the MGCL any business combination that is first approved by our board of directors; and

 

   

we do not have a stockholder rights plan.

Our directors will stay informed about our business by attending meetings of our board of directors and its committees and through supplemental reports and communications. Our independent directors will meet regularly in executive sessions without the presence of our corporate officers or non-independent directors.

Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

One of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. Our board of directors administers this oversight function directly, with support from its three standing committees, the audit committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee and the compensation committee, each of which addresses risks specific to their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our audit committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken. The audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, in addition to oversight of the performance of our internal audit function. Our nominating and corporate governance committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines, including whether they are successful in preventing illegal or improper liability-creating conduct. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

Board Committees

Upon completion of this offering, our board of directors will establish three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The principal functions of each committee are briefly described below. We intend to comply with the listing requirements and other rules and regulations of the NYSE, as amended or modified from time to time, with respect to each of these committees and each of these committees will be comprised exclusively of independent directors . Additionally, our board of directors may from time to time establish certain other committees to facilitate the management of our company.

Audit Committee

Upon completion of this offering, our audit committee will consist of three of our independent directors. We expect that the chairman of our audit committee will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined by the applicable SEC regulations and NYSE corporate governance listing standards. We expect that our board of directors will determine that each of the audit committee members is “financially literate” as that term is defined by the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. Prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the audit committee, including oversight related to:

 

   

our accounting and financial reporting processes;

 

   

the integrity of our consolidated financial statements and financial reporting process;

 

   

our systems of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;

 

128


Table of Contents
   

our compliance with financial, legal and regulatory requirements;

 

   

the evaluation of the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

the performance of our internal audit function; and

 

   

our overall risk profile.

The audit committee will also be responsible for engaging an independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the plans and results of the audit engagement, approving professional services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, including all audit and non-audit services, reviewing the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, considering the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviewing the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. The audit committee also will prepare the audit committee report required by SEC regulations to be included in our annual proxy statement. Mr. Linehan has been designated as chair and Messrs. Antenucci and Glaser have been appointed as members of the audit committee.

Compensation Committee

Upon completion of this offering, our compensation committee will consist of three of our independent directors. Prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:

 

   

reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our chief executive officer’s compensation, evaluating our chief executive officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration of our chief executive officer based on such evaluation;

 

   

reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other officers;

 

   

reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

 

   

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

 

   

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

 

   

producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

 

   

reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.

Mr. Glaser has been designated as chair and Messrs. Linehan and Porter have been appointed as members of the compensation committee.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Upon completion of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of three of our independent directors. Prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to adopt a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:

 

   

identifying and recommending to the full board of directors qualified candidates for election as directors and recommending nominees for election as directors at the annual meeting of stockholders;

 

129


Table of Contents
   

developing and recommending to the board of directors corporate governance guidelines and implementing and monitoring such guidelines;

 

   

reviewing and making recommendations on matters involving the general operation of the board of directors, including board size and composition, and committee composition and structure;

 

   

recommending to the board of directors nominees for each committee of the board of directors;

 

   

annually facilitating the assessment of the board of directors’ performance as a whole and of the individual directors, as required by applicable law, regulations and the NYSE corporate governance listing standards; and

 

   

overseeing the board of directors’ evaluation of the performance of management.

Mr. Moran has been designated as chair and Messrs. Burnett and Porter have been appointed as members of the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Upon completion of this offering, our board of directors will establish a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees. Among other matters, our code of business conduct and ethics will be designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

 

   

honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

   

full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in our SEC reports and other public communications;

 

   

compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 

   

prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to appropriate persons identified in the code; and

 

   

accountability for adherence to the code of business conduct and ethics.

Any waiver of the code of business conduct and ethics for our executive officers or directors must be approved by a majority of our independent directors, and any such waiver shall be promptly disclosed as required by law or NYSE regulations.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that will obligate us to indemnify them to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law as discussed under “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws—Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability.” The indemnification agreements provide that, if a director or executive officer is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of his or her status as a director, officer, employee or agent of our company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that he or she is or was serving in such capacity at our request, we must indemnify the director or executive officer for all expenses and liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, to the maximum extent permitted under Maryland law, including in any proceeding brought by the director or executive officer to enforce his or her rights under the indemnification agreement, to the extent provided by the agreement. The indemnification agreements will also

 

130


Table of Contents

require us to advance reasonable expenses incurred by the indemnitee within ten days of the receipt by us of a statement from the indemnitee requesting the advance, provided the statement evidences the expenses and is accompanied by:

 

   

a written affirmation of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification; and

 

   

a written unsecured undertaking to reimburse us if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the director or executive officer is not entitled to indemnification.

The indemnification agreements will also provide for procedures for the determination of entitlement to indemnification, including requiring such determination be made by independent counsel after a change of control of us.

Our charter permits us, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (1) any of our present or former directors or officers who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity or (2) any individual who, while serving as our director or officer and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity, as discussed under “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws—Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability.”

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

In addition, our directors and officers may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement of our operating partnership. See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.—Exculpation and Indemnification.”

 

131


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

During 2009, because we did not conduct business, no compensation was paid to any of our named executive officers and, accordingly, no compensation policies or objectives governed our named executive officer compensation. At this time, our board of directors and our compensation committee have not yet adopted compensation policies applicable to our named executive officers, but intend to do so in the near future. We anticipate that our compensation policies will be established by our compensation committee based on factors such as the desire to retain our named executive officers’ services over the long term, aligning their interests with those of our stockholders, incentivizing them over the near, medium and long term, and rewarding them for exceptional performance, and such other factors as our compensation committee may consider in shaping its compensation philosophy. Our “named executive officers” during 2010 are expected to be Victor J. Coleman, Chief Executive Officer; Howard S. Stern, President; Mark T. Lammas, Chief Financial Officer; Christopher Barton, Executive Vice President, Operations and Development; and Dale Shimoda, Executive Vice President, Finance.

We expect that our compensation strategy will focus on providing a total compensation package that will not only attract and retain high-caliber executive officers and employees, but will also be utilized as a tool to align employee contributions with our corporate objectives and stockholder interests. We intend to provide a competitive total compensation package and will share our success with our named executive officers, as well as our other employees, when our objectives are met.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of items that we expect our compensation committee will consider in formulating our compensation philosophy and applying that philosophy to the implementation of our overall compensation program for named executive officers and other employees:

 

   

goals of the compensation program;

 

   

role of our compensation committee;

 

   

engagement and role(s) of an external compensation consultant and other advisors;

 

   

involvement of management in compensation decisions;

 

   

components of compensation, including equity, cash, incentive, fixed, short-, medium- and long-term compensation, and the interaction of these various components with one another;

 

   

equity grant guidelines with regard to timing, type, vesting and other terms and conditions of equity grants;

 

   

stock ownership guidelines and their role in aligning the interests of named executive officers with our stockholders;

 

   

severance and change of control protections;

 

   

perquisites, enhanced benefits and insurance;

 

   

deferred compensation and other tax-efficient compensation programs;

 

   

retirement and other savings programs;

 

   

peer compensation, benchmarking and survey data; and

 

   

risk mitigation and related protective and remedial measures.

Elements of Executive Officer Compensation

Set forth below is an overview of the expected initial components of our named executive officer compensation program, including annual cash compensation, equity awards and health and retirement benefits to be provided following completion of this offering.

 

132


Table of Contents

Base Salaries

As of the completion of the offering, our named executive officers will earn annualized base salaries that are commensurate with their positions and are expected to provide a steady source of income sufficient to permit these officers to focus their time and attention on their work duties and responsibilities. The expected amounts of 2010 annual base salaries for our named executive officers are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below, but may be adjusted by our compensation committee.

Cash Bonuses

Following the completion of the offering, our named executive officers will be eligible to earn discretionary annual cash bonuses for 2010 based on the attainment of specified performance objectives established by our compensation committee. Eligibility to receive these cash bonuses is expected to incentivize our named executive officers to strive to attain company and/or individual performance goals that further our interests and the interests of our stockholders. The applicable terms and conditions of the cash bonuses will be determined by our compensation committee.

Equity Awards

We expect to make grants of restricted common stock to certain of our employees, including our named executive officers, upon completion of this offering. Each named executive officer will be entitled, under the terms of an applicable employment agreement, to an initial grant of shares of restricted stock. We expect that the aggregated denominated dollar value of all such awards will be approximately $3.81 million. These restricted stock awards will vest in three equal, annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of the completion of this offering, subject to the executive’s continued employment.

The amounts and types of future awards will be in our compensation committee’s discretion, and have not yet been determined. Equity award grants are expected to incentivize and reward increases in long-term stockholder value and to align the interests of our named executive officers with the interests of our stockholders, and to encourage the retention of our named executive officers.

Retirement Savings

We expect to establish and maintain a retirement savings plan under section 401(k) of the Code to cover our eligible employees. The Code allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, which may be on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the 401(k) plan. We may match a portion of our employees’ annual contributions, within prescribed limits.

Employee Benefits

We expect that our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, will be eligible to participate in health and welfare benefit plans, which will provide medical, dental, prescription and other health and related benefits.

Additional Compensation Components

In the future, as we formulate and implement our compensation program, we may provide different and/or additional compensation components, benefits and/or perquisites to our named executive officers, to ensure that we provide a balanced and comprehensive compensation structure. We believe that it is important to maintain flexibility to adapt our compensation structure at this time to properly attract, motivate and retain the top executive talent for which we compete.

 

133


Table of Contents

Employment Agreements

We have entered into employment agreements with our named executive officers, effective upon completion of the offering, that provide for the components of compensation described above, in addition to various severance and change in control benefits and other terms and conditions of employment. We believe that the protections contained in these employment agreements will help to ensure the day-to-day stability necessary to our executives to enable them to properly focus their attention on their duties and responsibilities with the company and will provide security with regard to some of the most uncertain events relating to continued employment, thereby limiting concern and uncertainty and promoting productivity. For a description of the material terms of these employment agreements, see “—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” and “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below.

Equity Incentive Plan

We intend to adopt an equity incentive plan, which we refer to as the 2010 Plan, subject to approval by a majority of our stockholders, under which we expect to grant cash and equity incentive awards to eligible service providers in order to attract, motivate and retain the talent for which we compete. The material terms of the 2010 Plan, as it is currently contemplated, are summarized below. We are still in the process of implementing the 2010 Plan and, accordingly, this summary is subject to change prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Eligibility and Administration

Employees, consultants and directors of us, our operating partnership and our respective subsidiaries will be eligible to receive awards under the 2010 Plan. The 2010 Plan will be administered by our compensation committee, which may delegate its duties and responsibilities to subcommittees of our directors and/or officers, subject to certain limitations that may be imposed under Code Section 162(m), Section 16 of the Exchange Act and/or stock exchange rules, as applicable. Our board of directors will administer the 2010 Plan with respect to awards to non-employee directors. The plan administrator will have the authority to make all determinations and interpretations under, prescribe all forms for use with, and adopt rules for the administration of, the 2010 Plan, subject to its express terms and conditions. The plan administrator will also set the terms and conditions of all awards under the 2010 Plan, including any vesting and vesting acceleration conditions.

Limitation on Awards and Shares Available

An aggregate number of shares of our common stock equal to approximately 7.5% of our pro forma shares outstanding as of the closing of this offering will be available for issuance under awards granted pursuant to the 2010 Plan, which shares may be treasury shares, authorized but unissued shares, or shares purchased in the open market. If an award under the 2010 Plan is forfeited, expires or is settled for cash, then any shares subject to such award may, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, be used again for new grants under the 2010 Plan. However, the following shares may not be used again for grant under the 2010 Plan: (i) shares tendered or withheld to satisfy grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligations associated with an award, (ii) shares subject to a stock appreciation right, or SAR, that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SAR on its exercise, and (iii) shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of options.

Awards granted under the 2010 Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, awards authorized or outstanding under a qualifying equity plan maintained by an entity with which we enter into a merger or similar corporate transaction will not reduce the shares authorized for grant under the 2010 Plan. After a transition period that may apply following the effective date of the offering, the maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be subject to one or more awards granted to any one participant pursuant to the 2010 Plan during any calendar year is                          and the maximum amount that may be paid in cash pursuant to the 2010 Plan to any one participant during any calendar year period is ten million dollars ($10,000,000).

 

134


Table of Contents

Awards

The 2010 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including incentive stock options, or ISOs, and nonqualified stock options, or NSOs, restricted stock, dividend equivalents, stock payments, restricted stock units, or RSUs, performance shares, other incentive awards, profits interest units, SARs and cash awards. No determination has been made as to the types or amounts of awards that will be granted to specific individuals pursuant to the 2010 Plan. Certain awards under the 2010 Plan may constitute or provide for a deferral of compensation, subject to Code Section 409A, which may impose additional requirements on the terms and conditions of such awards. All awards will be set forth in award agreements, which will detail all terms and conditions of the awards, including any applicable vesting and payment terms. Awards other than cash awards will generally be settled in shares of our common stock, but the plan administrator may provide for cash settlement of any award. A brief description of each award type follows.

 

   

Stock Options . Stock options provide for the purchase of shares of our common stock in the future at an exercise price set on the grant date. ISOs, by contrast to NSOs, may provide tax deferral beyond exercise and favorable capital gains tax treatment to their holders if certain holding period and other tax Code requirements are satisfied. The exercise price of a stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share on the date of grant (or 110% in the case of ISOs granted to certain significant shareholders), except with respect to certain substitute options granted in connection with a corporate transaction. The term of a stock option may not be longer than ten years (or five years in the case of ISOs granted to certain significant shareholders). Vesting conditions determined by the plan administrator may apply to stock options and may include continued service, performance and/or other conditions.

 

   

Stock Appreciation Rights. SARs entitle their holder, upon exercise, to receive from us an amount equal to the appreciation of the shares subject to the award between the grant date and the exercise date. The exercise price of a SAR may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share on the date of grant (except with respect to certain substitute SARs granted in connection with a corporate transaction) and the term of a SAR may not be longer than ten years. Vesting conditions determined by the plan administrator may apply to SARs and may include continued service, performance and/or other conditions.

 

   

Restricted Stock, RSUs and Performance Shares . Restricted stock is an award of nontransferable shares of our common stock that remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met, and which may be subject to a purchase price. RSUs are contractual promises to deliver shares of our common stock in the future, which may also remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met. Delivery of the shares underlying these awards may be deferred under the terms of the award or at the election of the participant, if the plan administrator permits such a deferral. Performance shares are contractual rights to receive a range of shares of our common stock in the future based on the attainment of specified performance goals, in addition to other conditions which may apply to these awards. Conditions applicable to restricted stock, RSUs and performance shares may be based on continuing service with us or our affiliates, the attainment of performance goals and/or such other conditions as the plan administrator may determine.

 

   

Stock Payments , Other Incentive Awards, Profits Interest Units and Cash Awards . Stock payments are awards of fully vested shares of our common stock that may, but need not, be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to any individual who is eligible to receive awards. Other incentive awards are awards other than those enumerated in this summary that are denominated in, linked to or derived from shares of our common stock or value metrics related to our shares, and may remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met. Profits interest units are awards of units of our operating partnership intended to constitute

 

135


Table of Contents
 

“profits interests” under the tax Code, which may be convertible into shares of our common stock. Cash awards are cash incentive bonuses subject to performance goals.

 

   

Dividend Equivalents . Dividend equivalents represent the right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on shares of our common stock and may be granted alone or in tandem with awards other than stock options or SARs. Dividend equivalents are credited as of dividend payments dates during the period between the date an award is granted and the date such award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the plan administrator.

Performance Awards

Performance awards include any of the awards that are granted subject to vesting and/or payment based on the attainment of specified performance goals. The plan administrator will determine whether performance awards are intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation,” or QPBC, within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), in which case the applicable performance criteria will be selected from the list below in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 162(m).

Code Section 162(m) imposes a $1,000,000 cap on the compensation deduction that we may take in respect of compensation paid to our “covered employees” (which should include our chief executive officer and our next three most highly compensated employees other than our chief financial officer), but excludes from the calculation of amounts subject to this limitation any amounts that constitute QPBC. We do not expect Code Section 162(m) to apply to awards under the 2010 Plan until the earliest to occur of our annual shareholders’ meeting in 2014, a material modification of the 2010 Plan or exhaustion of the share supply under the 2010 Plan. However, QPBC performance criteria may be used with respect to performance awards that are not intended to constitute QPBC.

In order to constitute QPBC under Code Section 162(m), in addition to certain other requirements, the relevant amounts must be payable only upon the attainment of pre-established, objective performance goals set by our compensation committee and linked to stockholder-approved performance criteria. For purposes of the 2010 Plan, one or more of the following performance criteria will be used in setting performance goals applicable to QPBC, and may be used in setting performance goals applicable to other performance awards: (i) net earnings (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation and (D) amortization); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue; (iii) net income (either before or after taxes); (iv) adjusted net income; (v) operating earnings or profit; (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (vii) return on assets; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on stockholders’ equity; (x) total stockholder return; (xi) return on sales; (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiii) costs; (xiv) funds from operations; (xv) expenses; (xvi) working capital; (xvii) earnings per share; (xviii) adjusted earnings per share; (xix) price per share of common stock; (xx) regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product; (xxi) implementation or completion of critical projects; (xxii) market share; and (xxiii) economic value, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices. The 2010 Plan also permits the plan administrator to provide for objectively determinable adjustments to the applicable performance criteria in setting performance goals for QPBC awards.

Certain Transactions

The plan administrator has broad discretion to equitably adjust the provisions of the 2010 Plan, as well as the terms and conditions of existing and future awards, to prevent the dilution or enlargement of intended benefits and facilitate necessary or desirable changes in the event of certain transactions and events affecting our common stock, such as stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and other corporate transactions. In addition, in the event of certain non-reciprocal transactions with our shareholders known as “equity restructurings,” the plan administrator will make equitable adjustments to the 2010 Plan and outstanding

 

136


Table of Contents

awards. In the event of a change in control of our company (as defined in the 2010 Plan), the surviving entity must assume outstanding awards or substitute economically equivalent awards for such outstanding awards; however, if the surviving entity refuses to assume or substitute for all or some outstanding awards, then all such awards will vest in full and be deemed exercised (as applicable) upon the transaction. Individual award agreements may provide for additional accelerated vesting and payment provisions.

Foreign Participants, Transferability and Participant Payments

The plan administrator may modify award terms, establish subplans and/or adjust other terms and conditions of awards, subject to the share limits described above, in order to facilitate grants of awards subject to the laws and/or stock exchange rules of countries outside of the United States. With limited exceptions for estate planning, domestic relations orders, certain beneficiary designations and the laws of descent and distribution, awards under the 2010 Plan are generally non-transferable prior to vesting and are exercisable only by the participant. With regard to tax withholding, exercise price and purchase price obligations arising in connection with awards under the 2010 Plan, the plan administrator may, in its discretion, accept cash or check, shares of our common stock that meet specified conditions, a “market sell order” or such other consideration as it deems suitable.

Plan Amendment and Termination

Our board of directors may amend or terminate the 2010 Plan at any time; however, except in connection with certain changes in our capital structure, stockholder approval will be required for any amendment that increases the number of shares available under the 2010 Plan, “reprices” any stock option or SAR or cancels any stock option or SAR in exchange for cash or another award when the option or SAR price per share exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares. No award may be granted pursuant to the 2010 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date on which we adopt the 2010 Plan.

Tax Considerations

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code

Section 162(m) disallows a tax deduction for any publicly held corporation for individual compensation exceeding $1.0 million in any taxable year for our chief executive officer and each of the other named executive officers (other than our chief financial officer), unless compensation is performance based. We expect that our compensation committee will, following this offering, adhere to the principle that, where reasonably practicable, we will seek to qualify the variable compensation paid to our named executive officers for an exemption from the deductibility limitations of Section 162(m). As such, in approving the amount and form of compensation for our named executive officers in the future, our compensation committee will consider all elements of the cost to our company of providing such compensation, including the potential impact of Section 162(m). However, our compensation committee may, in its judgment, authorize compensation payments that do not comply with the exemptions in Section 162(m) when it believes that such payments are appropriate to attract and retain executive talent.

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code requires that “nonqualified deferred compensation” be deferred and paid under plans or arrangements that satisfy the requirements of the statute with respect to the timing of deferral elections, timing of payments and certain other matters. Failure to satisfy these requirements can expose employees and other service providers to accelerated income tax liabilities, penalty taxes and interest on their vested compensation under such plans. Accordingly, as a general matter, it is our intention to design and administer our compensation and benefits plans and arrangements for all of our employees and other service providers, including our named executive officers, so that they are either exempt from, or satisfy the requirements of, Section 409A.

 

137


Table of Contents

Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code

Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code disallows a tax deduction with respect to excess parachute payments to certain executives of companies which undergo a change in control. In addition, Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a 20% penalty on the individual receiving the excess payment.

Parachute payments are compensation that is linked to or triggered by a change in control and may include, but are not limited to, bonus payments, severance payments, certain fringe benefits, and payments and acceleration of vesting from long-term incentive plans including stock options and other equity-based compensation. Excess parachute payments are parachute payments that exceed a threshold determined under Section 280G based on the executive’s prior compensation. In approving the compensation arrangements for our named executive officers in the future, our compensation committee will consider all elements of the cost to our company of providing such compensation, including the potential impact of Section 280G. However, our compensation committee may, in its judgment, authorize compensation arrangements that could give rise to loss of deductibility under Section 280G and the imposition of excise taxes under Section 4999 when it believes that such arrangements are appropriate to attract and retain executive talent.

Accounting Standards

ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (referred to as ASC Topic 718 and formerly known as FASB 123R), requires us to recognize an expense for the fair value of equity-based compensation awards. Grants of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units under our equity incentive award plans will be accounted for under ASC Topic 718. Our compensation committee will regularly consider the accounting implications of significant compensation decisions, especially in connection with decisions that relate to our equity incentive award plans and programs. As accounting standards change, we may revise certain programs to appropriately align accounting expenses of our equity awards with our overall executive compensation philosophy and objectives.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Upon completion of this offering and our concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we do not anticipate that any of our executive officers will serve as a member of a board of directors or compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or compensation committee.

 

138


Table of Contents

Compensation Tables

Summary Compensation Table

We did not conduct business in 2009 and, accordingly, we did not pay any compensation to our named executive officers during or in respect of that year. Because we have no 2009 compensation to report, we are including below a Summary Compensation Table setting forth certain compensation that we expect to pay to our named executive officers during 2010 in order to provide some understanding of our expected compensation levels. While the table below accurately reflects our current expectations with respect to 2010 named executive officer compensation, actual 2010 compensation for these officers may be increased or decreased, including through the use of compensation components not currently contemplated or described herein. We expect to disclose actual 2010 compensation for our named executive officers in 2011, to the extent required by applicable SEC disclosure rules.

 

Name and Principal
Position

  Year   Salary (1)   Bonus (2)   Stock
Awards (3)
  Option
Awards
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
  Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
  All Other
Compensation
  Total (4)

Victor J. Coleman

  2010   $ 500,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     $ 500,000

Chief Executive Officer

                 

Howard S. Stern

  2010     400,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     $ 400,000

President

                 

Mark T. Lammas

  2010     300,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     $ 300,000

Chief Financial Officer

                 

Christopher Barton

  2010     300,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     $ 300,000

Executive Vice President, Operations and Development

                 

Dale Shimoda

  2010     300,000   —     —     —     —     —     —     $ 300,000

Executive Vice President, Finance

                 

 

(1) Each of our named executive officers will receive a pro-rata portion of his 2010 base salary for the period from the completion of this offering through December 31, 2010.
(2) Any bonus awards to our named executive officers will be determined in the sole discretion of our compensation committee contingent upon such factors as the compensation committee may deem appropriate.
(3) Stock awards have not yet been granted to our named executive officers but are expected to be made on or about the date of this offering. The number of shares subject to restricted stock awards is not determinable at this time, but will equal, for Messrs. Coleman, Stern, Lammas, Barton and Shimoda, a number of shares of our common stock determined by dividing $2,000,000, $910,000, $300,000, $300,000 and $300,000, respectively, by our initial offering price. These restricted stock awards will vest in three equal, annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of this offering, subject to the executive’s continued employment. These amounts will be amortized ratably over the restricted shares’ vesting period of three years.
(4) Amounts shown in this column do not include the value of restricted stock awards (described in Note 3 above) that are expected to be granted to our named executive officers in connection with the offering, but which have not yet been granted.

 

139


Table of Contents

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

We have entered into employment agreements with each of our named executive officers, effective as of the date of the closing of this offering. The following is a summary of the material terms of the agreements.

Under the agreements, Messrs. Coleman, Stern, Lammas, Barton and Shimoda will serve as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President—Operations and Development and Executive Vice President—Finance, respectively. Messrs. Coleman and Stern will report directly to the Board, while the other executives will report to our Chief Executive Officer. The initial term of the employment agreements will end on the third anniversary of the closing of this offering. On that date, the term of the employment agreements will automatically be extended for one year, unless earlier terminated. In the event that we experience a “change in control” (as defined in the 2010 Plan) during the one-year extension period, the term of the employment agreements will instead continue through the first anniversary of the consummation of the change in control. Pursuant to Messrs. Coleman and Stern’s employment agreements, during the terms of their employment, we will nominate each for election as a director.

Under the employment agreements, the executives will receive initial annual base salaries in the amounts reflected in the “Compensation Tables—Summary Compensation Table” above, which are subject to increase at the discretion of our compensation committee. In addition, the executives will each be eligible to receive an annual discretionary cash performance bonus, the amount of which will be determined based on the attainment of performance criteria established by our compensation committee. In connection with entering into the employment agreements, Messrs. Coleman, Stern, Lammas, Barton and Shimoda will each be granted a

 

140


Table of Contents

“founders” award of restricted shares of our common stock, with the number of shares determined by dividing $2,000,000, $910,000, $300,000, $300,000 and $300,000, respectively, by the initial public offering price per share of our common stock. These restricted stock awards will vest in three equal, annual installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of this offering, subject to the executive’s continued employment. In addition, the executives will be eligible to participate in customary health, welfare and fringe benefit plans, and will accrue up to four weeks of paid vacation per year.

If an executive’s employment is terminated by the company without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason” (each, as defined in the employment agreements), because the company elects not to renew the initial term of the employment agreement or by reason of the executive’s death or disability, the executive will be entitled to certain payments and benefits, as described under “—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below. The employment agreements also contain customary confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

As discussed above, we have entered into employment agreements with each of our named executive officers. Under the employment agreements, if an executive’s employment is terminated by the company without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason” (each, as defined in the employment agreements) then, in addition to accrued amounts and any earned but unpaid bonuses, the executive will be entitled to receive the following:

 

   

A lump-sum payment in an amount equal to two (or, with respect to Messrs. Coleman and Stern, three) times the sum of (i) the executive’s annual base salary then in effect, (ii) the highest annual bonus earned by the executive during the employment term (or, in the event of a termination prior to the end of the completion of the company’s first full fiscal year, an amount as determined by our compensation committee in its sole discretion, but in no event less than the executive’s base salary in effect on the termination date) and (iii) the highest value of any annual equity award(s) made to the executive during the employment term (not including the initial grant of restricted stock described above or any award(s) granted pursuant to a multi-year or long-term performance program, initial hiring or retention award or similar non-reoccurring award);

 

   

accelerated vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by the executive as of the termination date; and

 

   

company-subsidized continuation healthcare coverage for up to eighteen months after the termination date.

In the event that an executive’s employment is terminated because the company elects not to renew the initial tem of the employment agreement, then the executive will be entitled to receive the same payments and benefits described above for a termination without cause or for good reason, except that the amount of the cash severance will be multiplied by one rather than two (or, with respect to Messrs. Coleman and Stern, two rather than three). However, if such a non-renewal termination occurs upon or within twelve months after a change in control of the company, the executive will be entitled to receive the same payments and benefits described above for a termination without cause or for good reason (without reduction of the cash severance multiplier). The executive’s right to receive the severance payments and benefits described above is subject to his delivery of an effective general release of claims in favor of the company.

Under the employment agreements, upon a change in control of the company, the executives will be entitled to accelerated vesting of the executive’s initial restricted stock grant such that the restricted stock will become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

 

141


Table of Contents

Upon a termination of employment by reason of death or disability, the executive or his/her estate will be entitled to accelerated vesting of all outstanding equity awards held by the executive as of the termination date, in addition to accrued amounts and earned but unpaid bonuses.

The following table sets forth, to the extent determinable, the value of the payments and benefits that would be provided to our named executive officers upon the occurrence of a qualifying termination of employment or change in control, in each case, occurring as of the effective time of the offering. Amounts shown do not include (i) accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination, or (ii) other benefits earned or accrued by the named executive officer during his employment that are available to all salaried employees, such as accrued vacation. The amounts set forth in the table below take into account only obligations expected to exist as of the effective time of this offering. We may implement additional termination and/or change in control plans, programs or agreements subsequent to the effective time of the offering. We expect to disclose, in 2011, potential payments to our named executive officers upon a termination of employment or a change in control based on all plans, programs and agreements in effect as of December 31, 2010, to the extent required by applicable SEC disclosure rules.

Name

  

Benefit

   Company
Non-
Renewal (1)

($)
    Death or
Disability

($)
   Change  in
Control

($)
   Company Non-
Renewal After
Change in
Control or
Termination
without Cause or
for Good Reason
at any time

($)

Victor J. Coleman

             
   Cash Severance (2)    $ 2,000,000        —        —      $ 3,000,000
   Continued Health Benefits (3)      —          —        —        —  
   Equity Acceleration (4)    $ 2,000,000      $ 2,000,000    $ 2,000,000    $ 2,000,000
   Total (5)    $ 4,000,000      $ 2,000,000    $ 2,000,000    $ 5,000,000

Howard S. Stern

             
   Cash Severance (2)    $ 1,600,000        —        —      $ 2,400,000
   Continued Health Benefits (3)      —          —        —        —  
   Equity Acceleration (4)    $ 910,000      $ 910,000    $ 910,000    $ 910,000
   Total (5)    $ 2,510,000      $ 910,000    $ 910,000    $ 3,310,000

Mark T. Lammas

             
   Cash Severance (2)    $ 600,000        —        —      $ 1,200,000
   Continued Health Benefits (3)      —          —        —        —  
   Equity Acceleration (4)    $ 300,000      $ 300,000    $ 300,000    $ 300,000
   Total (5)    $ 900,000      $ 300,000    $ 300,000    $ 1,500,000

Christopher Barton

             
   Cash Severance (2)    $ 600,000        —        —      $ 1,200,000
   Continued Health Benefits (3)      —          —        —        —  
   Equity Acceleration (4)    $ 300,000      $ 300,000    $ 300,000    $ 300,000
   Total (5)    $ 900,000      $ 300,000    $ 300,000    $ 1,500,000

Dale Shimoda

             
   Cash Severance (2)    $ 600,000        —        —      $ 1,200,000
   Continued Health Benefits (3)      —          —        —        —  
   Equity Acceleration (4)    $ 300,000      $ 300,000    $ 300,000    $ 300,000
   Total (5)    $ 900,000      $ 300,000    $ 300,000    $ 1,500,000

 

142


Table of Contents

 

(1) This column describes the payments and benefits that become payable if the company elects not to renew the initial term of the agreement prior to the occurrence of a change in control.
(2) Cash severance was calculated by multiplying the applicable severance multiple (described above) by the sum of the executive’s expected 2010 base salary and minimum bonus severance multiplier ( i.e. current expected base salary) since no actual bonuses have been earned to date. No portion of any executive’s compensation is expected to consist of annual equity awards during 2010 (as opposed to initial grants associated with this offering, which are excluded from the severance calculation) and, accordingly, no value is included in the cash severance for such awards.
(3) Executives will be entitled to continued health insurance coverage under COBRA for 18 months. We have not yet implemented the benefit plans pursuant to which these benefits will be made available and, accordingly, it is not currently possible to estimate the expected value of these benefits.
(4) The value of accelerated restricted stock was calculated as the full fair market value of shares underlying the restricted stock grants on the offering date.
(5) Totals do not include the value of the continuation healthcare benefits (where applicable), which value cannot be determined at this time. If any payments described in this table would otherwise be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code by reason of the “golden parachute” rules contained in Section 280G of the Code, such payments will be reduced if and to the extent that doing so will result in net after-tax payments and benefits for the executive that are more favorable than the net after-tax payments and benefits payable to the executive in the absence of such a reduction after the imposition of the excise tax.

Director Compensation

We intend to approve and implement a compensation program for our non-employee directors that consists of annual retainer fees and long-term equity awards. Each non-employee director is expected to receive an annual base fee for his or her services of $100,000, payable in quarterly installments in conjunction with quarterly meetings of the board of directors. The annual retainer is expected to be payable 50% in cash and 50% in the form of restricted stock, with directors being permitted to elect to receive the cash portion of the annual retainer in the form of fully vested shares of our common stock. In addition, each non-employee director who serves as the chair of the audit, compensation or nominating and corporate governance committees is expected to receive an additional annual cash retainer of $15,000, $10,000 or $7,500, respectively. Directors are expected to be permitted to elect to receive up to 100% of such additional annual retainers in the form of fully vested shares as well. We anticipate that participating directors will be able to elect to receive fully vested shares currently or on a deferred basis. We intend to reimburse each of our directors for his or her travel expenses incurred in connection with his or her attendance at full board of directors and committee meetings. We have not made any payments to any of our non-employee directors or director nominees to date. Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we will grant                  restricted shares of our common stock with a grant date value of $100,000 to each of our non-employee director nominees pursuant to our 2010 Plan. These awards of restricted stock, along with any awards of restricted stock granted as part of the annual retainer or additional annual retainers for committee chairmen, are expected to vest ratably as to one-third of the shares subject to each grant on each of the first three anniversaries of the applicable grant, subject to the director’s continued service on our board of directors.

 

143


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Concurrent Private Placement

Concurrently with the completion of this offering, Mr. Coleman will purchase $2.0 million in shares of common stock and the Farallon Funds will purchase $18.0 million in shares of common stock, in each case at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. The proceeds will be contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

Contribution Agreements

Hudson Contribution Agreement

Mr. Coleman and Mr. Stern are parties to a contribution agreement, or the Hudson contribution agreement, with us and our operating partnership pursuant to which Messrs. Coleman and Stern will contribute their direct or indirect interests in a portfolio of properties and a property management business to our operating partnership in exchange for common units. See “Structure and Formation of Our Company—Formation Transactions.” Under the Hudson contribution agreement, Mr. Coleman will receive              common units and Mr. Stern will receive                  common units. The aggregate value of the common units to be issued to Mr. Coleman is $                 million and to Mr. Stern is $                 million, in each case based upon the midpoint of the pricing range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

The Hudson contribution agreement provides that we will assume or succeed to all of the contributors’ rights, obligations and responsibilities with respect to the properties and the property entities contributed. It contains representations and warranties by Messrs. Coleman and Stern to our operating partnership with respect to the condition and operations of the properties and interests to be contributed to us and certain other matters. With some exceptions, Messrs. Coleman and Stern have agreed to severally indemnify us and our operating partnership for breach of these representations and warranties under claims brought within one year of the closing of this offering, subject to a deductible equal to 1% of the aggregate total consideration received by them under the contribution agreement, and up to a maximum of 10% of their aggregate total consideration under the contribution agreement or, in the case of claims relating to a specific property, 10% of their aggregate total consideration allocable to that property under the contribution agreement. As described below under “—Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement,” the Farallon Funds have agreed to severally indemnify us and our operating partnership for breach of the property and certain entity representations and warranties made by Messrs. Coleman and Stern in the Hudson contribution agreement. Messrs. Coleman and Stern will pledge common units to our operating partnership with a value, based on the price per share of our common stock in this offering, equal to 10% of their aggregate total consideration under the contribution agreement, in order to secure their indemnity obligations, and except in limited circumstances, these units will be the sole recourse of our operating partnership against Messrs. Coleman and Stern in the case of a breach of a representation or warranty or other claim for indemnification. The Hudson contribution agreement also provides that our operating partnership will use commercially reasonable efforts to make up to $3.0 million of debt available to Messrs. Coleman and Stern, in the aggregate, to guarantee, which may assist them in deferring taxes in connection with their contributions.

The contribution of properties under the Hudson agreement is subject to customary commercial real estate prorations, whereby the buyer and seller apportion rents, taxes, utilities, escrowed or restricted funds and other operating expenses as of the closing.

Farallon Contribution Agreement

Affiliates of the Farallon Funds are party to a contribution agreement, or the Farallon contribution agreement, with us and our operating partnership pursuant to which such affiliates will contribute their direct or

 

144


Table of Contents

indirect interests in a portfolio of properties to the operating partnership in exchange for common units and shares of our common stock, which will be received by the Farallon Funds. See “Structure and Formation of Our Company—Formation Transactions.” Under the Farallon contribution agreement, the Farallon Funds will receive                  common units and                  shares of common stock. The aggregate value of the common units and common stock to be issued to the Farallon Funds is $                 million, based upon the midpoint of the pricing range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

The Farallon contribution agreement provides that we will assume or succeed to all of the contributors’ rights, obligations and responsibilities with respect to the properties and the property entities contributed. It contains representations and warranties by the Farallon Funds to our operating partnership with respect to the interests to be contributed to us and certain other matters. As described below under “—Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement,” the Farallon Funds have agreed to severally indemnify us and our operating partnership for breach of the representations and warranties made by the contributors in the Farallon contribution agreement.

In addition, the Farallon contribution agreement provides that our board of directors will grant to the Farallon excepted holders an exemption from the ownership limits, subject to various conditions and limitations. See “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

The contribution of properties under the Farallon agreement is subject to customary commercial real estate prorations, whereby the buyer and seller apportion rents, taxes, utilities, escrowed or restricted funds and other operating expenses as of the closing.

875 Howard Street Contribution Agreement

The third party that owns interests in the 875 Howard Street property is party to a contribution agreement, or the 875 Howard Street contribution agreement, with us and our operating partnership pursuant to which the third party will contribute its indirect interests in that property to the operating partnership in exchange for shares of common stock and common units with an aggregate value of $540,000 that it has directed be issued directly to certain nominees of the Farallon Funds. See “Structure and Formation of Our Company—Formation Transactions.” The 875 Howard Street contribution agreement provides that we will assume or succeed to all of the contributors’ rights, obligations and responsibilities with respect to the property and the property entities contributed. It contains representations and warranties by the contributor to our operating partnership with respect to the condition and operations of the property and interests to be contributed to us and certain other matters. As described below under “—Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement,” the Farallon Funds have agreed to severally indemnify us and our operating partnership for breach of the representations and warranties made by in the 875 Howard Street contribution agreement by the contributor. The contribution of property under the 875 Howard Street contribution agreement is subject to customary commercial real estate prorations, whereby the buyer and seller apportion rents, taxes, utilities, escrowed or restricted funds and other operating expenses as of the closing.

Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement

In connection with the formation transactions, we entered into a representation, warranty and indemnity agreement with the Farallon Funds, pursuant to which they each made limited representations and warranties to us and our operating partnership regarding their investment intent with respect to the equity securities received by them as nominees, and certain other matters. The Farallon Funds have also agreed to indemnify us and our operating partnership for breaches of such representations and warranties, in addition to the representations and warranties made by their affiliates that are the contributors in the Farallon contribution agreement, the representations and warranties in the 875 Howard Street contribution agreement made by the third party that owns interests in such property, and certain representations and warranties of Messrs. Coleman and Stern in the Hudson contribution agreement. Such indemnification is limited to claims made within one year of the closing of

 

145


Table of Contents

this offering and is subject to a deductible equal to 1% of the aggregate total consideration received by the Farallon Funds under the Farallon contribution agreement, and to a maximum, in the case of each Farallon Fund, of 10% of that Farallon Fund’s aggregate total consideration under the Farallon and 875 Howard Street contribution agreements or, in the case of claims relating to a specific property, 10% of that Farallon Fund’s aggregate total consideration allocable to that property under the Farallon and 875 Howard Street contribution agreements. The Farallon Funds will pledge common units and common stock to our operating partnership with a value, based on the price per share of our common stock in this offering, equal to 10% of their aggregate total consideration under the contribution agreement, in order to secure their indemnity obligations, and except in limited circumstances, these units and shares will be the sole recourse of our operating partnership in the case of a breach of a representation or warranty or other claim for indemnification under the Farallon and 875 Howard Street contribution agreements, and, together with our recourse against Messrs. Coleman and Stern under the Hudson contribution agreement in the case of a breach of a representation or warranty or other claim for indemnification under that agreement, will constitute our operating partnership’s sole recourse for claims of indemnification under the contribution agreements.

Pursuant to a separate agreement between Messrs. Coleman and Stern, on the one hand, and the Farallon Funds, on the other, Messrs. Coleman and Stern have agreed to indemnify the Farallon Funds for certain losses incurred by the Farallon Funds for claims arising under the Hudson contribution agreement, subject to a maximum equal to the aggregate total consideration received by Messrs. Coleman and Stern in respect of their indirect interests in the property entities that own each of the Sunset Gower property, the Technicolor Building, the Sunset Bronson property and the City Plaza property.

Partnership Agreement

Prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into an amended and restated partnership agreement with the various limited partners of our operating partnership, including the Farallon Funds. Pursuant to the partnership agreement, persons holding common units as a result of the formation transactions will have rights beginning 14 months after the completion of this offering to cause our operating partnership to redeem their common units for cash equal to the then-current market value of one share of common stock, or, at our election, to exchange their common units for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances described in the partnership agreement. The partnership agreement also provides for redemption, conversion, exchange and other rights with respect to our series A preferred units. See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.—Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units.”

Registration Rights

We have entered into a registration rights agreement with the various persons receiving shares of our common stock and/or common units in the formation transactions or pursuant to the concurrent private placement, including the Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of our executive officers. Under the registration rights agreement, subject to certain limitations, commencing not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, we will file one or more registration statements covering the resale of the shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement, and the resale of the shares of our common stock issued or issuable, at our option, in exchange for operating partnership units issued in the formation transactions. We may, at our option, satisfy our obligation to prepare and file a resale registration statement by filing a registration statement registering the issuance by us of shares of our common stock registered under the Securities Act to the holders of units upon redemption of such units and, to the extent such shares constitute restricted securities, their resale. Commencing on the date that is 180 days following completion of this offering, the Farallon Funds have the right, on one occasion, to require us to register shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement for resale in an underwritten offering registered pursuant to the Securities Act; provided, such registration shall be limited to a number of shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our

 

146


Table of Contents

common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds and their affiliates in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement. Commencing upon our filing of a resale registration statement not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, under certain circumstances, we are also required to undertake an underwritten offering upon the written request of holders of at least 10% in the aggregate of the securities originally issued in the formation transactions, provided that we are not obligated to effect more than two such underwritten offerings in addition to the demand registration. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale—Registration Rights.”

Acquisition of Certain Properties by Hudson Capital and the Farallon Funds Prior to the Formation Transactions

Through various transactions during the two years prior to this offering and the formation transactions, Hudson Capital, LLC and affiliates of the Farallon Funds acquired the City Plaza property for an aggregate net purchase price paid of $53.3 million (before closing costs and prorations), after acquiring the mortgage on the property for $69.3 million and receiving a $1.3 million loan paydown from the original borrower along with a transfer of $14.7 million from existing loan reserves.

Employment Agreements

We have entered into employment agreements with our executive officers that will take effect upon the completion of this offering. The material terms of the employment agreements with our named executive officers are described under “Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” and “Executive Compensation—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Indemnification of Officers and Directors

We expect to enter into an indemnification agreement with each of our executive officers and directors as described in “Management—Limitation of Liability and Indemnification.”

Reimbursement of Pre-closing Transaction Costs

From time to time prior to this offering, Hudson Capital, LLC, the Farallon Funds and certain other contributors have advanced an aggregate of $             to pay organizational and other similar expenses that we incurred in connection with this offering and the formation transactions. These funds were advanced with the understanding that they would be repaid out of the proceeds of a completed public offering. Accordingly, upon consummation of this offering, we will repay $             of such advances to Hudson Capital, LLC and $             of such advances to the Farallon Funds. The remaining $             of such advances will be repaid to unaffiliated third parties.

 

147


Table of Contents

POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES

The following is a discussion of certain of our investment, financing and other policies. These policies have been determined by our board of directors and, in general, may be amended or revised from time to time by our board of directors without a vote of our stockholders.

Investment Policies

Investments in Real Estate or Interests in Real Estate

We will conduct all of our investment activities through our operating partnership and its subsidiaries. Our investment objectives are to maximize the cash flow of our properties, acquire properties with cash flow growth potential, provide quarterly cash distributions and achieve long-term capital appreciation for our stockholders through increases in the value of our company. We have not established a specific policy regarding the relative priority of these investment objectives. For a discussion of our properties and our acquisition and other strategic objectives, see “Business and Properties.”

We expect to pursue our investment objectives primarily through the ownership by our operating partnership of our existing properties and other acquired properties and assets. We currently intend to invest primarily in office and media and entertainment properties. While we may diversify in terms of property locations, size and market, we do not have any limit on the amount or percentage of our assets that may be invested in any one property or any one geographic area. We intend to engage in such future investment activities in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. In addition, we may purchase or lease income-producing office or other types of properties for long-term investment, expand and improve the properties we presently own or other acquired properties, or sell such properties, in whole or in part, when circumstances warrant.

We may also participate with third parties in property ownership, through joint ventures or other types of co-ownership. These types of investments may permit us to own interests in larger assets without unduly restricting our diversification and, therefore, provide us with flexibility in structuring our initial portfolio. We will not, however, enter into a joint venture or other partnership arrangement to make an investment that would not otherwise meet our investment policies.

Equity investments in acquired properties may be subject to existing mortgage financing and other indebtedness or to new indebtedness which may be incurred in connection with acquiring or refinancing these properties. Debt service on such financing or indebtedness will have a priority over any dividends with respect to our common stock. Investments are also subject to our policy not to be treated as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act.

Investments in Real Estate Mortgages

While our initial portfolio consists of, and our business objectives emphasize, equity investments in office and media and entertainment properties, we may, at the discretion of our board of directors and without a vote of our stockholders, invest in mortgages and other types of real estate interests in a manner that is consistent with our qualification as a REIT. We do not presently intend to invest in mortgages or deeds of trust, but may invest in participating or convertible mortgages if we conclude that we may benefit from the gross revenues or any appreciation in value of the property. If we choose to invest in mortgages, we would expect to invest in mortgages secured by office or media and entertainment-related properties. However, there is no restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in a type of mortgage or any single mortgage or type of mortgage loan. Investments in real estate mortgages run the risk that one or more borrowers may default under the mortgages and that the collateral securing those mortgages may not be sufficient to enable us to recoup our full investment.

 

148


Table of Contents

Securities of or Interests in Persons Primarily Engaged in Real Estate Activities and Other Issuers

Subject to the percentage of ownership limitations and the income and asset tests necessary for REIT qualification, we may invest in securities of other REITs, other entities engaged in real estate activities or securities of other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities. We will limit our investment in such securities so that we will not fall within the definition of an “investment company” under the 1940 Act.

Investments in Other Securities

Other than as described above, we do not intend to invest in any additional securities such as bonds, preferred stocks or common stock.

Dispositions

We do not currently intend to dispose of any of our properties, although we reserve the right to do so if, based upon management’s periodic review of our initial portfolio, our board of directors determines that such action would be in our best interest and consistent with our qualification as a REIT.

Financings and Leverage Policy

We anticipate using a number of different sources to finance our acquisitions and operations, including cash flows from operations, asset sales, seller financing, issuance of debt securities, private financings (such as additional bank credit facilities, which may or may not be secured by our assets), property-level mortgage debt, common or preferred equity issuances or any combination of these sources, to the extent available to us, or other sources that may become available from time to time. Any debt that we incur may be recourse or non-recourse and may be secured or unsecured. We also may take advantage of joint venture or other partnering opportunities as such opportunities arise in order to acquire properties that would otherwise be unavailable to us. We may use the proceeds of our borrowings to acquire assets, to refinance existing debt or for general corporate purposes.

Although we are not required to maintain any particular leverage ratio, we intend, when appropriate, to employ prudent amounts of leverage and to use debt as a means of providing additional funds for the acquisition of assets, to refinance existing debt or for general corporate purposes. We expect to use leverage conservatively, assessing the appropriateness of new equity or debt capital based on market conditions, including prudent assumptions regarding future cash flow, the creditworthiness of tenants and future rental rates, with the ultimate objective of becoming an issuer of investment grade debt. Our charter and bylaws do not limit the amount of debt that we may incur. Although our board of directors has not adopted a policy limiting the total amount of debt that we may incur, we intend upon full deployment of the net proceeds of this offering and utilization of our secured credit facility to target a ratio of debt to total assets of 40-45% based on the cost of our assets. We intend to target a limit on our floating rate debt of no more than 20% of outstanding debt through fixed rate borrowing or interest rate hedges.

Our board of directors will consider a number of factors in evaluating the amount of debt that we may incur. Our board of directors may from time to time modify its views regarding the appropriate amount of debt financing in light of then-current economic conditions, relative costs of debt and equity capital, market values of our properties, general conditions in the market for debt and equity securities, fluctuations in the market price of our common stock, growth and acquisition opportunities and other factors. Our decision to use leverage in the future to finance our assets will be at our discretion and will not be subject to the approval of our stockholders.

Lending Policies

We have not made any loans to third parties, although we do not have a policy limiting our ability to make loans to other persons. We may consider offering purchase money financing in connection with the sale of

 

149


Table of Contents

properties where the provision of that financing will increase the value to be received by us for the property sold. We also may make loans to joint ventures in which we participate. However, we do not intend to engage in significant lending activities. Any loan we make will be consistent with maintaining our status as a REIT.

Equity Capital Policies

To the extent that our board of directors determines to obtain additional capital, we may issue debt or equity securities, including additional units and senior securities, retain earnings (subject to provisions in the Code requiring distributions of income to maintain REIT qualification) or pursue a combination of these methods. As long as our operating partnership is in existence, the proceeds of all equity capital raised by us generally will be contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for additional interests in our operating partnership, which will dilute the ownership interests of the limited partners in our operating partnership.

Existing stockholders will have no preemptive right to common or preferred stock or units issued in any securities offering by us, and any such offering might cause a dilution of a stockholder’s investment in us. Although we have no current plans to do so, we may in the future issue shares of common stock or units in connection with acquisitions of property.

We may, under certain circumstances, purchase shares of our common stock or other securities in the open market or in private transactions with our stockholders, provided that those purchases are approved by our board of directors. Our board of directors has no present intention of causing us to repurchase any shares of our common stock or other securities, and any such action would only be taken in conformity with applicable federal and state laws and the applicable requirements for qualification as a REIT.

Conflict of Interest Policies

Overview. Conflicts of interest could arise in the future as a result of the relationships between us and our affiliates, on the one hand, and our operating partnership or any partner thereof, on the other. Our directors and officers have duties to our company under applicable Maryland law in connection with their management of our company. At the same time, we, as the general partner of our operating partnership, have fiduciary duties and obligations to our operating partnership and its limited partners under Maryland law in connection with the management of our operating partnership. Our fiduciary duties and obligations as general partner to our operating partnership and its partners, may come into conflict with the duties of our directors and officers to our company.

Under Maryland law, the general partner of a Maryland limited partnership has fiduciary duties of loyalty and care to the partnership and its partners and an obligation to discharge its duties and exercise its rights as general partner under the partnership agreement or Maryland law consistently with the obligation of good faith and fair dealing. The duty of loyalty requires a general partner of a Maryland general partnership to account to the partnership and hold as trustee for it any property, profit, or benefit derived by the general partner in the conduct of the partnership business or derived from a use by the general partner of partnership property, including the appropriation of a partnership opportunity, to refrain from dealing with the partnership in the conduct or winding up of the partnership business as or on behalf of a party having an interest adverse to the partnership and to refrain from competing with the partnership in the conduct of the partnership business, although the partnership agreement may identify specific types or categories of activities that do not violate the duty of loyalty. Our operating partnership agreement provides that we, in our capacity as general partner of our operating partnership, are under no obligation not to give priority to our separate interests or those of our stockholders. The partnership agreement also provides that any action or failure to act by us or our directors that gives priority to the separate interests of our company or our stockholders that does not result in a violation of the contract rights of the limited partners of our operating partnership does not violate the duty of loyalty that we owe in our capacity as the general partner of our operating partnership to the operating partnership or its partners. The duty of care requires a general partner to refrain from engaging in grossly negligent or reckless conduct,

 

150


Table of Contents

intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, and this duty may not be unreasonably reduced by the partnership agreement.

The partnership agreement provides that neither we, as the general partner of the operating partnership, nor any of our directors or officers, will be liable or accountable in damages or otherwise to our operating partnership, the limited partners or assignees for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment, mistakes of fact or law or for any act or omission if we, or such director or officer, acted in good faith. The partnership agreement also provides that we will not be liable to the operating partnership or any partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the operating partnership or any limited partner, except for liability for our intentional harm or gross negligence. In addition, the partnership agreement provides that our operating partnership must indemnify us, each of our directors, officers and employees, and any other person designated by us, against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (whether joint or several), expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the operating partnership, except (1) if the act or omission of such person was material to the matter giving rise to the action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) for any transaction for which such person received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or otherwise, in violation or breach of any provision of the partnership agreement, or (3) in the case of a criminal proceeding, if the person had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful.

No reported decision of a Maryland appellate court has interpreted provisions similar to the provisions of the partnership agreement of our operating partnership that modify or reduce the fiduciary duties and obligations of a general partner or reduce or eliminate our liability for money damages to the operating partnership and its partners, and we have not obtained an opinion of counsel as to the enforceability of the provisions set forth in the partnership agreement that purport to modify or reduce our fiduciary duties that would be in effect were it not for the partnership agreement.

Policies Applicable to All Directors and Officers. We will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics that seeks to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest between our employees, officers and directors and our company. However, we cannot assure you that these policies or provisions of law will always be successful in eliminating or minimizing the influence of such conflicts, and if they are not successful, decisions could be made that might fail to reflect fully the interests of stockholders.

Interested Director and Officer Transactions

Pursuant to the MGCL, a contract or other transaction between us and a director or between us and any other corporation or other entity in which any of our directors is a director or has a material financial interest is not void or voidable solely on the grounds of such common directorship or interest, the presence of such director at the meeting at which the contract or transaction is authorized, approved or ratified or the counting of the director’s vote in favor thereof, provided that:

 

   

the fact of the common directorship or interest is disclosed or known to our board of directors or a committee of our board, and our board or such committee authorizes, approves or ratifies the transaction or contract by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested directors, even if the disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum;

 

   

the fact of the common directorship or interest is disclosed or known to our stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the transaction or contract is authorized, approved or ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote other than the votes of shares owned of record or beneficially by the interested director or corporation, firm or other entity; or

 

151


Table of Contents
   

the transaction or contract is fair and reasonable to us at the time it is authorized, ratified or approved.

Furthermore, under Maryland law (where our operating partnership is formed), we, as general partner, have fiduciary duties and obligations to our operating partnership and its partners and, consequently, such transactions also are subject to the fiduciary duties of care and loyalty and the obligation of good faith and fair dealing that we, as general partner, owe to the operating partnership and its limited partners (to the extent such duties have not been modified or reduced pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement). We will adopt a policy which requires that all contracts and transactions between us, our operating partnership or any of our subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of our directors or executive officers or any entity in which such director or executive officer is a director or has a material financial interest, on the other hand, must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors even if less than a quorum. Where appropriate, in the judgment of the disinterested directors, our board of directors may obtain a fairness opinion or engage independent counsel to represent the interests of non-affiliated security holders, although our board of directors will have no obligation to do so.

Policies With Respect To Other Activities

We will have authority to offer common stock, preferred stock or options to purchase stock, or units convertible into common stock, in exchange for property and to repurchase or otherwise acquire our common stock or other securities in the open market or otherwise, and we may engage in such activities in the future. As described in “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.,” we expect, but are not obligated, to issue common stock to holders of units upon exercise of their redemption rights. Except in connection with the concurrent private placement and formation transactions, we have not issued common stock, units or any other securities in exchange for property or any other purpose, and our board of directors has no present intention of causing us to repurchase any common stock. Our board of directors has the authority, without further stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock or preferred stock and to authorize us to issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock, in one or more series, including senior securities, in any manner, and on the terms and for the consideration, it deems appropriate. See “Description of Stock.” We have not engaged in trading, underwriting or agency distribution or sale of securities of other issuers other than our operating partnership and do not intend to do so. At all times, we intend to make investments in such a manner as to qualify as a REIT, unless because of circumstances or changes in the Code, or the Treasury Regulations, our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to qualify as a REIT. In addition, we intend to make investments in such a way that we will not be treated as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

Reporting Policies

We intend to make available to our stockholders our annual reports, including our audited financial statements. After this offering, we will become subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Pursuant to those requirements, we will be required to file annual and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information, including audited financial statements, with the SEC.

 

152


Table of Contents

STRUCTURE AND FORMATION OF OUR COMPANY

Our Operating Entities

Our Operating Partnership

Following the completion of this offering and the formation transactions, our operating partnership will, directly or indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries, hold substantially all of our assets and conduct substantially all of our operations. We will contribute the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placement to our operating partnership in exchange for common units in our operating partnership. Subject to the preferred rights of holders of series A preferred units and any other class or series of units that our operating partnership may issue in the future, our interest in our operating partnership will entitle us to share in cash distributions from, and allocations of profits and losses of, our operating partnership in proportion to our percentage ownership of common units. As the sole general partner of our operating partnership, we will generally have the exclusive power under the partnership agreement to manage and conduct its business, subject to limited approval and voting rights of the limited partners described more fully below in “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.” Our board of directors will manage the business and affairs of our company by directing the business and affairs of our operating partnership.

Beginning on or after the date that is 14 months after the consummation of this offering, limited partners of our operating partnership and certain qualifying assignees of limited partners will have the right to require our operating partnership to redeem part or all of their outstanding common units for cash, or, at our election, shares of our common stock, based upon the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of our common stock at the time of the redemption, subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter and described under the section entitled “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” Beginning on or after the date that is three years after the consummation of this offering, the limited partners of our operating partnership holding series A preferred units and certain qualifying assignees of such limited partners will also have the right to either (i) convert up to approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) in aggregate liquidation preference of their outstanding series A preferred units into common units with an equivalent value (valuing each common unit to be received at the fair market value of a share of our common stock at the time of conversion), or (ii) require our operating partnership to redeem such series A preferred units or, at our option, exchange them for registered shares of our common stock with a value equal to the redemption price (valuing each share of common stock to be received at the fair market value of such share at the time of redemption), subject to the applicable restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter. With each redemption of units, we will increase our percentage ownership interest in our operating partnership and our share of our operating partnership’s cash distributions and profits and losses. See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.”

Our Services Company

As part of our formation transactions, we formed Hudson Pacific Services, Inc., or our services company, a Maryland corporation that is wholly owned by our operating partnership. We will elect with our services company to treat it as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes. Our services company generally may provide non-customary and other services to our tenants and engage in activities that we may not engage in directly without adversely affecting our qualification as a REIT. We anticipate that our services company will provide a number of services to certain tenants at our media and entertainment properties or other properties. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Our Company—Income Tests.” In addition, our operating partnership may contribute some or all of its interests in certain wholly owned subsidiaries or their assets to our services company. We also anticipate that we will lease space to our services company at one or more of our media and entertainment properties. We may form additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. Any income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries will not be included in our taxable income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests, except to the extent such income is distributed to us as a dividend, in which

 

153


Table of Contents

case such dividend income will qualify under the 95%, but not the 75%, gross income test. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Our Company—Income Tests.” Because a taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal income tax, and state and local income tax (where applicable) as a regular corporation, the income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries generally will be subject to an additional level of tax as compared to the income earned by our other subsidiaries.

Formation Transactions

Each property that will be owned by us, directly by our operating partnership or indirectly by one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, upon the completion of this offering is currently owned by a partnership or limited liability company, or property entity, in which Hudson Capital, LLC, the Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and/or other third parties own a direct or indirect interest.

Prior to or concurrently with the completion of this offering, we will engage in the formation transactions described below, which are designed to consolidate our asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement, construction, acquisition and financing business into our operating partnership; consolidate the ownership of a portfolio of office and media and entertainment properties, together with certain other real estate assets, into our operating partnership and one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries; facilitate this offering; enable us to raise necessary capital to repay existing indebtedness related to certain properties in our portfolio; enable us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010; and preserve the tax position of certain continuing investors.

Pursuant to the formation transactions, the following have occurred or will occur concurrently with or prior to the completion of this offering. All monetary amounts are based on the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:

 

   

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. was formed as a Maryland corporation on November 9, 2009. We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010.

 

   

Our operating partnership was formed as a Maryland limited partnership on January 15, 2010.

 

   

Our services company was formed as a Maryland corporation on February 12, 2010. We will elect with our services company to treat it as a taxable REIT subsidiary for federal income tax purposes.

 

   

We will sell                  shares of our common stock in this offering and                  additional shares if the underwriters exercise their overallotment option in full, and we will contribute the net proceeds from this offering to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

 

   

Pursuant to separate contribution agreements, each dated as of February 15, 2010, our operating partnership will, directly or indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries, acquire a 100% ownership interest in the entities that own all of our initial properties (other than the Del Amo Office property) in exchange for shares of our common stock in our company, common units, series A preferred units and/or cash, as set forth in greater detail below:

 

   

Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern will contribute to our operating partnership their entire interests in Hudson Capital, LLC in exchange for (i) common units with a value of $9.0 million and (ii) an additional                  common units, subject to prorations. Hudson Capital, LLC owns (i) an approximate 1.6% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Gower property and the Technicolor Building, (ii) an approximate 1.0% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Bronson property, and (iii) an approximate 0.9% interest in the property entity that owns the City Plaza property, and is the entity through which our predecessor carried

 

154


Table of Contents
 

on the property management business that we will continue after the consummation of this offering. For so long as either Mr. Coleman or Mr. Stern is a partner in our operating partnership, our operating partnership has committed to use commercially reasonable efforts to make available to them, upon their request, an opportunity to guarantee, on a “bottom-dollar” basis or otherwise, up to $3.0 million, in the aggregate, of debt of the operating partnership or any of its subsidiaries; provided, however, that the operating partnership will not be required to incur any indebtedness that it would not otherwise have incurred.

 

   

In exchange for their contribution to our operating partnership of the property entities that own 100% of the First Financial and Tierrasanta properties, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of its limited partners will receive series A preferred units with an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations), common units with an aggregate value of approximately $3.8 million, and approximately $7.2 million in cash. In connection with this contribution, our operating partnership will make up to approximately $55.1 million (and, under certain circumstances, up to approximately $70.0 million) of debt available for guarantee by the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership or certain of its owners, which may assist the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership or such owners in deferring taxes in connection with the formation transactions. In addition, pursuant to a tax protection agreement, we have agreed to make certain tax indemnity payments if we dispose of any interest with respect to such properties in a taxable transaction during the period from the closing of the offering through certain specified dates ranging from 2017 to 2027.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution to our operating partnership of (i) their approximate 98.4% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Gower property and the Technicolor Building, (ii) their approximate 99.0% interest in the property entity that owns the Sunset Bronson property, (iii) their approximate 99.1% interest in the property entity that owns the City Plaza property, and (iv) their approximate 94.0% interest in the property entity that owns the 875 Howard Street property, the Farallon Funds, as nominees of the contributors, will receive              shares of our common stock and              common units, with an aggregate value of $                 million, subject to prorations.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution to our operating partnership of its interests in the entity that owns the 875 Howard Street property, the Farallon Funds, as the nominees of the third party that owns the remaining interests in such entity, will receive common stock and common units with a value of $0.5 million.

 

   

The current management team of Hudson Capital, LLC will become our executive management team, and the current employees of Hudson Capital, LLC will become our employees.

 

   

Our operating partnership will use a portion of the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement to repay (i) in full $115.0 million of mortgaged indebtedness secured by the Sunset Gower and Technicolor Building properties and (ii) in full approximately $39.0 million of mortgage indebtedness secured by the 875 Howard Street property. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

   

Each of the contributors in our formation transactions that has entered into a contribution agreement, and each other recipient of cash or equity consideration has entered into a representation, warranty and indemnity agreement. These agreements provide for limited representations and warranties by the respective contributors or their nominees regarding the entities and assets being contributed in the formation transactions, and entitle us and our operating partnership to indemnification for breaches of those representations and warranties on a several but not joint basis by each contributor or its nominee. Such indemnification is subject to a deductible in an amount equal to 1% of the total consideration paid by us and our operating partnership in the

 

155


Table of Contents
 

formation transactions to such contributor or its nominee, and is capped at a maximum of 10% of their aggregate total consideration received by them under their respective contribution agreement. As credit support for potential indemnification claims, we have received from the several contributors or their nominees a lien and security interest in a number of shares of common stock and common units having an aggregate value equal to 10% of the total consideration paid by us and our operating partnership in the formation transactions, based on the price per share of common stock in the initial public offering. The number of pledged shares and units will be fixed as of the closing of this offering, and accordingly will not increase in the event the trading price of our common stock drops below the initial public offering price. The pledged collateral will be released on the one-year anniversary of the closing of this offering to the extent that claims have not been made against the outstanding collateral. If any claim for indemnification is made by us against a contributor or its nominee within such one year period, all or a portion of the shares and units pledged by such contributor or its nominee will be held by us until resolution of such claim, at which time any amounts not used to satisfy such claim will be returned to such contributor or nominee, as applicable.

In addition, following completion of this offering, our operating partnership or a subsidiary of our operating partnership will acquire, directly or indirectly through a wholly owned subsidiary, a 100% ownership interest in the Del Amo Office property ground subleasehold and improvements interest for $27.5 million in cash. The Farallon Funds will receive $             million of this cash in their capacity as indirect owners of the limited partners of the entity that owns the Del Amo Office property subleasehold interest and improvements. The acquisition of the Del Amo Office property is subject to conditions that could prevent or delay our acquisition of the property. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”

Concurrent Private Placement

Concurrently with the completion of this offering, Mr. Coleman and the Farallon Funds will purchase $20.0 million in shares of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. The proceeds will be contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

Benefits of the Formation Transactions and Concurrent Private Placement to Related Parties

In connection with this offering, the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement, the Farallon Funds and certain of our executive officers and directors will receive material benefits, including the following. Amounts below are based on the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

Victor J. Coleman

 

   

Mr. Coleman, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will purchase $2.0 million in shares of our common stock in the concurrent private placement at a price equal to the initial public offering price.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution of his interest in Hudson Capital, LLC (in which he holds a 65% ownership interest), Mr. Coleman will receive (i) common units with a value of approximately $5.8 million and (ii) an additional              common units. As a result, Mr. Coleman will own     % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, or     % on a fully diluted basis if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full.

 

   

In connection with Mr. Coleman’s contribution, our operating partnership is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to make up to $3.0 million of indebtedness of our operating partnership (or a subsidiary thereof) available to Mr. Coleman and Mr. Stern together for guarantee, which may allow Mr. Coleman to defer the recognition of gain in connection with the formation transactions.

 

156


Table of Contents

Howard S. Stern

 

   

In exchange for the contribution of his interest in Hudson Capital, LLC (in which he holds a 35% ownership interest), Mr. Stern, our President and one of our directors, will receive (i) common units with a value of approximately $3.2 million and (ii) an additional              common units. As a result, Mr. Stern will own     % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, or     % on a fully diluted basis if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full.

 

   

In connection with his contribution, our operating partnership is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to make up to $3.0 million of indebtedness of our operating partnership (or a subsidiary thereof) available to Mr. Stern and Mr. Coleman together for guarantee, which may allow Mr. Stern to defer the recognition of gain in connection with the formation transactions.

Richard B. Fried and The Farallon Funds

 

   

Richard B. Fried, a Managing Member and co-head of the real estate group at Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., will serve as one of our directors, based on an agreement entered into in connection with the formation transactions.

 

   

The Farallon Funds will purchase $18.0 million in shares of our common stock in the concurrent private placement at a price equal to the initial public offering price.

 

   

In exchange for the contribution by affiliates of the Farallon Funds of their interests in the property entities that own each of the Sunset Gower property, the Technicolor Building, the Sunset Bronson property, the City Plaza property and the 875 Howard Street property, the Farallon Funds will receive (i)              shares of our common stock, (ii)              common units and (iii) $             in cash. As a result, the Farallon Funds will own     % of our outstanding common stock,     % of our outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, or     % on a fully diluted basis if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full. In addition, the Farallon Funds, as nominees of the third party that owns the remaining interests in the 875 Howard Street property, will receive common stock and common units with a value of $0.5 million.

 

   

Our board of directors will grant to certain Farallon Funds and certain of their affiliates, which we refer to collectively as the Farallon excepted holders, an exception to the ownership limits in our charter that will allow them, during the time that such exception is effective, to own shares in excess of the ownership limits, subject to various conditions and limitations, as described under “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

Employment Agreements

We have entered into employment agreements with our executive officers that will become effective as of the closing of this offering, which provide for salary, bonus and other benefits, including accelerated equity vesting upon a change in control and severance upon a termination of employment under certain circumstances, as described under “Executive Compensation—Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” and “Executive Compensation—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Indemnification Agreements

We also expect to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers at the closing of this offering, providing for procedures for indemnification by us to the fullest extent permitted by law and advancements by us of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits or proceedings arising from their service to us as officers or directors.

 

157


Table of Contents

Registration Rights Agreement

We have entered into a registration rights agreement with the various persons receiving shares of our common stock and/or common units in the formation transactions or the concurrent private placement, including the Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of our executive officers. Under the registration rights agreement, subject to certain limitations, commencing not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, we will file one or more registration statements covering the resale of the shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement, and the resale of the shares of our common stock issued or issuable, at our option, in exchange for common units issued in the formation transactions. We may, at our option, satisfy our obligation to prepare and file a resale registration statement by filing a registration statement registering the issuance by us of shares of our common stock registered under the Securities Act to the holders of units upon redemption of such units and, to the extent such shares constitute restricted securities, their resale. Commencing on the date that is 180 days following completion of this offering, the Farallon Funds have the right, on one occasion, to require us to register shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement for resale in an underwritten offering registered pursuant to the Securities Act; provided, such registration shall be limited to a number of shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds and their affiliates in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement. Commencing upon our filing of a resale registration statement not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, under certain circumstances, we are also required to undertake an underwritten offering upon the written request of holders of at least 10% in the aggregate of the securities originally issued in the formation transactions, provided that we are not obligated to effect more than two such underwritten offerings in addition to the demand registration.

Tax Protection Agreement

In connection with the contribution of the Tierrasanta and First Financial properties (which we refer to as the protected properties) to our operating partnership, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of its partners (collectively, the protected partners) will enter into a tax protection agreement with our operating partnership. Pursuant to such agreement, our operating partnership will be required to indemnify the protected partners for certain tax liabilities (including tax liabilities incurred as a result of the indemnity payments) they incur in the event our operating partnership directly or indirectly sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of (whether by way of merger, sale of assets or otherwise) in a taxable transaction any interest in either of the protected properties during the period from the closing of the offering through certain specified dates until 2027, which we refer to as the protected period. Certain partners’ rights under the tax protection agreement with respect to the protected properties will, however, expire at various times (depending on the rights of such partner) during the period beginning in 2017 and prior to the end of the protected period. The calculation of amounts due to any partner as a result of this indemnity obligation will not be based on the time value of money or the time remaining within the protected period. The protected properties represented 34.3% of our initial office portfolio’s annualized rent as of March 31, 2010.

These tax indemnities do not apply to the disposition of a restricted property pursuant to:

 

   

any transaction with respect to a protected property that qualifies as a tax-free like-kind exchange under Code Section 1031 or a tax-free contribution under Code Section 721, which would not result in the allocation of taxable income or gain to any protected partner or its indirect owners with respect to the units it receives in connection with such contribution, or

 

   

the condemnation or other taking of a protected property by a governmental entity in an eminent domain proceeding or otherwise.

In the event of a transaction described in the second bullet point above, our operating partnership has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to structure such disposition as either a tax-free like-kind exchange under Code Section 1031 or a tax-free reinvestment of proceeds under Code Section 1033, provided that our operating partnership is not obligated to acquire or invest in any property that it otherwise would not have acquired or invested in.

 

158


Table of Contents

In addition, under this contribution agreement, our operating partnership has agreed to make up to approximately $55.1 million (or, under certain circumstances, up to approximately $70.0 million) of indebtedness of our operating partnership (or a subsidiary thereof) available to certain protected partners to guarantee during the protected period, which is intended to allow them to defer recognition of gain in connection with the formation transactions. In the event that our operating partnership fails to make this guarantee opportunity available, it will be required to indemnify the protected partners for certain resulting tax liabilities (including tax liabilities incurred as a result of the indemnity payments). Any such indemnification obligation will be calculated in a manner similar to that described above with respect to our operating partnership’s obligation not to sell the protected properties during the protected period. These obligations may require us to maintain more or different indebtedness than we would otherwise require for our business.

In addition, our operating partnership has agreed to make certain elections and take certain tax reporting positions in connection with the contribution of the protected properties to the operating partnership. We do not anticipate that these additional agreements will have a material effect on our business or operations.

Consequences of this Offering, the Concurrent Private Placement and the Formation Transactions

The completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement and formation transactions will have the following consequences. All amounts are based on the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:

 

   

Through our interest in our operating partnership and its wholly owned subsidiaries, we will own a fee simple or ground subleasehold interest in and operate all of the properties in our initial portfolio.

 

   

We will indirectly own our services company through our operating partnership, which will own 100% of its common stock.

 

   

We will be the sole general partner of our operating partnership and will own     % of the common units therein, equal to the number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

   

Purchasers of our common stock in this offering will own     % of our outstanding common stock, or     % on a fully diluted basis, assuming the exchange of all outstanding common units for shares of our common stock.

 

   

The continuing investors, including Messrs. Coleman and Stern, the Farallon Funds and the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, that elected to receive common stock or common or series A preferred units in the formation transactions will own             % of our outstanding common stock, or             % on a fully diluted basis, assuming the exchange of all outstanding common units for shares of our common stock. If the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full, the continuing investors, including Messrs. Coleman and Stern, the Farallon Funds and the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, will own             % of our outstanding common stock, or             % on a fully diluted basis.

 

   

We expect to have total consolidated indebtedness of approximately $94.3 million.

 

   

Each common unit owned by us and the limited partners in our operating partnership is intended to have economic rights that are substantially identical to one share of our common stock. The series A preferred units will be entitled to preferential distributions at a rate of 6.25% per annum on the liquidation preference of $25.00 per unit and will be convertible at the option of the holder into common units or redeemable for cash or, at our option, exchangeable for registered shares of our common stock, in each case after an initial holding period of not less than three years from the consummation of this offering. See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.—Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units” for a description of the conversion and redemption rights.

 

159


Table of Contents

The following diagram depicts our expected ownership structure and the expected ownership structure of our operating partnership upon completion of this offering and the formation transactions (assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their overallotment option):

LOGO

 

(1) Reflects shares of our common stock acquired by the Farallon Funds in the concurrent private placement and formation transactions.
(2) Reflects shares of our common stock with a value of $2.0 million acquired by Victor J. Coleman in the concurrent private placement.
(3) Reflects approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) in liquidation preference of series A preferred units that may be converted into common units commencing three years after the consummation of this offering.
(4) Our acquisition of this property is subject to closing conditions. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.”

 

160


Table of Contents

Cost of Recent Acquisitions

Through various transactions during the two years prior to this offering and the formation transactions, Hudson Capital, LLC and affiliates of the Farallon Funds acquired the City Plaza property for an aggregate net purchase price paid of approximately $53.3 million (before closing costs and prorations), after acquiring the mortgage on the property for approximately $69.3 million and receiving an approximate $1.3 million loan paydown from the original borrower along with a transfer of $14,696 from existing loan reserves.

Determination of Consideration Payable for Our Properties

Our operating partnership will, directly or indirectly through its wholly owned subsidiaries, acquire the ownership of each of the properties in our portfolio in connection with the formation transactions. The consideration paid to each of the sellers or contributors in the formation transactions will be based upon the terms of the applicable contribution agreements negotiated among us and our operating partnership, on the one hand, and the various contributors, on the other hand. Under these agreements, each contributor will receive either (i) a fixed number of common units or shares of common stock, subject to adjustment for pre-closing stock and unit splits or similar structural changes to our pre-closing share and unit capitalization, (ii) a fixed value of common units or shares of common stock, (iii) in the case of those contributors who will receive series A preferred units, a fixed value of such units, (iv) a fixed amount of cash or (v) a combination of the foregoing. In all cases, the number or value of units and shares will be subject to adjustment for closing prorations and changes in indebtedness encumbering the properties, among other things. Where the consideration is based upon a fixed number of common units or shares of common stock, the value of units or shares issued will be equal to (i) the initial public offering price of our common stock, multiplied by (ii) such number of units or shares. Where the consideration is based upon a fixed value of common units or shares of common stock, the number of units or shares to be issued will be equal to (i) the negotiated value for their contributed property interests, divided by (ii) the initial public offering price of our common stock. In the case of the series A preferred units to be received by certain of the contributors, the number of series A preferred units will be equal to (i) the negotiated value for their contributed property interests, divided by (ii) a $25 liquidation value per series A preferred unit. The number of common units into which each series A preferred unit will be convertible will be based on a conversion ratio equal to the quotient of (i) the $25 per unit liquidation value (plus any accrued distributions that have not been paid on or prior to the conversion date), divided by (ii) the applicable per share price of our common stock, which will be equal to the 10-day trailing average closing price of our common stock calculated as of the business day immediately prior to the date of conversion. The series A preferred units are not convertible until at least three years after the consummation of this offering.

We have not obtained independent third-party appraisals, valuations or fairness opinions in connection with the formation transactions. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the fair market value of the cash and equity securities that we pay or issue to the contributors and sellers will not exceed the fair market value of the properties and other assets acquired by us in the formation transactions. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The value we ascribed to the properties and assets to be acquired by us in the formation transactions may exceed the aggregate fair market value of such properties and assets.”

Determination of Offering Price

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be negotiated between the representatives of the underwriters and us. In determining the initial public offering price of our common stock, the representatives of the underwriters will consider, among other things, our record of operations, our management, our estimated net income, our estimated funds from operations, our estimated cash available for distribution, our anticipated dividend yield, our growth prospects, the current market valuations, financial performance and dividend yields of publicly traded companies considered by us and the underwriters to be comparable to us and the current state of the commercial real estate industry and the economy as a whole. The initial public offering price does not necessarily bear any relationship to the book value of the properties and assets to be acquired in the formation transactions, our financial condition or any other established criteria of value and may not be indicative of the market price for our common stock after this offering.

 

161


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., which we refer to as the “partnership agreement.” This summary is not complete. For more detail, you should refer to the partnership agreement itself, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part. For purposes of this section, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “our company” and the “general partner” refer to Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. in our capacity as the general partner of our operating partnership.

General

Upon completion of the formation transactions, substantially all of our assets will be held by, and substantially all of our operations will be conducted through, our operating partnership, either directly or through subsidiaries. We will enter into the partnership agreement in connection with the formation transactions, and the provisions of the partnership agreement described below will be in effect from and after the consummation of this offering. We are the general partner of the operating partnership, and, following the completion of this offering, we will own     % of the outstanding common units in the operating partnership.

Certain persons who contribute interests in properties and/or other assets pursuant to the formation transactions will receive common units or series A preferred units in our operating partnership. Holders of common units in the operating partnership are generally entitled to share in cash distributions from, and in the profits and losses of, the operating partnership in proportion to their respective percentage interests of common units in the operating partnership if and to the extent authorized by us and subject to the preferential rights of holders of outstanding preferred units, including series A preferred units. Holders of series A preferred units will rank senior to any other partnership interest and will be entitled to receive preferential cash distributions, a liquidation preference in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the operating partnership (but only to the extent consistent with a liquidation in accordance with positive capital account balances), as well as certain conversion and redemption rights as described below in “—Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units.” The units in the operating partnership will not be listed on any exchange or quoted on any national market system.

Provisions in the partnership agreement could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an unsolicited acquisition of us or change of our control, although some stockholders might consider such proposals, if made, desirable. These provisions also make it more difficult for third parties to alter the management structure of the operating partnership without the concurrence of our board of directors. These provisions include, among others:

 

   

redemption rights of qualifying parties;

 

   

transfer restrictions on units, including our common units;

 

   

our ability, as general partner, in some cases, to amend the partnership agreement and to cause the partnership to issue preferred units with terms that we, in our capacity as the general partner of our operating partnership, may determine, without the consent of the limited partners;

 

   

the right of the limited partners to consent to transfers of the general partnership interest and mergers under specified circumstances; and

 

   

restrictions on debt levels and equity requirements required pursuant to our series A preferred units, as well as required distributions to holders of series A preferred units of our operating partnership, following certain changes of control of us.

 

162


Table of Contents

Purposes, Business and Management

The purpose of the operating partnership includes the conduct of any business, enterprise or activity permitted by or under the Maryland Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act. The operating partnership may enter into partnerships, joint ventures or similar arrangements and may own interests in any other entity. However, the operating partnership may not, without our consent, take, or refrain from taking, any action that, in our judgment, in our sole and absolute discretion:

 

   

could adversely affect our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT;

 

   

could subject us to any taxes under Code Section 857 or Code Section 4981 or any other related or successor provision under the Code; or

 

   

could violate any law or regulation of any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over us, our securities or the operating partnership.

In general, our board of directors will manage the business and affairs of the operating partnership by directing our business and affairs, in our capacity as the general partner of the operating partnership.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in the partnership agreement, all management powers over the business and affairs of the operating partnership are exclusively vested in us, in our capacity as the general partner of the operating partnership. No limited partner or any other person to whom one or more partnership units have been transferred may, in its capacity as a limited partner or assignee, participate in or exercise control or management power over the business and affairs of the operating partnership. The general partner may not be removed by the partners with or without cause, except with the general partner’s consent. In addition to the powers granted to the general partner under applicable law or that are granted to the general partner under any other provision of the partnership agreement, the general partner, subject to the other provisions of the partnership agreement (including the restrictions on the general partner’s authority described below), has the full and exclusive power and authority to do all things deemed necessary or desirable by the general partner to conduct the business of the operating partnership, to exercise or direct the exercise of all powers of the operating partnership and to effectuate the purposes of the operating partnership. The operating partnership may incur debt or enter into credit, guarantee, financing or refinancing arrangements for any purpose, including, without limitation, in connection with any acquisition of properties, upon such terms as the general partner determines to be appropriate. Except in connection with certain transactions involving the general partner discussed in “—Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions of the General Partner” and “—Material Terms of Series A Preferred Units—Voting and Consent Rights,” the general partner may authorize the operating partnership to dispose of any, all or substantially all of the assets (including the goodwill) of the operating partnership or merge, consolidate, reorganize or otherwise combine with or into another entity. With limited exceptions, the general partner is authorized to execute, deliver and perform agreements and transactions on behalf of the operating partnership without any further act, approval or vote of the limited partners.

Restrictions on General Partner’s Authority

The general partner may not take any action in contravention of the partnership agreement. The general partner may not, without the prior consent of a majority in interest of the partners (including us), undertake any actions on behalf of the operating partnership, or enter into any transaction, that would have the effect of amending, modifying or terminating the partnership agreement, except as provided in the partnership agreement. For a description of the provisions of the partnership agreement permitting the general partner to amend the partnership agreement without the consent of the limited partners see “—Amendment of the Partnership Agreement—Amendment by the General Partner without the Consent of the Limited Partners.” The general partner may not, without the prior consent of a majority in interest of the limited partners holding common units

 

163


Table of Contents

(excluding us and any limited partner a majority of whose equity is owned, directly or indirectly, by us), transfer all or any portion of its interest in the operating partnership, withdraw as the general partner of the operating partnership or admit into the operating partnership any successor general partners, subject to the exceptions discussed in “—Transfers and Withdrawals—Restrictions on Transfers by General Partner.”

In addition, the general partner may not amend the partnership agreement or take any action on behalf of the operating partnership, without the prior consent of each partner adversely affected by such amendment or action, if such amendment or action would:

 

   

convert a limited partner into a general partner;

 

   

modify the limited liability of a limited partner;

 

   

alter the rights of any limited partner to receive the distributions to which such partner is entitled, or alter the allocations specified in the partnership agreement, except in connection with the creation and issuance of any class or series of units, to the extent permitted by the partnership agreement;

 

   

alter or modify the redemption rights or conversion rights of limited partners and certain qualifying assignees or the related definitions;

 

   

alter the restrictions on the general partner’s ability to transfer all or any portion of its interest in the operating partnership or voluntary withdraw as the general partner;

 

   

enter into any contract, mortgage, loan or other agreement that expressly prohibits or restricts, or has the effect of prohibiting or restricting, the general partner or the operating partnership from performing its obligations in connection with the redemption of units or any limited partner from exercising its redemption or conversion rights under the partnership agreement;

 

   

remove, alter or amend certain provisions of the partnership agreement related to the requirements for us to qualify as a REIT or permitting us to avoid paying tax under Code Sections 857 or 4981;

 

   

reduce any limited partners’ rights to indemnification;

 

   

create any liability of the limited partners not already provided in the partnership agreement; or

 

   

amend the provisions of the partnership agreement requiring the consent of each affected partner before taking any of the actions described above.

Additional Limited Partners

Subject to the rights of limited partners holding series A preferred units, the general partner may cause the operating partnership to issue additional units from time to time, on terms and conditions and for such capital contributions as may be established by the general partner in its sole and absolute discretion. The net capital contribution need not be equal for all limited partners. No person may be admitted as an additional limited partner without the general partner’s consent, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion.

No action or consent by the limited partners is required in connection with the admission of any additional limited partner. The general partner is expressly authorized to cause the operating partnership to issue additional units:

 

   

upon the conversion, redemption or exchange of any debt, units or other securities issued by the operating partnership;

 

164


Table of Contents
   

for less than fair market value, so long as the general partner concludes in good faith that such issuance is in the best interests of the general partner and the operating partnership; and

 

   

in connection with any merger of any other entity into the operating partnership.

Subject to the rights of the limited partners holding series A preferred units, any additional units may be issued in one or more classes, or one or more series of any of such classes, with such designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption (including, without limitation, terms that may be senior or otherwise entitled to preference over existing units) as the general partner shall determine, in its sole and absolute discretion without the approval of any limited partner or any other person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the general partner has authority to specify:

 

   

the allocations of items of partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit to each such class or series of units;

 

   

the right of each such class or series of units to share in distributions;

 

   

the rights of each such class or series of units upon dissolution and liquidation of the operating partnership;

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of each such class or series of units; and

 

   

the conversion, redemption or exchange rights applicable to each such class or series of units.

Ability to Engage in Other Businesses; Conflicts of Interest

We may not conduct any business other than in connection with the ownership, acquisition and disposition of partnership interests, the management of the business of the operating partnership, our operation as a reporting company with a class or classes of securities registered under the Exchange Act, our operations as a REIT, the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests related to the partnership or its assets or activities or our activities in our capacity as general partner, financing or refinancing of any type related to the operating partnership or its assets or activities, and such activities as are incidental to those activities discussed above. We may, however, in our sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in our own name or otherwise other than through the operating partnership so long as we take commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such property are otherwise vested in the operating partnership.

Distributions

We are required to cause the operating partnership to distribute quarterly, or on a more or less frequent basis as we may determine, all, or such portion as we may in our sole and absolute discretion determine, of the available cash (as such term is defined in the partnership agreement) generated by the operating partnership during such quarter to us and the limited partners:

 

   

first, with respect to the series A preferred units and any other units that are entitled to any preference in distribution, in accordance with the rights of such class or classes of units, and, within such class or classes, among the holders of such units, pro rata in proportion to their respective percentage interests; and

 

   

second, with respect to any units that are not entitled to any preference in distribution, including common units, in accordance with the rights of holders of such units, as applicable, and, within

 

165


Table of Contents
 

such class, among the holders of such units, pro rata in proportion to their respective percentage interests.

Distributions payable with respect to any units that were not outstanding during the entire quarterly period in respect of which a distribution is made, other than units issued to us in connection with the issuance of shares of our common stock, will be prorated based on the portion of the period that such units were outstanding.

Allocations

Net income or net loss of our operating partnership will generally be allocated to us, as the general partner, and to the limited partners in accordance with the partners’ respective interests in the operating partnership. Allocations of net income will be made to holders of series A preferred units in respect of their preferential cash distribution prior to allocations made to holders of common units. Allocations to holders of common units will generally be made proportionately to all such holders in respect of such units. However, in some cases gain or loss may be disproportionately allocated to partners who have contributed appreciated property or guaranteed debt of our operating partnership. The allocations described above are subject to special rules relating to depreciation deductions and to compliance with the provisions of Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the associated Treasury Regulations. See “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Our Company—Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies.”

Reimbursement of Expenses; Transactions with Our Affiliates and Us

We are not entitled to receive any compensation for our services as the general partner of our operating partnership. Through our interest in the our operating partnership, we have the same right to distributions as other holders of common units. In addition, the operating partnership is required to reimburse us for all amounts expended by us in connection with the operating partnership’s business, including expenses relating to the ownership of interests in and management and operation of, or for the benefit of, the operating partnership, compensation of our officers and employees and officers and employees of the operating partnership, including payments under future compensation plans that may provide for stock units, or phantom stock, pursuant to which our employees or employees of the operating partnership will receive payments based upon dividends on or the value of our common stock, director or manager fees and expenses and all costs and expenses that we incur in connection with our being a public company, including costs of filings with the SEC, reports and other distributions to our stockholders. The operating partnership is required to reimburse us for all expenses incurred by us relating to any offering of stock after this offering, including any underwriting discounts or commissions in such case based on the percentage of the net proceeds from such issuance contributed to or otherwise made available to the operating partnership. Any reimbursement will be reduced by the amount of any interest that we earn on funds we hold on behalf of the operating partnership.

Except as expressly permitted by the partnership agreement, we and our affiliates may not engage in any transactions with the operating partnership except on terms we determine in good faith to be fair and reasonable.

Our Liability and that of the Limited Partners

We, as general partner of the operating partnership, are ultimately liable for all general recourse obligations of the operating partnership to the extent not paid by the operating partnership. We are not liable for the nonrecourse obligations of the operating partnership.

Except as may be provided in the terms of any class or series of units, the limited partners are not required to make additional contributions to the operating partnership. Assuming that a limited partner does not take part in the control of the business of the operating partnership, the liability of the limited partner for obligations of the operating partnership under the partnership agreement and the Maryland Revised Uniform

 

166


Table of Contents

Limited Partnership Act is generally limited to the loss of the limited partner’s investment in the operating partnership represented by such limited partner’s units.

Exculpation and Indemnification

The partnership agreement generally provides that we, as general partner, and any of our respective directors or officers will incur no liability to the operating partnership, or any limited partner or assignee, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred or benefits not derived as a result of errors in judgment, mistakes of fact or law or any acts or omissions if we or such officer or director acted in good faith. The partnership agreement also provides that we will not be liable to the operating partnership or any partner for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the operating partnership or any limited partner, except for liability for our intentional harm or gross negligence. In addition, we, as general partner, are not responsible to the partnership for any misconduct or negligence on the part of our employees or agents, provided we appointed such employees or agents in good faith. We, as general partner, may consult with legal counsel, accountants, appraisers, management consultants, investment bankers and other consultants and advisors, and any action we take or omit to take in reliance upon the opinion of such persons, as to matters which we, as general partner, reasonably believe to be within their professional or expert competence, will be conclusively presumed to have been done or omitted in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

The partnership agreement also provides for the indemnification of us, as general partner, and our directors, officers and employees, officers and employees of the operating partnership and such other persons as we, as general partner, may from time to time designate from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings that relate to the operations of the operating partnership, provided that such person will not be indemnified for (i) any act or omission of such person that was material to the matter giving rise to the action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, any act or omission that such person had reason to believe was unlawful, or (iii) any transaction for which such person actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or otherwise, in violation or breach of any provision of the partnership agreement. The operating partnership must also pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses of any such person upon its receipt of a written affirmation of the person’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has been met and a written undertaking to repay any amounts paid or advanced if it is ultimately determined that the person did not meet the standard of conduct for indemnification. The operating partnership will not indemnify or advance funds to any person with respect to any action initiated by the person seeking indemnification (other than an action to enforce such person’s right to indemnification under the partnership agreement) without our approval or if the person is found to be liable to the operating partnership on any portion of any claim in the action.

The partnership agreement also provides for the indemnification of each of the limited partners of our operating partnership, their affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, stockholders and any other individual acting on its or their behalf, from and against any costs incurred by such person resulting from any litigation or other proceeding in which any limited partner is named as a defendant or any claim threatened or asserted against any limited partner that relates to the operations of the operating partnership or any obligation assumed by the operating partnership, unless such costs are the result of intentional harm or gross negligence on the part of, or a breach of partnership agreement by, such limited partner.

Sales of Partnership Assets; Mergers; Consolidations

Under the partnership agreement, the general partner generally has the authority to cause the operating partnership to sell all or substantially all of the assets of the operating partnership or to merge, consolidate or otherwise combine its assets with another entity, without the consent or approval of any limited partner, subject to certain limitations described below. However, in connection with the acquisition of properties from persons to

 

167


Table of Contents

whom the general partner issued units as part of the purchase price, in order to preserve such persons’ tax deferral, the general partner may contractually agree, in general, not to sell or otherwise transfer the properties for a specified period of time, or in some instances, not to sell or otherwise transfer the properties without compensating the sellers of the properties for their loss of the tax deferral.

Redemption Rights of Limited Partners

After fourteen months of becoming a holder of common units, each limited partner and some assignees have the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the partnership agreement, to require the operating partnership to redeem all or a portion of the common units held by such party in exchange for a cash amount per common unit equal to the value of one share of our common stock, as determined in accordance with, and subject to adjustment as provided in, the partnership agreement. The operating partnership’s obligation to effect a redemption, however, will not arise or be binding against the operating partnership unless and until we, as general partner, decline or fail to exercise our prior and independent right to acquire such common units in exchange for common stock.

On or before the close of business on the fifth business day after a limited partner gives us a notice of redemption with respect to common units, we may, in our sole and absolute discretion but subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed in “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” acquire some or all of the tendered common units from the tendering party in exchange for shares of common stock, based on an exchange ratio of one share of common stock for each common unit, subject to adjustment as provided in the partnership agreement. The partnership agreement does not obligate us to register, qualify or list any common stock issued in exchange for common units with the SEC, with any state securities commissioner, department or agency, or with any stock exchange. Common stock issued in exchange for common units pursuant to the partnership agreement may contain legends regarding restrictions under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws as we in good faith determine to be necessary or advisable in order to ensure compliance with securities laws.

The partnership agreement also provides redemption rights with respect to our series A preferred units as described below in “—Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units.”

Transfers and Withdrawals

The partnership agreement restricts the transferability of units. Any transfer or purported transfer of a unit not made in accordance with the partnership agreement will be void.

Restrictions on Transfer by Limited Partners

Until the expiration of fourteen months from the date on which a limited partner first acquired units, such limited partner generally may not, without our consent, directly or indirectly transfer all or any portion of its units to any transferee, except for certain permitted transfers to certain affiliates, family members and charities, transfers by a person who is a limited partner upon the completion of this offering to its shareholders, members, partners or beneficiaries and certain pledges of units to lending institutions in connection with bona fide loans.

After the expiration of 14 months from the date on which a limited partner first acquired units, in addition to the permitted transfers described above, such limited partner has the right to transfer all or any portion of its units to any person that is an “accredited investor,” subject to the satisfaction of conditions specified in the partnership agreement, including minimum transfer requirements and our right of first refusal. For purposes of this transfer restriction, “accredited investor” has the meaning set forth in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act. It is a condition to any transfer that the transferee assumes by operation of law or express agreement all of the obligations of the transferor limited partner under the partnership agreement with respect to such units, and no such transfer will relieve the transferor limited partner of its obligations under the partnership

 

168


Table of Contents

agreement without our approval, in our sole and absolute discretion. This transfer restriction does not apply to a statutory merger or consolidation pursuant to which all obligations and liabilities of the limited partner are assumed by a successor corporation by operation of law.

In connection with any transfer of units other than a permitted transfer, we will have the right to require an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to us to the effect that the proposed transfer may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, and will not otherwise violate any federal or state securities laws or regulations applicable to the operating partnership or the partnership interests or units transferred.

No transfer by a limited partner of its units, including in connection with any redemption or any acquisition of partnership interests or units by us or by the operating partnership, may be made to any person without our consent if:

 

   

it could result in the operating partnership being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes;

 

   

it could result in a termination of the partnership under Code Section 708;

 

   

it could be treated as effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Code Section 7704 and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder; or

 

   

it could result in the operating partnership being unable to qualify for one or more of the “safe harbors” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1 (or such other guidance subsequently published by the IRS setting forth safe harbors under which interests will not be treated as “readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code).

In addition, except in the case of permitted transfers, we have a right of first refusal with respect to any proposed transfers by other limited partners, exercisable within ten business days of notice of the transfer and a description of the proposed consideration to be paid for the operating partnership units.

Admission of Substituted Limited Partners

No limited partner will have the right to substitute a transferee as a limited partner in its place. A transferee of the interest of a limited partner may be admitted as a substituted limited partner only with our consent, which consent may be given or withheld in our sole and absolute discretion. If we in our sole and absolute discretion, do not consent to the admission of any permitted transferee as a substituted limited partner, such transferee will be considered an assignee for purposes of the partnership agreement. An assignee will be entitled to all the rights of an assignee of a limited partnership interest under the partnership agreement and the Maryland Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, including the right to receive distributions from the operating partnership and the share of net income, net losses and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the operating partnership attributable to the units assigned to such transferee and the rights to transfer and redemption of the units provided in the partnership agreement, but will not be deemed to be a limited partner for any other purpose under the partnership agreement or the Maryland Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, and will not be entitled to effect a consent or vote with respect to such units on any matter presented to the limited partners for approval. The right to consent or vote, to the extent provided in the partnership agreement or under the Maryland Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, will fully remain with the transferor limited partner.

 

169


Table of Contents

Restrictions on Transfers by General Partner

We, as general partner, may not transfer any of our units or other partnership interest, whether by sale, disposition, statutory merger or consolidation, liquidation or otherwise, unless:

 

   

we transfer our units in a merger, consolidation or other combination of our assets with another entity, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a reclassification, recapitalization or change in any outstanding shares of the our stock described below in “—Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions of the General Partner” or we receive the prior consent of a majority in interest of the limited partners holding common units (excluding us and any limited partner whose equity is owned, directly or indirectly, by us);

 

   

the transferee is admitted as a general partner pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement;

 

   

the transferee assumes, by operation of law or express agreement, all of the obligations of the general partner under the partnership agreement with respect to such transferred partnership interest; and

 

   

the transferee has executed such instruments as may be necessary to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such transferee to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the partnership agreement with respect to the partnership interest so acquired and the admission of such transferee as the general partner.

Restrictions on Transfers by Any Partner

Units and other partnership interests may be transferred only on the first day of a fiscal quarter unless we otherwise agree. No partner may transfer any units, including in connection with any redemption or acquisition of partnership interests or units by us or by the operating partnership, if:

 

   

the proposed transferee lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own the interest or units to be transferred;

 

   

the proposed transfer would violate applicable law;

 

   

the proposed transfer is of any component portion of a partnership interest, such as a partner’s capital account or rights to distributions, separate and apart from all other components of the partner’s interest in the partnership, unless we consent, which we may give or withhold in our sole and absolute discretion;

 

   

the proposed transfer could cause us or any of our affiliates to fail to comply with the requirements under the Code for qualifying as a REIT or “qualified REIT subsidiary” (within the meaning of Code Section 856(i)(2));

 

   

the proposed transfer could, based on the advice of counsel to us or the operating partnership, cause a termination of the operating partnership for federal or state income tax purposes (other than a result of the redemption (or acquisition by us) of all units held by all limited partners or with our consent, which we may give or withhold in our sole and absolute discretion);

 

   

the proposed transfer could, based on the advice of legal counsel to the operating partnership, cause the operating partnership to cease to be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (other than as a result of the redemption (or acquisition by us) of all units held by all limited partners);

 

170


Table of Contents
   

the proposed transfer would cause the operating partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in ERISA Section 3(14)) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Code Section 4975(c));

 

   

the proposed transfer could, based on the advice of counsel to us or the operating partnership, cause any portion of the assets of the operating partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to United States Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.3-101;

 

   

the proposed transfer requires the registration of such partnership interest or units under any applicable Federal or state securities laws;

 

   

the proposed transfer (1) could be treated as effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market” (or the substantial equivalent thereof) within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, (2) could cause the operating partnership to become a “publicly traded partnership,” as such term is defined in Sections 469(k)(2) or 7704(b) of the Code, (3) could cause the operating partnership to have more than 100 partners or cause the partnership interest initially issued to such partner to be held by more than three partners, including, for these purposes, certain persons indirectly owning an interest in the operating partnership through an entity treated as a partnership or S corporation or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes, or (4) could cause the operating partnership to fail one or more of the “safe harbors” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1, except, in any case, with our consent, which we may give or withhold in our sole and absolute discretion;

 

   

the proposed transfer would cause the operating partnership (as opposed to us) to become a reporting company under the Exchange Act; or

 

   

the proposed transfer would subject the operating partnership to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 or ERISA, each as amended.

Withdrawal of Partners

We may not voluntarily withdraw as a general partner of the operating partnership without the consent of a majority in interest of the limited partners holding common units (excluding us and any limited partner 50% or more of whose equity is owned, directly or indirectly, by us) other than upon the transfer of our entire interest in the operating partnership and the admission of our successor as a general partner of the operating partnership. A limited partner of the operating partnership may withdraw from the operating partnership only as a result of a transfer of the limited partner’s entire interest in the operating partnership units in accordance with the partnership agreement and the admission of the limited partner’s successor as a limited partner of the operating partnership or as a result of the redemption or acquisition by us of the limited partner’s entire interest in the operating partnership.

Restrictions on Mergers, Sales, Transfers and Other Significant Transactions of the General Partner

We may not merge, consolidate or otherwise combine our assets with another entity, or sell all or substantially all of our assets not in the ordinary course of our business, or reclassify, recapitalize or change the terms of our outstanding common equity interests (other than in connection with a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, change in par value, increase in authorized shares, designation or issuance of new classes of equity securities or any event that does not require the approval of our stockholders), unless:

 

   

such event has been approved by the consent of a majority in interest of the partners, including us, and all limited partners holding common units will receive, or will have the right to elect to receive,

 

171


Table of Contents
 

for each common unit, consideration that is equivalent to the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property received by a holder of one share of our common stock; and, if such event occurs in connection with a purchase, tender or exchange offer, each holder of common units has the right to receive, or elect to receive, the greatest amount of cash, securities or other property that such holder of units would have received had it exercised its right to redemption pursuant to the partnership agreement and received shares of our common stock in exchange for its units immediately before the expiration of the purchase, tender or exchange offer and had accepted the purchase, tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

substantially all of the assets of our operating partnership are to be owned by a surviving entity in which our limited partners holding common units will hold a percentage interest based on the relative fair market value of the net assets of the operating partnership and the other net assets of such entity, which interest will be on terms that are at least as favorable as the terms of the common units and will include a right to redeem interests in such entity for the consideration described in the preceding bullet, cash on similar terms as those with respect to the common units or, if common equity securities of the person controlling the surviving entity are publicly traded, such common equity securities.

Amendment of the Partnership Agreement

Amendments to the partnership agreement may be proposed only by the general partner or by limited partners holding 25% or more of the partnership interests held by limited partners. Following such proposal, the general partner must submit to the partners entitled to vote thereon any proposed amendment that, pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement, requires the consent, approval or vote of such partners. The general partner may seek the written consent of the partners entitled to vote on the proposed amendment or call a meeting of the partners to vote on the proposed amendment and to transact any other business that it may deem appropriate. If the general partner seeks the written consent of the partners entitled to vote on a proposed amendment, the general partner may require a response within a reasonable specified time, but not less than fifteen days, and failure to respond in such time period shall constitute a partner’s consent consistent with the general partner’s recommendation, if any, with respect to the proposed amendment.

Amendment by the General Partner without the Consent of the Limited Partners

The general partner has the power, without the consent of the limited partners, to amend the partnership agreement as may be required to facilitate or implement any of the following purposes:

 

   

to add to its obligations as general partner or surrender any right or power granted to it or any of its affiliates for the benefit of the limited partners;

 

   

to reflect the admission, substitution or withdrawal of partners, the transfer of any partnership interest or the termination of the operating partnership in accordance with the partnership agreement;

 

   

to reflect a change that is of an inconsequential nature or does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect, or to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in the partnership agreement not inconsistent with law or with other provisions of the partnership agreement, or make other changes with respect to matters arising under the partnership agreement that will not be inconsistent with law or with the provisions of the partnership agreement;

 

   

subject to certain rights of limited partners holding series A preferred units, to set forth or amend the designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as

 

172


Table of Contents
 

to distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of the holders of any additional partnership interests issued pursuant to the partnership agreement;

 

   

to reflect the termination of the series A preferred units if and from the time that all of the series A preferred units shall no longer be, or be deemed to be, outstanding for any purpose;

 

   

to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any order, directive, opinion, ruling or regulation of a federal or state agency or contained in federal or state law;

 

   

to reflect such changes as are reasonably necessary for the general partner to maintain its status as a REIT or to reflect the transfer of all or any part of a partnership interest among the general partner and any entity treated as a disregarded entity with respect to the general partner for federal income tax purposes;

 

   

to modify the manner in which items of net income or net loss are allocated or the manner in which capital accounts are adjusted, computed, or maintained (but in each case only to the extent provided by the partnership agreement); and

 

   

to reflect the issuance of additional partnership interests permitted under the partnership agreement.

Amendment With the Consent of the Limited Partners

Except as discussed above and under “—Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units—Voting and Consent Rights,” the general partner may amend the partnership agreement only with the consent of the partners, including the general partner.

Procedures for Actions and Consents of Partners

Meetings of the partners may be called by the general partner at any time in its own discretion, and must be called by the general partner upon the written request of limited partners holding 25% or more of the partnership interests held by limited partners. Notice of any such meeting must be given to all partners entitled to act at the meeting not less than seven days nor more than 60 days prior to the date of such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Each meeting of partners will be conducted by the general partner or such other person as it may appoint pursuant to such rules for the conduct of the meeting as it or such other person deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion. Whenever the vote or consent of partners is permitted or required under the partnership agreement, such vote or consent may be given at a meeting of partners or may be given by written consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the partners may be taken without a meeting if a written consent is signed by partners holding a majority in interest of the outstanding partnership interests, including the general partner (or such other percentage as is expressly required by the partnership agreement for the action in question).

Dissolution

The operating partnership will dissolve, and its affairs will be wound up, upon the first to occur of any of the following:

 

   

the removal of the last remaining general partner in accordance with the partnership agreement, the withdrawal of the last remaining general partner in violation of the partnership agreement, the death, adjudication of incompetency, dissolution or other termination of the legal existence of the last remaining general partner or the occurrence of certain events relating to the bankruptcy or insolvency of the last remaining general partner unless, within ninety days after the withdrawal, a majority in interest of the limited partners remaining agree in writing, in their sole and absolute

 

173


Table of Contents
 

discretion, to continue the business of the operating partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the date of such withdrawal, of a successor general partner;

 

   

an election to dissolve the operating partnership made by the general partner in its sole and absolute discretion, with or without the consent of the partners;

 

   

the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the operating partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Maryland Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act;

 

   

the occurrence of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the operating partnership not in the ordinary course of its business or a related series of transactions that, taken together, result in the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the operating partnership not in the ordinary course of its business; or

 

   

the redemption, or acquisition by us or the partnership, of all partnership interests other than partnership interests held by us.

Upon dissolution the operating partnership, or, in the event that there is no remaining general partner, a liquidator will proceed to liquidate the assets of the operating partnership and apply the proceeds from such liquidation in the order of priority set forth in the partnership agreement.

Tax Matters

Pursuant to the partnership agreement, we, as the general partner, are the tax matters partner of our operating partnership, and in such capacity, have the authority to handle tax audits on behalf of the operating partnership. In addition, as the general partner, we have the authority to arrange for the preparation and filing of the operating partnership’s tax returns and to make tax elections under the Code on behalf of the operating partnership.

Material Terms of Our Series A Preferred Units

The following is a discussion of certain of the rights, privileges and preferences of the series A preferred units.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the operating partnership, holders of series A preferred units will be entitled to receive and be paid in cash an amount equal to $25.00 per preferred unit plus any accrued and unpaid distributions before any distribution or payment may be made with respect to any other series or class of partnership interest ranking junior to the series A preferred units (but only to the extent consistent with a liquidation in accordance with positive capital account balances).

 

174


Table of Contents

Distributions

Holders of series A preferred units are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the operating partnership, out of available cash, cumulative preferential cash distributions in an amount equal to 6.25% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per unit from the date of issuance of such unit, payable quarterly in arrears on or before the last calendar day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the first of such dates to occur after the completion of this offering. Distributions that are due but unpaid will accumulate and compound quarterly. If any such preferential distribution payments for any past quarterly period are in arrears, no distributions may be authorized or paid on any other series or class of partnership interest ranking junior to the series A preferred units, nor shall any other series or class of partnership interests ranking junior to the series A preferred units be redeemed, purchased or acquired by the operating partnership or us, except for:

 

   

a redemption of common units from us in connection with a redemption or repurchase by us of common stock for cash pursuant to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described in “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” or a redemption of preferred units from us in connection with a redemption or repurchase by us of outstanding preferred stock for cash;

 

   

the acquisition by us of common units tendered for redemption with shares of our common stock; or

 

   

the conversion into or exchange for shares of our common stock or units ranking junior to the series A preferred units with no cash distributed.

Redemption Rights

Beginning three years after the completion of this offering, each limited partner holding series A preferred units and certain assignees will have the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the partnership agreement, to require the operating partnership to redeem all or a portion of their series A preferred units in exchange for a cash redemption price equal to $25.00 per unit plus any accrued distributions that have not been paid on or prior to the redemption date. The operating partnership’s obligation to effect a redemption, however, will not arise or be binding against the operating partnership unless and until we, as general partner, decline or fail to exercise our prior and independent right to acquire such preferred units in exchange for shares of our common stock that are issued under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

Any notice of redemption must be delivered at least 30 business days prior to the last day of the calendar quarter in which the redemption right is being exercised. On or before the close of business on the tenth business day after such a notice of redemption is received, we may, in our sole and absolute discretion but subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed in “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer,” acquire some or all of the tendered series A preferred units in exchange for a number of registered shares of our common stock per unit with a value equal to the redemption price per unit, such value to be based on the 10-day trailing average closing price of our common stock calculated as of the business day immediately prior to the date of redemption.

Conversion Rights

Beginning three years after the completion of this offering, each limited partner holding series A preferred units and certain assignees will have the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the partnership agreement, to convert all or any portion of its series A preferred units into a number of common units with a value equal to the aggregate redemption price of the series A preferred units tendered for conversion, the value of such common units to be based on the 10-day trailing average closing price of our common stock calculated as of the business day immediately prior to the date of redemption. Any such conversion of series A

 

175


Table of Contents

preferred units will be deemed to have been made at the close of business on the date that we, as general partner, receive notice of conversion.

In the event of a recapitalization, reclassification or change of outstanding common units (other than a subdivision or combination of outstanding common units), a merger, sale or other business combination of our operating partnership, a sale, conveyance or lease to another or entity of all or substantially all of the operating partnership’s property and assets (other than to one or more of our subsidiaries) or an exchange of substantially all of the outstanding common units for securities of another entity, in each case in which holders of common units are entitled to receive securities, other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for their common units, qualifying holders of series A preferred units will thereafter be entitled to convert their series A preferred units into the kind and amount of securities or other consideration that such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive upon such a business combination if such holder had converted its series A preferred units into common units immediately before the business combination.

Voting and Consent Rights

Generally, the series A preferred units are entitled to limited voting rights and in most cases vote on an as-converted basis with the holders of common units on any matter on which all limited partners are entitled to vote. However, so long as any series A preferred units remain outstanding, the consent of the limited partners holding a majority in interest of series A preferred units other than any limited partner 50% or more of whose equity is owned, directly or indirectly, by us will be required to:

 

   

authorize, designate or issue any class or series of partnership interests ranking pari passu with or senior to the series A preferred units with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the operating partnership;

 

   

increase the authorized or issued amount of series A preferred units; or

 

   

amend, alter or repeal the terms of the series A preferred units, whether by merger, consolidation, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the operating partnership’s assets or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference or privilege of the series A preferred units, except that, so long as the series A preferred units remain outstanding following any such merger, consolidation, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the operating partnership’s assets with the terms thereof materially unchanged, taking into account that, upon the occurrence of such an event, the operating partnership may not be the surviving entity and the surviving entity may not be a limited partnership, the occurrence of such an event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences or privileges of the series A preferred units and, in such case, no consent of limited partners holding series A preferred units would be required.

 

   

except as discussed below under “—General Partner Fundamental Change,” effect a “fundamental change,” which is generally defined as a merger, consolidation or other combination of our assets with another entity, a sale of all or substantially all of our assets not in the ordinary course of our business, a reclassification, recapitalization or change in the terms of our outstanding common equity interests (other than in connection with a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, change in par value, increase in authorized shares, designation or issuance of new classes of equity securities or any event that does not require the approval of our stockholders), as a result of which our stock ceases to be publicly traded or common units cease to be exchangeable (at our option) for publicly traded shares of our stock.

 

176


Table of Contents

General Partner Fundamental Change

Without the approval of limited partners holding a majority in interest of the series A preferred units, we may not engage in a “fundamental change,” unless upon consummation of such a fundamental change transaction the partnership agreement or other organizational documents of any successor to the operating partnership will contain certain provisions requiring our operating partnership or such successor to:

 

   

make minimum tax distributions to holders of our series A preferred units;

 

   

continue to own an aggregate of at least 33% of the equity in our operating partnership through the ownership of equity interests which are subordinate to our series A preferred units; and

 

   

refrain from incurring additional indebtedness if its ratio of total indebtedness to gross asset value exceeds 50%, or allow this leverage ratio to exceed 60%, so long as series A preferred units remain outstanding.

In connection with any fundamental change transaction, the operating partnership has the right to redeem all or any portion of the then outstanding series A preferred units for cash per unit equal to the redemption price.

 

177


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock and shares of common stock into which units are exchangeable immediately following the completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions for (i) each person who is expected to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock immediately following the completion of this offering, (ii) each of our directors, director nominees and executive officers, and (iii) all of our directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group. This table assumes that the concurrent private placement, the formation transactions and this offering are completed, and gives effect to the expected issuance of common stock and units in connection with this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions. Each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all of the shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by such person, except as otherwise set forth in the notes to the table. The extent to which a person will hold shares of common stock as opposed to units is set forth in the footnotes below.

The SEC has defined “beneficial ownership” of a security to mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of voting power and/or investment power over such security. A stockholder is also deemed to be, as of any date, the beneficial owner of all securities that such stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days after that date through (a) the exercise of any option, warrant or right, (b) the conversion of a security, (c) the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement, or (d) the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, common shares subject to options or other rights (as set forth above) held by that person that are exercisable as of                     , 2010 or will become exercisable within 60 days thereafter, are deemed outstanding, while such shares are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing percentage ownership of any other person.

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each named person is c/o Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., 11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90025. No shares beneficially owned by any executive officer, director or director nominee have been pledged as security.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of Shares
and Common Units
Beneficially Owned
   Percentage of
All Shares (1)
   Percentage of
All Shares and
Common Units (2)

Farallon Partners, L.L.C. (3)

        

Victor J. Coleman

        

Howard S. Stern

        

Christopher Barton

      *    *

Mark T. Lammas

      *    *

Dale Shimoda

      *    *

Theodore R. Antenucci

      *    *

Mark Burnett

      *    *

Richard B. Fried (4)

        

Jonathan M. Glaser

      *    *

Mark D. Linehan

      *    *

Robert M. Moran, Jr.

      *    *

Barry A. Porter

      *    *

All directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group (12 persons)

         —  

Other 5% Stockholders

        

 

 * Represents less than 1.0%.
(1)

Assumes              shares of common stock are outstanding immediately following this offering. In addition, amounts for individuals assume that all common units held by the person are exchanged for shares of our common stock, and amounts for all directors, director nominees and executive officers as a group assume all common units held by them are

 

178


Table of Contents
  exchanged for shares of our common stock in each case, regardless of when such common units are exchangeable. The total number of shares of our common stock outstanding used in calculating this percentage assumes that none of the common units held by other persons are exchanged for shares of our common stock.
(2) Assumes              shares of our common stock and              common units are outstanding immediately following this offering, which units may be redeemed for cash or, at our option, exchanged for shares of our common stock as described in “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.” Does not include shares of our common stock that may be issued upon exchange of our series A preferred units to be issued in the formation transactions or upon exchange of common units into which such series A preferred units may be converted.
(3) Farallon Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, is the general partner of Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P. and Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., and may, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned by each such partnership. As managing members of Farallon Partners, L.L.C, each of Richard B. Fried, Daniel J. Hirsch, Monica R. Landry, Davide Leone, Douglas M. MacMahon, Stephen L. Millham, Rajiv A. Patel, Thomas G. Roberts, Jr., Andrew J. M. Spokes, Thomas F. Steyer and Mark C. Wehrly may, for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned by Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P. and Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P. Farallon Partners, L.L.C. and each of its managing members disclaim any beneficial ownership of such shares. All of the above-mentioned entities and persons disclaim group attribution. Farallon Capital Partners, L.P. and Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P. are California limited partnerships, and Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership. The address for all of the above-mentioned entities is One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100, San Francisco, CA 94111.
(4) Mr. Fried is a managing member of Farallon Partners, L.L.C. and may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock and common units owned by each of the following entities of which Farallon Partners, L.L.C. is the general partner: Farallon Capital Partners, L.P.; Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P.; and Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P. Mr. Fried disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.

 

179


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK

The following summary of the material terms of the stock of our company does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Maryland law and to our charter and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our charter provides that we may issue up to 490 million shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, or common stock, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, or preferred stock. Our charter authorizes our board of directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire board and without any action by our stockholders, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have the authority to issue. Upon completion of this offering and the other transactions described in this prospectus,              shares of our common stock will be issued and outstanding, and no shares of our preferred stock will be issued and outstanding.

Under Maryland law, stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts or obligations solely as a result of their status as stockholders.

Common Stock

Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions on such shares if, as and when authorized by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor and declared by us, and to share ratably in the assets of our company legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up after payment or establishment of reserves for all known debts and liabilities of our company.

Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of our common stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors, and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of shares of common stock will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Holders of shares of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights, and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any securities of our company. Our charter provides that our stockholders generally have no appraisal rights unless our board of directors determines prospectively that appraisal rights will apply to one or more transactions in which holders of our common stock would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, holders of shares of our common stock will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, consolidate, sell all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a statutory share exchange unless declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our charter provides for the approval of these matters by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except that the approval of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast is required to

 

180


Table of Contents

remove a director or to amend the removal provisions of our charter. Maryland law also permits a corporation to transfer all or substantially all of its assets without the approval of its stockholders to an entity all of the equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Because our operating assets may be held by our operating partnership or its wholly owned subsidiaries, these subsidiaries may be able to merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock into other classes or series of stock, to establish the designation and number of shares of each such class or series and to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of each such class or series.

Preferred Stock

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify any unissued shares of preferred stock and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of preferred stock into one or more classes or series of stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each new class or series, our board of directors is required by the MGCL and our charter to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of each such class or series. As a result, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of stock that have priority over shares of our common stock with respect to dividends, distributions or rights upon liquidation or with other terms or conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests. As of the date hereof, no shares of preferred stock are outstanding and we have no present plans to issue any preferred stock.

Power to Increase or Decrease Authorized Shares of Common Stock and Issue Additional Shares of Common and Preferred Stock

We believe that the power of our board of directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock, to authorize us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and thereafter to cause us to issue such classified or reclassified shares will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise. The additional classes or series of stock, as well as the additional authorized shares of stock, will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of directors does not currently intend to do so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series of stock that could, depending upon the terms of the particular class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests. See “Material Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws—Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws.”

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, our stock 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 for which an election to be a REIT has been made) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of stock (after taking into account options to acquire shares of stock) may be owned, directly, indirectly or through attribution, by five or fewer individuals (for this purpose, the term “individual” includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefit plan, a private foundation or a portion

 

181


Table of Contents

of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes, but generally does not include a qualified pension plan or profit sharing trust) at any time during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made).

Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock that are intended to assist us in complying with these requirements and continuing to qualify as a REIT. The relevant sections of our charter provide that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person or entity may actually or beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of our common stock, excluding any shares of common stock that are not treated as outstanding for federal income tax purposes, or 9.8% (in value) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of our stock. We refer to each of these restrictions as an “ownership limit” and collectively as the “ownership limits.” A person or entity that would have acquired actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock but for the application of the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed below is referred to as a “prohibited owner.”

The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of our common stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our common stock) by an individual or entity could, nevertheless, cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively in excess of 9.8% in value or in number of shares (whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common stock and thereby violate the applicable ownership limit.

Our board of directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, prospectively or retroactively, waive either or both of the ownership limits with respect to a particular person if, among other limitations, it:

 

   

determines that such waiver will not cause any individual (for this purpose, the term “individual” includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefit plan, a private foundation or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes, but generally does not include a qualified pension plan or profit sharing trust) to own, actually or beneficially, more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes or series of our stock; and

 

   

determines that, subject to certain exceptions, such person does not and will not own, actually or constructively, an interest in a tenant of ours (or a tenant of any entity owned in whole or in part by us) that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant.

As a condition of our waiver, our board of directors may require an opinion of counsel or IRS ruling satisfactory to our board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion in order to determine or ensure our status as a REIT or such representations and/or undertakings as are necessary to make the determinations above. Our board of directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with such an exception.

Our board of directors will grant to the Farallon excepted holders an exemption from the ownership limits, subject to various conditions and limitations. During the time that such waiver is effective, each Farallon excepted holder will be subject to an increased ownership limit applicable to such holder, or the excepted holder limit. As a condition to granting such excepted holder limit, the Farallon excepted holders will make certain representations and covenants to us, including representations that, to their best knowledge, as a result of their ownership of shares of our common stock, no other person (other than our operating partnership) will actually, beneficially, or constructively own shares of our common stock in excess of the ownership limit and that, as of

 

182


Table of Contents

the pricing of this offering, they do not actually or constructively own, or reasonably anticipate so owning, in excess of 9.9% of the outstanding equity interests in any of the tenants that we expect to have at the closing of this offering. Thereafter, before we enter into or acquire a lease with a new tenant, we will be obligated to disclose the new tenant to the Farallon excepted holders, and such holders will have one business day to inform us as to whether they actually or constructively own, or reasonably anticipate so owning, more than 9.9% of the equity interests in such tenant. If they do own such an interest, if we enter into a lease with that tenant, the rent from that tenant would fail to qualify under the REIT income tests. If this rent could prevent us from satisfying the REIT gross income tests, then our charter would require that the number of shares owned by the Farallon excepted holders in excess of the ownership limit be automatically transferred to a trust as described below. If this occurs, and the Farallon excepted holders gave us advance notice of their tenant ownership as described above, we would be obligated to indemnify the Farallon excepted holders for any damages they suffer as a result of the transfer of shares to the trust. In addition, even if the Farallon excepted holders do not own one of our tenants, in connection with the granting of their exemption, they may later acquire over 9.9% of the equity interests in that tenant provided (i) our annual income from that tenant and other tenants in which they own over a 9.9% interest will not exceed 2% of our gross income; and (ii) such ownership could not otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT. As a result, ownership of our tenants by the Farallon excepted holders may increase our nonqualifying income or prevent us from entering into certain leases with certain tenants. The representations and covenants that will be made by the Farallon excepted holders in connection with the granting of the exemptions are intended to ensure that, as a result of granting such exemptions, we will continue to qualify as a REIT. The Farallon excepted holders must inform us if any of these representations becomes untrue or is violated, in which case they will lose their excepted holder limit. Subject to certain conditions, we may reduce the excepted holder limit (but not below the ownership limit) if the Farallon excepted holders actually, beneficially or constructively own fewer shares than the excepted holder limit for a specified period. In addition, the Farallon excepted holders’ actual and constructive ownership of our common stock and interests in our operating partnership may cause our operating partnership to be deemed to constructively own shares of our common stock in excess of the ownership limits. In that case, our board of directors will grant our operating partnership an exemption from the ownership limits. We believe that these exemptions will not jeopardize our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes.

In connection with a waiver of an ownership limit or at any other time, our board of directors may increase or decrease one or both of the ownership limits, except that a decreased ownership limit will not be effective for any person whose actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock exceeds the decreased ownership limit at the time of the decrease until the person’s actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, although any further acquisition of our stock will violate the decreased ownership limit. Our board of directors may not increase or decrease any ownership limit if the new ownership limit would allow five or fewer persons to actually or beneficially own more than 49% in value of our outstanding stock or could cause us to be “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

Our charter provisions further prohibit:

 

   

any person from actually, beneficially or constructively owning shares of our stock that could result in us being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT; and

 

   

any person from transferring shares of our stock if such transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution).

 

183


Table of Contents

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above must give written notice immediately to us or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, provide us at least 15 days prior notice, and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our status as a REIT.

The ownership limits and other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above will not apply until the closing of this offering and will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interest to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT or that compliance is no longer required in order for us to qualify as a REIT.

Pursuant to our charter, if any purported transfer of our stock or any other event would otherwise result in any person violating the ownership limits or such other limit established by our board of directors, or could result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT, then the number of shares causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to, and held by, a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable organizations selected by us. The prohibited owner will have no rights in shares of our stock held by the trustee. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the violative transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the trust. Any dividend or other distribution paid to the prohibited owner, prior to our discovery that the shares had been automatically transferred to a trust as described above, must be repaid to the trustee upon demand. If the transfer to the trust as described above is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent violation of the applicable ownership limit or our being “closely held” (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT, then the transfer of the number of shares that otherwise would cause any person to violate the above restrictions will be void. If any transfer of our stock would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), then any such purported transfer will be void and of no force or effect and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in the shares.

Shares of our stock transferred to the trustee are deemed offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (1) the price per share paid by the prohibited owner for the shares (or, if the prohibited owner did not give value in connection with the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer to the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other such transaction), the last sales price reported on the NYSE on the day of the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust) and (2) the last sale price reported on the NYSE on the date we, or our designee, accepts such offer. We may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. We will pay the amount of such reduction to the trustee for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. We have the right to accept such offer until the trustee has sold the shares of our stock held in the trust. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold terminates and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and any dividends or other distributions held by the trustee with respect to such stock will be paid to the charitable beneficiary.

If we do not buy the shares, the trustee must, within 20 days of receiving notice from us of the transfer of shares to the trust, sell the shares to a person or persons, designated by the trustee, who could own the shares without violating the ownership limits or other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock. Upon such sale, the trustee must distribute to the prohibited owner an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares (or, if the prohibited owner did not give value in connection with the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer to the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other such transaction), the last sales price reported on the NYSE on the day of the event that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust) and (2) the sales proceeds (net of commissions and other expenses of sale) received by the trustee for the shares. The trustee will reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. Any net sales

 

184


Table of Contents

proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner will be immediately paid to the charitable beneficiary, together with any dividends or other distributions thereon. In addition, if, prior to discovery by us that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trustee, such shares of stock are sold by a prohibited owner, then such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for or in respect of such shares that exceeds the amount that such prohibited owner was entitled to receive, such excess amount shall be paid to the trustee upon demand.

The trustee will be designated by us and will be unaffiliated with us and with any prohibited owner. Prior to the sale of any shares by the trust, the trustee will receive, in trust for the charitable beneficiary, all dividends and other distributions paid by us with respect to such shares, and may exercise all voting rights with respect to such shares for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary.

Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee shall have the authority, at the trustee’s sole discretion:

 

   

to rescind as void any vote cast by a prohibited owner prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust; and

 

   

to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the beneficiary of the trust.

However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind and recast the vote.

If our board of directors or a committee thereof determines in good faith that a proposed transfer or other event has taken place that violates the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter, our board of directors or such committee may take such action as it deems advisable in its sole discretion to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such transfer, including, but not limited to, causing the company to redeem shares of stock, refusing to give effect to the transfer on our books or instituting proceedings to enjoin the transfer.

Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, must give written notice to us stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock that the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner also must provide us with any additional information that we request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the person’s actual or beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits. In addition, any person that is an actual, beneficial or constructive owner of shares of our stock and any person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for an actual, beneficial or constructive owner must, on request, disclose to us such information as we may request in good faith in order to determine our status as a REIT and comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or determine such compliance.

Any certificates representing shares of our stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above.

These restrictions on ownership and transfer could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common stock that our stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interest.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our shares of common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

185


Table of Contents

MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and our charter and bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law and our charter and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our Board of Directors

Our charter and bylaws provide that the number of directors of our company may be established, increased or decreased only by a majority of our entire board of directors but may not be fewer than the minimum number required under the MGCL nor, unless our bylaws are amended, more than 15. We expect to have nine directors upon the closing of this offering. Our charter provides that, at such time as we have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors, which we expect to have upon the closing of this offering, we elect to be subject to a provision of Maryland law requiring that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors and that any individual elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Each of our directors is elected by our stockholders to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies under the MGCL. Holders of shares of our common stock will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Removal of Directors

Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, a director may be removed only for cause (as defined in our charter) and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the exclusive power of our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, may preclude stockholders from removing incumbent directors and filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Business Combinations

Under the MGCL, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances specified under the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and any interested stockholder, or an affiliate of such an interested stockholder, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:

 

   

any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or

 

   

an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. In approving a transaction, however, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of the approval, with any terms and conditions determined by it.

 

186


Table of Contents

After such five-year period, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

   

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

 

   

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These supermajority approval requirements do not apply if, among other conditions, the corporation’s common stockholders 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 stockholder for its shares.

These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a corporation’s board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has by resolution exempted from the business combination provisions of the MGCL, and, consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to, business combinations between us and any interested stockholder that have been approved by a majority of our directors who are not affiliated with the interested stockholder, unless our board in the future alters or repeals this resolution. As a result, anyone who is or later becomes an interested stockholder may be able to enter into business combinations with us without compliance by our company with the five-year moratorium, supermajority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.

We cannot assure you that our board of directors will not opt to be subject to such business combination provisions in the future. However, an alteration or repeal of this resolution will not have any effect on any business combinations that have been consummated or upon any agreements existing at the time of such modification or repeal.

Control Share Acquisitions

The MGCL provides that “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power in the election of directors generally but excluding: (1) the person who has made or proposes to make the control share acquisition, (2) any officer of the corporation or (3) any employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of:

 

   

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

   

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

   

a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

 

187


Table of Contents

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an “acquiring person statement” as described in the MGCL), may compel the board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the control shares. If no request for a special meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

If voting rights of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “acquiring person statement” as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

The control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all control share acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. Our board of directors may amend or eliminate this provision at any time in the future.

Subtitle 8

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of the following five provisions:

 

   

a classified board;

 

   

a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;

 

   

a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;

 

   

a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; or

 

   

a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

Our charter provides that, at such time as we become eligible to make a Subtitle 8 election, we elect to be subject to the provisions of Subtitle 8 relating to the filling of vacancies on our board of directors. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already (1) require a two-thirds vote for the removal of any director from the board, which removal must be for cause, (2) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships, subject to limitations set forth in our charter and bylaws, and (3) require, unless called by the chairman of our board of directors, our president, our chief executive officer or our board of directors, the request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on a matter at such meeting to call a special meeting to consider and vote on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders. We have not elected to create a classified board. In the future, our board of directors may elect, without stockholder approval, to create a classified board or adopt one or more of the other provisions of Subtitle 8.

 

188


Table of Contents

Amendments to Our Charter and Bylaws

Our charter generally may be amended only if such amendment is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except that amendments to the provisions of our charter relating to the removal of directors and the vote required to amend the removal provision may be amended only with the approval of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our board of directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws or to make new bylaws.

Meetings of Stockholders

Under our bylaws, annual meetings of stockholders will be held each year at a date and time determined by our board of directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only by our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our president or our chief executive officer. Additionally, subject to the provisions of our bylaws, special meetings of the stockholders to act on any matter must be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on such matter who have requested the special meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, our bylaws. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide that:

 

   

with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders at the annual meeting may be made only:

 

   

pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

 

   

by or at the direction of our board of directors; or

 

   

by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time the stockholder provides the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, our bylaws; and

 

   

with respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our company’s notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders, and nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors may be made only:

 

   

by or at the direction of our board of directors; or

 

   

provided that the meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time the stockholder provides the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, our bylaws.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our board of directors the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our board of directors, to inform

 

189


Table of Contents

stockholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals. Although our bylaws do not give our board of directors the power to disapprove timely stockholder nominations and proposals, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or proposals for other action if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors to our board of directors or to approve its own proposal.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws

The supermajority vote required to remove directors, our election to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 vesting in our board of directors the exclusive power to fill vacancies on our board of directors and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests. Likewise, if our board of directors were to elect to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 providing for a classified board or if the provision in our bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL were amended or rescinded, these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

   

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and:

 

   

was committed in bad faith; or

 

   

was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

   

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

   

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or if the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses.

 

190


Table of Contents

In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:

 

   

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

 

   

a written unsecured undertaking by the director or officer or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet the standard of conduct.

Our charter authorizes us to obligate our company and our bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding without requiring a preliminary determination of the director’s or officer’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification to:

 

   

any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or

 

   

any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

Our charter and bylaws also permit us, with the approval of our board of directors, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.

The partnership agreement of our operating partnership also provides that we, as general partner, and our directors, officers and employees, officers and employees of our operating partnership and our designees are indemnified against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (whether joint or several), expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and other legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, that relate to the operations of the operating partnership, except (1) if the act or omission of such person was material to the matter giving rise to the action and either was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) for any transaction for which such person received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or otherwise, in violation or breach of any provision of the partnership agreement or (3) in the case of a criminal proceeding, if the person had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful. The operating partnership must also pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses of any such person upon its receipt of a written affirmation of the person’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has been met and a written undertaking to repay any amounts paid or advanced if it is ultimately determined that the person did not meet the standard of conduct for indemnification. The operating partnership will not indemnify or advance funds to any person with respect to any action initiated by the person seeking indemnification (other than an action to enforce such person’s right to indemnification under the partnership agreement) without our approval or if the person is found to be liable to the operating partnership on any portion of any claim in the action. See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.—Exculpation and Indemnification.”

Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

191


Table of Contents

Indemnification Agreements

We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors as described in “Management—Limitation of Liability and Indemnification.”

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of our Stock

Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to qualify as a REIT. Subject to certain exceptions, our charter provides that no person or entity may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or 9.8% (in value) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of our stock. For more information regarding these and other restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock imposed by our charter, see “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

REIT Qualification

Our charter provides that our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to be qualified as a REIT.

 

192


Table of Contents

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

General

Upon completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement, we will have outstanding              shares of our common stock (             shares if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full). In addition, upon completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement,              shares of our common stock will be issuable upon exchange of common units. We will also have outstanding approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) in liquidation preference of series A preferred units, which are redeemable for cash, or at our option, exchangeable for registered shares of our common stock following the third anniversary of this offering.

Of these shares, the              shares sold in this offering (             shares if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full) will be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter. The remaining              shares of common stock issued to our officers, directors and affiliates in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement and the shares of our common stock issuable to officers, directors and affiliates upon exchange of units will be “restricted shares” as defined in Rule 144.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Trading of our common stock on the NYSE is expected to commence immediately following the completion of this offering. No assurance can be given as to (1) the likelihood that an active market for common stock will develop, (2) the liquidity of any such market, (3) the ability of the stockholders to sell their shares or (4) the prices that stockholders may obtain for any of their shares. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the market price prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock (including shares issued upon the exchange of units or the exercise of stock options), or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering.”

For a description of certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, see “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned shares considered to be restricted securities under Rule 144 for at least six months would be entitled to sell those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliated person who has beneficially owned shares considered to be restricted securities under Rule 144 for at least one year would be entitled to sell those shares without regard to the provisions of Rule 144.

An affiliate of ours who has beneficially owned shares of our common stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately              shares immediately after this offering (             shares if the underwriters exercise their overallotment option in full); or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on the NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the SEC.

Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us.

 

193


Table of Contents

Redemption/Exchange Rights

In connection with the formation transactions, our operating partnership will issue an aggregate of common units to contributors of interests in the property entities. Beginning on or after the date which is 14 months after the completion of this offering, limited partners of our operating partnership and certain qualifying assignees of a limited partner have the right to require our operating partnership to redeem part or all of their common units for cash, or, at our election, shares of our common stock, based upon the fair market value of an equivalent number of shares of our common stock at the time of the redemption, subject to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter and described under the section entitled “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” See “Description of the Partnership Agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P.” In addition, beginning three years after the completion of this offering, limited partners holding series A preferred units and certain qualifying assignees will have the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the partnership agreement, to require the operating partnership to redeem all or a portion of their series A preferred units in exchange for a cash redemption price equal to $25.00 per unit plus any accrued distributions that have not been paid on or prior to the redemption date. The operating partnership’s obligation to effect a redemption, however, will not arise or be binding against the operating partnership unless and until we, as general partner, decline or fail to exercise our prior and independent right to acquire such series A preferred units in exchange for shares of our common stock that are issued under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights

We will enter into a registration rights agreement with the various persons receiving shares of our common stock and/or common units in the formation transactions or pursuant to the concurrent private placement, including the Farallon Funds, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of our executive officers. Under the registration rights agreement, subject to certain limitations, commencing not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, we will file one or more registration statements covering the resale of the shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement and the resale of the shares of our common stock issued or issuable, at our option, in exchange for operating partnership units issued in the formation transactions. We may, at our option, satisfy our obligation to prepare and file a resale registration statement by filing a registration statement registering the issuance by us of shares of our common stock registered under the Securities Act to the holders of units upon redemption of such units and, to the extent such shares constitute restricted securities, their resale. Commencing on the date that is 180 days following completion of this offering, the Farallon Funds have the right, on one occasion, to require us to register shares of our common stock issued in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement for resale in an underwritten offering registered pursuant to the Securities Act; provided, such registration shall be limited to a number of shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds and their affiliates in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement. Commencing upon our filing of a resale registration statement not later than 14 months after the date of this offering, under certain circumstances, we are also required to undertake an underwritten offering upon the written request of holders of at least 10% in the aggregate of the securities originally issued in the formation transactions, provided that we are not obligated to effect more than two such underwritten offerings in addition to the demand registration.

Equity Incentive Plan

We intend to adopt our equity incentive plan immediately prior to the completion of this offering. The equity incentive plan provides for the grant of incentive awards to our employees, officers, directors and consultants of our company and our subsidiaries. We intend to reserve              shares of common stock for issuance under the plan.

We intend to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of common stock issuable under the equity incentive plan. Shares of our common stock covered by this registration

 

194


Table of Contents

statement, including any shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of options or shares of restricted common stock, will be eligible for transfer or resale without restriction under the Securities Act unless held by affiliates.

Lock-up Agreements and Other Contractual Restrictions on Resale

In addition to the limits placed on the sale of our common stock by operation of Rule 144 and other provisions of the Securities Act, our directors and executive officers, and each of the contributors have agreed with the underwriters of this offering, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell or otherwise transfer or encumber, or enter into any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of common stock owned by them at the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placement or thereafter acquired by them for a period of 180 days after the completion of this offering (or, in the case of the Farallon Funds, 365 days; provided , that, commencing on the date that is 180 days after the consummation of this offering, the Farallon Funds may (i) sell shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement pursuant to a demand registration statement or (ii) distribute such amount of shares to their limited partners, members or stockholders), without the prior consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. However, each of our directors and executive officers may transfer or dispose of his or her shares during this 180-day lock-up period in the case of gifts or for estate planning purposes where the transferee agrees to a similar lock-up agreement for the remainder of the this 180-day lock-up period, provided that no report is required to be filed by the transferor under the Exchange Act as a result of the transfer.

 

195


Table of Contents

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations regarding our company and this offering of our common stock. For purposes of this discussion, references to “we,” “our” and “us” mean only Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., and do not include any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. The information in this summary is based on:

 

   

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code;

 

   

current, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code;

 

   

the legislative history of the Code;

 

   

administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS; and

 

   

court decisions;

in each case, as of the date of this prospectus. In addition, the administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS include its practices and policies as expressed in private letter rulings that are not binding on the IRS except with respect to the particular taxpayers who requested and received those rulings. Future legislation, Treasury Regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and/or court decisions may adversely affect the tax considerations contained in this discussion. Any such change could apply retroactively to transactions preceding the date of the change. We have not requested and do not intend to request a ruling from the IRS that we qualify as a REIT, and the statements in this prospectus are not binding on the IRS or any court. Thus, we can provide no assurance that the tax considerations contained in this discussion will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. This summary does not discuss any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences associated with the purchase, ownership, or disposition of our common stock or our election to be taxed as a REIT.

You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to you of:

 

   

the purchase, ownership or disposition of our common stock, including the federal, state, local, non-U.S. and other tax consequences;

 

   

our election to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; and

 

   

potential changes in applicable tax laws.

Taxation of Our Company

General

We currently have in effect an election to be taxed as a pass-through entity under subchapter S of the Code, but intend to revoke our S election prior to the closing date of this offering. We intend to elect to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010. We believe that we are organized and will operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010, and we intend to continue to be organized and operate in this manner. However, qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, including through actual annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that we have been organized or will be able to operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify.”

 

196


Table of Contents

The sections of the Code and the corresponding Treasury Regulations that relate to qualification and taxation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following discussion sets forth certain material aspects of the sections of the Code that govern the federal income tax treatment of a REIT and its stockholders. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.

Latham & Watkins LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with this offering of our common stock and our intended election to be taxed as a REIT. Latham & Watkins LLP will render an opinion to us to the effect that, commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010, we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and our proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. It must be emphasized that this opinion will be based on various assumptions and representations as to factual matters, including representations made by us in a factual certificate provided by one of our officers. In addition, this opinion will be based upon our factual representations set forth in this prospectus. Moreover, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the Code, which are discussed below, including through actual annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed by Latham & Watkins LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that our actual results of operation for any particular taxable year will satisfy those requirements. Further, the anticipated federal income tax treatment described in this discussion may be changed, perhaps retroactively, by legislative, administrative or judicial action at any time. Latham & Watkins LLP has no obligation to update its opinion subsequent to the date of such opinion.

Provided we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be required to pay federal corporate income taxes on our REIT taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” that ordinarily results from investment in a C corporation. A C corporation is a corporation that generally is required to pay tax at the corporate level. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the stockholder level when the income is distributed. We will, however, be required to pay federal income tax as follows:

 

   

First, we will be required to pay tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.

 

   

Second, we may be required to pay the “alternative minimum tax” on our items of tax preference under some circumstances.

 

   

Third, if we have (1) net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (2) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be required to pay tax at the highest corporate rate on this income. To the extent that income from foreclosure property is otherwise qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, this tax is not applicable. Subject to certain other requirements, foreclosure property generally is defined as property we acquired through foreclosure or after a default on a loan secured by the property or a lease of the property.

 

   

Fourth, we will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions. Prohibited transactions are, in general, sales or other taxable dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

 

   

Fifth, if we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as described below, but have otherwise maintained our qualification as a REIT because certain other requirements are met, we will be required to pay a tax equal to (1) the greater of (A) the amount by which we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test and (B) the amount by which we fail to satisfy the 95% gross income test, multiplied by (2) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

197


Table of Contents
   

Sixth, if we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% or 10% asset test), as described below, due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and we nonetheless maintain our REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail such test.

 

   

Seventh, if we fail to satisfy any provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a violation of the gross income tests or certain violations of the asset tests, as described below) and the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we may retain our REIT qualification but we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

 

   

Eighth, we will be required to pay a 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods.

 

   

Ninth, if we acquire any asset from a corporation that is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the C corporation’s basis in the asset, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset during the ten-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then we will be required to pay tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on this gain to the extent of the excess of (1) the fair market value of the asset over (2) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case determined as of the date on which we acquired the asset. The results described in this paragraph with respect to the recognition of gain assume that the C corporation will refrain from making an election to receive different treatment under applicable Treasury Regulations on its tax return for the year in which we acquire the asset from the C corporation.

 

   

Tenth, our subsidiaries that are C corporations, including our “taxable REIT subsidiaries,” generally will be required to pay federal corporate income tax on their earnings.

 

   

Eleventh, we will be required to pay a 100% tax on any “redetermined rents,” “redetermined deductions” or “excess interest.” See “—Penalty Tax.” In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished to any of our tenants by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours. Redetermined deductions and excess interest generally represent amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations.

 

   

Twelfth, we may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net capital gain. In that case, a stockholder would include its proportionate share of our undistributed net capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) in its income, would be deemed to have paid the tax that we paid on such gain, and would be allowed a credit for its proportionate share of the tax deemed to have been paid, and an adjustment would be made to increase the basis of the stockholder in our common stock.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT . The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

  (1) that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

  (2) that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to evidence its beneficial ownership;

 

  (3) that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Code;

 

198


Table of Contents
  (4) that is not a financial institution or an insurance company within the meaning of certain provisions of the Code;

 

  (5) that is beneficially owned by 100 or more persons;

 

  (6) not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, including certain specified entities, during the last half of each taxable year; and

 

  (7) that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.

The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4), inclusive, must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply until after the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT. For purposes of condition (6), the term “individual” includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefit plan, a private foundation or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes, but generally does not include a qualified pension plan or profit sharing trust.

We believe that we have been organized, will operate and will issue sufficient shares of our common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership pursuant to this offering of our common stock to allow us to satisfy conditions (1) through (7) inclusive, during the relevant time periods. In addition, our charter provides for restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of our shares which are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. A description of the share ownership and transfer restrictions relating to our common stock is contained in the discussion in this prospectus under the heading “Description of Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.” These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, except as provided in the next sentence, our status as a REIT will terminate. If, however, we comply with the rules contained in applicable Treasury Regulations that require us to ascertain the actual ownership of our shares and we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirement described in condition (6) above, we will be treated as having met this requirement. See “—Failure to Qualify.”

In addition, we may not maintain our status as a REIT unless our taxable year is the calendar year. We will have a calendar taxable year.

Ownership of Interests in Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies and Qualified REIT Subsidiaries . In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership or a member in a limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, Treasury Regulations provide that the REIT will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, based on its interest in partnership capital, subject to special rules relating to the 10% asset test described below. Also, the REIT will be deemed to be entitled to its proportionate share of the income of that entity. The assets and gross income of the partnership or limited liability company retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of Section 856 of the Code, including satisfying the gross income tests and the asset tests. Thus, our pro rata share of the assets and items of income of our operating partnership, including our operating partnership’s share of these items of any partnership or limited liability company treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes in which it owns an interest, is treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this discussion, including the gross income and asset tests described below. A brief summary of the rules governing the federal income taxation of partnerships and limited liability companies is set forth below in “—Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies.”

 

199


Table of Contents

We expect to control our operating partnership and the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies and intend to operate them in a manner consistent with the requirements for our qualification as a REIT. If we become a limited partner or non-managing member in any partnership or limited liability company and such entity takes or expects to take actions that could jeopardize our status as a REIT or require us to pay tax, we may be forced to dispose of our interest in such entity. In addition, it is possible that a partnership or limited liability company could take an action which could cause us to fail a gross income or asset test, and that we would not become aware of such action in time to dispose of our interest in the partnership or limited liability company or take other corrective action on a timely basis. In that case, we could fail to qualify as a REIT unless we were entitled to relief, as described below.

We may from time to time own and operate certain properties through subsidiaries that we intend to be treated as “qualified REIT subsidiaries” under the Code. A corporation will qualify as our qualified REIT subsidiary if we own 100% of the corporation’s outstanding stock and do not elect with the subsidiary to treat it as a “taxable REIT subsidiary,” as described below. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate corporation, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the parent REIT for all purposes under the Code, including all REIT qualification tests. Thus, in applying the federal tax requirements described in this discussion, any qualified REIT subsidiaries we own are ignored, and all assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of such corporations are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. A qualified REIT subsidiary is not subject to federal income tax, and our ownership of the stock of a qualified REIT subsidiary will not violate the restrictions on ownership of securities, as described below under “—Asset Tests.”

Ownership of Interests in Taxable REIT Subsidiaries . We will own an interest in one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries and may acquire securities in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock, and that has made a joint election with such REIT to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. If a taxable REIT subsidiary owns more than 35% of the total voting power or value of the outstanding securities of another corporation, such other corporation will also be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. Other than some activities relating to lodging and health care facilities, a taxable REIT subsidiary may generally engage in any business, including the provision of customary or non-customary services to tenants of its parent REIT. A taxable REIT subsidiary is subject to federal income tax as a regular C corporation. In addition, a taxable REIT subsidiary may be prevented from deducting interest on debt funded directly or indirectly by its parent REIT if certain tests regarding the taxable REIT subsidiary’s debt to equity ratio and interest expense are not satisfied. A REIT’s ownership of securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary is not subject to the 5% or 10% asset test described below. See “—Asset Tests.”

Income Tests

We must satisfy two gross income requirements annually to maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, in each taxable year we must derive directly or indirectly at least 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, certain hedging transactions, and certain foreign currency gains) from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including “rents from real property” and, in certain circumstances, interest, or certain types of temporary investments. Second, in each taxable year we must derive at least 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, certain hedging transactions, and certain foreign currency gains) from the real property investments described above or dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or any combination of the foregoing. For these purposes, the term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of all or some of the amount depends in any way on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

 

200


Table of Contents

Rents we receive from a tenant will qualify as “rents from real property” for the purpose of satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if all of the following conditions are met:

 

   

The amount of rent is not based in any way on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount we receive or accrue generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales;

 

   

Neither we nor an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of our capital stock actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the interests in the assets or net profits of a non-corporate tenant, or, if the tenant is a corporation, 10% or more of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the tenant. Rents we receive from such a tenant that is a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, however, will not be excluded from the definition of “rents from real property” as a result of this condition if at least 90% of the space at the property to which the rents relate is leased to third parties, and the rents paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary are substantially comparable to rents paid by our other tenants for comparable space. Whether rents paid by a taxable REIT subsidiary are substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants is determined at the time the lease with the taxable REIT subsidiary is entered into, extended, and modified, if such modification increases the rents due under such lease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if a lease with a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is modified and such modification results in an increase in the rents payable by such taxable REIT subsidiary, any such increase will not qualify as “rents from real property.” For purposes of this rule, a “controlled taxable REIT subsidiary” is a taxable REIT subsidiary in which the parent REIT owns stock possessing more than 50% of the voting power or more than 50% of the total value of the outstanding stock of such taxable REIT subsidiary. We anticipate that one or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries will lease space from us, primarily in our media and entertainment properties. To the extent any rent from such lease does not satisfy the 90% rental exception described above, our receipt of such rent will not qualify under the gross income tests;

 

   

Rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If this condition is not met, then the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property.” To the extent that rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, exceeds 15% of the total rent received under the lease, we may transfer a portion of such personal property to a taxable REIT subsidiary. We anticipate that one or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries may, from time to time, own certain personal property leased to tenants at our media and entertainment properties or other properties; and

 

   

We generally do not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to our tenants, subject to a 1% de minimis exception and except as provided below. We may, however, perform services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant” of the property. Examples of these services include the provision of light, heat, or other utilities, trash removal and general maintenance of common areas. In addition, we may employ an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue to provide customary services, or a taxable REIT subsidiary, which may be wholly or partially owned by us, to provide both customary and non-customary services to our tenants without causing the rent we receive from those tenants to fail to qualify as “rents from real property.” We anticipate that one or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries will provide non-customary services to certain of our tenants at our media and entertainment properties or other properties. Any amounts we receive from a taxable REIT subsidiary with respect to the taxable REIT subsidiary’s provision of non-customary services will, however, be nonqualifying income under the 75% gross income test and, except to the extent received through the payment of dividends, the 95% gross income test.

 

201


Table of Contents

We generally do not intend, and as a general partner of our operating partnership, do not intend to permit our operating partnership, to take actions we believe will cause us to fail to satisfy the rental conditions described above. However, we may intentionally fail to satisfy some of these conditions to the extent we determine, based on the advice of our tax counsel, that the failure will not jeopardize our tax status as a REIT. In addition, with respect to the limitation on the rental of personal property, we have not obtained appraisals of the real property and personal property leased to tenants. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not disagree with our determinations of value. Moreover, in connection with granting the excepted holder limit to the Farallon excepted holders, we have obtained representations from these entities in order to ensure that we generally will not be deemed to own an interest in any of our tenants, or in the event we are treated as owning such an interest as a result of granting such waiver, we will not derive nonqualifying rental income in excess of certain thresholds.

Some of our leases are in the form of licenses and have terms of less than 30 days (“short-term licenses”). The treatment of rents derived with respect to these short-term licenses for purposes of the gross income tests is not entirely clear. We believe that rents derived with respect to these short-term licenses should qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of the gross income tests, although there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a contrary position. If the payments we receive in connection with such short-term licenses do not qualify as “rents from real property,” such payments would not be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests.

Income we receive that is attributable to the rental of parking spaces at the properties generally will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the gross income tests if certain services provided with respect to the parking spaces are performed by independent contractors from whom we derive no revenue, either directly or indirectly, or by a taxable REIT subsidiary, and certain other conditions are met. We believe that the income we receive that is attributable to parking spaces will meet these tests and, accordingly, will constitute rents from real property for purposes of the gross income tests.

From time to time, we may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase these items, and futures and forward contracts. Income from a hedging transaction, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, that is clearly identified as a hedging transaction as specified in the Code will not constitute gross income and thus will be exempt from the 75% and 95% gross income tests. The term “hedging transaction,” as used above, generally means any transaction we enter into in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of (1) interest rate changes or fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made by us to acquire or carry real estate assets, or (2) for hedging transactions, currency fluctuations with respect to an item of qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test. To the extent that we do not properly identify such transactions as hedges or we hedge with other types of financial instruments, the income from those transactions is not likely to be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT.

To the extent our taxable REIT subsidiaries pay dividends, we generally will derive our allocable share of such dividend income through our interest in our operating partnership. Such dividend income will qualify under the 95%, but not the 75%, gross income test.

We will monitor the amount of the dividend and other income from our taxable REIT subsidiaries and will take actions intended to keep this income, and any other nonqualifying income, within the limitations of the gross income tests. Although we expect these actions will be sufficient to prevent a violation of the gross income tests, we cannot guarantee that such actions will in all cases prevent such a violation.

 

202


Table of Contents

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for the year if we are entitled to relief under certain provisions of the Code. We generally may make use of the relief provisions if:

 

   

following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for such taxable year in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be issued; and

 

   

our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.

It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally accrue or receive exceeds the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that our failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above in “—Taxation of Our Company—General,” even if these relief provisions apply, and we retain our status as a REIT, a tax would be imposed with respect to our nonqualifying income. We may not always be able to comply with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodic monitoring of our income.

Prohibited Transaction Income . Any gain that we realize on the sale of property held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, including our share of any such gain realized by our operating partnership, either directly or through its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a 100% penalty tax, unless certain safe harbor exceptions apply. This prohibited transaction income may also adversely affect our ability to satisfy the gross income tests for qualification as a REIT. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. Our operating partnership intends to hold its properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing and owning its properties and to make occasional sales of the properties as are consistent with our operating partnership’s investment objectives. We do not intend to enter into any sales that are prohibited transactions. However, the IRS may successfully contend that some or all of the sales made by our operating partnership or its subsidiary partnerships or limited liability companies are prohibited transactions. We would be required to pay the 100% penalty tax on our allocable share of the gains resulting from any such sales.

Penalty Tax . Any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions or excess interest we generate will be subject to a 100% penalty tax. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of any services furnished to any of our tenants by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours, and redetermined deductions and excess interest represent any amounts that are deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary of ours for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code.

We anticipate that one or more of our taxable REIT subsidiaries will provide services to certain of our tenants and will pay rent to us. We intend to set the fees paid to our taxable REIT subsidiaries for such services, and the rent payable to us, at arm’s length rates, although the amounts paid may not satisfy the safe-harbor provisions described above. These determinations are inherently factual, and the IRS has broad discretion to assert that amounts paid between related parties should be reallocated to clearly reflect their respective incomes. If the IRS successfully made such an assertion, we would be required to pay a 100% penalty tax on the excess of an arm’s length fee for tenant services over the amount actually paid, or on the excess rents paid to us.

 

203


Table of Contents

Asset Tests

At the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable year, we must also satisfy four tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. For purposes of this test, the term “real estate assets” generally means real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property) and shares (or transferable certificates of beneficial interest) in other REITs, as well as any stock or debt instrument attributable to the investment of the proceeds of a stock offering or a public offering of debt with a term of at least five years, but only for the one-year period beginning on the date the REIT receives such proceeds.

Second, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities (including securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries), other than those securities includable in the 75% asset test.

Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class, and except for investments in other REITs, our qualified REIT subsidiaries and taxable REIT subsidiaries, the value of any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, and we may not own more than 10% of the total vote or value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer except, in the case of the 10% value test, securities satisfying the “straight debt” safe-harbor or securities issued by a partnership that itself would satisfy the 75% income test if it were a REIT. Certain types of securities we may own are disregarded as securities solely for purposes of the 10% value test, including, but not limited to, any loan to an individual or an estate, any obligation to pay rents from real property and any security issued by a REIT. In addition, solely for purposes of the 10% value test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Code.

Our operating partnership will own 100% of the securities of one or more corporations that will elect, together with us, to be treated as our taxable REIT subsidiaries. So long as each of these companies qualifies as a taxable REIT subsidiary, we will not be subject to the 5% asset test, the 10% voting securities limitation or the 10% value limitation with respect to our ownership of their securities. We may acquire securities in other taxable REIT subsidiaries in the future. We believe that the aggregate value of our taxable REIT subsidiaries will not exceed 25% of the aggregate value of our gross assets. No independent appraisals have been obtained to support these conclusions. In addition, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not disagree with our determinations of value.

The asset tests must be satisfied at the close of each calendar quarter of our taxable year in which we (directly or through our operating partnership) acquire securities in the applicable issuer, and also at the close of each calendar quarter in which we increase our ownership of securities of such issuer (including as a result of increasing our interest in our operating partnership). For example, our indirect ownership of securities of each issuer will increase as a result of our capital contributions to our operating partnership or as limited partners exercise their redemption/exchange rights. Accordingly, after initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If we fail to satisfy an asset test because we acquire securities or other property during a quarter (including as a result of an increase in our interest in our operating partnership), we may cure this failure by disposing of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We believe that we have maintained and intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests. If we fail to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests within the 30 day cure period, we would cease to qualify as a REIT unless we are eligible for certain relief provisions discussed below.

Certain relief provisions may be available to us if we discover a failure to satisfy the asset tests described above after the 30-day cure period. Under these provisions, we will be deemed to have met the 5% and

 

204


Table of Contents

10% asset tests if the value of our nonqualifying assets (i) does not exceed the lesser of (a) 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the applicable quarter or (b) $10,000,000, and (ii) we dispose of the nonqualifying assets or otherwise satisfy such tests within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued. For violations of any of the asset tests due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and that are, in the case of the 5% and 10% asset tests, in excess of the de minimis exception described above, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT after the 30-day cure period by taking steps including (i) the disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets, or the taking of other actions, which allow us to meet the asset tests within (a) six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered or (b) the period of time prescribed by Treasury Regulations to be issued, (ii) paying a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets, and (iii) disclosing certain information to the IRS.

Although we believe we have satisfied the asset tests described above and plan to take steps to ensure that we satisfy such tests for any quarter with respect to which retesting is to occur, there can be no assurance that we will always be successful, or will not require a reduction in our operating partnership’s overall interest in an issuer (including in a taxable REIT subsidiary). If we fail to cure any noncompliance with the asset tests in a timely manner, and the relief provisions described above are not available, we would cease to qualify as a REIT.

Annual Distribution Requirements

To maintain our qualification as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of:

 

   

90% of our “REIT taxable income”; and

 

   

90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property; minus

 

   

the excess of the sum of certain items of non-cash income over 5% of our “REIT taxable income.”

For these purposes, our “REIT taxable income” is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain. In addition, for purposes of this test, non-cash income means income attributable to leveled stepped rents, original issue discount on purchase money debt, cancellation of indebtedness, or a like-kind exchange that is later determined to be taxable.

In addition, if we dispose of any asset we acquired from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which our basis in the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of that C corporation, within the ten-year period following our acquisition of such asset, we would be required to distribute at least 90% of the after-tax gain, if any, we recognized on the disposition of the asset, to the extent that gain does not exceed the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset over (b) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case, on the date we acquired the asset.

We generally must pay, or be treated as paying, the distributions described above in the taxable year to which they relate. At our election, a distribution will be treated as paid in a taxable year if it is declared before we timely file our tax return for such year and paid on or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration, provided such payment is made during the 12-month period following the close of such year. These distributions are treated as received by our stockholders in the year in which paid. This is so even though these distributions relate to the prior year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement. In order to be taken into account for purposes of our distribution requirement, the amount distributed must not be preferential— i.e. , every stockholder of the class of stock to which a distribution is made must be treated the same as every other stockholder of that class, and no class of stock may be treated other than according to its dividend rights as a class. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain, or distribute at least 90%, but less than

 

205


Table of Contents

100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be required to pay tax on the undistributed amount at regular corporate tax rates. We believe that we will make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy these annual distribution requirements and to minimize our corporate tax obligations. In this regard, the partnership agreement of our operating partnership authorizes us, as general partner of our operating partnership, to take such steps as may be necessary to cause our operating partnership to distribute to its partners an amount sufficient to permit us to meet these distribution requirements and to minimize our corporate tax obligation.

We expect that our REIT taxable income will be less than our cash flow because of depreciation and other non-cash charges included in computing REIT taxable income. Accordingly, we anticipate that we generally will have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the distribution requirements described above. However, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet these distribution requirements due to timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses, and the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in determining our taxable income. In addition, we may decide to retain our cash, rather than distribute it, in order to repay debt or for other reasons. If these timing differences occur, we may borrow funds to pay dividends or pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends in order to meet the distribution requirements, while preserving our cash.

Recent guidance issued by the IRS extends and clarifies earlier guidance regarding certain part-stock and part-cash dividends by REITs. Pursuant to IRS Revenue Procedure 2010-12, certain part-stock and part-cash dividends distributed by publicly traded REITs with respect to calendar years 2008 though 2011, and in some cases declared as late as December 31, 2012, will be treated as distributions for purposes of the REIT distribution requirements. Under the terms of this Revenue Procedure, up to 90% of our distributions could be paid in shares of our stock. If we make such a distribution, taxable stockholders would be required to include the full amount of the dividend ( i.e. , the cash and the stock portion) as ordinary income (subject to limited exceptions), to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes, as described under the headings “—Federal Income Tax Considerations for Holders of Our Common Stock—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders—Distributions Generally” and “—Federal Income Tax Considerations for Holders of Our Common Stock—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders—Distributions Generally.” As a result, our stockholders could recognize taxable income in excess of the cash received and may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of the cash received. If a taxable stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of the stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock.

Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify an inadvertent failure to meet the 90% distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, subject to the 4% excise tax described below. However, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based upon the amount of any deduction claimed for deficiency dividends.

Furthermore, we will be required to pay a 4% excise tax to the extent we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of 85% of our ordinary income for such year, 95% of our capital gain net income for the year and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods. Any ordinary income and net capital gain on which this excise tax is imposed for any year is treated as an amount distributed during that year for purposes of calculating such tax.

For purposes of the 90% distribution requirement and excise tax described above, dividends declared during the last three months of the taxable year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified date during such period and paid during January of the following year, will be treated as paid by us and received by our stockholders on December 31 of the year in which they are declared.

 

206


Table of Contents

Like-Kind Exchanges

We may dispose of properties in transactions intended to qualify as like-kind exchanges under the Code. Such like-kind exchanges are intended to result in the deferral of gain for federal income tax purposes. The failure of any such transaction to qualify as a like-kind exchange could require us to pay federal income tax, possibly including the 100% prohibited transaction tax, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction.

Failure To Qualify

If we discover a violation of a provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT, certain specified cure provisions may be available to us. Except with respect to violations of the gross income tests and asset tests (for which the cure provisions are described above), and provided the violation is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, these cure provisions generally impose a $50,000 penalty for each violation in lieu of a loss of REIT status. If we fail to satisfy the requirements for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be required to pay tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify as a REIT will not be deductible by us, and we will not be required to distribute any amounts to our stockholders. As a result, we anticipate that our failure to qualify as a REIT would reduce the cash available for distribution by us to our stockholders. In addition, if we fail to qualify as a REIT, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as regular corporate dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. In such event, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. In addition, non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, may be eligible for the preferential tax rates on qualified dividend income. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we will also be ineligible to elect to be treated as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year for which we lost our qualification. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to this statutory relief.

Tax Aspects of Our Operating Partnership, the Subsidiary Partnerships and the Limited Liability Companies

General . All of our investments will be held indirectly through our operating partnership. In addition, our operating partnership will hold certain of its investments indirectly through subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies which we expect will be treated as partnerships or disregarded entities for federal income tax purposes. In general, entities that are classified as partnerships or disregarded entities for federal income tax purposes are “pass-through” entities which are not required to pay federal income tax. Rather, partners or members of such entities are allocated their shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the partnership or limited liability company, and are potentially required to pay tax on this income, without regard to whether they receive a distribution from the partnership or limited liability company. We will include in our income our share of these partnership and limited liability company items for purposes of the various gross income tests, the computation of our REIT taxable income, and the REIT distribution requirements. Moreover, for purposes of the asset tests, we will include our pro rata share of assets held by our operating partnership, including its share of its subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies, based on our capital interests in each such entity. See “—Taxation of Our Company.”

Entity Classification . Our interests in our operating partnership and the subsidiary partnerships and limited liability companies involve special tax considerations, including the possibility that the IRS might challenge the status of these entities as partnerships (or disregarded entities). For example, an entity that would otherwise be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes may nonetheless be taxable as a corporation if it is a “publicly traded partnership” and certain other requirements are met. A partnership or limited liability company would be treated as a publicly traded partnership if its interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or a substantial equivalent thereof, within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations. We do not anticipate that our operating partnership or any subsidiary partnership or limited liability company will be treated as a publicly traded partnership that is

 

207


Table of Contents

taxable as a corporation. However, if any such entity were treated as a corporation, it would be required to pay an entity-level tax on its income. In this situation, the character of our assets and items of gross income would change and could prevent us from satisfying the REIT asset tests and possibly the REIT income tests. See “—Taxation of Our Company—Asset Tests” and “—Income Tests.” This, in turn, could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT. See “—Failure to Qualify” for a discussion of the effect of our failure to meet these tests. In addition, a change in the tax status of our operating partnership or a subsidiary partnership or limited liability company might be treated as a taxable event. If so, we might incur a tax liability without any related cash payment. We believe our operating partnership and each of our other partnerships and limited liability companies will be classified as partnerships or disregarded entities for federal income tax purposes.

Allocations of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction . The operating partnership agreement generally provides that allocations of net income will be made to holders of series A preferred units in respect of their preferential cash distribution prior to allocations made to holders of common units. Allocations to holders of common units will generally be made proportionately to all such holders in respect of such units. Certain limited partners will have the opportunity to guarantee debt of our operating partnership, indirectly through an agreement to make capital contributions to our operating partnership under limited circumstances. As a result of these guaranties or contribution agreements, and notwithstanding the foregoing discussion of allocations of income and loss of our operating partnership to holders of units, such limited partners could under limited circumstances be allocated a disproportionate amount of net loss upon a liquidation of our operating partnership, which net loss would have otherwise been allocable to us.

If an allocation of partnership income or loss does not comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership. This reallocation will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. Our operating partnership’s allocations of taxable income and loss are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 704(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

Tax Allocations With Respect to the Properties . Under 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, must be allocated in a manner so that the contributing partner is charged with the unrealized gain or benefits from the unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss generally is equal to the difference between the fair market value or book value and the adjusted tax basis of the contributed property at the time of contribution, as adjusted from time to time. These 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.

Our operating partnership may, from time to time, acquire interests in property in exchange for interests in our operating partnership. In that case, the tax basis of these property interests generally carries over to the operating partnership, notwithstanding their different book ( i.e ., fair market) value (this difference is referred to as a book-tax difference). The partnership agreement requires that income and loss allocations with respect to these properties be made in a manner consistent with Section 704(c) of the Code. Treasury Regulations issued under Section 704(c) of the Code provide partnerships with a choice of several methods of accounting for book-tax differences. Depending on the method we choose in connection with any particular contribution, the carryover basis of each of the contributed interests in the properties in the hands of our operating partnership (i) will or could cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than would be allocated to us if any of the contributed properties were to have a tax basis equal to its respective fair market value at the time of the contribution and (ii) could cause us to be allocated taxable gain in the event of a sale of such contributed interests or properties in excess of the economic or book income allocated to us as a result of such sale, with a corresponding benefit to the other partners in our operating partnership. An allocation described in clause (ii) above might cause us or the other partners to recognize taxable income in excess of cash proceeds in the event of a sale or other disposition of property, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the

 

208


Table of Contents

REIT distribution requirements. See “—General— Requirements for Qualification as a REIT” and “—Annual Distribution Requirements.”

Any property acquired by our operating partnership in a taxable transaction will initially have a tax basis equal to its fair market value, and Section 704(c) of the Code generally will not apply.

Federal Income Tax Considerations for Holders of Our Common Stock

The following summary describes the principal federal income tax consequences to you of purchasing, owning and disposing of our common stock. This summary assumes you hold shares of our common stock as a “capital asset” (generally, property held for investment within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code). It does not address all the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address the tax consequences relevant to persons who receive special treatment under the federal income tax law, except where specifically noted. Holders receiving special treatment include, without limitation:

 

   

financial institutions, banks and thrifts;

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations;

 

   

“S” corporations;

 

   

traders in securities that elect to mark to market;

 

   

partnerships, pass-through entities and persons holding our stock through a partnership or other pass-through entity;

 

   

stockholders subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

regulated investment companies and REITs;

 

   

foreign governments and international organizations;

 

   

broker-dealers or dealers in securities or currencies;

 

   

U.S. expatriates;

 

   

persons holding our stock as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion, integrated or other risk reduction or constructive sale transaction; or

 

   

U.S. stockholders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

If you are considering purchasing our common stock, you should consult your tax advisors concerning the application of federal income tax laws to your particular situation as well as any consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

 

209


Table of Contents

When we use the term “U.S. stockholder,” we mean a holder of shares of our common stock who, for federal income tax purposes, is:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more U.S. persons or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

If you hold shares of our common stock and are not a U.S. stockholder, you are a “non-U.S. stockholder.”

If a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes holds shares of our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and on the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships holding shares of our common stock are encouraged to consult their tax advisors.

Taxation of Taxable U.S. Stockholders

Distributions Generally . Distributions out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as dividends and, other than with respect to capital gain dividends and certain amounts which have previously been subject to corporate level tax discussed below, will be taxable to our taxable U.S. stockholders as ordinary income when actually or constructively received. See “—Tax Rates” below. As long as we qualify as a REIT, these distributions will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of U.S. stockholders that are corporations or, except to the extent provided in “—Tax Rates” below, the preferential rates on qualified dividend income applicable to non-corporate U.S. stockholders, including individuals.

To the extent that we make distributions on our common stock in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, these distributions will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to a U.S. stockholder. This treatment will reduce the U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares of stock by the amount of the distribution, but not below zero. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and in excess of a U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares will be taxable as capital gain. Such gain will be taxable as long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year. Dividends we declare in October, November, or December of any year and which are payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any of these months will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of that year, provided we actually pay the dividend on or before January 31 of the following year. U.S. stockholders may not include in their own income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses.

Certain stock dividends, including dividends partially paid in our capital stock and partially paid in cash that comply with IRS Revenue Procedure 2010-12, will be taxable to the recipient U.S. stockholder to the same extent as if paid in cash.

Capital Gain Dividends . Dividends that we properly designate as capital gain dividends will be taxable to our U.S. stockholders as a gain from the sale or disposition of a capital asset held for more than one year, to the extent that such gain does not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. U.S. stockholders that

 

210


Table of Contents

are corporations may, however, be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

Retention of Net Capital Gains . We may elect to retain, rather than distribute as a capital gain dividend, all or a portion of our net capital gains. If we make this election, we would pay tax on our retained net capital gains. In addition, to the extent we so elect, our earnings and profits (determined for federal income tax purposes) would be adjusted accordingly, and a U.S. stockholder generally would:

 

   

include its pro rata share of our undistributed net capital gains in computing its long-term capital gains in its return for its taxable year in which the last day of our taxable year falls, subject to certain limitations as to the amount that is includable;

 

   

be deemed to have paid its share of the capital gains tax imposed on us on the designated amounts included in the U.S. stockholder’s income as long-term capital gain;

 

   

receive a credit or refund for the amount of tax deemed paid by it;

 

   

increase the adjusted basis of its stock by the difference between the amount of includable gains and the tax deemed to have been paid by it; and

 

   

in the case of a U.S. stockholder that is a corporation, appropriately adjust its earnings and profits for the retained capital gains in accordance with Treasury Regulations to be promulgated by the IRS.

Passive Activity Losses and Investment Interest Limitations . Distributions we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of our shares will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. stockholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. A U.S. stockholder may elect to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of our stock and income designated as qualified dividend income, described in “—Tax Rates” below, as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation, but in such case, the stockholder will be taxed at ordinary income rates on such amount. Other distributions made by us, to the extent they do not constitute a return of capital, generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation.

Dispositions of Our Common Stock . If a U.S. stockholder sells or disposes of shares of common stock, it will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition and the holder’s adjusted basis in the shares. This gain or loss, except as provided below, will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the holder has held such common stock for more than one year. However, if a U.S. stockholder recognizes a loss upon the sale or other disposition of common stock that it has held for six months or less, after applying certain holding period rules, the loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent the U.S. stockholder received distributions from us which were required to be treated as long-term capital gains.

Tax Rates . The maximum tax rate for non-corporate taxpayers for (1) capital gains, including certain “capital gain dividends,” has generally been reduced to 15% (although depending on the characteristics of the assets which produced these gains and on designations which we may make, certain capital gain dividends may be taxed at a 25% rate) and (2) “qualified dividend income” has generally been reduced to 15%. In general, dividends payable by REITs are not eligible for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, except to the extent that certain holding requirements have been met and the REIT’s dividends are attributable to dividends received from taxable corporations (such as its taxable REIT subsidiaries) or to income that was subject to tax at the corporate/REIT level (for example, if it distributed taxable income that it retained and paid tax on in the prior taxable year) or to dividends properly designated by the REIT as “capital gain dividends.” The currently

 

211


Table of Contents

applicable provisions of the federal income tax laws relating to the 15% tax rate are currently scheduled to “sunset” or revert to the provisions of prior law effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010, at which time the capital gains tax rate will be increased to 20% and the rate applicable to dividends will be increased to the tax rate then applicable to ordinary income. U.S. stockholders that are corporations may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

Medicare Tax on Unearned Income. Newly enacted legislation requires certain U.S. stockholders that are individuals, estates or trusts to pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their ownership and disposition of our common stock.

New Legislation Relating to Foreign Accounts. Under newly enacted legislation, certain payments made after December 31, 2012 to “foreign financial institutions” in respect of accounts of U.S. stockholders at such financial institutions may be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%. U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this new legislation on their ownership and disposition of our common stock. See “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders—New Legislation Relating to Foreign Accounts.”

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding . We are required to report to our U.S. stockholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year, and the amount of any tax withheld. Under the backup withholding rules, a stockholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless the holder is a corporation or comes within certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact, or provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. stockholder that does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the stockholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any stockholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status. See “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders.”

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

Dividend income from us and gain arising upon a sale of our shares generally should not be unrelated business taxable income, or UBTI, to a tax-exempt stockholder, except as described below. This income or gain will be UBTI, however, if a tax-exempt stockholder holds its shares as “debt-financed property” within the meaning of the Code or if the shares are used in a trade or business of the tax-exempt stockholder. Generally, “debt-financed property” is property the acquisition or holding of which was financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder.

For tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, or qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) or (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, income from an investment in our shares will constitute UBTI unless the organization is able to properly claim a deduction for amounts set aside or placed in reserve for specific purposes so as to offset the income generated by its investment in our shares. These prospective investors should consult their tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.

Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension-held REIT” may be treated as unrelated business taxable income as to certain trusts that hold more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT. A REIT will not be a “pension-held REIT” if it is able to satisfy the “not closely held” requirement without relying on the “look-through” exception with respect to certain trusts or if such REIT is not

 

212


Table of Contents

“predominantly held” by “qualified trusts.” As a result of restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock contained in our charter, we do not expect to be classified as a “pension-held REIT,” and as a result, the tax treatment described above should be inapplicable to our stockholders. However, because our stock will be publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that this will always be the case.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders

The following discussion addresses the rules governing federal income taxation of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock by non-U.S. stockholders. These rules are complex, and no attempt is made herein to provide more than a brief summary of such rules. Accordingly, the discussion does not address all aspects of federal income taxation and does not address state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences that may be relevant to a non-U.S. stockholder in light of its particular circumstances. We urge non-U.S. stockholders to consult their tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state, local and non-U.S. income tax laws on the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, including any reporting requirements.

Distributions Generally . Distributions (including any taxable stock dividends) that are neither attributable to gains from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests nor designated by us as capital gain dividends (except as described below) will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, unless the distributions are treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. stockholder of a U.S. trade or business. Under certain treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from a REIT. Certain certification and disclosure requirements must be satisfied to be exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exemption. Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business will generally not be subject to withholding but will be subject to federal income tax on a net basis at graduated rates, in the same manner as dividends paid to U.S. stockholders are subject to federal income tax. Any such dividends received by a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (applicable after deducting federal income taxes paid on such effectively connected income) or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

Except as otherwise provided below, we expect to withhold federal income tax at the rate of 30% on any distributions made to a non-U.S. stockholder unless:

 

  (1) a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder files with us an IRS Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate; or

 

  (2) the non-U.S. stockholder files an IRS Form W-8ECI with us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s trade or business.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder to the extent that such distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of the stockholder’s common stock, but rather will reduce the adjusted basis of such stock. To the extent that such distributions exceed the non-U.S. stockholder’s adjusted basis in such common stock, they will give rise to gain from the sale or exchange of such stock, the tax treatment of which is described below. For withholding purposes, we expect to treat all distributions as made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. However, amounts withheld may be refundable if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, provided that certain conditions are met.

 

213


Table of Contents

Capital Gain Dividends and Distributions Attributable to a Sale or Exchange of U.S. Real Property Interests . Distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that we properly designate as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest, generally should not be subject to federal income taxation, unless:

 

  (1) the investment in our stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to such gain, except that a non-U.S. stockholder that is a non-U.S. corporation may also be subject to a branch profits tax of up to 30%, as discussed above; or

 

  (2) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains.

Pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, which is referred to as “FIRPTA,” distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of “U.S. real property interests,” or USRPI, whether or not designated as capital gain dividends, will cause the non-U.S. stockholder to be treated as recognizing such gain as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Non-U.S. stockholders would generally be taxed at the same rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax. We also will be required to withhold and to remit to the IRS 35% (or 15% to the extent provided in Treasury Regulations) of any distribution to non-U.S. stockholders that is designated as a capital gain dividend or, if greater, 35% of any distribution to non-U.S. stockholders that could have been designated as a capital gain dividend. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. stockholder’s federal income tax liability. However, any distribution with respect to any class of stock that is “regularly traded” on an established securities market located in the United States is not subject to FIRPTA, and therefore, not subject to the 35% U.S. withholding tax described above, if the non-U.S. stockholder did not own more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution. Instead, such distributions will generally be treated as ordinary dividend distributions and subject to withholding in the manner described above with respect to ordinary dividends.

Retention of Net Capital Gains . Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts designated by us as retained net capital gains in respect of the stock held by stockholders generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. stockholders in the same manner as actual distributions of capital gain dividends. Under that approach, the non-U.S. stockholders would be able to offset as a credit against their federal income tax liability resulting from their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such retained net capital gains and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent their proportionate share of such tax paid by us exceeds their actual federal income tax liability. If we were to designate any portion of our net capital gain as retained net capital gain, a non-U.S. stockholder should consult its tax advisor regarding the taxation of such retained net capital gain.

Sale of Our Common Stock . Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock generally will not be subject to federal income taxation unless such stock constitutes a USRPI. In general, stock of a domestic corporation that constitutes a “U.S. real property holding corporation,” or USRPHC, will constitute a USRPI. We expect that we will be a USRPHC. Our common stock will not, however, constitute a USRPI so long as we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” includes a REIT in which at all times during a specified testing period less than 50% in value of its stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. We believe, but cannot guarantee, that we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” Because our common stock will be publicly traded, no assurance can be given that we will continue to be a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing, gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock not otherwise subject to FIRPTA will be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder if either (a) the investment in

 

214


Table of Contents

our common stock is treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. trade or business or (b) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are met. In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our stock (subject to the 5% exception applicable to “regularly traded” stock described below), a non-U.S. stockholder may be treated as having gain from the sale or other taxable disposition of a USRPI if the non-U.S. stockholder (1) disposes of our stock within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, or is deemed to acquire, other shares of that stock during the 61-day period beginning with the first day of the 30-day period described in clause (1).

Even if we do not qualify as a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity” at the time a non-U.S. stockholder sells our stock, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a non-U.S. stockholder of such stock would not be subject to federal income taxation under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI if:

 

  (1) such class of stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market such as the NYSE; and

 

  (2) such non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of such class of our stock throughout the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.

If gain on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to regular federal income tax with respect to such gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. stockholder (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals). In addition, if the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, and if shares of our common stock were not “regularly traded” on an established securities market, the purchaser of such common stock would generally be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 10% of the purchase price.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax . Generally, we must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends paid to a non-U.S. stockholder, such holder’s name and address, and the amount of tax withheld, if any. A similar report is sent to the non-U.S. stockholder. Pursuant to tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in the non-U.S. stockholder’s country of residence.

Payments of dividends or of proceeds from the disposition of stock made to a non-U.S. stockholder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such holder establishes an exemption, for example, by properly certifying its non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding and information reporting may apply if either we have or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that a non-U.S. stockholder is a U.S. person.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

New Legislation Relating to Foreign Accounts . Newly enacted legislation may impose withholding taxes on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities. Under this legislation, the failure to comply with additional certification, information reporting and other specified requirements could result in withholding tax being imposed on payments of dividends and sales proceeds to U.S. stockholders that own the shares through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries and certain non-U.S. stockholders. The legislation imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends on, and gross proceeds from

 

215


Table of Contents

the sale or other disposition of, our stock paid to a foreign financial institution or to a foreign nonfinancial entity, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations or (ii) the foreign non-financial entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner. In addition, if the payee is a foreign financial institution, it generally must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury that requires, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to certain other account holders. The legislation applies to payments made after December 31, 2012. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding this legislation.

Other Tax Consequences

State, local and non-U.S. income tax laws may differ substantially from the corresponding federal income tax laws, and this discussion does not purport to describe any aspect of the tax laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the effect of state, local and non-U.S. tax laws with respect to our tax treatment as a REIT and on an investment in our common stock.

 

216


Table of Contents

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

General

The following is a summary of certain considerations arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, and the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 4975 of the Code that may be relevant to a prospective purchaser that is an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA. The following summary may also be relevant to a prospective purchaser that is not an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA, but is a tax-qualified retirement plan or an individual retirement account, individual retirement annuity, medical savings account or education individual retirement account, which we refer to collectively as an “IRA.” This discussion does not address all aspects of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or, to the extent not preempted, state law that may be relevant to particular employee benefit plan stockholders in light of their particular circumstances, including plans subject to Title I of ERISA, other employee benefit plans and IRAs subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of Section 4975 of the Code, and governmental, church, foreign and other plans that are exempt from ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code but that may be subject to other federal, state, local or foreign law requirements.

A fiduciary making the decision to invest in shares of our common stock on behalf of a prospective purchaser which is an ERISA plan, a tax qualified retirement plan, an IRA or other employee benefit plan is advised to consult its legal advisor regarding the specific considerations arising under ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code, and, to the extent not preempted, state law with respect to the purchase, ownership or sale of shares of our common stock by the plan or IRA.

Plans should also consider the entire discussion under the heading “Federal Income Tax Considerations,” as material contained in that section is relevant to any decision by an employee benefit plan, tax-qualified retirement plan or IRA to purchase our common stock.

Employee Benefit Plans, Tax-Qualified Retirement Plans and IRAs

Each fiduciary of an “ERISA plan,” which is an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, should carefully consider whether an investment in shares of our common stock is consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA. In particular, the fiduciary requirements of Part 4 of Title I of ERISA require that:

 

   

an ERISA plan make investments that are prudent and in the best interests of the ERISA plan, its participants and beneficiaries;

 

   

an ERISA plan make investments that are diversified in order to reduce the risk of large losses, unless it is clearly prudent for the ERISA plan not to do so;

 

   

an ERISA plan’s investments are authorized under ERISA and the terms of the governing documents of the ERISA plan; and

 

   

the fiduciary not cause the ERISA plan to enter into transactions prohibited under Section 406 of ERISA (and certain corresponding provisions of the Code).

In determining whether an investment in shares of our common stock is prudent for ERISA purposes, the appropriate fiduciary of an ERISA plan should consider all of the facts and circumstances, including whether the investment is reasonably designed, as a part of the ERISA plan’s portfolio for which the fiduciary has investment responsibility, to meet the objectives of the ERISA plan, taking into consideration the risk of loss and opportunity for gain or other return from the investment, the diversification, cash flow and funding requirements of the ERISA plan, and the liquidity and current return of the ERISA plan’s portfolio. A fiduciary should also take into account the nature of our business, the length of our operating history and other matters described in the

 

217


Table of Contents

section entitled “Risk Factors.” Specifically, before investing in shares of our common stock, any fiduciary should, after considering the employee plan’s or IRA’s particular circumstances, determine whether the investment is appropriate under the fiduciary standards of ERISA or other applicable law including standards with respect to prudence, diversification and delegation of control and the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code.

Our Status Under ERISA

In some circumstances where an ERISA plan holds an interest in an entity, the assets of the entity are deemed to be ERISA plan assets. This is known as the “look-through rule.” Under those circumstances, the obligations and other responsibilities of plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries and plan administrators, and of parties in interest and disqualified persons, under Parts 1 and 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, as applicable, may be expanded, and there may be an increase in their liability under these and other provisions of ERISA and the Code (except to the extent (if any) that a favorable statutory or administrative exemption or exception applies). For example, a prohibited transaction may occur if our assets are deemed to be assets of investing ERISA plans and persons who have certain specified relationships to an ERISA plan (“parties in interest” within the meaning of ERISA, and “disqualified persons” within the meaning of the Code) deal with these assets. Further, if our assets are deemed to be assets of investing ERISA plans, any person that exercises authority or control with respect to the management or disposition of the assets is an ERISA plan fiduciary.

ERISA plan assets are not defined in ERISA or the Code, but the United States Department of Labor has issued regulations that outline the circumstances under which an ERISA plan’s interest in an entity will be subject to the look-through rule. The Department of Labor regulations apply to the purchase by an ERISA plan of an “equity interest” in an entity, such as stock of a REIT. However, the Department of Labor regulations provide an exception to the look-through rule for equity interests that are “publicly offered securities.”

Under the Department of Labor regulations, a “publicly offered security” is a security that is:

 

   

freely transferable;

 

   

part of a class of securities that is widely held; and

 

   

either part of a class of securities that is registered under section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act or sold to an ERISA plan as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and the class of securities of which this security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days, or longer if allowed by the SEC, after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which this offering of these securities to the public occurred.

Whether a security is considered “freely transferable” depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. Under the Department of Labor regulations, if the security is part of an offering in which the minimum investment is $10,000 or less, then any restriction on or prohibition against any transfer or assignment of the security for the purposes of preventing a termination or reclassification of the entity for federal or state tax purposes will not ordinarily prevent the security from being considered freely transferable. Additionally, limitations or restrictions on the transfer or assignment of a security which are created or imposed by persons other than the issuer of the security or persons acting for or on behalf of the issuer will ordinarily not prevent the security from being considered freely transferable.

A class of securities is considered “widely held” if it is a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of one another. A security will not fail to be “widely held” because the number of independent investors falls below 100 subsequent to the initial public offering as a result of events beyond the issuer’s control.

 

218


Table of Contents

The shares of our common stock offered in this prospectus may meet the criteria of the publicly offered securities exception to the look-through rule. First, the common stock could be considered to be freely transferable, as the minimum investment will be less than $10,000 and the only restrictions upon its transfer are those generally permitted under the Department of Labor regulations, those required under federal tax laws to maintain our status as a REIT, resale restrictions under applicable federal securities laws with respect to securities not purchased pursuant to this prospectus and those owned by our officers, directors and other affiliates, and voluntary restrictions agreed to by the selling stockholder regarding volume limitations.

Second, we expect (although we cannot confirm) that our common stock will be held by 100 or more investors, and we expect that at least 100 or more of these investors will be independent of us and of one another.

Third, the shares of our common stock will be part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and the common stock is registered under the Exchange Act.

In addition, the Department of Labor regulations provide exceptions to the look-through rule for equity interests in some types of entities, including any entity which qualifies as either a “real estate operating company” or a “venture capital operating company.”

Under the Department of Labor regulations, a “real estate operating company” is defined as an entity which on testing dates has at least 50% of its assets, other than short-term investments pending long-term commitment or distribution to investors, valued at cost:

 

   

invested in real estate which is managed or developed and with respect to which the entity has the right to substantially participate directly in the management or development activities; and

 

   

which, in the ordinary course of its business, is engaged directly in real estate management or development activities.

According to those same regulations, a “venture capital operating company” is defined as an entity which on testing dates has at least 50% of its assets, other than short-term investments pending long-term commitment or distribution to investors, valued at cost:

 

   

invested in one or more operating companies with respect to which the entity has management rights; and

 

   

which, in the ordinary course of its business, actually exercises its management rights with respect to one or more of the operating companies in which it invests.

We have not endeavored to determine whether we will satisfy the “real estate operating company” or “venture capital operating company” exception.

Prior to making an investment in the shares offered in this prospectus, prospective employee benefit plan investors (whether or not subject to ERISA or section 4975 of the Code) should consult with their legal and other advisors concerning the impact of ERISA and the Code (and, particularly in the case of non-ERISA plans and arrangements, any additional state, local and foreign law considerations), as applicable, and the potential consequences in their specific circumstances of an investment in such shares.

 

219


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters and joint book-running managers named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a purchase agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below.

 

Underwriter

         Number of
Shares

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

  

                      Incorporated

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

  

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

  

Key Banc Capital Markets Inc.

  
      

                       Total

  
      

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares of common stock sold under the purchase agreement if any of these shares are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the purchase agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the purchase agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against the following:

 

   

liabilities arising out of untrue statements or omissions of a material fact contained in or omitted from this prospectus or the related registration statement;

 

   

liabilities arising out of any settlement of any litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim based upon such untrue statements or omissions; and

 

   

expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim based upon such untrue statements or omissions.

In addition, we are obligated to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities if indemnification is not permitted.

The underwriters are offering the shares of common stock, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares of common stock, and other conditions contained in the purchase agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares of common stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $             per share. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $             per share to other dealers. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their overallotment option.

 

    

Per Share

  

Without Option

  

With Option

Public offering price

   $      $      $  

Underwriting discount

   $      $      $  

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $      $      $  

 

220


Table of Contents

The underwriters have agreed to reimburse us for certain specified expenses incurred in connection with this offering. The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $             and are payable by us.

Overallotment Option

We have granted an option to the underwriters to purchase up to additional shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option for 30 days from the date of this prospectus solely to cover any overallotments. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the purchase agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

Reserved Shares

At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to                  shares of common stock offered by this prospectus for sale to our directors, officers, employees, business associates and related persons. Only reserved shares purchased by our directors and officers will be subject to the lock-up provisions described below. The number of shares of our common stock available for sale to the general public will be reduced to the extent these persons purchase such reserved shares. Any reserved shares of our common stock that are not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We, our executive officers, directors, director nominees and each of the contributors have agreed not to sell or transfer any common stock or securities convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for common stock (including units in our operating partnership), for 180 days after the date of this prospectus (or, in the case of the Farallon Funds, 365 days; provided , that, commencing on the date that is 180 days after the consummation of this offering, the Farallon Funds may (i) sell shares of common stock representing up to 25% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and common units issued to the Farallon Funds in the formation transactions and the concurrent private placement pursuant to a demand registration statement or (ii) distribute such amount of shares to their limited partners, members or stockholders) without first obtaining the written consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly

 

   

offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common stock,

 

   

sell any option or contract to purchase any common stock,

 

   

purchase any option or contract to sell any common stock,

 

   

grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common stock,

 

   

otherwise dispose of or transfer any common stock,

 

   

request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the common stock, or

 

   

enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of any common stock whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person

 

221


Table of Contents

executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition. In the event that either (x) during the last 17 days of lock-up period referred to above, we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to us occurs or (y) prior to the expiration of the lock-up period, we announce that we will release earnings results or become aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the lock-up period, the restrictions described above will continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable.

New York Stock Exchange Listing

Our common stock has been approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “HPP,” subject to official notice of issuance. In order to meet the requirements for listing on that exchange, the underwriters have undertaken to sell a minimum number of shares of common stock to a minimum number of beneficial owners as required by that exchange.

Before this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined through negotiations between us and the representatives. In addition to prevailing market conditions, the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price are

 

   

the valuation multiples of publicly traded companies that the representatives believe to be comparable to us,

 

   

our financial information,

 

   

the prospects for our company and the industry in which we compete,

 

   

an assessment of our management, its past and present operations, and the prospects for, and timing of, our future revenues,

 

   

the present state of our development, and

 

   

the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

An active trading market for the shares of common stock may not develop. It is also possible that after the offering the shares of common stock will not trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

The underwriters do not expect to sell more than 5% of the shares in the aggregate to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

Until the distribution of the shares of common stock is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not

 

222


Table of Contents

greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares in the offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their overallotment option or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the overallotment option. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the overallotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares

In connection with the offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail. In addition, certain of the underwriters may facilitate Internet distribution for this offering to certain of their Internet subscription customers. These underwriters may allocate a limited number of shares for sale to its online brokerage customers. An electronic prospectus may be available on the Internet web site maintained by certain underwriters. Other than any prospectus in electronic format, the information on an underwriter’s web site is not part of this prospectus.

Other Relationships

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us and/or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

The Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership, the general partner of which is owned by investment funds managed by an affiliate of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, an underwriter in this offering, will receive benefits from this offering and our formation transactions in addition to customary underwriting discount and commissions. Specifically, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership will contribute properties to us in the formation transactions. In exchange for its contribution to our operating partnership of the property entities that own the First Financial and Tierrasanta properties, the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership and certain of its limited partners will receive an aggregate of approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) in liquidation preference of series A preferred units, common units with a value of $3.9 million and $7.2 million in cash. As a result of the foregoing, certain of the current limited partners of the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership will become limited partners in our operating partnership and will cease to be limited partners in the

 

223


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership. In connection with this contribution and pursuant to debt guarantee agreements, certain partners of the Morgan Stanley Investment Partnership will have the opportunity to guarantee an aggregate of up to approximately $55.1 million (or, under certain circumstances, up to approximately $70.0 million) of indebtedness of our operating partnership (or a subsidiary thereof) which will, among other things, allow them to defer recognition of gain in connection with the formation transactions. As a result of these transactions, certain affiliates of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated have interests in the successful completion of this offering.

An affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, one of the underwriters in this offering, serves as a lender under the approximately $39.0 million mortgage loan secured by the 875 Howard Street property. As such, such affiliate will receive the portion of the net proceeds of this offering that are used to repay such indebtedness.

Affiliates of our underwriters, including Barclays Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Key Banc Capital Markets, Inc. have provided commitment letters to participate as lenders under our proposed $195 million secured credit facility. Under this facility, an affiliate of Barclays Capital Inc. also will act as administrative agent and joint lead arranger, and an affiliate of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated will act as syndication agent and joint lead arranger. In connection with their participation in the secured credit facility, our underwriters or their affiliates will receive customary fees.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”) an offer to the public of any shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may not be made in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer to the public in that Relevant Member State of any shares may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

 

  (a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

  (b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

  (c) by the underwriters to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than “qualified investors” as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

  (d) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of shares shall result in a requirement for the publication by us or any representative of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

Any person making or intending to make any offer of shares within the EEA should only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to produce a prospectus for such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of shares through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final offering of shares contemplated in this prospectus.

For the purposes of this provision, and your representation below, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase any shares, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

224


Table of Contents

Each person in a Relevant Member State who receives any communication in respect of, or who acquires any shares under, the offer of shares contemplated by this prospectus will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with us and each underwriter that:

 

  (A) it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive; and

 

  (B) in the case of any shares acquired by it as a financial intermediary, as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, (i) the shares acquired by it in the offering have not been acquired on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in any Relevant Member State other than “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive), or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives has been given to the offer or resale; or (ii) where shares have been acquired by it on behalf of persons in any Relevant Member State other than qualified investors, the offer of those shares to it is not treated under the Prospectus Directive as having been made to such persons.

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

This document, as well as any other material relating to the shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus, do not constitute an issue prospectus pursuant to Article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The shares will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and, therefore, the documents relating to the shares, including, but not limited to, this document, do not claim to comply with the disclosure standards of the listing rules of SIX Swiss Exchange and corresponding prospectus schemes annexed to the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. The shares are being offered in Switzerland by way of a private placement, i.e ., to a small number of selected investors only, without any public offer and only to investors who do not purchase the shares with the intention to distribute them to the public. The investors will be individually approached by the issuer from time to time. This document, as well as any other material relating to the shares, is personal and confidential and do not constitute an offer to any other person. This document may only be used by those investors to whom it has been handed out in connection with the offering described herein and may neither directly nor indirectly be distributed or made available to other persons without express consent of the issuer. It may not be used in connection with any other offer and shall in particular not be copied and/or distributed to the public in (or from) Switzerland.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This document relates to an exempt offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority. This document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in those rules. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with exempt offers. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has not approved this document nor taken steps to verify the information set out in it, and has no responsibility for it. The shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

 

225


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Los Angeles, California, and for the underwriters by Hogan Lovells US LLP. Venable LLP will pass upon the validity of the shares of common stock sold in this offering and certain other matters under Maryland law.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited (i) our consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2010 as set forth in their report, (ii) the combined financial statements and schedule of the Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor as of and for the year ended December 31, 2009 as set forth in their report, (iii) the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses of GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2008 as set forth in their report, (iv) the statement of revenues and certain expenses of City Plaza for the year ended December 31, 2007 as set forth in their report and (v) the statements of revenues and certain expenses of Howard Street Associates, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period from February 15, 2007 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2007 as set forth in their report. We have included each of the aforementioned financial statements in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young, LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the combined financial statements of the Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor as of December 31, 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007 as set forth in their report. We have included the aforementioned financial statements in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistical and economic market data included in this prospectus, including information relating to the economic conditions within our core markets contained in “Prospectus Summary” and “Industry Background and Market Opportunity” is derived from market information prepared for us by Rosen Consulting Group, a nationally recognized real estate consulting firm, and is included in this prospectus in reliance on Rosen Consulting Group’s authority as an expert in such matters. We paid Rosen Consulting Group a fee of $40,000 for its services.

 

226


Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We maintain a Web site at www.hudsonpacificproperties.com. Information contained on our Web site is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and you should not consider information contained on our Web site to be part of this prospectus.

We have filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-11, including exhibits, schedules and amendments filed with this registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information with respect to our company and the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete and, where that contract or other document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement in this prospectus is qualified in all respects by the exhibit to which the reference relates. Copies of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement, may be examined without charge at the public reference room of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information about the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0300. Copies of all or a portion of the registration statement can be obtained from the public reference room of the SEC upon payment of prescribed fees. Our SEC filings, including our registration statement, are also available to you, free of charge, on the SEC’s web site, www.sec.gov.

AS A RESULT OF THIS OFFERING, WE WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO THE INFORMATION AND PERIODIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXCHANGE ACT, AND WILL FILE PERIODIC REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION WITH THE SEC. THESE PERIODIC REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND COPYING AT THE SEC’S PUBLIC REFERENCE FACILITIES AND THE WEB SITE OF THE SEC REFERRED TO ABOVE.

 

227


Table of Contents

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.:

  

Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited):

  

Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2010

   F-4

Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

   F-5

Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2009

   F-6

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-8

Consolidated Historical Financial Statements:

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-16

Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2010

   F-17

Notes to Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2010

   F-18

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor:

  

Combined Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2010 (unaudited) and December 31, 2009

   F-20

Combined Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (unaudited)

   F-21

Combined Statements of Members’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 (unaudited)

   F-22

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (unaudited)

   F-23

Notes to Combined Financial Statements for the Three Months Ended March  31, 2010 and 2009 (unaudited)

   F-24

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-40

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-41

Combined Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008

   F-42

Combined Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December  31, 2009 and 2008, and the Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

   F-43

Combined Statements of Members’ Equity for the Years Ended December  31, 2009 and 2008, and the Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

   F-44

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December  31, 2009 and 2008, and the Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

   F-45

Notes to Combined Financial Statements Years Ended December  31, 2009 and 2008, and the Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

   F-46

Schedule III Consolidated Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation

   F-63

GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC:

  

Unaudited Combined Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Three Months Ended March  31, 2010 and 2009

   F-64

Notes to Unaudited Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

   F-65

Report of Independent Auditors

   F-67

Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2009

   F-68

Notes to Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2009

   F-69

Howard Street Associates, LLC:

  

Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Three Months Ended March  31, 2010 and 2009

   F-71

Notes to Unaudited Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Three Months Ended March  31, 2010 and 2009

   F-72

Report of Independent Auditors

   F-74

Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Years Ended December  31, 2009 and 2008, and the Period from February 15, 2007 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2007

   F-75

Notes to Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Years Ended December  31, 2009 and 2008, and the Period from February 15, 2007 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2007

   F-76

City Plaza:

  

Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Six Months Ended June  30, 2008 and 2007

   F-78

Notes to Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Six Months Ended June  30, 2008 and 2007

   F-79

Report of Independent Auditors

   F-81

Statement of Revenue and Certain Expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2007

   F-82

Notes to Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Year Ended December 31, 2007

   F-83

 

F-i


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (together with its combined entities, the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009 are derived from the financial statements of: (1) the combined entities consisting of HFOP City Plaza, LLC, Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC, and SGS Really II, LLC (collectively, the “Predecessor”), (2) Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC, (3) GLB Encino, LLC, (4) Howard Street Associates, LLC, (5) Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, L.L.C., and (6) Hudson Capital, LLC, and are presented as if this offering, the concurrent private placement, and the formation transactions (including the application of the net proceeds therefrom as set forth under “Use of Proceeds”), had occurred on March 31, 2010 for the pro forma combined balance sheet and on January 1, 2009 for the pro forma combined statements of operations.

As discussed above, our Predecessor includes HFOP City Plaza, LLC, Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC and SGS Realty II, LLC which in turn, own our Predecessor’s assets—the City Plaza, Technicolor Building, Sunset Gower and Sunset Bronson properties. Each of these Predecessor entities are predominantly owned (between 98.4% and 99.1%) and controlled by investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. (“Farallon”), which are referred to herein as the “Farallon Funds.” Further, each of the Predecessor entities are also owned (between 1.6% and 0.9%) and managed by Hudson Capital, LLC. As such, we have combined these entities as our Predecessor on the basis of common ownership, common control and common management.

Our pro forma combined financial statements are presented for informational purposes only and should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. The adjustments to our pro forma combined financial statements are based on available information and assumptions that we consider reasonable. Our pro forma combined financial statements do not purport to (1) represent our financial position that would have actually occurred had this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions occurred on March 31, 2010, (2) represent the results of our operations that would have actually occurred had this offering, the concurrent private placement, and the formation transactions occurred on January 1, 2009 and (3) project our financial position or results of operations as of any future date or for any future period, as applicable.

We were formed as a Maryland corporation on November 9, 2009 to acquire the entities owning various real estate assets and to succeed the business of Hudson Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm founded by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively. Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., our operating partnership, was formed as a Maryland limited partnership on January 15, 2010. Upon completion of the offering, the concurrent private placement, and the formation transactions, we expect our operations to be carried on through our operating partnership. At such time, the Company, as the general partner of the operating partnership will own             % of the operating partnership and will have control of the operating partnership. Accordingly, the Company will consolidate the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the operating partnership.

The Company has not had any corporate activity since its formation, other than the issuance of 100 shares of its common stock to Victor J. Coleman in connection with the initial capitalization of the Company and activities in preparation for this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions. Accordingly, we believe that a discussion of the results of the Company would not be meaningful, and we have, therefore, set forth below a discussion regarding the historical operations of the Predecessor only. The Predecessor owns the Sunset Gower, Technicolor Building, Sunset Bronson and City Plaza properties. The Predecessor does not include: GLB Encino, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which we refer to as the First Financial entity; Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which we refer to as the Tierrasanta entity; Del Amo Fashion Center Operating Company, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, which we refer to as the Del Amo Office entity; and Howard Street Associates, LLC, a Delaware

 

F-1


Table of Contents

limited liability company, which we refer to as the 875 Howard Street entity; collectively, we refer to these entities as the non-predecessor entities. For periods after consummation of this offering, the concurrent private placement, and the formation transactions, our operations will include their operations. Elsewhere in this prospectus, we have included the audited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses of the First Financial entity and the Tierrasanta entity for the year ended December 31, 2009, the audited statements of revenues and certain expenses of the 875 Howard Street entity for the periods ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the unaudited statements of revenues and certain expenses for those same entities for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

Concurrently with this offering, we will complete the formation transactions, pursuant to which we will acquire, through a series of acquisition and contribution transactions, 100% of the ownership interests in the entities that own interests in our initial portfolio, other than the Del Amo Office entity. We also intend to enter into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership interests in the Del Amo Office property, subject to the fulfillment of certain closing conditions. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property.” To acquire the interests in the properties to be included in our initial portfolio from the holders thereof, or the prior investors, we will issue to the prior investors an aggregate of              shares of our common stock and              common units in our operating partnership, with an aggregate value of $            , and series A preferred units in our partnership with an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $12,475 (before closing costs and prorations), and we will pay $27,500 (before closing costs and prorations) in cash in connection with our acquisition of the Del Amo Office entity and approximately $7,200 in cash to acquire interests in the First Financial and Tierrasanta entities. Cash amounts will be provided from the net proceeds of this offering. Also occurring concurrently with the completion of this offering, Victor J. Coleman and certain investment funds affiliated with Farallon will purchase $20,000 in shares of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. The proceeds will be contributed to our operating partnership in exchange for common units.

Upon completion of this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we expect net proceeds from this offering of approximately $            , or approximately $             if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full (after deducting the underwriting discount and commissions and estimated expenses of this offering and the formation transactions). We will contribute the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placement to our operating partnership in exchange for common units, and our operating partnership will use the proceeds received from us as well as cash on hand, if any, as described under “Use of Proceeds” elsewhere in this prospectus.

Upon consummation of this offering and the formation transactions, we expect our operations to be carried on through our operating partnership and subsidiaries of our operating partnership, including our taxable REIT subsidiary. Consummation of the formation transactions will enable us to (i) consolidate our asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisition and financing businesses into our operating partnership; (ii) consolidate the ownership of our property portfolio under our operating partnership; (iii) facilitate this offering; and (iv) qualify as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2010.

Prior to the completion of the offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, we, along with our Predecessor and Howard Street Associates, LLC, are controlled by Farallon. We have been determined to be the acquirer for accounting purposes, and as a result, the contribution of interests in our Predecessor and Howard Street Associates, LLC will be recorded at historical cost and accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control. The contribution or acquisition of interests in entities other than those owned by the Predecessor or Howard Street Associates, LLC in the formation transactions will be accounted for as an acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting and recognized at the estimated fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities on the date of such contribution or acquisition. The fair value of these assets and liabilities has been allocated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)

 

F-2


Table of Contents

section 805-10, Business Combinations . The fair values of tangible assets acquired are determined on an as-if-vacant basis. The as-if-vacant fair value of tangible assets will be allocated to land, building and improvements, tenant improvements and furniture and fixtures based on our own market knowledge and published market data, including current rental rates, expected downtime to lease up vacant space, tenant improvement construction costs, leasing commissions and recent sales on a per square foot basis for comparable properties in our submarkets. The estimated fair value of intangible assets consisting of acquired in-place at-market leases are the costs we would have incurred to lease the property to the occupancy level of the property at the date of acquisition. Such estimates include the fair value of leasing commissions and legal costs that would

be incurred to lease this property to this occupancy level. Additionally, we evaluate the time period over which such occupancy level would be achieved and include an estimate of the net operating costs (primarily real estate taxes, insurance and utilities) incurred during the lease-up period, generally six months. Above-market and below-market in-place lease values are recorded as an asset or liability based on the present value (using an interest rate that reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the in-place leases and our estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding in-place leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining non-cancelable term of the lease for above-market leases and the remaining non-cancelable term plus the term of any below-market fixed rate renewal options for below-market leases. The fair value of the debt assumed was determined using current market interest rates for comparable debt financings.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2010

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

    Hudson
Pacific
Properties,
Inc.
  Predecessor   Howard
Street Associates,
LLC
  Other
Acquisitions
and
Contributions
    Proceeds
from
Offering
  Financing
and Equity
Transactions
  Use of
Proceeds
    Other
Adjustments
    Company
Pro Forma
    (A)   (B)   (C)   (D)     (E)   (F)   (G)     (H)      

ASSETS

                 

Investment in real estate, net

  $ —     $ 352,727   $ 62,510   $ 92,921      $ —     $ —     $ —        $ —        $ 508,158

Cash and cash equivalents

    1     4,512     —       (34,675     204,500     32,020     (154,003     —          52,355

Restricted cash

    —       4,924     —       —          —       —       —          —          4,924

Accounts receivable, net

    —       1,705     —       22        —       —       —          —          1,727

Deferred rent receivables

    —       3,257     —       —          —       —       —          —          3,257

Lease intangibles, net

    —       13,621     743     12,510        —       —       —          —          26,874

Intangible assets

    —       —       —       8,861        —       —       —          (8,861     —  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    —       5,808     1,979     2,848        —       2,429     —          —          13,064
                                                           

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 1   $ 386,554   $ 65,232   $ 82,487      $ 204,500   $ 34,449   $ (154,003   $ (8,861   $ 610,359
                                                           

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

                 

Notes payable

  $ —     $ 152,000   $ 39,003   $ 56,740      $ —     $ —     $ (154,003   $ —        $ 93,740

Accounts Payable and accrued liabilities

    —       5,011     2,303     536        —       —       —          —          7,850

Below market leases

    —       —       11,417     —          —       —       —          —          11,417

Security deposits

    —       2,240     904     342        —       —       —          —          3,486

Prepaid rent

    —       10,435     —       213        —       —       —          —          10,648

Interest rate collar liability

    —       218     —       —          —       —       —          —          218
                                                           

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    —       169,904     53,627     57,831        —       —       (154,003     —          127,359

Preferred non-controlling partnership interest

    —       —       —       11,968        —       —       —          —          11,968

Non-controlling partnership interest

    —       —       2,556     12,688        —       —       —          68,223        83,467

Members’/Stockholders’ equity

    1     216,650     9,049     —          204,500     34,449     —          (77,084     387,565
                                                           

TOTAL EQUITY

    1     216,650     11,605     12,688        204,500     34,449     —          (8,861     471,032

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY

  $ 1   $ 386,554   $ 65,232   $ 82,487      $ 204,500   $ 34,449   $ (154,003   $ (8,861   $ 610,359
                                                           

 

F-4


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

    Predecessor     Howard
Street
Associates,
LLC
  Other
Acquisitions
and
Contributions
  Financing
and
Equity
Transactions
    Other
Adjustments
          Pro Forma
Combined
Total
       
    (AA)     (BB)   (CC)                              

REVENUES

               

Rental

  $ 7,891      $ 386   $ 2,684   $ —        $ —          $ 10,961     

Tenant recoveries

    579        62     173     —          —            814     

Other property related revenue

    1,653        —       319     —          —            1,972     

Other

    19        —       332     —          (332   (DD     19     
                                               
    10,142        448     3,508     —          (332       13,766     

OPERATING EXPENSES

               

Property operating expenses

    3,995        173     900     —         
95
  
 

(EE

    5,163     

Other property related expense

    528        —       —       —          63     

(FF

    591     

General and administrative

    290        —       357     —          1,288      (EE     1,935     

Management fees

    251        —       —       —          (221   (DD     30     

Depreciation and amortization

    2,498        135     1,115     —          —            3,748     
                                               
    7,562        308     2,372     —          1,225          11,467     
                                               

Income from operations

    2,580        140     1,136     —          (1,557       2,299     

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

               

Interest expense (Income)

    2,052        67     856     446   (GG)       (1,408   (GG     2,013     

Interest income

    (3     —       —       —          —            (3  

Unrealized gain of interest rate collar

    (207     —       —       —          —            (207  
                                               
    1,842        67     856     446        (1,408       1,803     
                                               

Net income

  $ 738      $ 73   $ 280   $ (446   $ (149     $ 496     
                                         

Less: Net income attributable to preferred non-controlling partnership interests

  

  $ 187      (HH

Less: Net income attributable to common non-controlling partnership interests

  

    55      (HH
                     

Net income attributable to the Company

  

  $ 254     
                     

Pro Forma earnings per share—basic and diluted

  

    (II
                     

Pro Forma weighted average shares outstanding—basic and diluted

  

    (II
                     

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

    Predecessor     Howard
Street
Associates,
LLC
  Other
Acquisitions
and
Contributions
  Financing and
Equity
Transactions
    Other
Adjustments
        Pro Forma
Combined
Total
     
    (AA)     (BB)  

(CC)

                         

REVENUES

               

Rental

  $ 28,970      $ 1,866   $ 10,556   $ —        $ —          $ 41,392     

Tenant recoveries

    2,870        377     747     —          —            3,994     

Other property related revenue

    7,419       
—  
    1,243     —          —            8,662     

Other

    78        —       1,431     —          (1,431   (DD)     78     
                                               
    39,337        2,243     13,977     —          (1,431       54,126     

OPERATING EXPENSES

               

Property operating expenses

    17,691       
771
    3,694     —       

 

(4,905

  (EE)     17,251     

Other property related expense

    1,397        —       —       —          250      (FF)     1,647     

General and administrative

    1,049        —       1,277     —       

 

4,905

  

  (EE)     7,231     

Management fees

    1,169        —       —       —          (1,049   (DD)     120     

Depreciation and amortization

    9,980        729     4,941     —          —            15,650     
                                               
    31,286        1,500     9,912     —          (799       41,899     
                                               

Income from operations

    8,051        743     4,065     —          (632       12,227     

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

               

Interest expense

    8,352        345     3,536     1,785  (GG)       (5,870   (GG)     8,148     

Interest income

    (17     —       —       —          —            (17  

Unrealized gain on interest rate collar

    (410     —       —       —          —            (410  

Other

    95        —       —       —          —            95     
                                               
    8,020        345     3,536     1,785        (5,870       7,816     
                                               

Net income

  $ 31      $ 398   $ 529   $ (1,785   $ 5,238        $ 4,411     
                                         

Less: Net income attributable to preferred non-controlling partnership interests

  $ 743      (HH)

Less: Net income attributable to common non-controlling partnership interests

    652      (HH)
                     

Net income attributable to the Company

  $ 3,016     
                     

Pro Forma earnings per share—basic and diluted

    (II)
                     

Pro Forma weighted average shares outstanding—basic and diluted

    (II)
                     

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

 

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

1. Adjustments to the Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet

The adjustments to the pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

  (A) Represents the balance sheet of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. as of March 31, 2010. The Company was formed on November 9, 2009 and has had no activity since its inception other than the issuance of 100 shares of common stock for $1 that was initially funded with a promissory note from its sole shareholder. The promissory note was repaid on February 1, 2010.

 

  (B) Reflects the historical combined balance sheet of our Predecessor as of March 31, 2010, which is comprised of HFOP City Plaza, LLC, Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC and SGS Realty II, LLC. We will issue common shares and/or common units in our operating partnership in exchange for all of the ownership interests in our Predecessor. We have determined that we are the acquiring entity for accounting purposes and that the contribution of interests in our Predecessor and Howard Street Associates, LLC (see (C)) is a transaction between entities under common control after considering the applicable implementation guidance and illustrations in ASC Section 805-50-15-6 discussing business combinations. As a result, the contribution of interests in our Predecessor and Howard Street Associates, LLC (see (C)) will be recorded at historical cost.

 

       The historical combined financial statements of our Predecessor as of and for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been included elsewhere in this filing.

 

  (C) Reflects the historical balance sheet of Howard Street Associates, LLC as of March 31, 2010. We will issue common shares or common units in our operating partnership in exchange for all of the ownership interests in Howard Street Associates, LLC. We have determined that we are the acquiring entity for accounting purposes and that the contribution of interests in our Predecessor (see (B))and Howard Street Associates, LLC is a transaction between entities under common control after considering the applicable implementation guidance and illustrations in ASC Section 805-50-15-6 discussing business combinations. As a result, the contribution of interests in our Predecessor (see (B)) and Howard Street Associates, LLC will be recorded at historical cost.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

  (D) We will acquire the following non-predecessor entities through a series of acquisitions and contribution transactions. The acquisition of all the interests in the following non-predecessor entities will be accounted for as an acquisition under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC Section 805-10, Business Combinations , and recorded at the estimated fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities. The following pro forma adjustments are necessary to reflect the initial allocation of the estimated fair value of the non-predecessor entities. The allocation of fair value shown in the table below is based on the Company’s preliminary estimates and is subject to change based on the final determination of the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired. The cash consideration reflected below represents the use of net proceeds received by us from this offering, $27,500 (before closing costs and prorations) of which to acquire the Del Amo Office property and $7,200 of which to acquire indirect partnership interest(s) in the First Financial entity and Tierrasanta entity.

 

     Glenborough
Tierrasanta,
LLC
    GLB
Encino,
LLC
    Del Amo
Office
Entity
    Hudson
Capital,
LLC
    Total  

Consideration paid to acquire non-predecessor entities

          

Issuance of common shares or common operating partnership units

   $ 29      $ 3,659      $ —        $ 9,000      $ 12,688   

Issuance of preferred operating partnership units

     92        11,876        —          —          11,968   

Cash consideration

     214        6,986        27,475        —          34,675   

Debt assumed

     14,300        43,000        —          —          57,300   
                                        

Total consideration paid to acquire non-predecessor entities

   $ 14,635      $ 65,521      $ 27,475      $ 9,000      $ 116,631   
                                        

Allocation of consideration paid to acquire non-predecessor entities

          

Investment in real estate, net

   $ 12,455      $ 59,452      $ 20,748      $ 266      $ 92,921   

Lease intangibles, net

     1,995        4,418        6,097        —          12,510   

Intangible assets

     —          —          —          8,861        8,861   

Leasing costs

     280        1,660        655        —          2,595   

Fair market favorable debt value

     270        290        —          —          560   

Below market leases

     —          —          —          —          —     

Other assets acquired (liabilities assumed), net

     (365     (299     (25     (127     (816
                                        

Total allocation of consideration paid to acquire non-predecessor entities

   $ 14,635      $ 65,521      $ 27,475      $ 9,000      $ 116,631   
                                        

 

  (E) Reflects the sale of shares of common stock in this offering, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses as follows:

 

Gross proceeds from offering

   $  230,000   

Less:

  

Underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses

     (25,500
        

Available proceeds

   $ 204,500   
        

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

  (F) In connection with this offering and the formation transactions, Victor J. Coleman and certain investment funds affiliated with Farallon will purchase $20,000 of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. In addition, as part of the closing of the offering, concurrent private placement and completion of the formation transactions, members of our Predecessor will contribute approximately $14,449, representing $10,643 for prepaid rents under the KTLA, Inc. (“KTLA”) lease for the remaining initial term through January 2013 (which for purposes of this presentation has been calculated assuming a May 1, 2010 closing, and will reduce by approximately $10 per day each day thereafter), and contributions of $2,743 for outstanding tenant improvement costs under the Technicolor (defined below) lease and $1,063 for outstanding tenant improvement costs under leases at the City Plaza property, which for purposes of this presentation has been determined as of March 31, 2010. The amounts outstanding with respect to the Technicolor Creative Services USA, Inc. (“Technicolor”) lease and/or leases at City Plaza may not be outstanding (in whole or part) as of the closing, to the extent funded by the member prior to closing. The Company expects to designate these member contributions to fund the associated rents and costs. Finally, we expect to complete an agreement with affiliates of certain of our underwriters, to provide a $195,000 secured credit facility. For purposes of this presentation, $2,429 of the proceeds from the offering, the concurrent private placement and the closing contribution by members of our Predecessor have been applied to payment of $2,429 in fees associated with the secured credit facility. These fees will be amortized over a three year period.

 

     Private
Placement
of
Common
Stock
   Pre-closing
Member’s
Contribution
   Payment
of
Financing
Fees
    Total

ASSETS

          

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 20,000    $ 14,449    $ (2,429   $ 32,020

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     —        —        2,429        2,429

EQUITY

          

Members’/stockholders’ equity

     20,000      14,449      —          34,449

 

  (G) We will use the net proceeds received by us from this offering, together with the concurrent private placement and the closing contribution by members of our Predecessor (see note (F) above) to repay $115,000 of debt secured by the Sunset Gower Property and the Technicolor Building, and $39,003 of debt secured by the 875 Howard Street property.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

  (H) As consideration for the contributions of the Predecessor’s assets, the prior members in the Predecessor entities will receive common units or shares of our common stock (see (1) below).

 

       As consideration for the contribution of the management business of Hudson Capital, LLC, the prior members in Hudson Capital, LLC will receive $9,000 in the form of common units. Since we will be internally managed and self advised, no future value or cash flow will be received from acquired asset and property management contracts between the Predecessor assets and Hudson Capital, LLC. As a result, the value that was attributable to the management business of Hudson Capital, LLC has been written off in the period immediately after the consummation of the offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions, and a “one-time” adjustment has been reflected in the pro forma balance sheet (see (2) below).

 

     Issuance of
Operating
Partnership

Units
to Predecessor

Members
    Write-off
of Intangible
Assets
    Total  
     (1)     (2)        

ASSETS

      

Intangible assets

   $ —        $ (8,861   $ (8,861

EQUITY

      

Non-controlling partnership interest

     69,783        (1,560     68,223   

Members’/stockholders’ equity

     (69,783     (7,301     (77,084

2. Adjustments to the Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations

The adjustments to the pro forma statements of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009 are as follows:

 

  (AA) Reflects the historical combined statements of operations of the Predecessor for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009.

The tables below show the operating results for each of the entities comprising the Predecessor for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

 

     Predecessor  
     HFOP City
Plaza,  LLC
   Sunset Bronson
Entertainment
Properties, LLC
    SGS Realty II,
LLC
    Total  

REVENUES

         

Rental

   $ 1,452    $ 2,455      $ 3,984      $ 7,891   

Tenant recoveries

     34      283        262        579   

Other property related revenue

     22      843        788        1,653   

Other

     14      3        2        19   
                               
     1,522      3,584        5,036        10,142   

OPERATING EXPENSES

         

Property operating expenses

     434      1,517        2,044        3,995   

Other property related expense

     86      379        63        528   

General and administrative

     39      139        112        290   

Management fees

     51      75        125        251   

Depreciation and amortization

     643      561        1,294        2,498   
                               
     1,253      2,671        3,638        7,562   
                               

Income from operations

     269      913        1,398        2,580   

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

         

Interest expense

     —        709        1,343        2,052   

Interest income

     —        —          (3     (3

Unrealized loss of interest rate collar

     —        (207     —          (207
                               
     —        502        1,340        1,842   
                               

Net income

   $ 269    $ 411      $ 58      $ 738   
                               

 

F-11


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009

 

     Predecessor  
     HFOP City
Plaza,  LLC
    Sunset Bronson
Entertainment
Properties, LLC
    SGS Realty II,
LLC
    Total  

REVENUES

        

Rental

   $ 4,497      $ 8,327      $ 16,146      $ 28,970   

Tenant recoveries

     157        1,401        1,312        2,870   

Other property related revenue

     124        2,772        4,523        7,419   

Other

     18        35        25        78   
                                
     4,796        12,535        22,006        39,337   

OPERATING EXPENSES

        

Property operating expenses

     2,516        6,572        8,603        17,691   

Other property related expense

     303        860        234        1,397   

General and administrative

     241        472        336        1,049   

Management fees

     178        400        591        1,169   

Depreciation and amortization

     2,576        2,381        5,023        9,980   
                                
     5,814        10,685        14,787        31,286   
                                

(Loss) income from operations

     (1,018     1,850        7,219        8,051   

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

        

Interest expense

     —          2,812        5,540        8,352   

Interest income

     (3     —          (14     (17

Unrealized loss of interest rate collar

     —          (410     —          (410

Other

     —          111        (16     95   
                                
     (3     2,513        5,510        8,020   
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (1,015   $ (663   $ 1,709      $ 31   
                                

 

  (BB) Reflects the historical statements of operations of Howard Street Associates, LLC for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009. Rental revenues include $220 and $946 of (above) below market lease intangible amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively. Rental revenues do not include two new leases with unrelated parties expected to commence in April 2010. Property operating expenses also reflect the capitalization of certain costs relating to redevelopment activity in the amount of $109 for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and $349 for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

  (CC)

Reflects the acquisitions and contributions of the non-predecessor entities as discussed in (D) above, as if this offering, the concurrent private placement, and the formation transactions had occurred on January 1, 2009. The acquisition of all the interests in the non-predecessor entities will be accounted for as an acquisition under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC Section 805-10, Business Combinations , and recorded at the estimated fair value of the

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

  acquired assets and assumed liabilities. Adjustments for revenues represent the impact of the amortization of the net amount of above- and below-market rents. Depreciation and amortization
  represent the additional depreciation expense and amortization of intangibles as a result of these purchase accounting adjustments. Depreciation and amortization amounts were determined based on management’s evaluation of the estimated useful lives of the properties and intangibles. In utilizing these useful lives for determining the pro forma adjustments, management considered the length of time the property had been in existence, the maintenance history as well as anticipated future maintenance, and any contractual stipulations that might limit the useful life. Interest expense represents the interest expense of the assumed debt at a rate of interest determined to be market for similar indebtedness calculated on the balance at its fair value, with the above or below market component of such fair value amortized over the remaining term of such indebtedness.

The tables below show the operating results for each of the following non-predecessor entities for the three month period ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010

 

     GLB Encino,
LLC and
Glenborough
Tierrasanta,
LLC
   Del Amo
Office
Property
   Hudson
Capital,
LLC
    Total
     (1)    (2)           

REVENUES

          

Rental

   $ 2,032    $ 652    $ —        $ 2,684

Tenant recoveries

     171      2      —          173

Other property related revenue

     310      9      —          319

Other

     —        —        332        332
                            
     2,513      663      332        3,508

OPERATING EXPENSES

          

Property operating expenses

     745      155      —          900

General and administrative

     —        —        357        357

Depreciation and amortization

     899      207      9        1,115
                            
     1,644      362      366        2,372
                            

Income (loss) from operations

     869      301      (34     1,136

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

          

Interest expense

     856      —        —          856
                            
     856      —        —          856
                            

Net income (loss)

   $ 13    $ 301    $ (34   $ 280
                            

 

 

  (1) Rental revenues include $(90) of (above) below market lease intangible amortization and interest expense includes $81 of amortization expense related to the fair value adjustment related to the assumed debt. The straight-line rent adjustment for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $73.
  (2) Rental revenues include $(102) of (above) below market lease intangible amortization. The straight-line rent adjustment for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was $(13).

 

F-13


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009

 

     GLB Encino,
LLC and
Glenborough
Tierrasanta,
LLC
    Del Amo
Office
Property
   Hudson
Capital,
LLC
   Total
     (1)     (2)          

REVENUES

          

Rental

   $ 8,132      $ 2,424    $ —      $ 10,556

Tenant recoveries

     717        30      —        747

Other property related revenue

     1,198        45      —        1,243

Other

     —          —        1,431      1,431
                            
     10,047        2,499      1,431      13,977

OPERATING EXPENSES

          

Property operating expenses

     2,840        854      —        3,694

General and administrative

     —          —        1,277      1,277

Depreciation and amortization

     4,069        829      43      4,941
                            
     6,909        1,683      1,320      9,912
                            

Income (loss) from operations

     3,138        816      111      4,065

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

          

Interest expense

     3,536        —        —        3,536
                            
     3,536        —        —        3,536
                            

Net (loss) income

   $ (398   $ 816    $ 111    $ 529
                            

 

 

  (1) Rental revenues include $(361) of (above) below market lease intangible amortization and interest expense includes $436 of amortization expense related to the fair value adjustment related to the assumed debt. The straight-line rent adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $337.
  (2) Rental revenues include $(358) of (above) below market lease intangible amortization. The straight-line rent adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $219.

 

  (DD) Reflects the elimination of the management fee, leasing commissions and subtenant revenue to Hudson Capital, LLC and management fee expense of the Predecessor, the elimination of which was partially offset by approximately $30 and $120 of management fee expense for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively anticipated for third party management services related to the 875 Howard Street property.

 

  (EE)

We expect to incur additional general and administrative expenses as a result of becoming a public company, including, but not limited to, incremental salaries, board of directors’ fees and expenses, directors’ and officers’ insurance, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 compliance costs, and incremental audit and tax fees. We estimate that these costs could result in general and administrative expenses of approximately $8,000 per year, before additional non-cash compensation expenses of approximately $1,633 per year. As we have not yet entered into contracts with third parties to provide all of the services included within this estimate, not all of the estimated expenses appear in

 

F-14


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share data)

 

  the accompanying pro forma consolidated statements of operation. Amounts corresponding to services and expenses under contract have been reflected as an adjustment in the pro forma consolidated statements of operations as additional general and administrative expenses, without duplication, to the general and administrative expenses appearing in the historical operating statements. For purposes of this presentation, certain general and administrative expenses (other than professional fees) of the Predecessor and non-predecessor entities (other than Hudson Capital, LLC) have been reclassified to property operating expenses, as they relate to the operations of the underlying properties.

 

  (FF) Reflects the approximately $63 and $250 of tax expense incurred by our taxable REIT subsidiary for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively, for other property related income.

 

  (GG) Reflects $202 and $810 of fees associated with the secured credit facility $2,429 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively, plus $244 and $975 for the unused fee of 50 bps. on the $195,000 secured credit facility for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively. Also, reflects the approximately $1,408 and $5,870 of net interest expense incurred by our Predecessor and the 875 Howard Street entity for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively, on debt secured by the Sunset Gower Property, the Technicolor Building and the 875 Howard Street Property that will be repaid from proceeds raised in this offering and the concurrent private placement (see (G) above).

 

  (HH) Reflects the allocation of net income attributable to the preferred non-controlling partnership interests and common non-controlling partnership interests.

 

  (II) Pro forma earnings (loss) per share—basic and diluted are calculated by dividing pro forma consolidated net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders by the number of shares of common stock issued in this offering, the concurrent private placement and the formation transactions.

 

F-15


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Stockholder of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2010. This balance sheet is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this balance sheet based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the balance sheet is free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the balance sheet, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall balance sheet presentation. We believe that our audit of the March 31, 2010 balance sheet provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. at March 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ E RNST & Y OUNG LLP

Los Angeles, California

May  12 , 2010

 

F-16


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Balance Sheet

As of March 31, 2010

 

 

ASSETS

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,000
      
   $ 1,000
      

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  

Common stock ($0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized, 100 issued and outstanding)

   $ 1

Additional paid-in capital

     999
      
   $ 1,000
      

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Notes to Balance Sheet

March 31, 2010

(In thousands)

1. Organization

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) was formed as a Maryland corporation on November 9, 2009 to acquire the entities owning various real estate assets and to succeed the business of Hudson Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm founded by Victor J. Coleman and Howard S. Stern, our Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively. The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-11 with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to a proposed public offering (the “Offering”) of common stock. The Company is the sole general partner of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., our “operating partnership,” which was formed as a Maryland limited partnership on January 15, 2010. From inception through March 31, 2010, the Company had no operations other than the issuance of 100 shares of common stock at par value to Victor J. Coleman in connection with our initial capitalization. As of March 31, 2010, the shares of common stock of the Company were issued to Victor J. Coleman in consideration for one-thousand dollars cash, which was paid on February 1, 2010. The operations are planned to commence upon completion of the Offering. Upon completion of the Offering and the Formation Transactions (defined below), we expect our operations to be carried on through our operating partnership and its wholly owned subsidiary, Hudson Pacific Services, Inc. At such time, the Company, as the general partner of our operating partnership, will control the operating partnership. The Company will consolidate the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the operating partnership.

Concurrently with the Offering, we will complete certain formation transactions (together with the acquisition of the Del Amo Office entity, the “Formation Transactions”), pursuant to which we will acquire, through a series of purchase and contribution transactions, the entities that own interests in our initial portfolio, other than the Del Amo Office entity, in exchange for cash, shares of our common stock and/or units in our operating partnership. The Formation Transactions are designed to consolidate our asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisition and financing businesses into our operating partnership; consolidate the ownership of our portfolio of office and media and entertainment, together with certain other real estate assets, under our operating partnership; facilitate the Offering; and allow us to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2010. We also intend to enter into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership interests in the Del Amo Office property, subject to the fulfillment of certain closing conditions under such agreement, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Properties and Our Business—The purchase of the Del Amo Office property is subject to closing conditions that could delay or prevent the acquisition of the property,” for $27,500 (before closing costs and prorations) in cash, which cash will be provided from the net proceeds of the Offering. In addition, concurrently with the completion of the Offering, Victor J. Coleman and certain investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. will purchase $20,000 of shares of common stock at a price per share equal to the initial public offering price and without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission.

We intend to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow us to qualify as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2010.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

 

F-18


Table of Contents

Income taxes

Subject to qualification as a REIT, the Company will be permitted to deduct distributions paid to its stockholders, eliminating the federal taxation of income represented by such distributions at the Company level.

REITs are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, the Company will be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate tax rates.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the balance sheet and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Underwriting Commissions and Costs

Underwriting commissions and costs to be incurred in connection with the Offering will be reflected as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

3. Offering Costs

In connection with the Offering, certain contributors have advanced funds for legal, accounting, and related costs in connection with the Offering and formation transactions, which will be reimbursed by the Company upon the consummation of the Offering. Such costs will be deducted from the gross proceeds of the Offering.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Balance Sheets

As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009

(In thousands)

 

     March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009
     (Unaudited)     

ASSETS

     

Investment in real estate, net

   $ 352,727    $ 353,505

Cash and cash equivalents

     4,512      2,256

Restricted cash

     4,924      3,709

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $185 and $308

     1,705      1,273

Straight-line rent receivables

     3,257      2,935

Lease intangibles, net

     13,621      14,235

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     5,808      6,702
             

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 386,554    $ 384,615
             

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Notes payable

   $ 152,000    $ 152,000

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     5,011      4,207

Security deposits

     2,240      2,035

Prepaid rent

     10,435      11,019

Interest rate collar liability

     218      425
             

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     169,904      169,686

Commitments and contingencies

     

Members’ equity

     216,650      214,929
             
   $ 386,554    $ 384,615
             

See accompanying notes.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Statements of Operations

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

REVENUES

    

Rental

   $ 7,891      $ 7,382   

Tenant recoveries

     579        674   

Other property related revenue

     1,653        1,901   

Other

     19        25   
                
     10,142        9,982   

OPERATING EXPENSES

    

Property operating expenses

     3,995        4,262   

Other property related expense

     528        401   

General and administrative

     290        302   

Management fees

     251        305   

Depreciation and amortization

     2,498        2,449   
                
     7,562        7,719   
                

Income from operations

     2,580        2,263   

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

    

Interest expense

     2,052        2,097   

Interest income

     (3     (3

Unrealized gain on interest rate collar

     (207     (18

Other

     —          90   
                
     1,842        2,166   
                

Net income

   $ 738      $ 97   
                

See accompanying notes.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Statements of Members’ Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     HFOP
City  Plaza,
LLC
   Sunset Bronson
Entertainment
Properties, LLC
   SGS Realty  II,
LLC
   Total

Balance December 31, 2009

   $ 52,794    $ 64,377    $ 97,758    $ 214,929

Contributions

     983      —        —        983

Net income

     269      411      58      738
                           

Balance March 31, 2010

   $ 54,046    $ 64,788    $ 97,816    $ 216,650
                           

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     Three Months  Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 738      $ 97   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used in) by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     2,498        2,449   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     375        358   

Amortization of above market lease intangibles

     121        212   

Straight-line rent receivables

     (322     (297

Bad debt (recovery) expense

     (132     36   

Unrealized gain on interest rate collar

     (207     (18

Other non-cash losses

     —          103   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Restricted cash

     (1,215     (1,490

Accounts receivable

     (300     (148

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     416        (109

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     334        1,158   

Security deposits

     205        72   

Prepaid rent

     (584     (733
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,927        1,690   
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Additions to investment property

     (654     (1,932
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (654     (1,932
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Contributions by members

     983        2,609   
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     983        2,609   
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     2,256        2,367   

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     2,256        4,955   
                

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 4,512      $ 7,322   
                

Supplemental cash flow information

    

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 1,520      $ 1,738   
                

Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities for property under development

   $ 469      $ 1,736   
                

See accompanying notes.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

1. Organization

The Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor, which is not a legal entity, is comprised of the real estate activity and holdings of SGS Realty II, LLC, Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC and HFOP City Plaza, LLC (collectively referred to as the “Company”). The Company is engaged in the business of acquiring, owning, and developing real estate, consisting primarily of office and media and entertainment properties located in Southern California as described below in more detail. The Company is the predecessor of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (the “REIT”), which is expected to complete an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the common stock of the REIT in 2010. In connection with the IPO, the Company will engage in formation transactions that are designed to consolidate its asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisition and financing businesses into Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., the operating partnership formed by and managed by the REIT; consolidate the ownership of our portfolio of office and media and entertainment properties, together with certain other real estate assets, under the operating partnership; facilitate the IPO; and allow the REIT to qualify as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2010. Below is a background summary of each of the three entities comprising the Company.

SGS Realty II, LLC (“SGS II”), a Delaware limited liability company was formed on August 2, 2007. SGS II is the sole member of SGS Realty I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is the sole member of SGS Holdings, LLC (“SGS”), a Delaware limited liability company. SGS was formed on July 31, 2007 to acquire and operate the media and entertainment campus known as Sunset Gower Studios located in Los Angeles, California consisting of soundstages, office space, support space and storage space (the “Sunset Gower”) and to acquire and develop an adjacent parcel of land into an office building leased to Technicolor Creative Services USA, Inc. (“Technicolor Building”), the development of which was completed on June 1, 2008. The Sunset Gower Property and Technicolor building were purchased on August 17, 2007 for $177,800 (including closing costs, and net of an allowance to complete the redevelopment of the Technicolor Building). SGS is obligated to pay $9,350 in tenant improvements to Technicolor, of which $8,685 had been incurred as of March 31, 2010. SGS II acquired a vacant media and entertainment office building on October 5, 2007 (the “6060 Building,” and together with Sunset Gower, the “Sunset Gower Property”) for approximately $2,901. The 6060 Building has been under major renovation and redevelopment since its acquisition in October 2007. Pursuant to SGS’s limited liability company agreement, profits, losses and distributions are to be allocated entirely to its sole member.

Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC (“Sunset Bronson”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on March 10, 2008 by Sunset Studios Holdings, LLC, its sole member, to acquire and operate the media and entertainment campus known as Sunset Bronson Studios (formerly, Tribune Studios), located in Los Angeles, California, consisting of soundstages, office space, support space and storage space (the “Sunset Bronson Property”). The Sunset Bronson Property was acquired for $125,000 on January 30, 2008 by Sunset Studios Holdings, LLC and contributed to Sunset Bronson upon its formation. Pursuant to Sunset Bronson’s limited liability company agreement, profits, losses and distributions are to be allocated entirely to its sole member.

HFOP City Plaza, LLC (“City Plaza”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on August 26, 2008 by HFOP Associates, LLC (“City Plaza Parent”), its sole member, to acquire and operate the office building known as the City Plaza property located in Orange, California (the “City Plaza Property”). On August 26, 2008, City Plaza Parent acquired the mortgage on the City Plaza Property from an unrelated third

 

F-24


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

party lender for $69,250 and received a $1,250 loan paydown from the original borrower along with a transfer of $14,696 of existing loan reserves, resulting in a net purchase price for the loan of $53,304 plus closing costs. In a simultaneous transaction, City Plaza acquired the City Plaza Property from the fee owner, subject to the mortgage held by its sole member, City Plaza Parent. Pursuant to City Plaza’s limited liability company agreement, profits, losses, and distributions are to be allocated entirely to its sole member.

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008 the Company’s real estate portfolio was comprised of the Sunset Gower Property, Technicolor Building, the Sunset Bronson Property and the City Plaza Property (collectively referred to as the “Properties” for purposes of those periods). As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s real estate was comprised of the Sunset Gower Property (referred to as the “Properties” for purposes of that period).

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying combined financial statements of the Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The effect of all significant intercompany balances and transactions has been eliminated. The real estate entities included in the accompanying combined financial statements have been combined on the basis that, for the periods presented, such entities were under common control, common management and common ownership.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates.

Investment in Real Estate Properties

The Properties are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company allocates the cost of an acquisition, including the assumption of liabilities, to the acquired tangible assets and identifiable intangibles based on their estimated fair values in accordance with GAAP. The Company assesses fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and/or capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The fair value of tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it was vacant.

The Company records acquired “above and below” market leases at fair value using discount rates which reflect the risks associated with the leases acquired. The amount recorded is based on the present value of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for each in-place lease, measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease for above-market leases and the initial term plus the extended term for any leases with below market renewal options. Other intangible assets acquired include amounts for in-place lease values that are based on the Company’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease. Factors

 

F-25


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

considered include estimates of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods, market conditions and costs to execute similar leases. In estimating carrying costs, the Company includes estimates of lost rents at market rates during the hypothetical expected lease-up periods, which are dependent on local market conditions. In estimating costs to execute similar leases, the Company considers leasing commissions, legal and other related costs.

The Company capitalizes direct construction and development costs, including predevelopment costs, interest, property taxes, insurance and other costs directly related and essential to the acquisition, development or construction of a real estate project. Construction and development costs are capitalized while substantial activities are ongoing to prepare an asset for its intended use. The Company considers a construction project as substantially complete and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year after cessation of major construction activity. Costs incurred after a project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, or after development activities have ceased, are expensed as incurred. Costs previously capitalized related to abandoned acquisitions or developments are charged to earnings. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

The Company computes depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of a range of 39 years for building and improvements, 15 years for land improvements, 5 or 7 years for furniture and fixtures and equipment, and over the life of the lease for tenant improvements. Depreciation is discontinued when a property is identified as held for sale. Above and below market lease intangibles are amortized primarily to revenue over the remaining non-cancellable lease terms and bargain renewal periods, if any. Other in-place lease intangibles are amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancellable lease term and bargain renewal periods, if any.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses the carrying value of real estate assets and related intangibles, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable in accordance with GAAP. Impairment losses are recorded on real estate assets held for investment when indicators of impairment are present and the future undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. The Company recognizes impairment losses to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the properties. Properties held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less cost to sell. The Company did not record any impairment charges related to its real estate assets and related intangibles during the three months ended March 31, 2010 (unaudited) nor during the three months ended March 31, 2009 (unaudited).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand and in banks plus all short term investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased.

The Company maintains some of its cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed the federally insured limit. No losses have been experienced related to such accounts.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of amounts held by lenders to provide for future real estate taxes and insurance expenditures, repairs and capital improvements reserves, general and other reserves and security deposits.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are comprised of amounts due for monthly rents and other charges. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, including an allowance for straight-line rent receivables, for estimated losses resulting from tenant defaults or the inability of tenants to make contractual rent and tenant recovery payments. The Company monitors the liquidity and creditworthiness of its tenants and operators on an ongoing basis. This evaluation considers industry and economic conditions, property performance, credit enhancements and other factors. For straight-line rent amounts, the Company’s assessment is based on amounts estimated to be recoverable over the term of the lease. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, management believes that the collectability of straight-line rent balances are reasonably assured; accordingly, no allowance was established against straight-line rent receivables. The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on specific identification of uncollectible accounts and the Company’s historical collection experience. The Company recognizes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the current business environment and the Company’s historical experience. Historical experience has been within management’s expectations.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. For assets acquired subject to leases, the Company recognizes revenue upon acquisition of the asset, provided the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. If the lease provides for tenant improvements, the Company determines whether the tenant improvements, for accounting purposes, are owned by the tenant or the Company. When the Company is the owner of the tenant improvements, the tenant is not considered to have taken physical possession or have control of the physical use of the leased asset until the tenant improvements are substantially completed. When the tenant is the owner of the tenant improvements, any tenant improvement allowance that is funded is treated as a lease incentive and amortized as a reduction of revenue over the lease term. Tenant improvement ownership is determined based on various factors including, but not limited to:

 

   

whether the lease stipulates how and on what a tenant improvement allowance may be spent;

 

   

whether the tenant or landlord retains legal title to the improvements at the end of the lease term;

 

   

whether the tenant improvements are unique to the tenant or general-purpose in nature; and

 

   

whether the tenant improvements are expected to have any residual value at the end of the lease.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

Certain leases provide for additional rents contingent upon a percentage of the tenant’s revenue in excess of specified base amounts or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized when actual results reported by the tenant, or estimates of tenant results, exceed the base amount or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized only after the contingency has been removed (when the related thresholds are achieved), which may result in the recognition of rental revenue in periods subsequent to when such payments are received.

Other property related revenue is revenue that is derived from the tenants’ use of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (phone and internet). Other property related revenue is recognized when these items are provided.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

The Company recognizes gains on sales of properties upon the closing of the transaction with the purchaser. Gains on properties sold are recognized using the full accrual method when (i) the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured, (ii) the Company is not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale, (iii) the initial investment from the buyer is sufficient and (iv) other profit recognition criteria have been satisfied. Gains on sales of properties may be deferred in whole or in part until the requirements for gain recognition have been met.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the respective loan on the straight-line method which approximates the effective interest method.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company manages interest rate risk associated with borrowings by entering into interest rate derivative contracts. The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value and the changes in fair value are reflected as income or expense. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income, which is a component of equity. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

The Company held one interest rate collar instrument and one interest rate cap instrument at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The Company did not use hedge accounting for these instruments.

Income Taxes

The Company’s taxable income is reportable by its members. The entities comprising the Company are limited liability companies and are treated as pass-through entities for income tax purposes. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal income taxes in the accompanying combined financial statements. The Company is subject to the statutory requirements of the state in which it conducts business.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Under GAAP, the Company is required to measure certain financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. In addition, the Company is required to measure other financial instruments and balances at fair value on a non-recurring basis (e.g., carrying value of impaired real estate and long-lived assets). Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The GAAP fair value framework uses a three-tiered approach. Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

   

Level 1: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2: quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

 

   

Level 3: prices or valuation techniques where little or no market data is available that requires inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

When available, the Company utilizes quoted market prices from an independent third-party source to determine fair value and classifies such items in Level 1 or Level 2. In instances where the market for a financial instrument is not active, regardless of the availability of a nonbinding quoted market price, observable inputs might not be relevant and could require the Company to make a significant adjustment to derive a fair value measurement. Additionally, in an inactive market, a market price quoted from an independent third party may rely more on models with inputs based on information available only to that independent third party. When the Company determines the market for a financial instrument owned by the Company to be illiquid or when market transactions for similar instruments do not appear orderly, the Company uses several valuation sources (including internal valuations, discounted cash flow analysis and quoted market prices) and establishes a fair value by assigning weights to the various valuation sources.

Changes in assumptions or estimation methodologies can have a material effect on these estimated fair values. In this regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.

The Company considers the following factors to be indicators of an inactive market: (i) there are few recent transactions, (ii) price quotations are not based on current information, (iii) price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers (for example, some brokered markets), (iv) indexes that previously were highly correlated with the fair values of the asset or liability are demonstrably uncorrelated with recent indications of fair value for that asset or liability, (v) there is a significant increase in implied liquidity risk premiums, yields, or performance indicators (such as delinquency rates or loss severities) for observed transactions or quoted prices when compared with the Company’s estimate of expected cash flows, considering all available market data about credit and other nonperformance risk for the asset or liability, (vi) there is a wide bid-ask spread or significant increase in the bid-ask spread, (vii) there is a significant decline or absence of a market for new issuances (that is, a primary market) for the asset or liability or similar assets or liabilities, and (viii) little information is released publicly (for example, a principal-to-principal market).

 

F-29


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

The Company considers the following factors to be indicators of non-orderly transactions: (i) there was not adequate exposure to the market for a period before the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets or liabilities under current market conditions, (ii) there was a usual and customary marketing period, but the seller marketed the asset or liability to a single market participant, (iii) the seller is in or near bankruptcy or receivership (that is, distressed), or the seller was required to sell to meet regulatory or legal requirements (that is, forced), and (iv) the transaction price is an outlier when compared with other recent transactions for the same or similar assets or liabilities.

In August 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-05, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820), Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value . This update provides amendments to the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) for the fair value measurement of liabilities. In circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, the reporting entity is required to measure fair value using (i) a valuation technique that uses the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset or quoted prices for similar liabilities when traded as assets, or (ii) another valuation technique that is consistent with the principles of fair value measurement, such as the income approach or the market approach. The amendments in this update also clarify that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability. These amendments to the ASC are effective upon issuance and did not have a significant impact on the combined financial statements of the Company.

The Company’s interest rate collar and interest rate cap agreements are classified as Level 2 and their fair value is derived from estimated values obtained from the counterparties based on observable market data for similar instruments.

Unrealized gains associated with Level 2 liabilities were $207 and $18, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

F-30


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

3. Investment in Real Estate

Investment in real estate consisted of the following as of:

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 

Land

   $ 174,984      $ 174,984   

Land improvements

     9,637        9,660   

Building and improvements

     155,698        155,434   

Tenant improvements

     12,305        12,039   

Furniture and fixtures

     11,059        11,052   

Less: accumulated deprecation

     (14,811     (12,909
                
     348,872        350,260   

Property under development

     3,855        3,245   
                
   $ 352,727      $ 353,505   
                

 

     For the three
months ended
March 31,
2010
    Year ended
December 31, 2009
 

Investment in real estate

    

Beginning balance

   $ 366,414      $ 358,616   

Acquisitions

     —          —     

Improvements, capitalized costs

     1,124        7,874   

Cost of property sold

     —          (76
                

Ending balance

   $ 367,538      $ 366,414   
                

Accumulated Depreciation

    

Beginning balance

   $ (12,909   $ (5,592

Additions

     (1,902     (7,330

Deletions

     —          13   
                

Ending balance

   $ (14,811   $ (12,909
                

4. Lease Intangibles

At March 31, 2010 gross lease intangibles were comprised of $3,111 of above market tenant lease intangibles and $16,113 of in-place lease intangibles. At March 31, 2010 the accumulated amortization of lease intangibles was $5,603. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company recognized $493 of amortization expense related to in-place leases and amortized $121 of above-market leases against rental revenue. The weighted-average amortization period for lease intangibles is 4.29 years.

 

F-31


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

At December 31, 2009, lease intangibles were comprised of $3,111 of above market tenant lease intangibles and $16,113 of in-place lease intangibles. At December 31, 2009 the accumulated amortization of lease intangibles was $4,989. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company recognized $697 of amortization expense related to in-place leases and amortized $212 of above-market leases against rental revenue.

The estimated aggregate amortization of lease intangibles for the nine months ended December 31, 2010, and for each of the four succeeding fiscal years and thereafter is as follows for the years ending December 31:

 

2010 (nine months ended December 31, 2010)

   $ 1,633

2011

     1,864

2012

     1,610

2013

     1,522

2014

     1,488

Thereafter

     5,504
      
   $ 13,621
      

5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

Prepaid expenses and other assets consisted of the following as of:

 

     March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,595 and $1,220, respectively

   $ 90    $ 465

Prepaid insurance

     686      1,080

Prepaid property taxes

     1,098      1,412

Trade name, net of accumulated amortization of $268 and $243, respectively

     753      779

Leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $357 and $240, respectively

     2,962      2,075

Other

     219      891
             
   $ 5,808    $ 6,702
             

Trade name is amortized over a ten year period from the date of acquisition of Sunset Gower.

6. Notes Payable

On May 12, 2008, Sunset Bronson entered into a loan agreement in the amount of $39,000, $37,000 of which was distributed, net of closing costs, to the member in connection with the acquisition of the Sunset Bronson Property, with the remaining $2,000 being held by the lender. The debt bears interest per annum equal to the one-month LIBOR plus 3.65%. The interest rates, inclusive of the spread, at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were 3.88% and 3.89%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates during the three

 

F-32


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were 3.88% and 4.12% (unaudited), respectively. The loan is payable in monthly installments of interest only, with any unpaid interest and principal due at maturity, May 30, 2010. The loan can be extended for three additional periods of 12 months if certain conditions are met including the payment of an Extension Fee (as defined in the loan agreement) of 0.25% of the outstanding principal amount of the loan plus any outstanding undisbursed loan capacity of the loan as of the extension date, having a Loan to Value Ratio (as defined in the loan agreement) of the property that does not exceed 48%, and having a 1.35 to 1.0 Debt Service Coverage Ratio (as defined in the loan agreement). Management is in the process of documenting an extension of this loan with the lender, which it may determine to extend for an initial nine months, through March 1, 2011. The loan is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of Sunset Bronson including an assignment of rents and leases. The outstanding balance of this loan at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $37,000.

As a requirement of the Sunset Bronson mortgage loan, Sunset Bronson entered into an interest rate collar agreement with a notional amount of $37,000, which sets the interest rate cap at 3.87% and the floor at 2.55%. The expiration date of the collar is June 1, 2010. Sunset Bronson has not designated the interest rate collar agreement as a hedging instrument for accounting purposes; therefore, the change in the fair value of the derivative instrument is reported in current earnings. The fair market value of the interest rate collar agreement at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, was a $218 liability position and a $425 liability position, respectively, and is included in the accompanying combined balance sheets. The change in fair value of $207 and $18 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, is included in earnings.

On August 14, 2007, SGS entered into a loan agreement with a maximum principal amount of $155,000, related to the acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property. The loan was comprised of (i) an initial advance of $126,400 to partially finance the acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property and (ii) additional advances in a maximum principal amount of $28,600 to fund the development of the Technicolor Building. The debt bore interest per annum at a rate selected by the lender from among the following: the Eurodollar Rate, LIBOR plus 2.75%, the Adjusted Prime Rate, or the prime rate plus 5.00% per annum. The weighted average interest rates during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 were 3.73% and 4.05%, respectively. The loan was payable in monthly installments of interest only and had an initial maturity date of September 14, 2008.

On May 29, 2008, SGS entered into a loan extension, which required a principal repayment of $23,870 and extended the maturity date to September 14, 2009. In addition, on September 14, 2008, the interest rate spread was increased to the one-month LIBOR plus 3.50%. Management has completed a term sheet with the current lenders to extend the maturity under this loan for an additional year, through March 14, 2011. The extension of the maturity date under that term sheet calls for an initial extension through October 31, 2010, subject to payment of an extension fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding loan balance. Should the loan be extended beyond October 31, 2010 to March 14, 2011, then, payment of an additional extension fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding principal balance and repayment of 5.00% of the outstanding principal balance are required. The interest rate for the initial extension period through October 31, 2010 remains one-month LIBOR plus 3.50%. The interest rate for the extension period after October 31, 2010 through March 14, 2011 increases to one-month LIBOR plus 4.50%. As part of these discussions SGS Holdings, LLC has offered to include the 6060 Building as additional collateral under the loan.

As a requirement of the SGS mortgage loan, SGS entered into an interest rate cap agreement, in order to cap the one-month LIBOR rate at 6.00%. As part of the May 2008 loan modification, SGS entered into an

 

F-33


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

interest rate cap agreement in order to cap the one-month LIBOR rate at 4.75%, effective as of September 15, 2008. The notional amount and the terms of the interest rate cap are identical to the principal amount and terms of the mortgage loan. The cost related to the cap was $43 and it expired on September 15, 2009. On May 21, 2009, the Company entered into another interest rate cap agreement effective September 15, 2009 through March 15, 2010 to cap the interest rate during the extension of the loan at 4.75%. The fair market value of the interest rate cap agreement at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $0.

Pursuant to the terms of the SGS mortgage loan, the Company is required to maintain certain escrow and reserve accounts. Such balances were included in restricted cash in the accompanying combined balance sheets and were as follows as of:

 

     March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

Taxes and insurance reserve *

   $ 686    $ 392

Repair reserve *

     134      133

Replacement reserve *

     578      522

Debt service reserve *

     431      431

Ground lease reserve *

     46      46

Security deposit

     1,291      1,139

Deposit Account *

     1,758      1,046
             
   $ 4,924    $ 3,709
             

 

(*) Accounts controlled by lender and or its servicing agent.

The following table summarizes the stated debt maturities and scheduled principal repayments at March 31, 2010:

 

2010

   $ 152,000

7. Leases

In May 2006, the previous owner of Sunset Gower entered into a lease agreement with Technicolor (the “Technicolor Lease”) whereby Technicolor leased a six story office and technical production building that was constructed and completed by the Company in June 2008. The lease term is 12 years and six months commencing as of December 1, 2007, with two consecutive options (exercisable upon eighteen months written notice) to extend the lease five years each at an increased rent based on Fair Market Value, as defined in the Technicolor Lease. The Technicolor Lease contains provisions for scheduled rent abatements and rent increases over the term of the lease. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized $1,466 and $1,438, respectively, of rental revenue related to the Technicolor Lease including tenant recoveries. Straight-line rent receivables as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 included $2,258 and $2,122, respectively of straight-line rent receivable related to the Technicolor lease.

In conjunction with the acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property, SGS assumed a ground lease agreement for a portion of the land with an unrelated party. Commencing September 1, 2007, the monthly rent

 

F-34


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

increased to $15, whereas the monthly rent totaled $14 at the time of acquisition. The rental rate is subject to adjustment in September 2011 and every seven years thereafter. The ground lease terminates March 31, 2060. The total ground lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 totaled $45.

At the time of closing of the Sunset Bronson acquisition in 2008, Sunset Bronson entered into a $16,300, five year lease agreement with an affiliate of the seller, KTLA, Inc. (“KTLA”), that was entirely prepaid at closing. At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 the Company had approximately $9,665 and $10,342, respectively, of prepaid rent related to this lease that is included in prepaid rent in the accompanying combined balance sheets. The Company straight-lined such prepaid rent and recognizes the rental revenue on a straight-line basis. The Company recognized $683 and $815 of rental revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related to the KTLA lease. On December 8, 2008, Tribune Company and several of its affiliates, including KTLA, Inc., filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. On June 25, 2009, KTLA assumed its lease for the KTLA Building and cured all outstanding prepetition amounts due and owing to Sunset Bronson. In June 2009, Sunset Bronson executed an extension of the KTLA lease through January 2016 for additional base rent payments that escalate over the extended life of the lease.

With the exception of the Technicolor Lease and the KTLA lease, the other SGS and Sunset Bronson leases are generally short term in nature (less than one year); accordingly, the Company does not straight-line rent related to such leases. City Plaza currently has multiple lease agreements with tenants related to the City Plaza Property.

The Properties are leased to tenants under operating leases with initial term expiration dates ranging from 2010 to 2020. Approximate future combined minimum base rentals (excluding tenant reimbursements for operating expenses) for the Properties at March 31, 2010 are as follows for the years/periods ended December 31:

 

2010 (nine months ended December 31, 2010)

   $ 6,957

2011

     11,556

2012

     10,788

2013

     10,145

2014

     9,793

Thereafter

     41,992
      
   $ 91,231
      

 

F-35


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

8. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, payables, and accrued liabilities are reasonable estimates of fair value because of the short-term maturities of these instruments. Fair values for notes payable are estimates based on rates currently prevailing for similar instruments of similar maturities. The estimated fair values of interest-rate collar/cap arrangements were derived from estimated values obtained from the counterparties based on observable market data for similar instruments.

 

     March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
   Carrying Value     Fair Value     Carrying Value     Fair Value  

Notes payable

   $ 152,000      $ 149,417      $ 152,000      $ 150,871   

Interest rate cap asset

     —          —          —          —     

Interest rate collar liability

     (218     (218     (425     (425
                                
   $ 151,782      $ 149,199      $ 151,575      $ 150,446   
                                

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims arising in connection with its business. Management believes, based in part upon consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate resolution of all such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s combined results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Commitments

On December 1, 2008, City Plaza entered into a management agreement (“Agreement”) with a third party (“Manager”) for a nine month period. The term renews automatically for successive six month terms unless terminated by City Plaza or Manager. The Manager earns either the greater of $4 per month or 1.25% of Gross Income, as defined in the Agreement, collected from the City Plaza Property for the preceding month. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company incurred $21 of property management fees of which none was payable at March 31, 2010. The Agreement also provides for a construction management fee to be based upon an incremental scale, as defined in the Agreement. The Company has not incurred any construction management fees to date.

Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated August 11, 2008, City Plaza entered into an agreement pursuant to which it agreed to pay the Seller, as defined in the agreement, of the City Plaza property a Contingent Payment, as defined in the agreement, equal to 25% of net proceeds from any Capital Event, as defined in the agreement, in excess of proceeds necessary to provide an 11% unlevered IRR on the investment amount of $54,000. This obligation continues until either the Seller receives $5,000, a transfer of the property to an unaffiliated third party occurs or a transfer of the membership interest of the Company to an unaffiliated third party occurs. Pursuant to a letter agreement dated March 1, 2010, the Seller has agreed that the transfer of City Plaza in the formation transactions shall terminate the contingent payment obligation without giving rise to any payment.

 

F-36


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

Concentrations

All of the Company’s Properties are located in Southern California which exposes the Company to greater economic risks than if it owned a more geographically dispersed portfolio. Further, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, approximately 70% of the Company’s revenues were derived from tenants in the media and entertainment industry which makes the Company particularly susceptible to demand for rental space in such industry. Consequently, the Company is subject to the risks associated with an investment in real estate with a concentration of tenants in those industries. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, Technicolor Lease accounted for approximately 15% of total revenues and the KTLA lease accounted for approximately 10% of total revenues. Another media and entertainment tenant accounted for approximately 9% of total revenues.

10. Related-Party Transactions

The Properties are managed by Hudson Studios Management, LLC (“Hudson Management”), an affiliate of the Company.

Upon acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property, SGS entered into a five year management agreement with Hudson Management to pay a monthly management fee equal to $54 for the first 24 months of the term and $42 for the remaining 36 months. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, management fees of $125 and $163, respectively, had been incurred. In addition, Hudson Management is entitled to a construction management fee of $300 plus 5% of the hard costs in association with other future developments. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, $300 of construction management fees had been capitalized to construction in progress.

Upon acquisition of the Sunset Bronson Property, Sunset Bronson entered into an agreement with Hudson Management to pay a management fee equal to $33 per month through December 31, 2009 and $25 per month thereafter for the remaining five year term. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, $75 and $100, respectively, of management fees had been incurred.

Upon acquisition of the City Plaza Property, City Plaza entered into an agreement with Hudson Management to pay a management fee equal to $10 per month. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company paid $30 to Hudson Management.

11. Segment Reporting

The Company’s reporting segments are based on the Company’s method of internal reporting which classifies its operations into two reporting segments: (i) Office Properties, and (ii) Media and Entertainment Properties. The office properties reporting segment includes the City Plaza Property and the Technicolor Building, while the media and entertainment reporting segment includes the Sunset Gower Property (including the 6060 Building), and the Sunset Bronson Property. The Company evaluates performance based upon property net operating income from continuing operations (“NOI”) of the combined properties in each segment. NOI is not a measure of operating results or cash flows from operating activities as measured by GAAP, is not indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. All companies may not calculate NOI in the same manner. The Company considers NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income because it helps both investors and management to understand the core operations of the Company’s properties. The Company defines NOI as operating revenues (including rental revenues, other property related revenue, tenant recoveries and other operating revenues), less property-

 

F-37


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

level operating expenses (which includes management fees and general and administrative expenses). NOI excludes depreciation and amortization, impairments, gain/loss on sale of real estate, interest expense, and other non-operating items.

Summary information for the reportable segments follows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 is as follows:

 

     Office Properties    Media and Entertainment
Properties
   Total

Rental revenues

   $ 2,606    $ 5,285    $ 7,891

Tenant recoveries

     346      233      579

Other property related revenue

     54      1,599      1,653

Other operating revenues

     14      5      19
                    

Total revenues

     3,020      7,122      10,142

Operating expenses

     922      4,142      5,064
                    

Net operating income

   $ 2,098    $ 2,980    $ 5,078
                    

Summary information for the reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

     Office Properties    Media and Entertainment
Properties
   Total

Rental revenues

   $ 1,983    $ 5,399    $ 7,382

Tenant recoveries

     361      313      674

Other property related revenue

     62      1,839      1,901

Other operating revenues

     1      24      25
                    

Total revenues

     2,407      7,575      9,982

Operating expenses

     1,023      4,247      5,270
                    

Net operating income

   $ 1,384    $ 3,328    $ 4,712
                    

The following is a reconciliation from NOI to reported net income, the most direct comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP:

 

     March 31,
2010
    March 31,
2009
 

Net Operating Income

   $ 5,078      $ 4,712   

Interest income

     3        3   

Unrealized gain on interest rate collar

     207        18   

Depreciation and amortization

     (2,498     (2,449

Interest expense

     (2,052     (2,097

Other expense

     —          (90 )  
                

Net income

   $ 738      $ 97   
                

 

F-38


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

There were no intersegment sales or transfers during either of the three month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. The Company’s total assets by segment were as follows as of:

 

     Office
Properties
   Media and
Entertainment
Properties
   Total

March 31, 2010

   $ 125,953    $ 260,601    $ 386,554
                    

December 31, 2009

   $ 125,105    $ 259,510    $ 384,615
                    

12. Subsequent Events

None.

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these combined financial statements were issued.

 

F-39


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Members of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheet as of December 31 , 2009, of the entities listed in Note 1 (collectively referred to as the “Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor” or the “Company”), and the related combined statements of operations, members’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. Our audit also included the financial statement schedule of real estate and accumulated depreciation. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audit. The financial statements of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007, were audited by other auditors whose report dated February 15, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position at December 31, 2009, of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor, and the combined results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic combined financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

/s/ E RNST & Y OUNG LLP

Los Angeles, California

April 9, 2010

 

F-40


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Members of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheet of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor (referred to as the “Company”), which includes the combined real estate activity and holdings of certain entities as described in Note 1 to the combined financial statements, as of December 31, 2008 and the related combined statements of operations, members’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007. These combined financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the combined financial position of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor as of December 31, 2008 and the combined results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ M C G LADREY & P ULLEN , LLP

Chicago, Illinois

February 15, 2010

 

F-41


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Balance Sheets

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008

(In thousands)

 

    

December 31,
2009

  

December 31,
2008

ASSETS

     

Investment in real estate, net

   $ 353,505    $ 353,024

Cash and cash equivalents

     2,256      4,955

Restricted cash

     3,709      4,605

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $308 and $186

     1,273      1,228

Straight-line rent receivables

     2,935      1,579

Lease intangibles, net

     14,235      17,250

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     6,702      4,061
             

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 384,615    $ 386,702
             

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Notes payable

   $ 152,000    $ 152,000

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     4,207      8,679

Security deposits

     2,035      1,816

Prepaid rent

     11,019      13,975

Interest rate collar liability

     425      835
             

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     169,686      177,305

Commitments and contingencies

     

Members’ equity

     214,929      209,397
             
   $ 384,615    $ 386,702
             

See accompanying notes.

 

F-42


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Statements of Operations

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

     2009    

2008

   

2007

 

REVENUES

      

Rental

   $ 28,970      $ 25,866      $ 4,215   

Tenant recoveries

     2,870        2,293        58   

Other property related revenue

     7,419        7,296        2,683   

Other

     78        133        7   
                        
     39,337        35,588        6,963   

OPERATING EXPENSES

      

Property operating expenses

     17,691        15,651        2,710   

Other property related expense

     1,397        1,689        1,337   

General and administrative

     1,049        1,023        363   

Management fees

     1,169        1,073        255   

Depreciation and amortization

     9,980        6,599        741   
                        
     31,286        26,035        5,406   
                        

Income from operations

     8,051        9,553        1,557   

OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME)

      

Interest expense

     8,352        10,244        3,860   

Interest income

     (17     (45     (43

Unrealized (gain) loss of interest rate collar

     (410     835        —     

Loss on sale of lot

     —          208        —     

Other

     95        21        —     
                        
     8,020        11,263        3,817   
                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 31      $ (1,710   $ (2,260
                        

See accompanying notes.

 

F-43


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Statements of Members’ Equity

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

    

HFOP City Plaza,
LLC

   

Sunset Bronson
Entertainment
Properties, LLC

   

SGS Realty II,
LLC

   

Total

 

Balance July 31, 2007 (inception)

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —     

Contributions

     —          —          65,461        65,461   

Net loss

     —          —          (2,260     (2,260
                                

Balance December 31, 2007

   $ —        $ —        $ 63,201      $ 63,201   

Contributions

     54,600        110,873        29,610        195,083   

Distributions

     —          (47,177     —          (47,177

Net (loss) income

     (791     633        (1,552     (1,710
                                

Balance December 31, 2008

   $ 53,809      $ 64,329      $ 91,259      $ 209,397   

Contributions

     —          711        5,790        6,501   

Distributions

     —          —          (1,000     (1,000

Net (loss) income

     (1,015     (663     1,709        31   
                                

Balance December 31, 2009

   $ 52,794      $ 64,377      $ 97,758      $ 214,929   
                                

See accompanying notes.

 

F-44


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Combined Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

     2009    

2008

   

2007

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Net income (loss)

   $ 31      $ (1,710   $ (2,260

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     9,980        6,599        741   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     1,461        2,267        830   

Amortization of above-market lease intangibles

     672        366        —     

Straight-line rent receivables

     (1,356     (1,579     —     

Bad debt expense

     191        214        —     

Unrealized gain on interest rate collar

     (410     835        —     

Other non-cash losses

     77        —          —     

Loss on sale of assets

     33        —          —     

Loss on sale of lot

     —          208        —     

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Restricted cash

     896        824        (8,062

Accounts receivable

     (236     (595     (846

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     (3,911     (845     (844

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (4,779     (1,402     4,390   

Security deposits

     219        675        1,141   

Prepaid rent

     (2,956     13,975        —     
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

     (88     19,832        (4,910
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Additions to investment property

     (7,567     (192,460     (192,321

Proceeds from sale of equipment

     30        —          —     

Proceeds from sale of lot

     —          11,404        —     

Restricted cash

     —          2,632        —     
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7,537     (178,424     (192,321
                        

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Proceeds from notes payable

     —          41,594        134,280   

Payments of notes payable

     —          (23,875     —     

Contributions by members

     6,501        195,083        65,461   

Distributions to members

     (1,000     (47,177     —     

Payment of loan costs

     (575     (2,174     (2,414
                        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     4,926        163,451        197,327   
                        

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (2,699     4,859        96   

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     4,955        96        —     
                        

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 2,256      $ 4,955      $ 96   
                        

Supplemental cash flow information

      

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 6,456      $ 8,078      $ 2,486   
                        

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities

      

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities for property under development

   $ 307      $ 5,692      $ —     
                        

See accompanying notes.

 

F-45


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

1. Organization

The Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor, which is not a legal entity, is comprised of the real estate activity and holdings of SGS Realty II, LLC, Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC and HFOP City Plaza, LLC (collectively referred to as the “Company”). The Company is engaged in the business of acquiring, owning, and developing real estate, consisting primarily of office and media and entertainment properties located in Southern California as described below in more detail. The Company is the predecessor of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (the “REIT”), which is expected to complete an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the common stock of the REIT in 2010. In connection with the IPO, the Company will engage in formation transactions that are designed to consolidate its asset management, property management, property development, leasing, tenant improvement construction, acquisition and financing businesses into Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., the operating partnership formed by and managed by the REIT; consolidate the ownership of our portfolio of office and media and entertainment properties, together with certain other real estate assets, under the operating partnership; facilitate the IPO; and allow the REIT to qualify as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with the taxable year ending December 31, 2010. Below is a background summary of each of the three entities comprising the Company.

SGS Realty II, LLC (“SGS II”), a Delaware limited liability company was formed on August 2, 2007. SGS II is the sole member of SGS Realty I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is the sole member of SGS Holdings, LLC (“SGS”), a Delaware limited liability company. SGS was formed on July 31, 2007 to acquire and operate the media and entertainment campus known as Sunset Gower Studios located in Los Angeles, California consisting of soundstages, office space, support space and storage space (“Sunset Gower”) and to acquire and develop an adjacent parcel of land into an office building leased to Technicolor Creative Services USA, Inc. (“Technicolor Building”), the development of which was completed on June 1, 2008. Sunset Gower and the Technicolor Building were purchased on August 17, 2007 for $177,800 (including closing costs, and net of an allowance to complete the redevelopment of the Technicolor Building). SGS is obligated to pay $9,350 in tenant improvements to Technicolor, of which $8,215 had been incurred as of December 31, 2009. SGS II acquired a vacant media and entertainment office building on October 5, 2007 (the “6060 Building,” and together with Sunset Gower, the “Sunset Gower Property”) for approximately $2,901. The 6060 Building has been under major renovation and redevelopment since its acquisition in October 2007. Pursuant to SGS’s limited liability company agreement, profits, losses and distributions are to be allocated entirely to its sole member.

Sunset Bronson Entertainment Properties, LLC (“Sunset Bronson”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on March 10, 2008 by Sunset Studios Holdings, LLC, its sole member, to acquire and operate the media and entertainment campus known as Sunset Bronson Studios (formerly, Tribune Studios), located in Los Angeles, California, consisting of soundstages, office space, support space and storage space (the “Sunset Bronson Property”). The Sunset Bronson Property was acquired for $125,000 on January 30, 2008 by Sunset Studios Holdings, LLC and contributed to Sunset Bronson upon its formation. Pursuant to Sunset Bronson’s limited liability company agreement, profits, losses and distributions are to be allocated entirely to its sole member.

HFOP City Plaza, LLC (“City Plaza”), a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on August 26, 2008 by HFOP Associates, LLC (“City Plaza Parent”), its sole member, to acquire and operate the office building known as the City Plaza property located in Orange, California (the “City Plaza Property”). On

 

F-46


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

August 26, 2008, City Plaza Parent acquired the mortgage on the City Plaza Property from an unrelated third party lender for $69,250 and received a $1,250 loan paydown from the original borrower along with a transfer of $14,696 of existing loan reserves, resulting in a net purchase price for the loan of $53,304 plus closing costs. In a simultaneous transaction, City Plaza acquired the City Plaza Property from the fee owner, subject to the mortgage held by its sole member, City Plaza Parent. Pursuant to City Plaza’s limited liability company agreement, profits, losses, and distributions are to be allocated entirely to its sole member.

As of December 31, 2009 and 2008 the Company’s real estate portfolio was comprised of the Sunset Gower Property, Technicolor Building, the Sunset Bronson Property and the City Plaza Property (collectively referred to as the “Properties” for purposes of those periods). As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s real estate was comprised of the Sunset Gower Property (referred to as the “Properties” for purposes of that period).

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying combined financial statements of the Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The effect of all significant intercompany balances and transactions has been eliminated. The real estate entities included in the accompanying combined financial statements have been combined on the basis that, for the periods presented, such entities were under common control, common management, and common ownership.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates.

Investment in Real Estate Properties

The Properties are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company allocates the cost of an acquisition, including the assumption of liabilities, to the acquired tangible assets and identifiable intangibles based on their estimated fair values in accordance with GAAP. The Company assesses fair value based on estimated cash flow projections that utilize appropriate discount and/or capitalization rates and available market information. Estimates of future cash flows are based on a number of factors including historical operating results, known and anticipated trends, and market and economic conditions. The fair value of tangible assets of an acquired property considers the value of the property as if it was vacant.

The Company records acquired “above and below” market leases at fair value using discount rates which reflect the risks associated with the leases acquired. The amount recorded is based on the present value of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to each in-place lease and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for each in-place lease, measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease for above-market leases and the initial term plus the extended term for any leases with below market renewal options. Other intangible assets acquired include amounts for in-place lease values that are based on the Company’s evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease. Factors considered include estimates of carrying costs during hypothetical expected lease-up periods, market conditions and costs to execute similar

 

F-47


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

leases. In estimating carrying costs, the Company includes estimates of lost rents at market rates during the hypothetical expected lease-up periods, which are dependent on local market conditions. In estimating costs to execute similar leases, the Company considers leasing commissions, legal and other related costs.

The Company capitalizes direct construction and development costs, including predevelopment costs, interest, property taxes, insurance and other costs directly related and essential to the acquisition, development or construction of a real estate project. Construction and development costs are capitalized while substantial activities are ongoing to prepare an asset for its intended use. The Company considers a construction project as substantially complete and held available for occupancy upon the completion of tenant improvements, but no later than one year after cessation of major construction activity. Costs incurred after a project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use, or after development activities have ceased, are expensed as incurred. Costs previously capitalized related to abandoned acquisitions or developments are charged to earnings. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

The Company computes depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of a range of 39 years for building and improvements, 15 years for land improvements, 5 or 7 years for furniture and fixtures and equipment, and over the life of the lease for tenant improvements. Depreciation is discontinued when a property is identified as held for sale. Above- and below-market lease intangibles are amortized primarily to revenue over the remaining non-cancellable lease terms and bargain renewal periods, if any. Other in-place lease intangibles are amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancellable lease term and bargain renewal periods, if any.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses the carrying value of real estate assets and related intangibles, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable in accordance with GAAP. Impairment losses are recorded on real estate assets held for investment when indicators of impairment are present and the future undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. The Company recognizes impairment losses to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the properties. Properties held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less cost to sell. The Company did not record any impairment charges related to its real estate assets and related intangibles during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, nor during the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand and in banks plus all short-term investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased.

The Company maintains some of its cash in bank deposit accounts which, at times, may exceed the federally insured limit. No losses have been experienced related to such accounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of amounts held by lenders to provide for future real estate taxes and insurance expenditures, repairs and capital improvements reserves, general and other reserves and security deposits.

 

F-48


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are comprised of amounts due for monthly rents and other charges. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, including an allowance for straight-line rent receivables, for estimated losses resulting from tenant defaults or the inability of tenants to make contractual rent and tenant recovery payments. The Company monitors the liquidity and creditworthiness of its tenants and operators on an ongoing basis. This evaluation considers industry and economic conditions, property performance, credit enhancements and other factors. For straight-line rent amounts, the Company’s assessment is based on amounts estimated to be recoverable over the term of the lease. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, management believes that the collectability of straight-line rent balances are reasonably assured; accordingly, no allowance was established against straight-line rent receivables. The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on specific identification of uncollectible accounts and the Company’s historical collection experience. The Company recognizes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the current business environment and the Company’s historical experience. Historical experience has been within management’s expectations.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. For assets acquired subject to leases, the Company recognizes revenue upon acquisition of the asset, provided the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. If the lease provides for tenant improvements, the Company determines whether the tenant improvements, for accounting purposes, are owned by the tenant or the Company. When the Company is the owner of the tenant improvements, the tenant is not considered to have taken physical possession or have control of the physical use of the leased asset until the tenant improvements are substantially completed. When the tenant is the owner of the tenant improvements, any tenant improvement allowance that is funded is treated as a lease incentive and amortized as a reduction of revenue over the lease term. Tenant improvement ownership is determined based on various factors including, but not limited to:

 

   

whether the lease stipulates how and on what a tenant improvement allowance may be spent;

 

   

whether the tenant or landlord retains legal title to the improvements at the end of the lease term;

 

   

whether the tenant improvements are unique to the tenant or general-purpose in nature; and

 

   

whether the tenant improvements are expected to have any residual value at the end of the lease.

Certain leases provide for additional rents contingent upon a percentage of the tenant’s revenue in excess of specified base amounts or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized when actual results reported by the tenant, or estimates of tenant results, exceed the base amount or other thresholds. Such revenue is recognized only after the contingency has been removed (when the related thresholds are achieved), which may result in the recognition of rental revenue in periods subsequent to when such payments are received.

 

F-49


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

Other property related revenue is revenue that is derived from the tenants’ use of lighting, equipment rental, parking, power, HVAC and telecommunications (phone and internet). Other property related revenue is recognized when these items are provided.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

The Company recognizes gains on sales of properties upon the closing of the transaction with the purchaser. Gains on properties sold are recognized using the full accrual method when (i) the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured, (ii) the Company is not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale, (iii) the initial investment from the buyer is sufficient and (iv) other profit recognition criteria have been satisfied. Gains on sales of properties may be deferred in whole or in part until the requirements for gain recognition have been met.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs are amortized over the term of the respective loan on the straight-line method which approximates the effective interest method.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company manages interest rate risk associated with borrowings by entering into interest rate derivative contracts. The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value and the changes in fair value are reflected as income or expense. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income, which is a component of equity. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

The Company held one interest rate collar instrument and one interest rate cap instrument at December 31, 2009 and 2008. The Company did not use hedge accounting for these instruments.

Income Taxes

The Company’s taxable income is reportable by its members. The entities comprising the Company are limited liability companies and are treated as pass-through entities for income tax purposes. Accordingly, no provision has been made for federal income taxes in the accompanying combined financial statements. The Company is subject to the statutory requirements of the state in which it conducts business.

Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities

Under GAAP, the Company is required to measure certain financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. In addition, the Company is required to measure other financial instruments and balances at fair

 

F-50


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

value on a non-recurring basis (e.g., carrying value of impaired real estate and long-lived assets). Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The GAAP fair value framework uses a three-tiered approach. Fair value measurements are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

   

Level 1: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;

 

   

Level 2: quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

 

   

Level 3: prices or valuation techniques where little or no market data is available that requires inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

When available, the Company utilizes quoted market prices from an independent third-party source to determine fair value and classifies such items in Level 1 or Level 2. In instances where the market for a financial instrument is not active, regardless of the availability of a nonbinding quoted market price, observable inputs might not be relevant and could require the Company to make a significant adjustment to derive a fair value measurement. Additionally, in an inactive market, a market price quoted from an independent third party may rely more on models with inputs based on information available only to that independent third party. When the Company determines the market for a financial instrument owned by the Company to be illiquid or when market transactions for similar instruments do not appear orderly, the Company uses several valuation sources (including internal valuations, discounted cash flow analysis and quoted market prices) and establishes a fair value by assigning weights to the various valuation sources.

Changes in assumptions or estimation methodologies can have a material effect on these estimated fair values. In this regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.

The Company considers the following factors to be indicators of an inactive market: (i) there are few recent transactions, (ii) price quotations are not based on current information, (iii) price quotations vary substantially either over time or among market makers (for example, some brokered markets), (iv) indexes that previously were highly correlated with the fair values of the asset or liability are demonstrably uncorrelated with recent indications of fair value for that asset or liability, (v) there is a significant increase in implied liquidity risk premiums, yields, or performance indicators (such as delinquency rates or loss severities) for observed transactions or quoted prices when compared with the Company’s estimate of expected cash flows, considering all available market data about credit and other nonperformance risk for the asset or liability, (vi) there is a wide bid-ask spread or significant increase in the bid-ask spread, (vii) there is a significant decline or absence of a market for new issuances (that is, a primary market) for the asset or liability or similar assets or liabilities, and (viii) little information is released publicly (for example, a principal-to-principal market).

The Company considers the following factors to be indicators of non-orderly transactions: (i) there was not adequate exposure to the market for a period before the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets or liabilities under current market conditions, (ii) there was a usual and customary marketing period, but the seller marketed the asset or liability to a single

 

F-51


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

market participant, (iii) the seller is in or near bankruptcy or receivership (that is, distressed), or the seller was required to sell to meet regulatory or legal requirements (that is, forced), and (iv) the transaction price is an outlier when compared with other recent transactions for the same or similar assets or liabilities.

In August 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-05, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820), Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value . This update provides amendments to the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) for the fair value measurement of liabilities. In circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, the reporting entity is required to measure fair value using (i) a valuation technique that uses the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset or quoted prices for similar liabilities when traded as assets, or (ii) another valuation technique that is consistent with the principles of fair value measurement, such as the income approach or the market approach. The amendments in this update also clarify that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability. These amendments to the ASC are effective upon issuance and did not have a significant impact on the combined financial statements of the Company.

The Company’s interest rate collar and interest rate cap agreements are classified as Level 2 and their fair value is derived from estimated values obtained from the counterparties based on observable market data for similar instruments.

Unrealized gain associated with Level 2 liabilities was $410 for the year ended December 31, 2009. Unrealized loss associated with Level 2 liabilities was $835 for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2009, the FASB issued additional disclosure provisions of ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments — Overall (previously Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 161) (“ASC 825-10”). ASC 825-10 requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods of publicly traded companies in addition to the annual financial statements. ASC 825-10 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years ending after June 15, 2009. Prior period presentation is not required for comparative purposes at initial adoption. The adoption of ASC 825-10 on June 30, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s combined financial position or results of operations.

In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855, Subsequent Events (previously SFAS 165) (“ASC 855”). ASC 855 provides general guidelines to account for the disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. These guidelines are consistent with current accounting requirements, but clarify the period, circumstances, and disclosures for properly identifying and accounting for subsequent events. ASC 855 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 855 on June 30, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s combined financial position or results of operations.

In June 2009, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”) was issued in the form of ASC 105, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (previously SFAS 168) (“ASC 105”). Upon issuance, the Codification became the single source of authoritative, nongovernmental GAAP. The Codification reorganized GAAP pronouncements into accounting topics, which are displayed using a single structure. Certain Securities

 

F-52


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) guidance is also included in the Codification and will follow a similar topical structure in separate SEC sections. ASC 105 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of the Codification on September 30, 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s combined financial position or results of operations.

3. Investment in Real Estate

Investment in real estate consisted of the following as of:

 

     December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Land

   $ 174,984      $ 174,984   

Land improvements

     9,660        9,596   

Building and improvements

     155,434        153,453   

Tenant improvements

     12,039        1,804   

Furniture and fixtures

     11,052        10,304   

Less: accumulated deprecation

     (12,909     (5,592
                
     350,260        344,549   

Property under development

     3,245        8,475   
                
   $ 353,505      $ 353,024   
                

 

     Year ended
December 31, 2009
    Year ended
December 31, 2008
    Period from
July 31, 2007
(inception) to
December 31,  2007
 

Investment in real estate

      

Beginning balance

   $ 358,616      $ 180,094      $ —     

Acquisitions

     —          170,702        168,496   

Improvements, capitalized costs

     7,874        19,432        11,598   

Cost of property sold

     (76     (11,612     —     
                        

Ending balance

   $ 366,414      $ 358,616      $ 180,094   
                        

Accumulated Depreciation

      

Beginning balance

   $ (5,592   $ (741   $ —     

Additions

     (7,330     (4,851     (741

Deletions

     13        —          —     
                        

Ending balance

   $ (12,909   $ (5,592   $ (741
                        

SGS capitalized interest cost relating to the development of the Technicolor Building in the amounts of $0, $1,054 and $1,075 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007, respectively. SGS capitalized real estate taxes relating to the development of the Technicolor Building in the amounts of $0, $401 and $195 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

F-53


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:

 

Date of acquisition

   SGS
August 17, 2007
   6060 Building
October 5, 2007
   Sunset Bronson
January 30, 2008
   City Plaza
August 26, 2008

Land

   $ 80,248    $ 2,100    $ 89,309    $ 14,939

Land improvements

     1,485      —        1,350      305

Building and improvements

     81,988      —        23,536      32,844

Property under development

     —        815      —        —  

Tenant improvements

     —        —        487      931

Furniture and fixtures

     1,860      —        7,001      —  

Above market leases

     1,815      —        —        1,296

In-place leases

     9,391      —        3,541      3,181

Trade name

     1,021      —        —        —  
                           

Net assets acquired

   $ 177,808    $ 2,915    $ 125,224    $ 53,496
                           

The table below shows the pro forma financial information (unaudited) for the year ended December 31, 2008 for the Predecessor as if the City Plaza Property and Sunset Bronson Property had been acquired as of January 1, 2008. The Technicolor Building was completed and placed into service on June 1, 2008 and only had a partial year of operating in 2008.

     Predecessor
(Actual)
    Predecessor
(Pro forma)
 

Total revenues

   $ 35,588      $ 39,240   

Operating expenses

     (28,302     (33,123

Interest expense

     (7,977     (8,115
                

Net loss

   $ (691   $ (1,998
                

The table below shows the pro forma financial information (unaudited) for the year ended December 31, 2007 for the Predecessor, as if the Sunset Gower Property had been acquired as of January 1, 2007.

 

     Predecessor
(Actual)
    Predecessor
(Pro forma)
 

Total revenues

   $ 6,963      $ 18,551   

Operating expenses

     (6,236     (16,614

Interest expense

     (3,030     (8,073
                

Net loss

   $ (2,303   $ (6,136
                

On March 25, 2008, Sunset Bronson sold to an unrelated third party a 37,351 square foot (unaudited) vacant lot with approximately 56,026 square feet of FAR (unaudited) for a sale price of $12,000 (unaudited), which resulted in a loss of $208.

 

F-54


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

4. Lease Intangibles

At December 31, 2009 and 2008 gross lease intangibles were comprised of $3,111 of above market tenant lease intangibles and $16,113 of in-place lease intangibles. At December 31, 2009 and 2008 the accumulated amortization of lease intangibles was $4,989 and $1,974, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and during the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007, the Company recognized $2,344, $1,609 and $0, respectively, of amortization expense related to in-place leases and amortized $672, $366, and $0, respectively, of above-market leases against rental revenue. The weighted-average amortization period for lease intangibles is 4.35 years.

As of December 31, 2009 the estimated aggregate amortization of lease intangibles for each of the next five years and thereafter:

 

2010

   $ 2,247

2011

     1,864

2012

     1,610

2013

     1,522

2014

     1,488

Thereafter

     5,504
      
   $ 14,235
      

5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets

Prepaid expenses and other assets consisted of the following as of:

 

     December 31,
         2009        
   December 31,
         2008        

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $1,220 and $2,986, respectively

   $ 465    $ 1,501

Prepaid insurance

     1,080      1,090

Prepaid property taxes

     1,412      —  

Trade name, net of accumulated amortization of $243 and $140, respectively

     779      881

Leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $240 and $9, respectively

     2,075      300

Other

     891      289
             
   $ 6,702    $ 4,061
             

Trade name is amortized over a ten year period from the date of acquisition of Sunset Gower.

6. Notes Payable

On May 12, 2008, Sunset Bronson entered into a loan agreement in the amount of $39,000, $37,000 of which was distributed, net of closing costs, to the member in connection with the acquisition of the Sunset Bronson Property, with the remaining $2,000 being held by the lender. The debt bears interest per annum equal

 

F-55


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

to the one-month LIBOR plus 3.65%. The interest rates, inclusive of the spread, at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were 3.89% and 5.55%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were 4.00% and 6.28%, respectively. The loan is payable in monthly installments of interest only, with any unpaid interest and principal due at maturity, May 30, 2010. The loan can be extended for three additional periods of 12 months if certain conditions are met including the payment of an Extension Fee (as defined in the loan agreement) of 0.25% of the outstanding principal amount of the loan plus any outstanding undisbursed loan capacity of the loan as of the extension date, having a Loan to Value Ratio (as defined in the loan agreement) of the property that does not exceed 48%, and having a 1.35 to 1.0 Debt Service Coverage Ratio (as defined in the loan agreement). Management believes it will meet the loan extension conditions to extend this loan. The loan is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of Sunset Bronson including an assignment of rents and leases. The outstanding balance of this loan at December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $37,000.

As a requirement of the Sunset Bronson mortgage loan, Sunset Bronson entered into an interest rate collar agreement with a notional amount of $37,000, which sets the interest rate cap at 3.87% and the floor at 2.55%. The expiration date of the collar is June 1, 2010. Sunset Bronson has not designated the interest rate collar agreement as a hedging instrument for accounting purposes; therefore, the change in the fair value of the derivative instrument is reported in current earnings. The fair market value of the interest rate collar agreement at December 31, 2009 and 2008, was a $425 liability position and a $835 liability position, respectively, and is included in the accompanying combined balance sheets. The change in fair value of $410 and $835 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, is included in earnings.

On August 14, 2007, SGS entered into a loan agreement with a maximum principal amount of $155,000, related to the acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property. The loan was comprised of (i) an initial advance of $126,400 to partially finance the acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property and (ii) additional advances in a maximum principal amount of $28,600 to fund the development of the Technicolor Building. The debt bore interest per annum at a rate selected by the lender from among the following: the Eurodollar Rate, LIBOR plus 2.75%, the Adjusted Prime Rate, or the prime rate plus 5.00% per annum. The weighted average interest rates during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were 3.87% and 5.84%, respectively. The loan was payable in monthly installments of interest only and had an initial maturity date of September 14, 2008.

On May 29, 2008, SGS entered into a loan extension, which required a principal repayment of $23,870 and extended the maturity date to September 14, 2009. In addition, on September 14, 2008, the interest rate spread was increased to the one-month LIBOR plus 3.50%. SGS exercised the option to extend such loan until March 14, 2010. The loan is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of SGS including an assignment of rents and leases. The outstanding balance of the SGS loan as of December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $115,000 and $115,000, respectively. Management has completed a term sheet with the current lenders to extend the maturity under this loan for an additional year, through March 14, 2011. The extension of the maturity date under that term sheet calls for an initial extension through October 31, 2010, subject to payment of an extension fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding loan balance. Should the loan be extended beyond October 31, 2010 to March 14, 2011, then, payment of an additional extension fee equal to 0.25% of the outstanding principal balance and repayment of 5.00% of the outstanding principal balance are required. The interest rate for the initial extension period through October 31, 2010 remains one-month LIBOR plus 3.50%. The interest rate for the extension period after October 31, 2010 through March 14, 2011 increases to one-month LIBOR plus 4.50%. As part of these discussions SGS Holdings, LLC has offered to include the 6060 Building as additional collateral under the loan.

 

F-56


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

As a requirement of the SGS mortgage loan, SGS entered into an interest rate cap agreement, in order to cap the one-month LIBOR rate at 6.00%. As part of the May 2008 loan modification, SGS entered into an interest rate cap agreement in order to cap the one-month LIBOR rate at 4.75%, effective as of September 15, 2008. The notional amount and the terms of the interest rate cap are identical to the principal amount and terms of the mortgage loan. The cost related to the cap was $43 and it expired on September 15, 2009. On May 21, 2009, the Company entered into another interest rate cap agreement effective September 15, 2009 through March 15, 2010 to cap the interest rate during the extension of the loan at 4.75%. The fair market value of the interest rate cap agreement at December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $0 and $0, respectively. The change in fair value of $20 and $9 for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, is included in interest expense in the accompanying combined statements of operations. In connection with the extension of the maturity date discussed above, the Company expects to enter into an interest rate cap agreement to cap the interest rate during the extension period of the loan at 4.75%.

Pursuant to the terms of the SGS mortgage loan, the Company is required to maintain certain escrow and reserve accounts. Such balances were included in restricted cash in the accompanying combined balance sheets and were as follows as of:

 

     December 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008
 

Taxes and insurance reserve *

   $ 392    $ 922   

Repair reserve *

     133      133   

Replacement reserve *

     522      298   

Debt service reserve *

     431      479   

Ground lease reserve *

     46      46   

General Reserve *

     —        1   

Security deposit

     1,139      1,094   

Deposit Account *

     1,046      1,292   
               
   $ 3,709    $ 4,265 (1)  
               

 

(*) Accounts controlled by lender and or its servicing agent.
(1) In addition to these reserves and accounts, HFOP City Plaza, LLC was also holding $340 of security deposits.

The following table summarizes the stated debt maturities and scheduled principal repayments at December 31, 2009:

 

2010

   $ 152,000
      
   $ 152,000
      

7. Leases

In May 2006, the previous owner of Sunset Gower entered into a lease agreement with Technicolor (the “Technicolor Lease”) whereby Technicolor leased a six story office and technical production building that was constructed and completed by the Company in June 2008. The lease term is 12 years and six months commencing as of December 1, 2007, with two consecutive options (exercisable upon eighteen months written notice) to extend the lease five years each at an increased rent based on Fair Market Value, as defined in the

 

F-57


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

Technicolor Lease. The Technicolor Lease contains provisions for scheduled rent abatements and rent increases over the term of the lease. During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized $5,813 and $2,617, respectively, of revenue related to the Technicolor Lease, including tenant recoveries. Straight-line rent receivables as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 included $2,122 and $1,353, respectively of straight-line rent receivable related to the Technicolor lease.

In conjunction with the acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property, SGS assumed a ground lease agreement for a portion of the land with an unrelated party. Commencing September 1, 2007, the monthly rent increased to $15, whereas the monthly rent totaled $14 at the time of acquisition. The rental rate is subject to adjustment in February 2011 and every seven years thereafter. The ground lease terminates March 31, 2060. The total ground lease expense for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 totaled $181.

At the time of closing of the Sunset Bronson acquisition in 2008, Sunset Bronson entered into a $16,300, five year lease agreement with an affiliate of the seller, KTLA, Inc. (“KTLA”), that was entirely prepaid at closing. At December 31, 2009 and 2008 the Company had approximately $10,342 and $13,294, respectively, of prepaid rent related to this lease that is included in prepaid rent in the accompanying combined balance sheets. The Company straight-lined such prepaid rent and recognizes the rental revenue on a straight-line basis. The Company recognized $2,952 and $3,000 of rental revenue during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively related to the KTLA lease. On December 8, 2008, Tribune Company and several of its affiliates, including KTLA, filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. On June 25, 2009, KTLA assumed its lease for the KTLA Building and cured all outstanding prepetition amounts due and owing to Sunset Bronson. In June 2009, Sunset Bronson executed an extension of the KTLA lease through January 2016 for additional base rent payments that escalate over the extended life of the lease.

With the exception of the Technicolor Lease and the KTLA lease, the other SGS and Sunset Bronson leases are generally short term in nature (less than one year); accordingly, the Company does not straight-line rent related to such leases. City Plaza currently has multiple lease agreements with tenants related to the City Plaza Property.

The Properties are leased to tenants under operating leases with initial term expiration dates ranging from 2010 to 2020. As of December 31, 2009, the minimum future cash rents receivable (excluding tenant reimbursements for operating expenses) under noncancelable operating leases for the Properties in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 

2010

   $ 9,401

2011

     11,472

2012

     10,695

2013

     10,056

2014

     9,718

Thereafter

     41,949
      
   $ 93,291
      

 

F-58


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

8. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, payables, and accrued liabilities are reasonable estimates of fair value because of the short-term maturities of these instruments. Fair values for notes payable are estimates based on rates currently prevailing for similar instruments of similar maturities. The estimated fair values of interest-rate collar/cap arrangements were derived from estimated values obtained from the counterparties based on observable market data for similar instruments.

 

     December 31, 2009     December 31, 2008  
   Carrying Value     Fair Value     Carrying Value     Fair Value  

Notes payable

   $ 152,000      $ 150,871      $ 152,000      $ 147,162   

Interest rate cap asset

     —          —          —          —     

Interest rate collar liability

     (425     (425     (835     (835
                                
   $ 151,575      $ 150,446      $ 151,165      $ 146,327   
                                

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims arising in connection with its business. Management believes, based in part upon consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate resolution of all such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s combined results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

Commitments

On December 1, 2008, City Plaza entered into a management agreement (“Agreement”) with a third party (“Manager”) for a one year period. The term shall renew automatically for successive six month terms unless terminated by City Plaza or Manager. The Manager earns either the greater of $4 per month or 1.25% of Gross Income, as defined in the Agreement, collected from the City Plaza Property for the preceding month. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company incurred $58 of property management fees of which none was payable at December 31, 2009. The Agreement also provides for a construction management fee to be based upon an incremental scale, as defined in the Agreement. The Company has not incurred any construction management fees to date.

Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated August 11, 2008, City Plaza entered into an agreement pursuant to which it agreed to pay the Seller, as defined in the agreement, of the City Plaza property a Contingent Payment, as defined in the agreement, equal to 25% of net proceeds from any Capital Event, as defined in the agreement, in excess of proceeds necessary to provide an 11% unlevered IRR on the investment amount of $54,000. This obligation continues until either the Seller receives $5,000, a transfer of the property to an unaffiliated third party occurs or a transfer of the membership interest of the Company to an unaffiliated third party occurs. Pursuant to a letter agreement dated March 1, 2010, the Seller has agreed that the transfer of City Plaza in the formation transactions shall terminate the Contingent Payment obligation without giving rise to any payment.

 

F-59


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

Concentrations

All of the Company’s Properties are located in Southern California which exposes the Company to greater economic risks than if it owned a more geographically dispersed portfolio. Further, for the year ended December 31, 2009, approximately 75% of the Company’s revenues were derived from tenants in the media and entertainment industry which makes the Company particularly susceptible to demand for rental space in such industry. Consequently, the Company is subject to the risks associated with an investment in real estate with a concentration of tenants in that industry. For the year ended December 31, 2009, Technicolor Lease accounted for approximately 15% of total revenues and the KTLA lease accounted for approximately 11% of total revenues. Another media and entertainment tenant accounted for approximately 11% of total revenues.

10. Related-Party Transactions

The Properties are managed by Hudson Studios Management, LLC (“Hudson Management”), an affiliate of the Company.

Upon acquisition of the Sunset Gower Property, SGS entered into a five year management agreement with Hudson Management to pay a monthly management fee equal to $54 for the first 24 months of the term and $42 for the remaining 36 months. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and during the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007, management fees of $591, $650 and $255, respectively, had been incurred. In addition, Hudson Management is entitled to a construction management fee of $300 plus 5% of the hard costs in association with other future developments. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, $300 of construction management fees had been capitalized to construction in progress.

Upon acquisition of the Sunset Bronson Property, Sunset Bronson entered into an agreement with Hudson Management to pay a management fee equal to $33 per month through December 31, 2009 and $25 per month thereafter for the remaining five year term. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, $400 and $367, respectively, of management fees had been incurred.

Upon acquisition of the City Plaza Property, City Plaza entered into an agreement with Hudson Management to pay a management fee equal to $10 per month. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company paid $120 and $40, respectively, to Hudson Management.

11. Segment Reporting

The Company’s reporting segments are based on the Company’s method of internal reporting which classifies its operations into two reporting segments: (i) Office Properties, and (ii) Media and Entertainment Properties. The office properties reporting segment includes the City Plaza Property and the Technicolor Building, while the media and entertainment reporting segment includes the Sunset Gower Property (including the 6060 Building), and the Sunset Bronson Property. The Company evaluates performance based upon property net operating income from continuing operations (“NOI”) of the combined properties in each segment. NOI is not a measure of operating results or cash flows from operating activities as measured by GAAP, is not indicative of cash available to fund cash needs and should not be considered an alternative to cash flows as a measure of liquidity. All companies may not calculate NOI in the same manner. The Company considers NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income because it helps both investors and management to understand the core operations of the Company’s properties. The Company defines NOI as operating revenues (including

 

F-60


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

rental revenues, other property related revenue, tenant recoveries and other operating revenues), less property-level operating expenses (which includes management fees and general and administrative expenses). NOI excludes depreciation and amortization, impairments, gain/loss on sale of real estate, interest expense, and other non-operating items.

Summary information for the reportable segments follows for the year ended December 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

     Office Properties    Media and Entertainment
Properties
   Total

Rental revenues

   $ 9,061    $ 19,909    $ 28,970

Tenant recoveries

     1,407      1,463      2,870

Other property related revenue

     226      7,193      7,419

Other operating revenues

     18      60      78
                    

Total revenues

     10,712      28,625      39,337

Operating expenses

     4,496      16,810      21,306
                    

Net operating income

   $ 6,216    $ 11,815    $ 18,031
                    

Summary information for the reportable segments for the year ended December 31, 2008 is as follows:

 

     Office Properties    Media and Entertainment
Properties
   Total

Rental revenues

   $ 3,791    $ 22,075    $ 25,866

Tenant recoveries

     728      1,565      2,293

Other property related revenue

     58      7,238      7,296

Other operating revenues

     41      92      133
                    

Total revenues

     4,618      30,970      35,588

Operating expenses

     1,805      17,631      19,436
                    

Net operating income

   $ 2,813    $ 13,339    $ 16,152
                    

Summary information for the reportable segments follows for the period July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007 is as follows:

 

     Office Properties    Media and Entertainment
Properties
   Total

Rental revenues

   $ —      $ 4,215    $ 4,215

Tenant recoveries

     —        58      58

Other property related revenue

     —        2,683      2,683

Other operating revenues

     —        7      7
                    

Total revenues

     —        6,963      6,963

Operating expenses

     —        4,665      4,665
                    

Net operating income

   $ —      $ 2,298    $ 2,298
                    

 

F-61


Table of Contents

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the

Period from July 31, 2007 (Inception) to December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

The following is a reconciliation from NOI to reported net income, the most direct comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2009
    Year Ended
December 31,
2008
    Period July 31, 2007
(inception) to December 31,
2007
 

Net operating income

   $ 18,031      $ 16,152      $ 2,298   

Interest income

     17        45        43   

Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate collar

     410        (835     —     

Depreciation and amortization

     (9,980     (6,599     (741

Interest expense

     (8,352     (10,244     (3,860

Other expense

     (95     (21     —     

Loss on sale of real estate

     —          (208     —     
                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 31      $ (1,710   $ (2,260
                        

There were no intersegment sales or transfers during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) to December 31, 2007.

The Company’s total assets by segment were as follows as of:

 

     Office
Properties
   Media and
Entertainment
Properties
   Total

December 31, 2009

   $ 125,105    $ 259,510    $ 384,615
                    

December 31, 2008

   $ 124,454    $ 262,248    $ 386,702
                    

12. Subsequent Events

None.

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these combined financial statements were issued.

 

F-62


Table of Contents

Schedule III

Consolidated Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation

(Amounts in thousands)

 

          Initial Cost   Cost Capitalized
Subsequent to Acquisition
  Gross Carrying Amount
at December 31, 2009
  Accumulated
Depreciation at
December 31,
2009
    Year Built/
Renovated
  Year
Acquired

Property Name

  Encumbrances
at December 31,
2009
    Land   Building &
Improvements
  Improvements   Carrying
Costs
  Land   Building &
Improvements
  Total      

Office

                     

City Plaza

  $ —        $ 14,939   $ 34,135   $ 2,669   $ —     $ 14,939   $ 36,804   $ 51,743   $ (1,792   1969/99   2008

Technicolor Building

    —       6,598     27,187     25,453     3,088     6,598     55,728     62,326     (3,010   2008   2007

Media and Entertainment

                     

Sunset Gower

    115,000     75,749     58,969     5,132     —       75,749     64,101     139,850     (4,569   Various   2007

Sunset Bronson

    37,000        77,698     32,374     2,423     —       77,698     34,797     112,495     (3,538   Various   2008
                                                             

Total

  $ 152,000      $ 174,984   $ 152,665   $ 35,677   $ 3,088   $ 174,984   $ 191,430   $ 366,414   $ (12,909    
                                                             

 

* The Technicolor Building and Sunset Gower are encumbered by the same $115,000 note payable.

 

F-63


Table of Contents

GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC

Unaudited Combined Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands)

 

     March 31,
2010
   March 31,
2009

Revenues

     

Rental revenues

   $ 2,122    $ 2,083

Parking and other

     310      289

Tenant recoveries

     171      163
             
     2,603      2,535

Certain expenses

     

Property operating expenses

     745      691
             

Revenues in excess of certain expenses

   $ 1,858    $ 1,844
             

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-64


Table of Contents

GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC

Notes to Unaudited Combined Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying combined statement of revenues and certain expenses include the combined operations of First Financial Plaza (“First Financial”), an office building located in Los Angeles, California and Tierrasanta Research Park (“Tierrasanta”), an office building located in San Diego, California. First Financial and Tierrasanta are owned by GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC, respectively, (collectively the “Company”). Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P. is the managing and sole member of GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC.

The accompanying unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to the Company and have been prepared for the purpose of complying with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the unaudited combined statements are not representative of the actual operations for the periods presented as revenues and certain operating expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred to the future operations of the Company, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, management fees, interest expense, interest income and amortization of above and below market leases.

Both First Financial and Tierrasanta are under common management and their acquisition will be conditioned on a single event, consummation of an initial public offering. Due to common management, and consistent with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810-10, Consolidation , management views the First Financial and Tierrasanta on a combined basis.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim unaudited combined statement of revenues and certain expenses have been prepared by the Company’s management pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) may have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the presentation not misleading. The unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial information set forth therein. The results of operations for the interim periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. The interim unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 and notes thereto.

2. Principles of Combination

The combined financial statement includes selected accounts of the Company as described in Note 1. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses.

 

F-65


Table of Contents

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

Use of Estimates

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to prepare the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

4. Minimum Future Lease Rentals

There are various lease agreements in place with tenants to lease space in the Company. As of March 31, 2010, the minimum future cash rents receivable under noncancelable operating leases in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 

April 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010

   $ 5,876

2011

     7,216

2012

     6,758

2013

     5,676

2014

     4,357

Thereafter

     11,307
      
   $ 41,190
      

Leases generally require reimbursement of the tenant’s proportional share of common area, real estate taxes and other operating expenses, which are excluded from the amounts above.

5. Tenant Concentrations

For each of the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, one tenant represented 13% of the Company’s total revenue.

6. Related-Party Transactions

The Company reimburses an operating company that is owned by the minority owner of Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P. for property management payroll and related expenses. Such reimbursable costs are included in operating expenses in the accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management believes that the ultimate settlement of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

F-66


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Auditors

The Stockholder of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying combined statement of revenues and certain expenses (as defined in Note 1) of GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC (the “Company”), for the year ended December 31, 2009. This combined statement of revenues and certain expenses is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this combined statement based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of revenues and certain expenses is free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the combined statement, assessing the accounting principles used, and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall combined financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses of the Company were prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion in the Registration Statement on Form S-11 of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. as described in Note 1, and are not intended to be a complete presentation of the revenues and expenses of the Company.

In our opinion, the statement of revenues and certain expenses referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the combined revenues and certain expenses, as defined above of GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC for the year ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ E RNST & Y OUNG LLP

Los Angeles, California

April 9, 2010

 

F-67


Table of Contents

GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC

Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Year Ended December 31, 2009

(In thousands)

 

Revenues

  

Rental revenues

   $ 8,493

Parking and other

     1,198

Tenant recoveries

     717
      
     10,408

Certain expenses

  

Property operating expenses

     2,695

Other operating expenses

     145
      

Revenues in excess of certain expenses

   $ 7,568
      

See accompanying notes.

 

F-68


Table of Contents

GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC

Notes to Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Year Ended December 31, 2009

(In thousands)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying combined statement of revenues and certain expenses includes the combined operations of First Financial Plaza (“First Financial”), an office building located in Los Angeles, California and Tierrasanta Research Park (“Tierrasanta”), an office building located in San Diego, California. First Financial and Tierrasanta are owned by GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC, respectively (collectively, the “Company”). Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P. is the managing and sole member of GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC.

The accompanying combined statement of revenues and certain expenses relates to the Company and has been prepared for the purpose of complying with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the combined statement is not representative of the actual operations for the year presented as revenues and certain operating expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred to the future operations of the Company, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, management fees, interest expense, interest income and amortization of above and below market leases. The Company is not aware of any material factors relating to First Financial and Tierrasanta other than those discussed above that would cause the reported financial information not to be necessarily indicative of future operating results.

First Financial and Tierrasanta are under common management and their acquisition will be conditioned on a single event, consummation of an initial public offering. Due to common management, and consistent with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810-10, Consolidation , management views First Financial and Tierrasanta on a combined basis.

2. Principles of Combination

The combined financial statement includes selected accounts of the Company as described in Note 1. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the combined statement of revenues and certain expenses.

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

 

F-69


Table of Contents

GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC

Notes to Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Year Ended December 31, 2009

(In thousands)

 

Use of Estimates

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to prepare the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

4. Minimum Future Lease Rentals

There are various lease agreements in place with tenants to lease space in the Company. As of December 31, 2009, the minimum future cash rents receivable under noncancelable operating leases in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 

2010

   $ 7,775

2011

     7,181

2012

     6,723

2013

     5,667

2014

     4,357

Thereafter

     11,307
      
   $ 43,010
      

Leases generally require reimbursement of the tenant’s proportional share of common area, real estate taxes and other operating expenses, which are excluded from the amounts above.

5. Tenant Concentrations

For the year ended December 31, 2009, one tenant represented 13% of the Company’s total revenue.

6. Related-Party Transactions

The Company reimburses an operating company that is owned by the minority owner of Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P. for property management payroll and related expenses. Such reimbursable costs are included in operating expenses in the accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management believes that the ultimate settlement of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

8. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these combined financial statements were issued.

 

F-70


Table of Contents

Howard Street Associates, LLC

Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands)

 

     March 31,
2010
    March 31,
2009

REVENUES

    

Rental

   $ 166      $ 440

Tenant recoveries

     62        181
              
     228        621

CERTAIN EXPENSES

    

Property operating expenses

     282        221
              

(Expenses) Revenues in excess of certain (revenues) expenses

   $ (54   $ 400
              

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-71


Table of Contents

Howard Street Associates, LLC

Notes to Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009

(In thousands)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to the operations of a commercial building located at 875-899 Howard Street, San Francisco, California (“875 Howard Street” or the “Property”), which is owned by Howard Street Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Howard Street” or the “Company”). The Property was acquired on February 15, 2007 by Howard Street.

The members of Howard Street are TMG-Flynn Soma, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “Managing Member”), and SOMA Square Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “Investor Member”). The percentage interests of the Managing Member and the Investor Member are 6% and 94%, respectively.

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to 875 Howard Street and have been prepared for the purpose of complying with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the unaudited statements are not representative of the actual operations for the periods presented as revenues and certain operating expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred to the future operations of the Property, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, management fees, interest expense, interest income and amortization of above and below market leases.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared by 875 Howard Street management pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles may have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the presentation not misleading. The unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial information set forth therein. The results of operations for the interim periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. The interim unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses should be read in conjunction with the Property’s audited statements of revenues and certain expenses for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period ended December 31, 2007, and notes thereto.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with

 

F-72


Table of Contents

respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk. Other income is comprised of signage rental income.

Use of Estimates

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to prepare the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

3. Minimum Future Lease Rentals

One of the significant tenants, which accounted for 92% and 35% of the Property’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, has a lease that will expire in December 2013, with two five-year renewal options. The other significant tenant, which accounted for 0% and 65% of the Property’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, lease expired in February 2009. On November 16, 2009, the Company entered into a seven year lease agreement with new tenant. The lease is subject to extension for one term of five years.

As of March 31, 2010, the minimum future cash rents receivable under non-cancelable operating leases in each of the next five years/periods and thereafter are as follows:

 

Nine months ended December 31, 2010

   $ 540

2011

     1,537

2012

     1,563

2013

     2,106

2014

     1,518

Thereafter

     9,736
      
   $ 17,000
      

Leases generally require reimbursement of the tenant’s proportional share of common area, real estate taxes and other operating expenses, which are excluded from the amounts above.

4. Related-Party Transactions

The developer and manager of 875 Howard Street is TMG Partners and Flynn Properties, Inc. TMG Partners is also the managing member of TMG-Flynn Soma, LLC. TMG Partners and Flynn Properties, Inc. jointly began providing property management services for the Company starting February 15, 2007. The Company reimburses TMG Partners and Flynn Properties, Inc. for property management payroll and related expenses. Such reimbursable costs are included in operating expenses in the accompanying statements of revenues and expenses.

5. Commitments and Contingencies

The Property is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management believes that the ultimate settlement of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Property.

6. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued.

 

F-73


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Auditors

The Stockholder of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses (as defined in Note 1) of Howard Street Associates, LLC (the “Company”) for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2007. These statements of revenues and certain expenses are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these statements of revenues and certain expenses based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statements of revenues and certain expenses, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses of the Company were prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion in the Registration Statement on Form S-11 of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. as described in Note 1, and are not intended to be a complete presentation of the revenues and expenses of Howard Street Associates, LLC.

In our opinion, the statements of revenues and certain expenses referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the revenues and certain expenses, as defined above, of Howard Street Associates, LLC for each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ E RNST & Y OUNG LLP

Los Angeles, California

April 9, 2010

 

F-74


Table of Contents

Howard Street Associates, LLC

Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007

(Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

     2009    2008    2007

REVENUES

        

Rental income

   $ 920    $ 2,275    $ 1,740

Tenant recoveries

     377      718      620
                    
     1,297      2,993      2,360

CERTAIN EXPENSES

        

Property operating expenses

     1,120      849      672
                    

Revenues in excess of certain expenses

   $ 177    $ 2,144    $ 1,688
                    

See accompanying notes.

 

F-75


Table of Contents

Howard Street Associates, LLC

Notes to Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007

(Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to the operations of a commercial building located at 875-899 Howard Street, San Francisco, California (“875 Howard” or the “Property”), which is owned by Howard Street Associates, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company (“Howard Street” or the “Company”). The Property was acquired on February 15, 2007 by Howard Street. The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses include the Property’s operations for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for the period from February 15, 2007 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2007.

The members of Howard Street are TMG-Flynn Soma, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “Managing Member”), and SOMA Square Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “Investor Member”). The percentage interests of the Managing Member and the Investor Member are 6% and 94%, respectively.

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to 875 Howard and have been prepared for the purpose of complying with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses are not representative of the actual operations for the years presented as revenues and certain expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred to the future operations of the Property, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, management fees, amortization of above-market lease intangibles, interest expense and interest income. The Company is not aware of any material factors relating to 875 Howard other than those discussed above that would cause the reported financial information not to be necessarily indicative of future operating results.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Company is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

Use of Estimates

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to prepare the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

F-76


Table of Contents

Howard Street Associates, LLC

Notes to Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

For the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007

(Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

3. Minimum Future Lease Rentals

One of the significant tenants, which accounted for 68%, 27% and 31% of the Property’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007 through December 31, 2007, respectively, has a lease that will expire in December 2013, with two five-year renewal options. The other significant tenant, which accounted for 32%, 73% and 69% of the Property’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the period from February 15, 2007 through December 31, 2007, respectively, had a lease that expired in February 2009.

As of December 31, 2009, the minimum future cash rents receivable under non-cancelable operating leases in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

 

2010

   $ 708

2011

     2,286

2012

     2,588

2013

     3,163

2014

     2,608

Thereafter

     12,304
      
   $ 23,657
      

Leases generally require reimbursement of the tenant’s proportional share of common area, real estate taxes and other operating expenses, which are excluded from the amounts above.

4. Tenant Concentrations

For the year ended December 31, 2009, one tenant accounted for 68% of the Property’s total revenues and another tenant accounted for 32% of total revenues for the same period.

5. Related-Party Transactions

The developer and manager of 875 Howard is TMG Partners and Flynn Properties, Inc. TMG Partners is also the managing member of TMG-Flynn Soma, LLC. TMG Partners and Flynn Properties, Inc. jointly began providing property management services for the Company starting February 15, 2007. The Company reimburses TMG Partners and Flynn Properties, Inc. for property management payroll and related expenses. These reimbursable costs are included in operating expenses in the accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses.

6. Commitments and Contingencies

The Property is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management believes that the ultimate settlement of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Property.

7. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued.

 

F-77


Table of Contents

City Plaza

Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands)

 

     2008    2007

Revenues

     

Rental revenues

   $ 2,174    $ 3,571

Parking and other

     89      121

Tenant recoveries

     162      367
             
     2,425      4,059

Certain expenses

     

Property operating expenses

     1,742      1,689
             

Excess of revenues over certain expenses

   $ 683    $ 2,370
             

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-78


Table of Contents

City Plaza

Notes to the Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses include the historical operations of City Plaza (the “Property”), an office building located in Orange, California. City Plaza was acquired by HFOP City Plaza, LLC on August 26, 2008.

Concurrent with the consummation of the initial public offering of the common stock of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., HFOP City Plaza, LLC will contribute its ownership interest in the Property to Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Affiliates of the prior owners of the Property have historically provided maintenance and management services to the Property.

The accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses relate to the Property and have been prepared for the purpose of complying with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the statements are not representative of the actual operations for the years presented as revenues and certain operating expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred to the future operations of the Property, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, management fees, interest expense, interest income, and amortization of above- and below-market leases.

Tenant reimbursements for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and other recoverable costs are recognized in the period that the expenses are incurred. Lease termination fees, and parking and miscellaneous revenues are included in parking and other income in the accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses. Lease termination fees are recognized when the related leases are canceled and the landlord has no continuing obligation to provide services to such former tenants.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses have been prepared by the Property’s management pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) may have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the presentation not misleading. The unaudited statement of revenues and certain expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial information set forth therein. The results of operations for the interim periods ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The interim unaudited combined statements of revenues and certain expenses should be read in conjunction with the Property’s audited statements of revenues and certain expenses for the year ended December 31, 2007, and notes thereto.

Revenue Recognition

The Property recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

 

F-79


Table of Contents

City Plaza

Notes to the Unaudited Statements of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands)

 

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Property is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

Use of Estimates

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to prepare the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with GAAP. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

3. Commitments and Contingencies

The Property is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management believes that the ultimate settlement of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Property’s results of operations.

4. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued.

 

F-80


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Auditors

The Stockholder of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses (as defined in Note 1) of City Plaza (the “Property”) for the year ended December 31, 2007. The statement of revenues and certain expenses is the responsibility of the management of the Property. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the statement based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of revenues and certain expenses is free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Property’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Property’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement, assessing the accounting principles used, and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses of the Property was prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion in the Registration Statement on Form S-11 of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. as described in Note 1, and are not intended to be a complete presentation of the revenues and expenses of the Property.

In our opinion, the statement of revenues and certain expenses referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the revenue and certain expenses, as defined above, of City Plaza for the year ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

/s/ E RNST & Y OUNG LLP

Los Angeles, California

February 16, 2010

 

F-81


Table of Contents

City Plaza

Statement of Revenue and Certain Expenses

Year Ended December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

Revenues

  

Rental revenues

   $ 5,727

Parking and other

     901

Tenant recoveries

     454
      
     7,082

Certain expenses

  

Property operating expenses

     3,874
      

Excess of revenues over certain expenses

   $ 3,208
      

 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-82


Table of Contents

City Plaza

Notes to Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Year ended December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses includes the historical operations of City Plaza (the “Property”), an office building located in Orange, California. City Plaza was acquired by HFOP City Plaza, LLC on August 26, 2008.

Concurrent with the consummation of the initial public offering of the common stock of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., HFOP City Plaza, LLC will contribute their ownership interest in the Property to Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Affiliates of the prior owners of the Property have historically provided maintenance and management services to the Property.

The accompanying combined statement of revenues and certain expenses relates to the Company and has been prepared for the purpose of complying with Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the combined statement is not representative of the actual operations for the year presented as revenues and certain operating expenses, which may not be directly attributable to the revenues and expenses expected to be incurred to the future operations of the Property, have been excluded. Such items include depreciation, amortization, management fees, interest expense, interest income and amortization of above- and below-market leases.

Tenant reimbursements for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and other recoverable costs are recognized in the period that the expenses are incurred. Lease termination fees, and parking and miscellaneous revenues are included in parking and other income in the accompanying statements of revenues and certain expenses. Lease termination fees are recognized when the related leases are canceled and the landlord has no continuing obligation to provide services to such former tenants.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

The Property recognizes rental revenue from tenants on a straight-line basis over the lease term when collectability is reasonably assured and the tenant has taken possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset.

Tenant recoveries related to reimbursement of real estate taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance, and other operating expenses are recognized as revenue in the period the applicable expenses are incurred. The reimbursements are recognized and presented gross, as the Property is generally the primary obligor with respect to purchasing goods and services from third-party suppliers, has discretion in selecting the supplier and bears the associated credit risk.

Use of Estimates

Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting and disclosure of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting periods to prepare the combined statements of revenues and certain expenses in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

F-83


Table of Contents

City Plaza

Notes to Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses

Year ended December 31, 2007

(In thousands)

 

3. Commitments and Contingencies

The Property is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. These matters are generally covered by insurance. Management believes that the ultimate settlement of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on the Property’s results of operations.

4. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued.

 

F-84


Table of Contents

 

 

Until                     , 2010 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.

             Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

Barclays Capital

Morgan Stanley

Wells Fargo Securities

BMO Capital Markets

Key Banc Capital Markets

                    , 2010

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 31. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table itemizes the expenses incurred by us in connection with the issuance and registration of the securities being registered hereunder. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, filing fee and the NYSE listing fee.

 

  

SEC Registration Fee

   $ 18,859

FINRA Filing Fee

     26,950

NYSE Listing Fee

     *

Printing and Engraving Expenses

     *

Legal Fees and Expenses (other than Blue Sky)

     *

Accounting and Fees and Expenses

     *

Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees

   $ *
      

Total

   $ *
      

 

* To be completed by amendment.

 

Item 32. Sales to Special Parties.

None.

 

Item 33. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

On February 1, 2010 we issued 100 shares of our common stock to Victor J. Coleman in connection with the initial capitalization of our company for an aggregate purchase price of $1,000. The issuance of such shares was effected in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act.

In connection with the formation transactions, (i) an aggregate of              shares of common stock and common units of limited partnership interest in our operating partnership, or common units, (ii) shares of our common stock and common units with an aggregate value of $            , and (iii) series A preferred units of limited partnership interest with an aggregate liquidation preference of approximately $12.5 million (before closing costs and prorations) will be issued to certain persons transferring interests in the properties and assets comprising our initial portfolio to us in consideration of such transfer. All such persons had a substantive, pre-existing relationship with us and made irrevocable elections to receive such securities in the formation transactions prior to the filing of this registration statement with the SEC. All of such persons are “accredited investors” as defined under Regulation D of the Securities Act. The issuance of such shares and units will be effected in reliance upon exemptions from registration provided by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act and Regulation D of the Securities Act.

Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we will complete a separate private placement pursuant to which we will sell              shares of common stock with an aggregate value of $20.0 million to Victor J. Coleman and certain investment funds affiliated with Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., at a price per share equal to the price to the public without payment by us of any underwriting discount or commission. Mr. Coleman and each such investment fund had a substantive, pre-existing relationship with us and made irrevocable elections to receive such securities in the concurrent private placement prior to the filing of this registration

 

II-1


Table of Contents

statement with the SEC. Mr. Coleman and each such investment fund are “accredited investors” as defined under Regulation D of the Securities Act. The issuance of such shares will be effected in reliance upon an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act and Regulation D of the Securities Act.

 

Item 34. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from:

 

   

actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

 

   

active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action.

Our charter contains a provision that eliminates the liability of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Maryland law requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

   

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

   

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

   

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation also may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by or in the right of the corporation in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct; however, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or in our right, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:

 

   

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

 

   

a written unsecured undertaking by the director or officer or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet the standard of conduct.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

Our charter authorizes us, and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any individual who:

 

   

is a present or former director or officer and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or

 

   

while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, manager, member or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.

Furthermore, our officers and directors are indemnified against specified liabilities by the underwriters, and the underwriters are indemnified against certain liabilities by us, under the underwriting agreement relating to this offering. See “Underwriting.”

We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors whereby we indemnify such executive officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law against all expenses and liabilities, subject to limited exceptions. These indemnification agreements also provide that upon an application for indemnity by an executive officer or director to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, such court may order us to indemnify such executive officer or director.

In addition, our directors and officers are indemnified for specified liabilities and expenses pursuant to the partnership agreement of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., the partnership in which we serve as sole general partner.

 

Item 35. Treatment of Proceeds from Stock Being Registered.

None.

 

II-3


Table of Contents
Item 36. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (A) Financial Statements. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto.

 

  (B) Exhibits . The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this registration statement on Form S-11:

 

Exhibit

   
  *1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
    3.1   Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
    3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
  *4.1   Form of Certificate of Common Stock of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
  *5.1   Opinion of Venable LLP.
  *8.1   Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to tax matters.
  10.1   Form of Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. (2)
  10.2   Form of Registration Rights Agreement among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. and the persons named therein.
  10.3   Form of Indemnification Agreement between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. and its directors and officers.
*10.4   Form of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.
*10.5   Form of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Stock Option Agreement.
  10.6   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Victor J. Coleman.
  10.7   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Howard S. Stern.
  10.8   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Mark T. Lammas.
  10.9   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Christopher Barton.
  10.10   Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Dale Shimoda.
  10.11   Contribution Agreement by and among Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.12   Contribution Agreement by and among SGS Investors, LLC, HFOP Investors, LLC, Soma Square Investors, LLC, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.13   Contribution Agreement by and among TMG-Flynn SOMA, LLC, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.14   Contribution Agreement by and among Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P., Glenborough Acquisition, LLC, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.15   Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein as nominees of the Farallon Funds, dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)

 

II-4


Table of Contents

Exhibit

    
  10.16    Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein as nominees of TMG-Flynn SOMA, LLC, dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.17   

Representation Warranty and Indemnity Agreement by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein as nominees of Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P. dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)

  10.18   

Subscription Agreement by and among Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., Victor J. Coleman and Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. dated as of February 15, 2010.

  10.19    Form of Tax Protection Agreement between Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein. (2)
*21.1    List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
*23.1    Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
*23.2    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).
  23.3    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  23.4    Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.
  23.5    Consent of Rosen Consulting Group . (1)
  24.1    Power of Attorney. (1)
  99.1    Consent of Theodore R. Antenucci. (1)
  99.2    Consent of Mark Burnett. (1)
  99.3    Consent of Jonathan M. Glaser. (1)
  99.4    Consent of Robert M. Moran, Jr. (1)
  99.5    Consent of Barry A. Porter. (1)
  99.6    Consent of Mark D. Linehan.
  99.7    Rosen Consulting Group Market Study.

 

* To be filed by amendment.
(1)

Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2010.

(2)

Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-11/A filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2010.

 

Item 37. Undertakings.

 

  (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

  (b)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,

 

II-5


Table of Contents
  officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

  (c) The undersigned Registrant hereby further undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance under Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

II-6


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that the registrant meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-11 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of California, on this 12 th day of May, 2010.

 

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
By:   / S /    V ICTOR J. C OLEMAN        
  Victor J. Coleman
  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/ S /    V ICTOR J. C OLEMAN        

Victor J. Coleman

  

Chief Executive Officer and

Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer)

  May 12, 2010

/ S /    M ARK T. L AMMAS        

Mark T. Lammas

  

Chief Financial Officer (Principal

Financial and Accounting Officer)

  May 12, 2010

/ S /    H OWARD S. S TERN        

Howard S. Stern

  

President and Director

  May 12, 2010

*

Richard B. Fried

  

Director

  May 12, 2010
*By:   / S /    V ICTOR J. C OLEMAN        
 

Victor J. Coleman        

Attorney-in-fact            

 

II-7


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

    
  *1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
    3.1    Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
    3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
  *4.1    Form of Certificate of Common Stock of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
  *5.1    Opinion of Venable LLP.
  *8.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP with respect to tax matters.
  10.1    Form of Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. (2)
  10.2    Form of Registration Rights Agreement among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. and the persons named therein.
  10.3    Form of Indemnification Agreement between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. and its directors and officers.
*10.4    Form of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan.
*10.5    Form of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Stock Option Agreement.
  10.6    Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Victor J. Coleman.
  10.7    Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Howard S. Stern.
  10.8    Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Mark T. Lammas.
  10.9    Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Christopher Barton.
  10.10    Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Dale Shimoda.
  10.11    Contribution Agreement by and among Victor J. Coleman, Howard S. Stern, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.12    Contribution Agreement by and among SGS Investors, LLC, HFOP Investors, LLC, Soma Square Investors, LLC, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.13    Contribution Agreement by and among TMG-Flynn SOMA, LLC, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.14    Contribution Agreement by and among Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P., Glenborough Acquisition, LLC, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.15    Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein as nominees of the Farallon Funds, dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.16    Representation, Warranty and Indemnity Agreement by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein as nominees of TMG-Flynn SOMA, LLC, dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)
  10.17    Representation Warranty and Indemnity Agreement by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein as nominees of Glenborough Fund XIV, L.P. dated as of February 15, 2010. (2)


Table of Contents

Exhibit

    
  10.18   

Subscription Agreement by and among Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., Victor J. Coleman and Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. dated as of February 15, 2010.

  10.19    Form of Tax Protection Agreement between Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the persons named therein. (2)
*21.1    List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
*23.1    Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
*23.2    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).
  23.3    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  23.4    Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.
  23.5    Consent of Rosen Consulting Group. (1)
  24.1    Power of Attorney. (1)
  99.1    Consent of Theodore R. Antenucci. (1)
  99.2    Consent of Mark Burnett. (1)
  99.3    Consent of Jonathan M. Glaser. (1)
  99.4    Consent of Robert M. Moran, Jr. (1)
  99.5    Consent of Barry A. Porter. (1)
  99.6    Consent of Mark D. Linehan.
  99.7    Rosen Consulting Group Market Study.

 

* To be filed by amendment.
(1)

Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-11 filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2010.

(2)

Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form S-11/A filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2010.

EXHIBIT 3.1

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

FIRST : Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), desires to amend and restate its charter (the “Charter”) as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

SECOND : The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Corporation is:

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “Code”)) for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.

ARTICLE III

PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT

The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. The name of the resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, whose post address is 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.


ARTICLE IV

PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING

AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE

CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 4.1 Number of Directors . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation is three (3), which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”). The names of the directors who shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

Victor J. Coleman

Howard S. Stern

Richard B. Fried

The Board of Directors may increase the number of directors and may fill any vacancy, whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors or otherwise, on the Board of Directors in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

The Corporation elects, at such time as it becomes eligible under Section 3-802 of the MGCL to make the election provided for under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of stock, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred.

Section 4.2 Extraordinary Actions . Except as specifically provided in Section 4.8 (relating to removal of directors) and in Article VII (relating to certain amendments of the Charter), notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Section 4.3 Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance . The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of its stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the MGCL, the Charter or the Bylaws.

 

2


Section 4.4 Preemptive and Appraisal Rights . Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stock pursuant to Section 6.4 or as may otherwise be provided by a contract approved by the Board of Directors, no holder of shares of stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell. Holders of shares of stock shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Directors, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.

Section 4.5 Indemnification . The Corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in such capacity. The Corporation shall have the power, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.

Section 4.6 Determinations by Board . The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with the Charter, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its stock: the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of stock of the Corporation; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation or of any shares of stock of the Corporation; the number of shares of stock of any class of the Corporation; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

3


Section 4.7 REIT Qualification . If the Corporation elects to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Board of Directors shall take such actions as it determines are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT; however, if the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to continue to be qualified as a REIT, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporation’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Directors also may determine that compliance with one or more of the restrictions or limitations on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article VI is no longer required for REIT qualification.

Section 4.8 Removal of Directors . Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Corporation through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

Section 5.1 Authorized Shares . The Corporation has authority to issue 500,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 490,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $5,000,000. If shares of one class of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of stock pursuant to Section 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4 of this Article V, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. The Board of Directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.

Section 5.2 Common Stock . Subject to the provisions of Article VI and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of Common Stock, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote. The Board of Directors may reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series of stock.

Section 5.3 Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors may classify any unissued shares of Preferred Stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of Preferred Stock of any series from time to time, in one or more classes or series of stock.

 

4


Section 5.4 Classified or Reclassified Shares . Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VI and subject to the express terms of any class or series of stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, including, without limitation, restrictions on transferability, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (“SDAT”). Any of the terms of any class or series of stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board of Directors or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other Charter document.

Section 5.5 Charter and Bylaws . The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all stock are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI

RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

Section 6.1 Definitions . For the purpose of this Article VI, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit . The term “Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean not more than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, subject to adjustment from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.2.8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Capital Stock by any Person, shares of Capital Stock that are treated as Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person shall be deemed outstanding. The value of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock shall be determined by the Board of Directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.

Beneficial Ownership . The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of shares of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that are actually owned or would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Sections 856(h)(1)(B) and 856(h)(3) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

Business Day . The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

5


Capital Stock . The term “Capital Stock” shall mean all classes or series of stock of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

Charitable Beneficiary . The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Trust as determined pursuant to Section 6.3.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

Common Stock Ownership Limit . The term “Common Stock Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, and subject to adjustment from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.2.8) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, excluding any such outstanding Common Stock which is not treated as outstanding for federal income tax purposes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining the percentage ownership of Common Stock by any Person, shares of Common Stock that are treated as Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned by such Person shall be deemed to be outstanding. The number and value of shares of outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.

Constructive Ownership . The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of shares of Capital Stock by a Person, whether the interest in the shares of Capital Stock is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that are actually owned or would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

Excepted Holder . The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a stockholder of the Corporation for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by the Charter or by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7.

Excepted Holder Limit . The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean for each Excepted Holder, the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7, which limit may be expressed, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, as one or more percentages and/or numbers of shares of Capital Stock, and may apply with respect to one or more classes of Capital Stock or to all classes of Capital Stock in the aggregate, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.2.7 and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.2.8.

Individual . The term “Individual” means an individual, a trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code, a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, or a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, provided that, except as set forth in Section 856(h)(3)(A)(ii) of the Code, a trust described in Section 401(a) of the Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Code shall be excluded from this definition.

 

6


Initial Date . The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date of the closing of the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the initial public offering of the Corporation.

Market Price . The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding shares of Capital Stock, the Closing Price for such Capital Stock on such date. The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Capital Stock, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Capital Stock, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Capital Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if such Capital Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Capital Stock is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Capital Stock selected by the Board of Directors or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Capital Stock, the fair market value of the Capital Stock, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

NYSE . The term “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Person . The term “Person” shall mean an Individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust, association, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Prohibited Owner . The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Section 6.2.1, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock, and if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of the shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

Restriction Termination Date . The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Directors determines pursuant to Section 4.7 of the Charter that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of shares of Capital Stock set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT.

Transfer . The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire, or change its level of, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, of Capital Stock or the right to vote or receive dividends on Capital Stock, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any

 

7


disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any interest in Capital Stock or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Capital Stock; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

Trust . The term “Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 6.3.1.

Trustee . The term “Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Corporation to serve as trustee of the Trust.

Section 6.2 Capital Stock .

Section 6.2.1 Ownership Limitations . During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 6.4:

(a) Basic Restrictions.

(i) (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.

(ii) No Person shall Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock to the extent that such Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock could result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial or Constructive Ownership that could result in the Corporation Constructively Owning an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such tenant, taking into account any other income of the Corporation that would not qualify under the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code, would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of such gross income requirements.

(iii) Any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock that, if effective, would result in the Capital Stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.

 

8


Without limitation of the application of any other provision of this Article VI, it is expressly intended that the restrictions on ownership and Transfer described in this Section 6.2.1 of Article VI shall apply to restrict the rights of any members or partners in limited liability companies or partnerships to exchange their interest in such entities for shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation.

(b) Transfer in Trust . If any Transfer of shares of Capital Stock (whether or not such Transfer is the result of a transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system) occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or (ii),

(i) then that number of shares of the Capital Stock, the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 6.3, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such shares; or

(ii) if the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or (ii), then the Transfer of that number of shares of Capital Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 6.2.1(a)(i) or (ii) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such shares of Capital Stock.

(iii) In determining which shares of Capital Stock are to be transferred to a Trust in accordance with this Section 6.2.1(b) and Section 6.3 hereof, shares shall be so transferred to a Trust in such manner as minimizes the aggregate value of the shares that are transferred to the Trust (except as provided in Section 6.2.6) and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, on a pro rata basis.

(iv) To the extent that, upon a transfer of shares of Capital Stock pursuant to this Section 6.2.1(b), a violation of any provision of Section 6.2.1(a) would nonetheless be continuing (as, for example, where the ownership of shares of Capital Stock by a single Trust would result in the shares of Capital Stock being Beneficially Owned (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) by fewer than 100 persons), then shares of Capital Stock shall be transferred to that number of Trusts, each having a Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of Section 6.2.1(a) hereof.

 

9


Section 6.2.2 Remedies for Breach . If the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 6.2.1 or that a Person intends or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of any shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1 (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Directors or a committee thereof shall take such action as it deems advisable, in its sole and absolute discretion, to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided, however , that any Transfer or attempted Transfer or other event in violation of Section 6.2.1 shall automatically result in the transfer to the Trust described above, or, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Section 6.2.3 Notice of Restricted Transfer . Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock that will or may violate Section 6.2.1(a) or any Person who would have owned shares of Capital Stock that resulted in a transfer to the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.2.1(b) shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event or, in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice, and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

Section 6.2.4 Owners Required To Provide Information . From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

(a) every owner of five percent or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class or series of Capital Stock Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such shares are held. Each such owner shall provide promptly to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and the Common Stock Ownership Limit; and

(b) each Person who is a Beneficial or Constructive Owner of shares of Capital Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of Capital Stock for a Beneficial or Constructive Owner shall, on demand, provide to the Corporation such information as the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT

 

10


and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

Section 6.2.5 Remedies Not Limited . Subject to Section 4.7 of the Charter, nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders in preserving the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

Section 6.2.6 Ambiguity . In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article VI, including Section 6.2, Section 6.3, or any definition contained in Section 6.1 or any defined term used in this Article VI but defined elsewhere in the Charter, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Article VI with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event Section 6.2 or 6.3 requires an action by the Board of Directors and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3. Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board of Directors (which the Board may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 6.2.2) acquired Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock in violation of Section 6.2.1, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the shares of Capital Stock which, but for such remedies, would have been actually owned by such Person, and second to shares of Capital Stock which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such shares of Capital Stock based upon the relative number of the shares of Capital Stock held by each such Person.

Section 6.2.7 Exceptions .

(a) Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), the Board of Directors of the Corporation, in its sole and absolute discretion, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit or the Common Stock Ownership Limit, as the case may be, or may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:

(i) the Board of Directors determines, based on such representations and undertakings from such Person to the extent required by the Board of Directors and as are reasonably necessary to ascertain, that such exemption will not cause any Individual’s Beneficial Ownership of shares of Capital Stock to violate the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit; and

(ii) the Board of Directors determines that such Person does not and will not Constructively Own an interest in a tenant of the Corporation (or a tenant of any entity directly or indirectly owned, in whole or in part, by the Corporation) that would cause the Corporation to Constructively Own more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in

 

11


Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant, and the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person to the extent required by the Board of Directors as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this purpose, in the Board of Director’s sole and absolute discretion, a tenant from whom the Corporation (or an entity directly or indirectly owned, in whole or in part, by the Corporation) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to qualify as a REIT shall not be treated as a tenant of the Corporation).

(b) Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 6.2.7(a), the Board of Directors of the Corporation may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

(c) Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock) in excess of the Common Stock Ownership Limit, the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

(d) The Board of Directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder: (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder. No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Stock Ownership Limit, or the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, as applicable.

Section 6.2.8 Increase or Decrease in Aggregate Stock Ownership and Common Stock Ownership Limits . Subject to Section 6.2.1(a)(ii) and the rest of this Section 6.2.8, the Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time increase or decrease the Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit for one or more Persons; provided, however, that a decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns, as applicable, shares of Capital Stock in excess of such decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit at the time such limit is decreased, until such time as such

 

12


Person’s Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock, as applicable, equals or falls below the decreased Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of shares of Capital Stock or increased Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of shares of Capital Stock will be in violation of the Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit and, provided further, that the new Common Stock Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own more than 49% in value of the outstanding Capital Stock.

Section 6.2.9 Legend . Each certificate representing shares of Capital Stock, if any, shall bear substantially the following legend:

The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Corporation’s Charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock in excess of 9.8% (in value or number of shares) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Capital Stock that would result in the Corporation being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the Corporation being owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership set forth in (i) through (iii) above are violated, the shares of Capital Stock represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Corporation may take other actions, including redeeming shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion if the Board of Directors determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio . All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings

 

13


defined in the Charter of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Capital Stock of the Corporation on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Corporation at its Principal Office.

Instead of the foregoing legend, a certificate may state that the Corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of the shares to a stockholder on request and without charge.

Section 6.3 Transfer of Capital Stock in Trust .

Section 6.3.1 Ownership in Trust . Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 6.2.1(b) that would result in a transfer of shares of Capital Stock to a Trust, such shares of Capital Stock shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Trustee as trustee of a Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Trust pursuant to Section 6.2.1(b). The Trustee shall be appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Corporation as provided in Section 6.3.6.

Section 6.3.2 Status of Shares Held by the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation. The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the shares held by the Trustee. The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in the Trust. The Prohibited Owner shall have no claim, cause of action, or any other recourse whatsoever against the purported transferor of such Capital Stock.

Section 6.3.3 Dividend and Voting Rights . The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other distribution to the Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or distribution so paid to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to shares held in the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority (at the Trustee’s sole and absolute discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the

 

14


Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however, that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VI, until the Corporation has received notification that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred into a Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.

Section 6.3.4 Sale of Shares by Trustee . Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of the Trust shall sell the shares held in the Trust to a person or persons, designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 6.2.1(a). Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 6.3.4. The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust ( e.g. , in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the Trust. The Trustee shall reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3.3 of this Article VI. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of Capital Stock have been transferred to the Trustee, such shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 6.3.4, such excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

Section 6.3.5 Purchase Right in Capital Stock Transferred to the Trustee . Shares of Capital Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise, gift or other transaction, the Market Price at the time of such devise, gift or other transaction) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer. The Corporation shall reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and distributions which has been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3.3 of this Article VI. The Corporation shall pay the amount of such reduction to the Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the Trustee has sold the shares held in the Trust pursuant to Section 6.3.4. Upon such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.

 

15


Section 6.3.6 Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries . By written notice to the Trustee, the Corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Trust such that the shares of Capital Stock held in the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 6.2.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary. Neither the failure of the Corporation to make such designation nor the failure of the Corporation to appoint the Trustee before the automatic transfer provided for in Section 6.2.1(b)(i) shall make such transfer ineffective, provided that the Corporation thereafter makes such designation and appointment.

Section 6.4 NYSE Transactions . Nothing in this Article VI shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VI and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VI.

Section 6.5 Enforcement . The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VI.

Section 6.6 Non-Waiver . No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

Section 6.7 Severability . If any provision of this Article VI or any application of any such provision is determined to be invalid by any federal or state court having jurisdiction over the issues, the validity of the remaining provision shall not be affected and other applications of such provisions shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to its Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any shares of outstanding stock. All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation. Except for amendments to Section 4.8 or the next sentence of the Charter and except for those amendments permitted to be made without stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, any amendment to Section 4.8 or to this sentence of the Charter shall be valid only if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

16


ARTICLE VIII

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no present or former director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VIII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

THIRD : The amendment to and restatement of the charter as hereinabove set forth have been duly advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

FOURTH : The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

FIFTH : The name and address of the Corporation’s current resident agent is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SIXTH : The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article IV of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

SEVENTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation had authority to issue immediately prior to this amendment and restatement was 100,000 shares, $0.01 par value per share of common stock. The aggregate par value of all shares of stock having par value was $1,000.00.

EIGHTH : The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter is 500,000,000, consisting of 490,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $5,000,000.

NINTH : The undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

17


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary as of the 30th day of April, 2010.

 

ATTEST:

   HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.:
/s/ Howard S. Stern    By:    /s/ Victor J. Coleman

Name: Howard S. Stern

Title: President and Secretary

     

Name: Victor J. Coleman

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

18

EXHIBIT 3.2

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE . The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.

Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES . The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. PLACE . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING . An annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS .

(a) General . Each of the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president and Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders, and such person or group who has called such special meeting shall, except as provided in Section 3(b)(5) of this Article II, set the date, time and place of any special meeting. Subject to Section 3(b) of this Article II, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

(b) Stockholder Requested Special Meetings.

        (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “ Record Date Request Notice ”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “ Request Record Date ”). To be in proper form, such Record Date Request Notice shall set forth:


(i) as to the purpose of the special meeting and to any business that the requesting stockholder proposes to bring before the special meeting, (A) a reasonably detailed description of such purpose and the business to be conducted, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the special meeting, and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration) and (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (I) between or among the stockholder and/or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons or (II) between or among the stockholder and/or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons, on the one hand, and any other person or entity (including their names), on the other hand, in connection with the request for the special meeting or the business proposed to be conducted at the special meeting;

(ii) as to each requesting stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, (A) the name and address of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person, (B) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof (collectively, the “ Company Securities ”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person; provided, that, for purposes of the foregoing and wherever else used in this Article II, references to “beneficial” ownership or other correlative terms shall be deemed to have the meaning given thereto under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), except that such person or entity shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such person or entity has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future;

(iii) as to each requesting stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined below);

(iv) all information relating to each requesting stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person and each matter of business proposed to be acted on at the special meeting that must be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be

 

2


required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

(v) the signature and date of signature of each requesting stockholder (or of their agents, duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice).

In addition, each stockholder submitting a Record Date Request Notice and each Stockholder Associated Person shall comply with all requirements of applicable law, including all requirements of the Exchange Act, with respect to any request to fix a Request Record Date.

        (2) Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which the Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary. If the Board of Directors shall determine that any request to fix a record date or demand to call and hold a special meeting was not properly made in accordance with this Article II, or shall determine that the stockholder or stockholders requesting that the Board of Directors fix such record date or submitting a demand to call the special meeting have not otherwise complied with this Article II, then the Board of Directors shall not be required to fix a Request Record Date and the secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting of stockholders.

        (3) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter described in a Record Date Request Notice that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “ Special Meeting Request ”) signed and dated by stockholders of record (or by their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Special Meeting Request) as of the applicable Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority (the “ Special Meeting Percentage ”) of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting shall be delivered to the secretary. No business may be considered at a special meeting called by the secretary in accordance with Section 3(b) of this Article II (a “ Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting ”) except as described in the applicable Record Date Request Notice or at the direction of the Board of Directors. The Special Meeting Request shall be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation or the Special Meeting Request) may revoke

 

3


his, her or its Special Meeting Request at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.

        Each stockholder providing a Special Meeting Request (other than a stockholder that provides a Special Meeting Request in response to a solicitation made pursuant to a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act) shall provide the information about such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person required to be provided in a Record Date Request Notice pursuant to Section 3(b)(1) of this Article II (or, if applicable, shall update any information provided by such stockholder in a Record Date Request Notice), so that such information with respect to the stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person is true and correct as of the record date for the Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting (the “ Meeting Record Date ”) and as of the date that is ten Business Days (as defined below) prior to the date of the Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting and the date(s) of any adjournment or postponement thereof. Any such update and supplement shall be sent to the secretary by courier or registered mail, return receipt requested, and shall be received by the secretary, in the case of information required to be provided as of the Meeting Record Date, not later than five (5) Business Days after the Meeting Record Date and, in the case of information required to be provided as of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the date of such Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting and the date(s) of any adjournment or postponement thereof, not later than eight (8) Business Days prior to the date of the Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting or, if practicable, the date(s) of any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting has been adjourned or postponed). In addition, each stockholder providing a Special Meeting Request and each Stockholder Associated Person shall comply with all requirements of applicable law, including all requirements of the Exchange Act, with respect to any request to call a Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting.

        (4) The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a Stockholder-Requested Special Meeting and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the Special Meeting Request required by Section 3(b)(3) of this Article II, the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

        (5) A Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the Meeting Record Date; and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “ Delivery Date ”), a date and

 

4


time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date, or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day, on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may consider such factors as he, she or it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or other special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of Section 3(b)(4) of this Article II.

        (6) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

        (7) The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agents of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been delivered to the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after receipt by the secretary of such purported request and

 

5


(ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

        (8) For purposes of this Article II, “ Stockholder Associated Person ” of any stockholder means (i) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, of shares of stock of the Corporation at whose request the notice is given pursuant to this Article II, (ii) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder or, if applicable, such beneficial owner and (iii) any other person with whom such stockholder or, if applicable, such beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is Acting in Concert (as defined below).

        (9) For purposes of this Article II, a person shall be deemed to be “ Acting in Concert ” with another person if such person knowingly acts (whether or not pursuant to an express agreement, arrangement or understanding) in concert with, or towards a common goal relating to the management, governance or control of the Corporation in parallel with, such other person where (i) each person is conscious of the other person’s conduct or intent and this awareness is an element in their decision-making processes and (ii) at least one additional factor suggests that such persons intend to act in concert or in parallel, which such additional factors may include, without limitation, exchanging information (whether publicly or privately), attending meetings, conducting discussions, or making or soliciting invitations to act in concert or in parallel; provided, that a person shall not be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any other person solely as a result of the solicitation or receipt of revocable proxies or consents from such other person in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act by way of a proxy or consent solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A. A person Acting in Concert with another person shall be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any third party who is also Acting in Concert with such other person.

        (10) For purposes of these Bylaws, “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of California are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Section 4. NOTICE . Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give notice of such meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting. Such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is

 

6


called. Such notice shall be written, and may be delivered by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless a stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

Section 5. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT . Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the vice chairman of the board, if there is one, the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the secretary or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary, or, in the secretary’s absence, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the

 

7


Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (e) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 6. QUORUM; ADJOURNMENTS . At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation (the “ Charter ”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If, however, such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting sine die or from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.

Section 7. VOTING . A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

Section 8. PROXIES . A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the holder of the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

Section 9. VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS . Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted,

 

8


may be voted by the president or a vice president, general partner, managing member or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or fiduciary may vote stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of such director or fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt by the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

Section 10. INSPECTORS . The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, in advance of or at any meeting, may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to an inspector. The inspectors, if any, shall (a) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (b) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (c) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (d) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote and (e) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 11. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS .

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

        (1) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be brought (i) pursuant

 

9


to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record (and, if such nomination or other business is proposed at the request of any beneficial owner, at the request of a beneficial owner who was the beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation) both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) of this Article II and at the time of the annual meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and (C) has complied with this Section 11(a) of this Article II. Except for proposals properly made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders.

        (2) For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 11(a)(1)(iii) of this Article II, (i) the stockholder must have (A) given timely notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary, (B) provided any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 11 of this Article II and (ii) such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 of this Article II and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in connection with the Corporation’s first annual meeting or in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

        (3) To be in proper form, such stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth:

(i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “ Proposed Nominee ”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election

 

10


contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act;

(ii) as to any business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a reasonably detailed description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration) and (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (I) between or among the stockholder and/or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons or (II) between or among the stockholder and/or any of the Stockholder Associated Persons, on the one hand, and any other person or entity (including their names), on the other hand, in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;

(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,

(A) the class, series and number of all shares of Company Securities, if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,

(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,

(C) (I) any derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, the purpose or effect of which is to give such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person economic risk similar to ownership of shares or units of any Company Securities, including due to the fact that the value of such derivative, swap or other transactions are determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of

 

11


any shares or units of any Company Securities, or which derivative, swap or other transactions provide, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any increase in the price or value of shares or units of any Company Securities (“ Synthetic Equity Interests ”), which Synthetic Equity Interests shall be disclosed without regard to whether (x) the derivative, swap or other transactions convey any voting rights in such shares or units to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, (y) the derivative, swap or other transactions are required to be, or are capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares or units or (z) such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such derivative, swap or other transactions, (II) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has or shares a right to vote any shares or units of any Company Securities, (III) any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of shares or units of any Company Securities by, manage the risk of price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the shares or units of any Company Securities, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the shares or units of any Company Securities (“ Short Interests ”), (IV) any rights to dividends on the shares or units of any Company Securities owned beneficially by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying Company Securities, (V) any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the price or value of shares or units of any Company Securities, or any Synthetic Equity Interests or Short Interests, if any, (VI) (x) if such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated

 

12


Person is not a natural person, the identity of the natural person or persons associated with such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person responsible for the formulation of and decision to propose the business to be brought before the meeting or nominate any such Proposed Nominee (such person or persons, the “ Responsible Person ”), the manner in which such Responsible Person was selected, any fiduciary duties owed by such Responsible Person to the equity holders or other beneficiaries of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, the qualifications and background of such Responsible Person and any material interests or relationships of such Responsible Person that are not shared generally by any other record or beneficial holder of the shares or units of any Company Securities and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person to propose such business to be brought before the meeting or nominate any such Proposed Nominee, and (y) if such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a natural person, the qualifications and background of such natural person and any material interests or relationships of such natural person that are not shared generally by any other record or beneficial holder of the shares or units of any Company Securities and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person to propose such business to be brought before the meeting or nominate any such Proposed Nominee, (VII) any significant equity interests or any Synthetic Equity Interests or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, (VIII) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (IX) any pending or threatened litigation in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (X) any material transaction occurring during the prior twelve months between such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor

 

13


of the Corporation, on the other hand, (XI) a summary of any material discussions regarding the business proposed to be brought before the meeting or the nomination or identify of the Proposed Nominee (x) between or among any stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person or (y) between or among any stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person and any other record or beneficial holder of the shares or units of any Company Securities (including their names) and (XII) any other information relating to such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting or the election of any Proposed Nominee pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (I) and (XII) are referred to as “ Disclosable Interests ”); provided, however, that the Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner,

(D) Without limiting the foregoing, any other substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series, provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner, and

 

14


(E) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among the stockholder and/or any Stockholder Associated Person, on the one hand, and each Proposed Nominee, his or her respective affiliates and associates and any other persons with whom such proposed nominee (or any of his or her respective affiliates and associates) is Acting in Concert, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the Proposed Nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to this paragraph are referred to as “ Nominee Information ”);

(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in Sections 11(a)(3)(ii) or (iii) of this Article II and any Proposed Nominee,

(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee, and

(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person; and

(v) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.

        (4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by (i) a certificate executed by the Proposed Nominee certifying that such Proposed Nominee (A) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected, (B) is not and will not become a party to (I) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such Proposed Nominee, if elected as

 

15


a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (II) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such Proposed Nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such Proposed Nominee’s duties under applicable law, (C) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (D) would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation; and (ii) an attached completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request, to the stockholder providing the notice and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange or over-the-counter market).

        (5) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11(a) of this Article II to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11(a) of this Article II shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record (and, if such nomination is proposed at the request of any beneficial owner, at the request of a beneficial owner who was the beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation) both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 of this Article II and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied

 

16


with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11 of this Article II. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by Section 11(a)(3) of this Article II, shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c) General.

        (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 of this Article II by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11 of this Article II. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 of this Article II, and (B) a written update of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 of this Article II as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11 of this Article II.

        (2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 of this Article II shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11 of this Article II. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11 of this Article II.

        (3) For purposes of this Section 11, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the

 

17


Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “ Public announcement ” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

        (4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 of this Article II, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11 of this Article II. Nothing in this Section 11 of this Article II shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 11 of this Article II shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to, and in accordance with, Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.

Section 12. CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any successor statute (the “ MGCL ”), shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

Section 13. TELEPHONIC MEETINGS . The Board of Directors or chairman of the meeting may permit one or more stockholders to participate in a meeting of stockholders by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. GENERAL POWERS . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors.

Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND RESIGNATIONS . At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or

 

18


her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS . An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

Section 5. NOTICE . Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

Section 6. QUORUM . A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors is present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group.

 

19


The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.

Section 7. VOTING . The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.

Section 8. ORGANIZATION . At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or, in the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman of the board, if any, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or, in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or, in the absence of the president, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 9. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 10. CONSENT BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Section 11. VACANCIES . If for any reason any or all of the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Until such time as the Corporation becomes subject to Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum; any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors; and any individual so elected as director shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. At such time as the Corporation becomes subject to Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL and except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

 

20


Section 12. COMPENSATION . Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 13. RELIANCE . Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.

Section 14. RATIFICATION . The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

Section 15. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS . A director who is not also an officer of the Corporation shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.

 

21


ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and one or more other committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The exact composition of each committee, including the total number of directors and the number of Independent Directors on each such committee, shall at all times comply with the listing requirements and rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange, as modified or amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as modified or amended from time to time. For purposes of this section, “Independent Director” shall have the definition set forth in Section 303A.01 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, as amended from time to time, or such superseding definition as is hereafter promulgated by the New York Stock Exchange.

Section 2. POWERS . The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article IV any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law.

Section 3. MEETINGS . Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member.

Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 5. CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

Section 6. VACANCIES . Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

 

22


ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS . The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION . Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.

Section 3. VACANCIES . A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.

Section 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

23


Section 5. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 6. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 7. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

Section 8. PRESIDENT . In the absence of a chief executive officer, the president shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

Section 9. VICE PRESIDENTS . In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

Section 10. SECRETARY . The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

Section 11. TREASURER . The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors and in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

 

24


The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

Section 12. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS . The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

Section 13. COMPENSATION . The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

Section 1. CONTRACTS . The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by an authorized person.

Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS . All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. DEPOSITS . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK

Section 1. CERTIFICATES . The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue some or all of the shares of any class or series of its stock without certificates. In the

 

25


event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in the manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates. If shares of a class or series of stock are authorized by the Board of Directors to be issued without certificates, no stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates representing any shares of such class or series of stock held by such stockholder unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors and then only upon written request by such stockholder to the secretary of the Corporation.

Section 2. TRANSFERS . All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE . Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.

 

26


Section 4. FIXING OF RECORD DATE . The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

        When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if adjourned or postponed, except if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days or postponed to a date more than 90 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting may be determined as set forth herein.

Section 5. STOCK LEDGER . The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS . The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may issue units consisting of different securities of the Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a specified period securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.

ARTICLE VIII

ACCOUNTING YEAR

The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.

ARTICLE IX

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 1. AUTHORIZATION . Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.

Section 2. CONTINGENCIES . Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or

 

27


other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

ARTICLE X

INVESTMENT POLICY

Subject to the provisions of the Charter, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE XI

SEAL

Section 1. SEAL . The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words “Incorporated Maryland.” The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL . Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XII

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, regulation, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

 

28


Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph of this Article XII with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

ARTICLE XIII

WAIVER OF NOTICE

Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.

 

29

EXHIBIT 10.2

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is entered into as of [            ], 2010 by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and the holders listed on Schedule I hereto (each an “ Initial Holder ” and, collectively, the “ Initial Holders ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), the Company and Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”), have concurrently engaged in certain formation transactions (the “ Formation Transactions ”), pursuant to which the Initial Holders have concurrently received, in exchange for their (or certain related parties’) respective interests in the entities participating in the Formation Transactions or in exchange for services rendered, (i) preferred units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“ Preferred OP Units ”), (ii) common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership (“ Common OP Units ”) and/or (iii) shares of Common Stock;

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Operating Partnership Agreement (as defined below), Preferred OP Units will be convertible into Common OP Units and Common OP Units will be redeemable for cash or, at the Company’s option, exchangeable for shares of Common Stock;

WHEREAS, concurrently with the IPO, the Company has sold shares of Common Stock to certain of the Initial Holders in a private placement transaction (the “ Concurrent Private Placement ”) exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “ Securities Act ”); and

WHEREAS, as a condition to receiving the consent of the Initial Holders to the Formation Transactions and in connection with the Concurrent Private Placement, the Company has agreed to grant the Initial Holders and their permitted assignees and transferees the registration rights set forth in Article II hereof.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definitions . In addition to the definitions set forth above, the following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition,


“control” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Agreement ” means this Registration Rights Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York, New York or Los Angeles, California are authorized by law to close.

Charter ” means the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland on [            ], 2010, as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Piggy-Back Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchangeable Common OP Units ” means Common OP Units which may be redeemable for cash or, at the Company’s option, exchangeable for shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Operating Partnership Agreement (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of such exchange right as a result of the Ownership Limit Provisions).

Exchangeable Preferred OP Units ” means Preferred OP Units which are convertible into Exchangeable Common OP Units pursuant to the Operating Partnership Agreement (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of such exchange right as a result of the Ownership Limit Provisions).

Farallon Demand Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Farallon Demand Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

Farallon Holder ” means any Holder that is an Affiliate of Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

Farallon Piggy-Back Registration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

Holder ” means (i) any Initial Holder who is the record or beneficial owner of any Registrable Security or (ii) any assignee or transferee of such Initial Holder (including assignments or transfers of Registrable Securities to such assignees or transferees as a result of the foreclosure on any loans secured by such Registrable Securities) (x) to the extent permitted under the Operating Partnership Agreement or the Charter, as applicable, and (y) provided such assignee or transferee agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions hereof.

 

2


Initial Period ” means a period commencing on the date hereof and ending 365 days following the effective date of the first Resale Shelf Registration Statement (except that, if the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exchange of Exchangeable Common OP Units received in the Formation Transactions are not included in that Resale Shelf Registration Statement as a result of Section 2.4(b), the 365 days shall not begin until the later of the effective date of (i) the first Resale Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the first Issuer Shelf Registration Statement).

Issuer Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).

Market Value ” means, with respect to the Common Stock, the average of the daily market price for the ten (10) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of a written request for registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a). The market price for each such trading day shall be: (i) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the NASDAQ-National Market System, the closing price, regular way, on such day, or if no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system, (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the NASDAQ-National Market System, the last reported sale price on such day or, if no sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the Company, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any securities exchange or the NASDAQ-National Market System and no such last reported sale price or closing bid and asked prices are available, the average of the reported high bid and low asked prices on such day, as reported by a reliable quotation source designated by the Company, or if there shall be no bid and asked prices on such day, the average of the high bid and low asked prices, as so reported, on the most recent day (not more than (10) days prior to the date in question) for which prices have been so reported; provided that if there are no bid and asked prices reported during the ten (10) days prior to the date in question, the Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good faith on the basis of such quotations and other information as it considers, in its reasonable judgment, appropriate.

Notice and Questionnaire ” means a written notice, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A , delivered by a Holder to the Company (i) notifying the Company of such Holder’s desire to include Registrable Securities held by it in a Resale Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) containing all information about such Holder required to be included in such registration statement in accordance with applicable law, including Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto, and (iii) pursuant to which such Holder agrees to bound by the terms and conditions hereof.

Operating Partnership Agreement ” means the Amended & Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, dated as of [            ], 2010, as the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to time.

 

3


Ownership Limit Provisions ” mean the various provisions of the Company’s Charter set forth in [Article VI] thereof restricting the ownership of Common Stock by Persons to specified percentages of the outstanding Common Stock.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

Registrable Securities ” means with respect to any Holder, shares of Common Stock owned, either of record or beneficially, by such Holder that were (a) received by such Holder or an Initial Holder in the Formation Transactions, (b) acquired by such Holder or an Initial Holder directly from the underwriters or the Company in the IPO or the Concurrent Private Placement, in each case in a transaction disclosed in the registration statement relating to the IPO, (c) issued or issuable upon exchange of Exchangeable Common OP Units, including Exchangeable Common OP Units issuable upon conversion of Exchangeable Preferred OP Units received by such Holder or an Initial Holder in the Formation Transactions, (d) solely in the case of any Farallon Holder, any Common Stock acquired by such Farallon Holder in the open market after the date hereof and prior to the second anniversary of this Agreement, and, (e) in the case of (a), (b), (c) and (d), any additional shares of Common Stock issued as a dividend or distribution on, inexchange for, or otherwise in respect of, such shares (including as a result of combinations, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, reorganizations or otherwise).

As to any particular Registrable Securities, they shall cease to be Registrable Securities at the earliest time as one of the following shall have occurred: (i) a registration statement (including a Resale Shelf Registration Statement) covering such shares has been declared effective by the Commission and all such shares have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement or unless such shares (other than Restricted Shares) were issued pursuant to an effective registration statement (including an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement), (ii) such shares have been publicly sold under Rule 144, (iii) all such shares may be sold in one transaction pursuant to Rule 144 or (iv) such shares have been otherwise transferred in a transaction that constitutes a sale thereof under the Securities Act, the Company has delivered to the Holder’s transferee a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such shares not bearing the Securities Act restricted stock legend and such shares subsequently may be resold or otherwise transferred by such transferee without registration under the Securities Act.

Resale Shelf Registration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Resale Shelf Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

Restricted Shares ” means shares of Common Stock issued under an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement which if sold by the holder thereof would constitute “restricted securities” as defined under Rule 144.

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated by the Commission.

 

4


Selling Holder ” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means a Resale Shelf Registration Statement and/or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement.

Suspension Notice ” means any written notice delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 2.14 with respect to the suspension of rights under a Resale Shelf Registration Statement or any prospectus contained therein.

Underwriter ” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 2.1. Underwritten Demand Registration .

(a) Commencing on or after the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days after the consummation date of the IPO and until such time as a Resale Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, the Farallon Holder(s) may collectively make one written request to the Company for registration of an underwritten offering under the Securities Act of all or part of its or their Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (a “ Farallon Demand Registration ”); provided , however , that the Registrable Securities to be sold by Farallon Holders pursuant to such Farallon Demand Registration may not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the Registrable Securities received by all Farallon Holders in the Formation Transactions and the Concurrent Private Placement. The Company shall prepare and file a registration statement on an appropriate form with respect to any Farallon Demand Registration (the “ Farallon Demand Registration Statement ”) and shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Farallon Demand Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than one Farallon Demand Registration. Any request for a Farallon Demand Registration will specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the underwritten offering. The Company shall have the opportunity to register such number of shares of Common Stock as it may elect on the Farallon Demand Registration Statement and as part of the same underwritten offering in connection with a Farallon Demand Registration (a “ Company Piggy-Back Registration ”). Unless the Farallon Holders shall consent in writing, no party, other than the Company, shall be permitted to offer securities in connection with any such Farallon Demand Registration.

(b) Effective Registration . A registration requested by the Farallon Holder(s) under Section 2.1(a) will not count as a Farallon Demand Registration unless and until the related Farallon Demand Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission.

(c) Underwriters . The Company shall select the book-running managing Underwriter in connection with any Farallon Demand Registration; provided that such managing Underwriter must be reasonably satisfactory to the Farallon Holders. The

 

5


Company may select any additional investment banks and managers to be used in connection with the offering; provided that such additional investment bankers and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Farallon Holders.

Section 2.2. Piggy-Back Registration . If the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an underwritten offering of Common Stock by the Company for its own account (other than (i) any registration statement filed in connection with a demand registration by a party other than a Farallon Holder or (ii) a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or any substitute form that may be adopted by the Commission) or filed in connection with an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing securityholders), then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Farallon Holders as soon as practicable (but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date), and such notice shall offer such Farallon Holders the opportunity to register such number of shares of Registrable Securities as each such Farallon Holder may request (a “ Farallon Piggy-Back Registration ”); provided , that if and so long as a Shelf Registration Statement is on file and effective, then the Company shall have no obligation to effect a Farallon Piggy-Back Registration. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter(s) of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Farallon Piggy-Back Registration to be included on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included therein. Participation in a Farallon Piggy-Back Registration as provided in this Section 2.2 shall not count as a Farallon Demand Registration for purposes of Section 2.1.

Section 2.3. Reduction of Offering . Notwithstanding anything contained in Sections 2.1 and 2.2, if the managing Underwriter(s) of an offering described in Section 2.1 or 2.2 advise in writing the Company and the Farallon Holders that the size of the intended offering is such that the success of the offering would be significantly and adversely affected by inclusion of (i) the Registrable Securities requested to be included by Farallon in a Farallon Piggy-Back Registration or (ii) the Common Stock requested to be included by the Company in a Farallon Demand Registration/Company Piggy-Back Registration, then: (x) in the case of a Farallon Demand Registration/ Company Piggy-Back Registration, the amount of the Common Stock to be offered for the account of the Company shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included in such offering to the amount recommended by such managing Underwriter(s), provided , that the amount of securities to be offered by the Company shall not be reduced to less than fifty (50) percent of the total number of securities to be included in such offering; and (y) in the case of a Farallon Piggy-Back Registration, the amount of securities to be offered for the accounts of Farallon Holders shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included in such offering to the amount recommended by such managing Underwriter(s), provided , that the amount of securities to be offered by the Farallon Holders shall not be reduced to less than thirty (30) percent of the total number of securities to be included in such offering.

Section 2.4. Shelf Registration .

(a) Subject to Section 2.14, the Company shall prepare and file not later than fourteen (14) months after the consummation date of the IPO, a “shelf” registration statement with respect to the resale of the Registrable Securities (“ Resale Shelf Registration ”)

 

6


by the Holders thereof on an appropriate form for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the “ Resale Shelf Registration Statement ”) and permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Holders in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Holders and set forth in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof, and, subject to Sections 2.4(d) and 2.14, to keep such Resale Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period ending when all shares of Common Stock covered by the Resale Shelf Registration Statement are no longer Registrable Securities.

At the time the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, each Holder that has delivered a duly completed and executed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to the date ten (10) Business Days prior to such time of effectiveness shall be named as a selling securityholder in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law. If required by applicable law, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, after effectiveness of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall file a supplement to such prospectus or amendment to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement not less than once a quarter as necessary to name as selling securityholders therein any Holders that provide to the Company a duly completed and executed Notice and Questionnaire and shall use reasonable efforts to cause any post-effective amendment to such Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed for such purpose to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof.

(b) The Company may, at its option, satisfy its obligation to prepare and file a Resale Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.4(a) with respect to shares of Common Stock issuable upon exchange of Exchangeable Common OP Units (including Exchangeable Common OP Units issuable upon conversion of Exchangeable Preferred OP Units) by preparing and filing with the Commission not later than fourteen (14) months after the consummation date of the IPOa registration statement on an appropriate form for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (an “ Issuer Shelf Registration Statement ”) providing for (i) the issuance by the Company, from time to time, to the Holders of such Exchangeable Common OP Units or Exchangeable Preferred OP Units, of shares of Common Stock registered under the Securities Act (the “ Primary Shares ”) and (ii) to the extent such Primary Shares constitute Restricted Shares, the registered resale thereof by their Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Holders and set forth therein (but except as provided in Section 2.4(c) below, not an underwritten offering) . The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Issuer Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as promptly as reasonably practicable after filing thereof and, subject to Sections 2.4(d) and 2.14, to keep the Issuer Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period (the “ Effectiveness Period ”) expiring on the date all of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Issuer Shelf Registration Statement have been issued by the Company pursuant thereto or are no longer Registrable Securities. If the Company shall exercise its rights under this Section 2.4(b), Holders (other than Holders of Restricted Shares) shall have no right to have shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exchange of Exchangeable Common OP Units

 

7


(including Exchangeable Common OP Units issuable upon conversion of Exchangeable Preferred OP Units) included in a Resale Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.4(a).

(c) Underwritten Registered Resales . Any offering under a Resale Shelf Registration Statement or by Holders under an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement shall be underwritten at the written request of Holders of Registrable Securities under such registration statement that hold in the aggregate at least 10% of the Registrable Securities originally issued in the Formation Transactions ( provided , that the Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such underwritten offering shall either (i) have a Market Value of at least $25,000,000 on the date of such request or (ii) shall represent all remaining Registrable Securities held by all Farallon Holders and shall have a Market Value of at least $10,000,000 on the date of such request; provided , further, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than three underwritten offerings under this Section 2.4(c) and Section 2.1(a), taken together; and provided , further , that the Company shall not be obligated to effect, or take any action to effect, an underwritten offering (i) within 120 days following the last date on which an underwritten offering was effected pursuant to this Section 2.4(c) or Section 2.1(a) or during any lock-up period required by the underwriters in any prior underwritten offering conducted by the Company on its own behalf or on behalf of selling stockholders, or (ii) during the period commencing with the date thirty (30) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of (provided the Company is actively employed in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to file such registration statement), and ending on a date ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a registration statement with respect to an offering by the Company. Any request for an underwritten offering hereunder shall be made to the Company in accordance with the notice provisions of this Agreement.

(d) Subsequent Filing . The Company shall prepare and file such additional registration statements as necessary every three (3) years and use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statements to be declared effective by the Commission so that a Shelf Registration Statement remains continuously effective, subject to Section 2.14, with respect to resales of Registrable Securities as and for the periods required under Section 2.4(a) or (b), as applicable (such subsequent registration statements to constitute a Resale Shelf Registration Statement or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, hereunder).

(e) Selling Holders Become Party to Agreement . Each Holder acknowledges that by participating in its registration rights pursuant to this Agreement, such Holder will be deemed a party to this Agreement and will be bound by its terms, notwithstanding such Holder’s failure to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire; provided, that any Holder that has not delivered a duly completed and executed Notice and Questionnaire shall not be entitled to be named as a Selling Holder in, or have the Registrable Securities held by it covered by, a Resale Shelf Registration Statement or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement.

Section 2.5. Reduction of Offering . Notwithstanding anything contained herein, if the managing Underwriter(s) of an offering described in Section 2.4(c) advise in writing the Company and the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities included in such offering that the size of the intended offering is such that the success of the offering would be significantly adversely

 

8


affected by inclusion of all the Registrable Securities requested to be included, then the amount of securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be reduced pro rata (according to the Registrable Securities requested for inclusion) to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included in such offering to the amount recommended by such managing Underwriter(s) but in priority to any securities proposed to be sold by any other holders of securities of the Company with registration rights to participate therein. The Company shall have the opportunity to include such number of securities as it may elect in an offering described in Section 2.4(c); provided , if the managing Underwriter(s) of such offering advise in writing the Company and the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities requested to be included that the success of the offering would be significantly adversely affected by inclusion of all the securities requested to be included by the Company, then the amount of securities to be offered for the account of the Company shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included in such offering to the amount recommended by such managing Underwriter(s); provided , further , the amount of securities to be offered by the Company shall not be reduced to less than fifty (50) percent of the total number of securities to be included in such offering.

Section 2.6. Registration Procedures; Filings; Information . Subject to Section 2.14 hereof, in connection with any Resale Shelf Registration Statement under Section 2.4(a), the Company will use its reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof as quickly as practicable, and, in connection with any Issuer Shelf Registration Statement under Section 2.4(b), the Company will use its reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Primary Shares (including for resale, to the extent provided in clause (ii) of Section 2.4(b)) as quickly as reasonably practicable. In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement:

(a) The Company will no later than two (2) Business Days prior to filing a Resale Shelf Registration Statement (or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement providing for resales pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 2.4(b)) or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish to each Selling Holder and each Underwriter, if any, of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of such registration statement as proposed to be filed, and thereafter furnish to such Selling Holder and Underwriter, if any, such number of conformed copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and such other documents as such Selling Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Holder.

(b) After the filing of a Resale Shelf Registration Statement (or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement providing for resales pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 2.4(b)), the Company will promptly notify each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement of any stop order issued or threatened by the Commission and take all reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.

 

9


(c) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States (where an exemption does not apply) as any Selling Holder or managing Underwriter(s), if any, reasonably (in light of such Selling Holder’s intended plan of distribution) requests and (ii) cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Selling Holder to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Holder; provided that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph (c), (B) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company will promptly notify each Selling Holder of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose.

(d) The Company will immediately notify each Selling Holder of such Registrable Securities, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the Company’s receipt of any notification of the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities covered by a Resale Shelf Registration Statement (or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement providing for resales pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 2.4(b)) for sale in any jurisdiction; or (ii) the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and promptly make available to each Selling Holder any such supplement or amendment.

(e) The Company will otherwise use its reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its securityholders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of 12 months, beginning within three months after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder (or any successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission).

(f) In the case of an underwritten offering pursuant to a Resale Shelf Registration Statement (or an Issuer Shelf Registration Statement providing for resales pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 2.4(b)), the Company will enter into and perform its obligations under customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement, if any, in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities (including, to the extent reasonably requested by the lead or managing Underwriters, sending appropriate officers of the Company to attend “road shows” scheduled in reasonable number and at reasonable times in connection with any such underwritten offering, and obtaining customary comfort letters and legal opinions) subject to such underwritten offering.

 

10


(g) In the case of an underwritten offering pursuant to a Resale Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will make available for inspection by any Selling Holder of Registrable Securities subject to such underwritten offering, any Underwriter participating in any disposition of such Registrable Securities and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any such Selling Holder or Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “ Records ”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in connection with such registration statement, subject to entry by each such customary confidentiality agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company.

(h) The Company will use its reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by such Resale Shelf Registration Statement or Primary Shares covered by such Issuer Shelf Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.

(i) In addition to the Notice and Questionnaire, the Company may require each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities to promptly furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding such selling Holder, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request and such other information as may be legally required in connection with such registration. No Holder may include Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder has furnished to the Company such information. Each Holder further agrees to furnish as soon as reasonably practicable to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

(j) Each Selling Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.5(b) or 2.5(d) or upon receipt of a Suspension Notice, such Selling Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of written notice from the Company that such disposition may be made and, in the case of clause (ii) of Section 2.5(d) or, if applicable, Section 2.14, copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by clause (ii) of Section 2.5(d) or, if applicable, prepared under Section 2.14, and, if so directed by the Company, such Selling Holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. Each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that it will immediately notify the Company at any time when a prospectus relating to the registration of such Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of an event as a result of which information previously furnished by such Selling Holder to the Company in writing for inclusion in such prospectus contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made.

 

11


Section 2.7. Registration Expenses . In connection with any registration statement required to be filed hereunder, the Company shall pay the following registration expenses incurred in connection with the registration hereunder (the “ Registration Expenses ”), regardless whether such registration statement is declared effective by the Commission: (i) all registration and filing fees, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (iii) printing expenses, (iv) internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities, (vi) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and customary fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company, (vii) all fees and disbursements of the Company’s auditors, including in connection with the preparation of comfort letters, and any transfer agent and registrar fees, and (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration; provided , however , if a Farallon Holder exercises any Farallon Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or elects to conduct an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2.1(c) and the Company does not elect to make a Company Piggy-Back Registration with respect thereto or to include shares in such underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2.1(c) , then the Farallon Holders shall reimburse the Company for one hundred (100) percent of Registration Expenses with respect to any Farallon Demand Registration or request for an underwritten public offering by the Farallon Holders made in 2010 and fifty (50) percent of Registration Expenses with respect to any Farallon Demand Registration or request for an underwritten public offering by Farallon made thereafter. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any fees, discounts or commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, or any out-of-pocket expenses of the Holders (or the agents who manage their accounts) or any transfer taxes relating to the registration or sale of the Registrable Securities.

Section 2.8. Indemnification by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors, agents, partners, members, employees, managers, advisors, sub-advisors, attorneys, representatives and affiliates, and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against, as incurred, any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) that arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, preliminary prospectus, prospectus, or free writing prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (in each case, as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or that arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission included in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Selling Holder or on such Selling Holder’s behalf expressly for inclusion therein.

 

12


Section 2.9. Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities . Each Selling Holder agrees, severally but not jointly or jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors, agents, employees, attorneys, representatives and affiliates and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Selling Holder, but only with respect to information relating to such Selling Holder included in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by such Selling Holder or on such Selling Holder’s behalf expressly for use in any registration statement, preliminary prospectus, prospectus or free writing prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto. In case any action or proceeding shall be brought against the Company or its officers, directors or agents or any such controlling person, in respect of which indemnity may be sought against such Selling Holder, such Selling Holder shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company or its officers, directors or agents or such controlling person shall have the rights and duties given to such Selling Holder, by Section 2.10; provided , however , that the total obligations of such Selling Holder under this Agreement (including, but not limited to, obligations arising under Section 2.11 herein) will be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such Selling Holder (after deducting any discounts and commissions) from the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

Section 2.10. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 2.8 or 2.9, such person (an “ Indemnified Party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (an “ Indemnifying Party ”) in writing and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and shall assume the payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice will not relieve such Indemnifying Party of any obligations under this Section 2, except to the extent such Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) representation of the Indemnified Party by the counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnified Party. It is understood that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Indemnified Parties, such firm shall be designated in writing by (i) in the case of Persons indemnified pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof, the Selling Holders which owned a majority of the Registrable Securities sold under the applicable registration statement and (ii) in the case of Persons indemnified pursuant to Section 2.9, the Company. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Parties from and against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by reason

 

13


of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such proceeding without any admission of liability by such Indemnified Party.

Section 2.11. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 2.8 or 2.9 hereof is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that otherwise would have been covered by Section 2.8 or 2.9 hereof, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of each Selling Holder, on the other hand, in connection with such statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of each Selling Holder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party.

The Company and the Selling Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.11 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.11, no Selling Holder shall be required to contribute any amount which in the aggregate exceeds the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Selling Holder from the sale of its securities to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Selling Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Selling Holder’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 2.11, if any, are several in proportion to the proceeds of the offering actually received by such Selling Holder bears to the total proceeds of the offering received by all the Selling Holders and not joint.

Section 2.12. Rule 144 . The Company covenants that it will (a) make and keep public information regarding the Company available as those terms are defined in Rule 144, (b) file in a timely manner any reports and documents required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (c) furnish to any Holder forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time more than 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement for the Company’s initial public

 

14


offering), the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), and (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (d) take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144.

Section 2.13. Participation in Underwritten Offerings . No Person may participate in any underwritten offerings hereunder unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and these registration rights provided for in this Article II.

Section 2.14. Suspension of Use of Registration Statement .

(a) If the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the filing of a Resale Shelf Registration Statement under Section 2.4(a) or the use of any related prospectus would be materially detrimental to the Company because such action would require the disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential or the disclosure of which would materially impede the Company’s ability to consummate a significant transaction, and that the Company is not otherwise required by applicable securities laws or regulations to disclose, upon written notice of such determination by the Company to the Holders which shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or any Executive Vice President of the Company certifying thereto, the rights of the Holders to offer, sell or distribute any Registrable Securities pursuant to a Resale Shelf Registration or to require the Company to take action with respect to the registration or sale of any Registrable Securities pursuant to a Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be suspended until the earliest of (i) the date upon which the Company notifies the Holders in writing that suspension of such rights for the grounds set forth in this Section 2.14(a) is no longer necessary and they may resume use of the applicable prospectus, (ii) the date upon which copies of the applicable supplemented or amended prospectus is distributed to the Holders, and (iii) (x) up to 30 consecutive days after the notice to the Holders if that notice is given during the Initial Period or (y) 90 consecutive days after the notice to the Holders if that notice is given after the Initial Period; provided , that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any such right more than two (2) times in any twelve month period or less than 30 days from the termination of the prior such suspension period; and provided further , that such exercise shall not prevent the Holders from being entitled to at least 320 days of effective registration with respect to such registration statement during each Initial Period and thereafter 210 days of effective registration with respect to such registration statement in any 365-day period. The Company agrees to give the notice under (i) above as promptly as practicable following the date that such suspension of rights is no longer necessary.

(b) If all reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act have not been filed by the required date without regard to any extension, or if

 

15


the consummation of any business combination by the Company has occurred or is probable for purposes of Rule 3-05 or Article 11 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar successor rule, upon written notice thereof by the Company to the Holders, the rights of the Holders to offer, sell or distribute any Registrable Securities pursuant to a Resale Shelf Registration Statement or to require the Company to take action with respect to the registration or sale of any Registrable Securities pursuant to a Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be suspended until the date on which the Company has filed such reports or obtained and filed the financial information required by Rule 3-05 or Article 11 of Regulation S-X to be included or incorporated by reference, as applicable, in a Resale Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file the required reports or obtain and file the financial information required to be included or incorporated by reference, as applicable, as promptly as commercially practicable, and shall notify the Holders as promptly as practicable when such suspension is no longer required.

Section 2.15. Additional Shares . The Company, at its option, may register under a Shelf Registration Statement and any filings with any state securities commissions filed pursuant to this Agreement, any number of unissued shares of Common Stock or any shares of Common Stock owned by any other stockholder or stockholders of the Company; provided that in no event shall the inclusion of such shares on a registration statement reduce the amount offered for the account of the Holders in any underwritten offering at the request of the Holders pursuant to Section 2.4(c).

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.1. Remedies . In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein and granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Holders shall be entitled to specific performance of the rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

Section 3.2. Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, in each case without the written consent of the Company and the Holders against whom enforcement is sought. No failure or delay by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon any breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

Section 3.3. Notices . All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

(1) if to any Holder, initially to the address indicated in such Holder’s Notice and Questionnaire or, if no Notice and Questionnaire has been delivered, c/o Hudson

 

16


Pacific Properties, Inc., [11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90025], Attention: Chief Executive Officer, or to such other address and to such other Persons as any Holder may hereafter specify in writing; and

(2) if to the Company, initially at [11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, California 90025], Attention: Chief Executive Officer, or to such other address as the Company may hereafter specify in writing.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when received if deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

Section 3.4. Successors and Assigns; Assignment of Registration Rights . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties. Any Holder may assign its rights under this Agreement without the consent of the Company in connection with a transfer of such Holder’s Registrable Securities; provided , that the Holder notifies the Company of such proposed transfer and assignment and the transferee or assignee of such rights assumes in writing the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

Section 3.5. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto.

Section 3.6. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

Section 3.7. Severability . In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 3.8. Entire Agreement . This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

Section 3.9. Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

17


Section 3.10. Termination . The obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate with respect to a Holder when it no longer holds Registrable Securities and with respect to the Company upon the end of the Effectiveness Period with respect to any Issuer Shelf Registration Statement and with respect to Resale Shelf Registration Statement when there are no longer Registrable Securities with respect to a Resale Shelf Registration Statement, except, in each case, for any obligations under Sections 2.4(d), 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11 and Article III.

Section 3.11. Waiver of Jury Trial . The parties hereto (including any Initial Holder and any subsequent Holder) irrevocably waive any right to trial by jury.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

18


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
HOLDERS LISTED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
As Attorney-in-Fact acting on behalf of each of the Holders named on Schedule I hereto

 

19


Schedule I

[LIST OF HOLDERS]


Exhibit A

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.

FORM OF NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

The undersigned beneficial holder of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”), of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) and/or units of limited partnership interests (“OP Units” and, together with the Common Stock, the “Registrable Securities”) of Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. (the “Operating Partnership”), understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) one or more registration statements (collectively, the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), dated [            ], 2010, among the Company and the holders listed on Schedule I thereto. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities is entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement. In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, a beneficial owner of Registrable Securities generally will be required to be named as a selling security holder in the related prospectus, deliver a prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities and be bound by those provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement applicable to such beneficial owner (including certain indemnification provisions as described below). To be included in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice and Questionnaire must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company at the address set forth herein on or prior to the tenth business day before the effectiveness of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement. We will give notice of the filing and effectiveness of the initial Resale Shelf Registration Statement by issuing a press release and by mailing a notice to the holders at their addresses set forth in the register of the registrar.

Beneficial owners that do not complete this Notice and Questionnaire and deliver it to the Company as provided below will not be named as selling security holders in the prospectus and therefore will not be permitted to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement. Beneficial owners are encouraged to complete and deliver this Notice and Questionnaire prior to the effectiveness of the initial Resale Shelf Registration Statement so that such beneficial owners may be named as selling security holders in the related prospectus at the time of effectiveness. Upon receipt of a completed Notice and Questionnaire from a beneficial owner following the effectiveness of the initial Resale Shelf Registration Statement, in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will file such amendments to the initial Resale Shelf Registration Statement or additional shelf registration statements or supplements to the related prospectus as are necessary to permit such holder to deliver such prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities.


Certain legal consequences arise from being named as selling security holders in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling security holder in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

NOTICE

The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling Security Holder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the prospectus forming a part of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under Item 3). The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the undersigned has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against certain losses arising in connection with statements concerning the undersigned made in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus in reliance upon the information provided in this Notice and Questionnaire.

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants to the Company that such information is accurate and complete:

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1.    (a)  

Full Legal Name of Selling Security Holder:

 

   (b)  

Full Legal Name of registered holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below are held:

 

   (c)  

Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below are held:

 

   (c)  

List below the individual or individuals who exercise voting and/or dispositive powers with respect to the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below:

 


2.
  

Address for Notices to Selling Security Holder:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Telephone:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Fax:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

E-mail address:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

Contact Person:                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

3.   

Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:

 

Type of Registrable Securities beneficially owned, and number of shares of Common Stock and/or OP Units, as the case may be,
beneficially owned:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

4.   

Beneficial Ownership of Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Security Holder:

 

Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the
Company, other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3).

 

Type and amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling Security Holder:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

5.
  

Relationship with the Company

 

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or
more) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or
affiliates) during the past three years.

 

State any exceptions here:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

6.
  

Plan of Distribution

 

Except as set forth below, the undersigned (including its donees or pledgees) intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed
above in Item (3) pursuant to the Resale Shelf


   Registration Statement only as follows and will not be offering any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into with a broker or dealer prior to the effective date of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement. Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned or, alternatively, through underwriters or broker-dealers or agents. If the Registrable Securities are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the Selling Security Holder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions)
  

(i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registrable Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

(ii) in the over-the-counter market;

 

(iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or

 

(iv) through the writing of options.

 

In connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or otherwise, the undersigned may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.

 

State any exceptions here:

 

 

Note:

   In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities without the prior written agreement of the Company.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M thereunder (or any successor rules or regulations), in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the


Registration Rights Agreement. The undersigned agrees that neither it nor any person acting on its behalf will engage in any transaction in violation of such provisions.

The Selling Security Holder hereby acknowledges its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless certain persons set forth therein. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed under certain circumstances to indemnify the Selling Security Holders against certain liabilities.

In accordance with the undersigned’s obligation under the Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, the undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Resale Shelf Registration Statement remains effective. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing at the address set forth below.

In the event that the undersigned transfers all or any portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item 3 above after the date on which such information is provided to the Company, the undersigned agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time of transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.

By signing this Notice and Questionnaire, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and the inclusion of such information in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Security Holder and received by the Company, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire and the representations and warranties contained herein shall be binding on, shall insure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the Company and the Selling Security Holder with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Security Holder and listed in Item 3 above.

This Notice and Questionnaire shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 

   

Beneficial Owner

   

By

 

 

 

       

Name:

Title:

Dated:

   


Please return the completed and executed Notice and Questionnaire to:

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1600

Los Angeles, California 90025

Tel: (310) 445-5700

Fax: (310) 445-5710

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 10.3

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the _____ day of                      , 20          , by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and                          (“Indemnitee”).

WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as a [director] [and] [officer] of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of his service; and

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to continue to serve as such [director] [and] [officer] , the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and

WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:

(a) “Adjudged” shall mean adjudged finally by a court or arbitral or other authority of competent jurisdiction.

(b) “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) at any time, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are not comprised of (A) individuals who were directors as of the Effective Date and/or (B) individuals whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved.


(c) “Corporate Status” means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any Enterprise.

(d) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of Expenses is sought by Indemnitee.

(e) “Effective Date” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

(f) “Enterprise” means any foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in which Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent at the request of the Company. As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (i) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (ii) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company.

(g) “Expenses” means any and all disbursements or expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and any ERISA excise taxes and penalties. Expenses shall also include (i) expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether the Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) expenses incurred by Indemnitee in establishing or enforcing his right to indemnification or reimbursement under this Agreement. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments, fines or penalties against Indemnitee (other than ERISA excise tax penalties).

(h) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is of outstanding reputation, experienced in matters of corporation law and neither is, nor in the past five years preceding the date of selection has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters

 

2


concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel.

(i) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution procedure, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is, will or might be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of any action taken by or omission by Indemnitee, or of any action or omission on Indemnitee’s part, in each case in or in connection with Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and whether or not acting or serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement, except one pending or completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. If Indemnitee reasonably believes that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a Proceeding. The term “Proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration or appeal of, and the giving of testimony in or related to, any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or other proceeding, whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature.

Section 2. Services by Indemnitee . The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a [director] [and] [officer] of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a [director] [and] [officer] . However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any other entity) and Indemnitee.

Section 3. General . The Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) otherwise to the maximum extent not prohibited by (and not merely to the extent affirmatively permitted by) Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective Date. The rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).

 

3


Section 4. Indemnification . If Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and exonerate Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless (and only to the extent) it is established that (a) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Section 5. Certain Limits on Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to:

(a) indemnification hereunder if the Proceeding was one by or in the right of the Company and Indemnitee is Adjudged to be liable to the Company;

(b) indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is Adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to Indemnitee; or

(c) indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was brought by Indemnitee unless: (i) the Proceeding was brought to establish or enforce indemnification rights under this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12 of this Agreement, or (ii) the Company’s charter or Bylaws, a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party expressly provide otherwise.

Section 6. Court-Ordered Indemnification . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification in the following circumstances:

(a) if it determines Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or

(b) if it determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been Adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company or in which liability shall have been Adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to Expenses.

Section 7. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is made a party to (or otherwise becomes a

 

4


participant in) any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 7 for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis. For purposes of this Section 7 and, without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 8. Advance of Expenses for a Party . If Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee of Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof, to reimburse the portion (if any) of any Expenses advanced to Indemnitee relating to claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which it shall ultimately be established that the standard of conduct has not been met by Indemnitee and which have not been successfully resolved as described in Section 7 of this Agreement. Advances shall be interest-free and unsecured. The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any requirement to post security therefor.

Section 9. Indemnification and Advance of Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee was, is or may be made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be advanced all reasonable Expenses and indemnified, held harmless and exonerated against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. Advances shall be interest-free and unsecured.

Section 10. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification .

(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information

 

5


as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Indemnitee may submit one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his sole discretion. The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) above, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting entirely of Disinterested Directors or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors consisting solely of one or more Disinterested Directors, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by the Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b). Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(c) The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel, if one is appointed.

Section 11. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

(a) In making any determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence to overcome that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption.

 

6


(b) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.

(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement.

(d) For purposes of any determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement of indemnification, Indemnitee shall be presumed to have met the standard of conduct for indemnification if, among other things and without limitation, Indemnitee relied on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data or the records or books of account of the Company or any other Enterprise, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Company or any Enterprise whom Indemnitee reasonably believed to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant, appraiser or other person or expert, as to a matter which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, if Indemnitee was serving on the Board of Directors of the Company or as a member of any similar body of any Enterprise, by a committee of the Board of Directors or such other body on which Indemnitee does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if Indemnitee reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence. The provisions of this Section 11(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee meet, or be presumed to have met, the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) For purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be considered to have been wholly successful with respect to any Proceeding if such Proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) it being Adjudged that Indemnitee was liable to the Company, (iii) a plea of guilty by Indemnitee, (iv) it being Adjudged that an act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and was (A) committed in bad faith or (B) the result of Indemnitee’s active and deliberate dishonesty, (v) it being Adjudged that Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (vi) with respect to any criminal proceeding, it being Adjudged that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful.

Section 12. Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a) If (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advance of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to any

 

7


other section of this Agreement or the charter or Bylaws of the Company is not made within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court located in the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his entitlement to such indemnification or advance of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 7 of this Agreement. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed). If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, the Company may not refer to or introduce into evidence any determination pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose and any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article 12 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or arbitration. The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification.

(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 12, seeks a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to advancement from the Company, and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company for, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in such judicial adjudication or arbitration in accordance with this Agreement.

 

8


(e) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period commencing with the date on which the Indemnitee requests indemnification or advancement of Expenses in accordance with this Agreement and ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 13. Defense of the Underlying Proceeding .

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is thereby actually so prejudiced.

(b) Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder using a law firm of the Company’s choice, subject to the prior written approval of the Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee in writing of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above. Indemnitee shall have the right to retain a separate law firm in any such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s sole expense. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee. This Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 12 of this Agreement, a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company or in the case of clause (ii) of Section 13(c).

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that he may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject, except in the case of (ii) or (iii) above, to the prior approval of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the

 

9


Company. In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.

Section 14. Jointly Indemnifiable Claims .

(a) Given that certain Jointly Indemnifiable Claims may arise, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall, and to the extent applicable shall cause any Enterprise to (i) be fully and primarily responsible for, and be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to, payment to or payment on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of Expenses in connection with any such Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, irrespective of any right of recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Third-Party Indemnitors, and (ii) be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement to the extent not prohibited by (and not merely to the extent affirmatively permitted by) applicable law and as required by the terms of this Agreement, without regard to any rights the Indemnitee may have against the Third-Party Indemnitors. Under no circumstance shall the Company or any Enterprise be entitled to, and the Company hereby irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases, any claims against the Third-Party Indemnitors for subrogation, contribution or recovery of any kind and no right of advancement or recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Third-Party Indemnitors shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnitee or the obligations of the Company or any Enterprise. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by any Third-Party Indemnitor on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any Proceeding for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Third-Party Indemnitor(s) shall have a right to receive from the Company, contribution and/or be subrogated, to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company. The Company and the Indemnitee agree that each of the Third-Party Indemnitors shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Agreement entitled to enforce this Section 14 as though each such Third-Party Indemnitor were a party to this Agreement.

(b) For purposes of this Agreement “Third-Party Indemnitor” means any person or entity that has or may in the future provide to the Indemnitee any indemnification, exoneration, hold harmless or Expense advancement rights and/or insurance benefits other than (i) the Company, (ii) any Enterprise and (iii) any entity or entities through which the Company maintains liability insurance applicable to the Indemnitee.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “Jointly Indemnifiable Claims” shall mean any Proceeding for which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance from (i) the Company and/or any Enterprise pursuant to this Agreement, the charter or Bylaws or other governing documents of the Company or any Enterprise, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors, or otherwise, on the one hand, and (ii) any Third-Party Indemnitor pursuant to any agreement between any Third-Party Indemnitor and the

 

10


Indemnitee pursuant to which the Indemnitee is indemnified, the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of any Third-Party Indemnitor and/or the certificate of incorporation, certificate of organization, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other organizational or governing documents of any Third-Party Indemnitor, on the other hand.

Section 15. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation .

(a) The rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the charter or Bylaws or other governing documents of the Company or any Enterprise, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors, or otherwise. Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in or by reason of his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of whether a claim with respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 14, in the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

Section 16. Insurance . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of his Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by Indemnitee in such capacity and covering the Company for any indemnification or advance of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of his Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by Indemnitee in such capacity. Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance referred to in the previous sentence. The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee

 

11


is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.

Section 17. Coordination of Payments . Except as set forth in Section 14, the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

Section 18. Reports to Stockholders . To the extent required by the MGCL, the Company shall report in writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting.

Section 19. Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect .

(a) This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and may apply to acts or omissions of Indemnitee taken in or in connection with Indemnitee’s Corporate Status which occurred prior to such date if Indemnitee was an officer, director, employee or agent of the Company or was a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any Enterprise at the time such act or omission occurred.

(b) This Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of (i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any Enterprise and (ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement).

(c) The indemnification and advance of Expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.

(d) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

12


(e) The Company and Indemnitee agree herein that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which he may be entitled. Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.

Section 20. Section 409A . It is intended that any indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses made hereunder shall be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”) pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(10). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses made hereunder shall be determined to be “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then (i) the amount of the indemnification payment or advancement of Expenses during one taxable year shall not affect the amount of the indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses during any other taxable year, (ii) the indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses must be made on or before the last day of the Indemnitee’s taxable year following the year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) the right to indemnification payments or advancement of Expenses hereunder is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

Section 21. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 22. Identical Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

13


Section 23. Headings . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

Section 24. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 25. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:

(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

(b) If to the Company, to:

 

          
          
          
          

or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

Section 26. Governing Law . The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules.

Section 27. Miscellaneous . Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

14


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.:
   
By:    
Name:  
Title:  
INDEMNITEE
   
 

Name:

Address:

 

15


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED

The Board of Directors of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Re: Undertaking to Repay Expenses Advanced

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement dated the          day of                      , 20      , by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the “Proceeding”).

Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.

I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity. I hereby affirm my good belief that at all times, insofar as I was involved as [a director] [an officer] of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was unlawful.

In consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys’ fees and related Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “Advanced Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this          day of                      , 20      .

 

   
 

Name:

Address:

EXHIBIT 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 22, 2010, is entered into by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ REIT ”), Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”) and Victor J. Coleman (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the REIT and the Operating Partnership (collectively, the “ Company ”) desire to employ the Executive and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Employment Period . Subject to the provisions for earlier termination hereinafter provided, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a term (the “ Employment Period ”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). If not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for one additional year immediately following the Initial Term (such extension, the “ Renewal Term ”), unless either the Executive or the Company elects not to so extend the Employment Period by notifying the other party, in writing, of such election (a “ Non-Renewal ”) not less than sixty (60) days prior to the last day of the Initial Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company experiences a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2010 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”)) during the Renewal Term, then the Employment Period shall instead continue through the first anniversary of the consummation of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date of the closing of the initial public offering of shares of the REIT’s common stock.

2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position and Duties .

(i) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the REIT and the Operating Partnership, and shall perform such employment duties as are usual and customary for such positions. The Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the REIT (the “ Board ”). In addition, during the Employment Period, the Company shall cause the Executive to be nominated to stand for election to the Board at any meeting of stockholders of the REIT during which any such election is held and the Executive’s term as director will expire if he is not reelected; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to cause such nomination if any of the events constituting Cause (as defined below) have occurred and not been cured. Provided that the Executive is so nominated and is elected to the Board, the Executive hereby agrees to serve as a member of the Board. At the Company’s request, the Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in other


capacities in addition to the foregoing consistent with the Executive’s position as Chief Executive Officer of the REIT and the Operating Partnership. In the event that the Executive, during the Employment Period, serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, the Executive’s compensation shall not be increased beyond that specified in Section 2(b) hereof. In addition, in the event the Executive’s service in one or more of such additional capacities is terminated, the Executive’s compensation, as specified in Section 2(b) hereof, shall not be diminished or reduced in any manner as a result of such termination provided that the Executive otherwise remains employed under the terms of this Agreement.

(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive may be entitled, the Executive agrees to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on boards, committees or similar bodies of charitable or nonprofit organizations, (B) fulfill limited teaching, speaking and writing engagements, and (C) manage his personal investments, in each case, so long as such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

(iii) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s principal offices located in Los Angeles, California (the “ Principal Location ”), except for travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(b) Compensation, Benefits, Etc .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive a base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of $500,000 per annum. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and may be increased from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for executive salaries generally, but no less often than monthly. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase in accordance herewith and the term “Base Salary” as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased.

(ii) Annual Bonus . In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be eligible to earn, for each fiscal year of the Company ending during the Employment Period, a discretionary cash performance bonus (an “ Annual Bonus ”) under the Company’s bonus plan or program applicable to senior executives. The amount of the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion based on such performance criteria as the Compensation Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing contained herein confers on the Executive any right to an Annual Bonus in any year, and that whether the Company pays him an Annual Bonus and the amount of any such Annual Bonus shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.

 

2


(iii) Restricted Stock Award . Subject to adoption by the Board and approval by the REIT’s stockholders of the Incentive Plan, on or as soon as practicable following the date of the closing of the REIT’s initial public offering (the “ Offering Date ”), the REIT shall issue to the Executive an award of Restricted Stock (as defined the Incentive Plan) with respect to the number of shares of the REIT’s common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $2,000,000 by (y) the initial public offering price of a share of the REIT’s common stock (the “ Restricted Stock Award ”). Subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each such date, one-third of the Restricted Stock Award shall vest and become nonforfeitable on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Offering Date. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award shall be set forth in a separate award agreement in a form prescribed by the Company (the “ Restricted Stock Award Agreement ”), to be entered into by the Company and the Executive, which shall evidence the grant of the Restricted Stock Award. Immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, the Restricted Stock Award shall, to the extent not previously vested, become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

(iv) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in all other incentive plans, practices, policies and programs, and all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case that are available generally to senior executives of the Company.

(v) Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive’s eligible family members shall be eligible for participation in the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, if applicable, medical, dental, disability, employee life, group life and accidental death insurance plans and programs) maintained by the Company for its senior executives.

(vi) Expenses . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company provided to senior executives of the Company.

(vii) Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to such fringe benefits and perquisites as are provided by the Company to its senior executives from time to time, in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company, and shall receive such additional fringe benefits and perquisites as the Company may, in its discretion, from time-to-time provide.

(viii) Vacation . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to its senior executives but in no event less than four (4) weeks per calendar year; provided , however , that the Executive shall not accrue any vacation time in excess of four (4) weeks (twenty (20) days) (the “ Accrual Limit ”), and shall cease accruing vacation time if the Executive’s accrued vacation reaches the Accrual Limit until such time as the Executive’s accrued vacation time drops below the Accrual Limit.

 

3


(ix) Indemnification Agreement . The parties hereby acknowledge that in connection with the execution of this Agreement, they are entering into an Indemnification Agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , which shall become effective as of the Effective Date.

3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. Either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment in the event of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-month period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

(b) Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events unless, to the extent capable of correction, the Executive fully corrects the circumstances constituting Cause within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below):

(i) the Executive’s willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after his issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties;

(ii) the Executive’s willful commission of an act of fraud or dishonesty resulting in reputational, economic or financial injury to the Company;

(iii) the Executive’s commission of, or entry by the Executive of a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

(iv) a willful breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duty to the Company which results in reputational, economic or other injury to the Company; or

(v) the Executive’s willful and material breach of the Executive’s obligations under a written agreement between the Company and the Executive, including without limitation, such a breach of this Agreement.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly

 

4


adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

(c) Good Reason . The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent, unless the Company fully corrects the circumstances constituting Good Reason (provided such circumstances are capable of correction) within forty-five (45) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below) delivered by the Executive:

(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent actions not taken in bad faith and which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

(ii) the Company’s material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Principal Location which shall, in any event, include only a relocation of the Principal Location by more than thirty (30) miles from its existing location;

(iv) the Company’s failure to cure a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement after written notice is delivered to the Board by the Executive which specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive believes that the Company has breached its obligations under the Agreement and the Company is given a reasonable opportunity to cure any such breach.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (1) the Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed by the Executive to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after the date of the occurrence of any event that the Executive knows or should reasonably have known to constitute Good Reason, (2) the Company fails to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (3) the effective date of the Executive’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.

(d) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other parties hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable

 

5


detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(e) Termination of Offices and Directorships . Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices, directorships, and other employment positions if any, then held with the Company, and shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.

4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination .

(a) Without Cause or For Good Reason . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if, the Executive incurs a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (a “ Separation from Service ”) during the Employment Period by reason of (1) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of the Executive’s Disability), or (2) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason:

(i) The Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, the aggregate amount of the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of such termination (the “ Accrued Obligations ”) and any Annual Bonus required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) above for any fiscal year of the Company that ends on or before the Date of Termination to the extent not previously paid (the “ Unpaid Bonus ”).

(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the sixtieth (60 th ) day after the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (such date, the “ Date of Termination ”), an amount equal to three (3) (the “ Severance Multiple ”) times the sum of (x) the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, plus (y) the highest Annual Bonus earned by the Executive (regardless of whether such amount was paid out on a current basis or deferred) during the Employment Period (or, in the event that the Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of the completion of the first full fiscal year of the Company during the Employment Period, then the amount in clause (y) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall such amount be less than the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination), plus (z) the highest Equity Award Value (as defined below) of any Annual Grant made to the Executive by the Company during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Equity Award Value ” shall mean (A) with respect to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (each as defined in the Incentive Plan), the grant

 

6


date fair value, as computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (or any successor accounting standard), and (B) with respect to Awards (as defined in the Incentive Plan) other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (and excluding cash Awards under the Incentive Plan), the product of (1) the number of shares or units subject to such Award, times (2) the “fair market value” of a share of the REIT’s common stock on the date of grant as determined under the Incentive Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Annual Grant ” shall mean the grant of an equity-based Award that constitutes a component of a given year’s annual compensation package and shall not include any isolated, one-off or non-recurring grant outside of the Executive’s annual compensation package, such as (but not limited to) the Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) above, an initial hiring Award, a retention Award, an Award that relates to multi-year or other long-term performance, an outperformance Award or other similar award, in any event, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), Annual Bonus shall include any portion of the Executive’s Annual Bonus received in the form of equity rather than cash.

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(iv) During the period commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (i) the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes eligible to receive benefits under a “group health plan” (within the meaning of Section 4980B of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“ COBRA ”)) of a subsequent employer of the Executive (of which eligibility the Executive hereby agrees to give prompt notice to the Company), subject to the Executive’s valid election to receive COBRA benefits, the Company shall continue to provide the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependants with coverage under its group health plans at the same levels and the same cost to the Executive as would have applied if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the amounts provided for in Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(a)(iii) and 4(a)(iv) above that the Executive execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Release ”) within twenty-one (21) days (or, to the extent required by law, forty-five (45) days) following the Date of Termination and that Executive not revoke such Release during any applicable revocation period.

(b) Company Non-Renewal . Subject to Section 4(e) below, in the event that the Executive incurs a Separation from Service during the Employment Period by reason of a Non-Renewal of the Initial Term by the Company and the Executive is willing and able, at the time of such Non-Renewal, to continue performing services on the terms and conditions set forth herein during the Renewal Term (a “ Non-Renewal Termination ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 4(a) hereof, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4(a) (including, without limitation, the Release requirement contained therein), provided , however , in the event of a Non-Renewal Termination that does not occur within one year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance

 

7


Multiple shall equal two (2). For the avoidance of doubt, if a Non-Renewal Termination occurs on or within one (1) year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal three (3).

(c) For Cause, Without Good Reason or Other Terminations . If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, by the Executive without Good Reason or for any other reason not enumerated in this Section 4, in any case, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Accrued Obligations in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination (or by such earlier date as may be required by applicable law).

(d) Death or Disability . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if the Executive incurs a Separation from Service by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period:

(i) The Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, in cash on or as soon as practicable following the date of the Executive’s termination;

(ii) Any Unpaid Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, on the Date of Termination; and

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(e) Six-Month Delay . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits, including without limitation any severance payments or benefits payable under Section 4 hereof, shall be paid to the Executive during the six (6)-month period following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code) if the Company determines that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first business day following the end of such six (6)-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A of the Code without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of the Executive’s death), the Company shall pay the Executive a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable to the Executive during such period.

(f) Exclusive Benefits . Except as expressly provided in this Section 4 and subject to Section 5 below, the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits upon or in connection with his termination of employment.

5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

 

8


6. Limitation on Payments .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a termination of the Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments under this Agreement shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments hereunder shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (A) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (B) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (C) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to Employee on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting and payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (D) reduction of any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, in each case beginning with payments that would otherwise be made last in time.

(b) For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable

 

9


compensation; and (iii) the value of any non cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

7. Confidential Information and Non-Solicitation .

(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, which shall have been obtained by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; provided , however , that if the Executive receives actual notice that the Executive is or may be required by law or legal process to communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, the Executive shall promptly so notify the Company.

(b) While employed by the Company and, for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, or encourage any employee or consultant of any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate their employment or other relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates or to cease to render services to any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity. During his employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not use any trade secret of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates to solicit, induce, or encourage any customer, client, vendor, or other party doing business with any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate its relationship therewith or transfer its business from any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity.

(c) In recognition of the facts that irreparable injury will result to the Company in the event of a breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 7(a) and (b) hereof, that monetary damages for such breach would not be readily calculable, and that the Company would not have an adequate remedy at law therefor, the Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that in the event of such breach, or the threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal remedies and damages available, to specific performance thereof and to temporary and permanent injunctive relief (without the necessity of posting a bond) to restrain the violation or threatened violation of such obligations by the Executive.

8. Representations . The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the Executive is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that the performance of his obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between the Executive and any other person, firm, organization or other entity, and (b) the Executive is not bound by the

 

10


terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other party that would be violated by his entering into this Agreement and/or providing services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

9. Successors .

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

10. Payment of Financial Obligations . The payment or provision to the Executive by the Company of any remuneration, benefits or other financial obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated among the Operating Partnership, the REIT and any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in such manner as such entities determine in order to reflect the services provided by the Executive to such entities; provided , however , that the Operating Partnership and the REIT shall be jointly and severally liable for such obligations.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive : at the Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company.

If to the REIT or the Operating Partnership :

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600

 

11


Los Angeles, CA 90025

Attn: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins

355 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560

Attn: Julian Kleindorfer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company determines, in its good faith judgment, that any transfer or deemed transfer of funds hereunder is likely to be construed as a personal loan prohibited by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, then such transfer or deemed transfer shall not be made to the extent necessary or appropriate so as not to violate the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d) Section 409A of the Code .

(i) To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company shall work in good faith with the Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A of the Code, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided , however , that this Section 11(d) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.

(ii) To the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any separate payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and Section 4(e) hereof to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception or provision of Section 409A of the Code.

(iii) To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive under this Agreement, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2(b)(vii), are deemed to constitute compensation to the Executive to which Treasury Regulation Section

 

12


1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) would apply, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and the Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(e) Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(f) Withholding . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(g) No Waiver . The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(h) Entire Agreement . As of the Effective Date, this Agreement, together with the Indemnification Agreement and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement between the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any and all other agreements, offers or promises, whether oral or written, by any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (a “ Predecessor Employer ”), or representative thereof, whose business or assets any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates succeeded to in connection with the initial public offering of the common stock of the REIT or the transactions related thereto. The Executive agrees that any such agreement, offer or promise between the Executive and a Predecessor Employer (or any representative thereof) is hereby terminated and will be of no further force or effect, and the Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon his execution of this Agreement, he will have no right or interest in or with respect to any such agreement, offer or promise. In the event that the Effective Date does not occur, this Agreement (including, without limitation, the immediately preceding sentence) shall have no force or effect.

(i) Amendment . No amendment or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(j) Counterparts . This Agreement and any agreement referenced herein may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, each of the REIT and the Operating Partnership has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Howard S. Stern

  Name:   Howard S. Stern
  Title:   President
HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.,
a Maryland limited partnership
By:   Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Howard S. Stern

  Name:   Howard S. Stern
  Title:   President
“EXECUTIVE”

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Victor J. Coleman

 

14


EXHIBIT A

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

GENERAL RELEASE

For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever discharge the “ Releasees ” hereunder, consisting of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, and each of their partners, subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, lawyers, insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “ Claims ”), which the undersigned now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon, or related to the employment or termination of employment of the undersigned by the Releasees, or any of them; any alleged breach of any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on Releasees’ right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not operate to release any rights or claims of the undersigned (i) to payments or benefits under either Section 4(a) or 4(b) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the undersigned (the “ Employment Agreement ”), whichever is applicable to the payments and benefits provided in exchange for this release, (ii) to payments or benefits under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, (iii) with respect to Section 2(b)(vi) or 6 of the Employment Agreement, (iv) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, as of the date hereof under any applicable plan, policy, practice, program, contract or agreement with the Company, or (v) to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

 

B-1


THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS HE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE;

(B) HE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND

(C) HE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE, AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD.

The undersigned represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which he may have against Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity.

The undersigned agrees that if he hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder or in any manner asserts against Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned agrees to pay to Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.

The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Release this         day of                 ,         .

 

 

   

 

B-2

EXHIBIT 10.7

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 22, 2010, is entered into by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ REIT ”), Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”) and Howard S. Stern (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the REIT and the Operating Partnership (collectively, the “ Company ”) desire to employ the Executive and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Employment Period . Subject to the provisions for earlier termination hereinafter provided, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a term (the “ Employment Period ”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). If not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for one additional year immediately following the Initial Term (such extension, the “ Renewal Term ”), unless either the Executive or the Company elects not to so extend the Employment Period by notifying the other party, in writing, of such election (a “ Non-Renewal ”) not less than sixty (60) days prior to the last day of the Initial Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company experiences a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2010 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”)) during the Renewal Term, then the Employment Period shall instead continue through the first anniversary of the consummation of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date of the closing of the initial public offering of shares of the REIT’s common stock.

2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position and Duties .

(i) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as President of the REIT and the Operating Partnership, and shall perform such employment duties as are usual and customary for such positions. The Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the REIT (the “ Board ”). In addition, during the Employment Period, the Company shall cause the Executive to be nominated to stand for election to the Board at any meeting of stockholders of the REIT during which any such election is held and the Executive’s term as director will expire if he is not reelected; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to cause such nomination if any of the events constituting Cause (as defined below) have occurred and not been cured. Provided that the Executive is so nominated and is elected to the Board, the Executive hereby agrees to serve as a member of the Board. At the Company’s request, the Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in other capacities in addition to


the foregoing consistent with the Executive’s position as President of the REIT and the Operating Partnership. In the event that the Executive, during the Employment Period, serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, the Executive’s compensation shall not be increased beyond that specified in Section 2(b) hereof. In addition, in the event the Executive’s service in one or more of such additional capacities is terminated, the Executive’s compensation, as specified in Section 2(b) hereof, shall not be diminished or reduced in any manner as a result of such termination provided that the Executive otherwise remains employed under the terms of this Agreement.

(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive may be entitled, the Executive agrees to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on boards, committees or similar bodies of charitable or nonprofit organizations, (B) fulfill limited teaching, speaking and writing engagements, and (C) manage his personal investments, in each case, so long as such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

(iii) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s principal offices located in Los Angeles, California (the “ Principal Location ”), except for travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(b) Compensation, Benefits, Etc .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive a base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of $400,000 per annum. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and may be increased from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for executive salaries generally, but no less often than monthly. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase in accordance herewith and the term “Base Salary” as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased.

(ii) Annual Bonus . In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be eligible to earn, for each fiscal year of the Company ending during the Employment Period, a discretionary cash performance bonus (an “ Annual Bonus ”) under the Company’s bonus plan or program applicable to senior executives. The amount of the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion based on such performance criteria as the Compensation Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing contained herein confers on the Executive any right to an Annual Bonus in any year, and that whether the Company pays him an Annual Bonus and the amount of any such Annual Bonus shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.

 

2


(iii) Restricted Stock Award . Subject to adoption by the Board and approval by the REIT’s stockholders of the Incentive Plan, on or as soon as practicable following the date of the closing of the REIT’s initial public offering (the “ Offering Date ”), the REIT shall issue to the Executive an award of Restricted Stock (as defined the Incentive Plan) with respect to the number of shares of the REIT’s common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $950,000 by (y) the initial public offering price of a share of the REIT’s common stock (the “ Restricted Stock Award ”). Subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each such date, one-third of the Restricted Stock Award shall vest and become nonforfeitable on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Offering Date. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award shall be set forth in a separate award agreement in a form prescribed by the Company (the “ Restricted Stock Award Agreement ”), to be entered into by the Company and the Executive, which shall evidence the grant of the Restricted Stock Award. Immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, the Restricted Stock Award shall, to the extent not previously vested, become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

(iv) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in all other incentive plans, practices, policies and programs, and all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case that are available generally to senior executives of the Company.

(v) Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive’s eligible family members shall be eligible for participation in the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, if applicable, medical, dental, disability, employee life, group life and accidental death insurance plans and programs) maintained by the Company for its senior executives.

(vi) Expenses . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company provided to senior executives of the Company.

(vii) Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to such fringe benefits and perquisites as are provided by the Company to its senior executives from time to time, in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company, and shall receive such additional fringe benefits and perquisites as the Company may, in its discretion, from time-to-time provide.

(viii) Vacation . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to its senior executives but in no event less than four (4) weeks per calendar year; provided , however , that the Executive shall not accrue any vacation time in excess of four (4) weeks (twenty (20) days) (the “ Accrual Limit ”), and shall cease accruing vacation time if the Executive’s accrued vacation reaches the Accrual Limit until such time as the Executive’s accrued vacation time drops below the Accrual Limit.

 

3


(ix) Indemnification Agreement . The parties hereby acknowledge that in connection with the execution of this Agreement, they are entering into an Indemnification Agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , which shall become effective as of the Effective Date.

3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. Either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment in the event of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-month period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

(b) Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events unless, to the extent capable of correction, the Executive fully corrects the circumstances constituting Cause within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below):

(i) the Executive’s willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after his issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties;

(ii) the Executive’s willful commission of an act of fraud or dishonesty resulting in reputational, economic or financial injury to the Company;

(iii) the Executive’s commission of, or entry by the Executive of a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

(iv) a willful breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duty to the Company which results in reputational, economic or other injury to the Company; or

(v) the Executive’s willful and material breach of the Executive’s obligations under a written agreement between the Company and the Executive, including without limitation, such a breach of this Agreement.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly

 

4


adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

(c) Good Reason . The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent, unless the Company fully corrects the circumstances constituting Good Reason (provided such circumstances are capable of correction) within forty-five (45) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below) delivered by the Executive:

(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent actions not taken in bad faith and which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

(ii) the Company’s material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Principal Location which shall, in any event, include only a relocation of the Principal Location by more than thirty (30) miles from its existing location;

(iv) the Company’s failure to cure a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement after written notice is delivered to the Board by the Executive which specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive believes that the Company has breached its obligations under the Agreement and the Company is given a reasonable opportunity to cure any such breach.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (1) the Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed by the Executive to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after the date of the occurrence of any event that the Executive knows or should reasonably have known to constitute Good Reason, (2) the Company fails to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (3) the effective date of the Executive’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.

(d) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other parties hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable

 

5


detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(e) Termination of Offices and Directorships . Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices, directorships, and other employment positions if any, then held with the Company, and shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.

4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination .

(a) Without Cause or For Good Reason . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if, the Executive incurs a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (a “ Separation from Service ”) during the Employment Period by reason of (1) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of the Executive’s Disability), or (2) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason:

(i) The Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, the aggregate amount of the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of such termination (the “ Accrued Obligations ”) and any Annual Bonus required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) above for any fiscal year of the Company that ends on or before the Date of Termination to the extent not previously paid (the “ Unpaid Bonus ”).

(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the sixtieth (60 th ) day after the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (such date, the “ Date of Termination ”), an amount equal to three (3) (the “ Severance Multiple ”) times the sum of (x) the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, plus (y) the highest Annual Bonus earned by the Executive (regardless of whether such amount was paid out on a current basis or deferred) during the Employment Period (or, in the event that the Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of the completion of the first full fiscal year of the Company during the Employment Period, then the amount in clause (y) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall such amount be less than the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination), plus (z) the highest Equity Award Value (as defined below) of any Annual Grant made to the Executive by the Company during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Equity Award Value ” shall mean (A) with respect to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (each as defined in the Incentive Plan), the grant

 

6


date fair value, as computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (or any successor accounting standard), and (B) with respect to Awards (as defined in the Incentive Plan) other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (and excluding cash Awards under the Incentive Plan), the product of (1) the number of shares or units subject to such Award, times (2) the “fair market value” of a share of the REIT’s common stock on the date of grant as determined under the Incentive Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Annual Grant ” shall mean the grant of an equity-based Award that constitutes a component of a given year’s annual compensation package and shall not include any isolated, one-off or non-recurring grant outside of the Executive’s annual compensation package, such as (but not limited to) the Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) above, an initial hiring Award, a retention Award, an Award that relates to multi-year or other long-term performance, an outperformance Award or other similar award, in any event, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), Annual Bonus shall include any portion of the Executive’s Annual Bonus received in the form of equity rather than cash.

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(iv) During the period commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (i) the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes eligible to receive benefits under a “group health plan” (within the meaning of Section 4980B of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“ COBRA ”)) of a subsequent employer of the Executive (of which eligibility the Executive hereby agrees to give prompt notice to the Company), subject to the Executive’s valid election to receive COBRA benefits, the Company shall continue to provide the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependants with coverage under its group health plans at the same levels and the same cost to the Executive as would have applied if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the amounts provided for in Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(a)(iii) and 4(a)(iv) above that the Executive execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Release ”) within twenty-one (21) days (or, to the extent required by law, forty-five (45) days) following the Date of Termination and that Executive not revoke such Release during any applicable revocation period.

(b) Company Non-Renewal . Subject to Section 4(e) below, in the event that the Executive incurs a Separation from Service during the Employment Period by reason of a Non-Renewal of the Initial Term by the Company and the Executive is willing and able, at the time of such Non-Renewal, to continue performing services on the terms and conditions set forth herein during the Renewal Term (a “ Non-Renewal Termination ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 4(a) hereof, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4(a) (including, without limitation, the Release requirement contained therein), provided , however , in the event of a Non-Renewal Termination that does not occur within one year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance

 

7


Multiple shall equal two (2). For the avoidance of doubt, if a Non-Renewal Termination occurs on or within one (1) year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal three (3).

(c) For Cause, Without Good Reason or Other Terminations . If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, by the Executive without Good Reason or for any other reason not enumerated in this Section 4, in any case, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Accrued Obligations in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination (or by such earlier date as may be required by applicable law).

(d) Death or Disability . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if the Executive incurs a Separation from Service by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period:

(i) The Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, in cash on or as soon as practicable following the date of the Executive’s termination;

(ii) Any Unpaid Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, on the Date of Termination; and

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(e) Six-Month Delay . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits, including without limitation any severance payments or benefits payable under Section 4 hereof, shall be paid to the Executive during the six (6)-month period following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code) if the Company determines that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first business day following the end of such six (6)-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A of the Code without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of the Executive’s death), the Company shall pay the Executive a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable to the Executive during such period.

(f) Exclusive Benefits . Except as expressly provided in this Section 4 and subject to Section 5 below, the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits upon or in connection with his termination of employment.

5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

 

8


6. Limitation on Payments .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a termination of the Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments under this Agreement shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments hereunder shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (A) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (B) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (C) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to Employee on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting and payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (D) reduction of any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, in each case beginning with payments that would otherwise be made last in time.

(b) For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable

 

9


compensation; and (iii) the value of any non cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

7. Confidential Information and Non-Solicitation .

(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, which shall have been obtained by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; provided , however , that if the Executive receives actual notice that the Executive is or may be required by law or legal process to communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, the Executive shall promptly so notify the Company.

(b) While employed by the Company and, for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, or encourage any employee or consultant of any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate their employment or other relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates or to cease to render services to any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity. During his employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not use any trade secret of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates to solicit, induce, or encourage any customer, client, vendor, or other party doing business with any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate its relationship therewith or transfer its business from any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity.

(c) In recognition of the facts that irreparable injury will result to the Company in the event of a breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 7(a) and (b) hereof, that monetary damages for such breach would not be readily calculable, and that the Company would not have an adequate remedy at law therefor, the Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that in the event of such breach, or the threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal remedies and damages available, to specific performance thereof and to temporary and permanent injunctive relief (without the necessity of posting a bond) to restrain the violation or threatened violation of such obligations by the Executive.

8. Representations . The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the Executive is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that the performance of his obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between the Executive and any other person, firm, organization or other entity, and (b) the Executive is not bound by the

 

10


terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other party that would be violated by his entering into this Agreement and/or providing services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

9. Successors .

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

10. Payment of Financial Obligations . The payment or provision to the Executive by the Company of any remuneration, benefits or other financial obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated among the Operating Partnership, the REIT and any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in such manner as such entities determine in order to reflect the services provided by the Executive to such entities; provided , however , that the Operating Partnership and the REIT shall be jointly and severally liable for such obligations.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive : at the Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company.

If to the REIT or the Operating Partnership :

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600

 

11


Los Angeles, CA 90025

Attn: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins

355 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560

Attn: Julian Kleindorfer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company determines, in its good faith judgment, that any transfer or deemed transfer of funds hereunder is likely to be construed as a personal loan prohibited by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, then such transfer or deemed transfer shall not be made to the extent necessary or appropriate so as not to violate the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d) Section 409A of the Code .

(i) To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company shall work in good faith with the Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A of the Code, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided , however , that this Section 11(d) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.

(ii) To the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any separate payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and Section 4(e) hereof to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception or provision of Section 409A of the Code.

(iii) To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive under this Agreement, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2(b)(vii), are deemed to constitute compensation to the Executive to which Treasury Regulation Section

 

12


1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) would apply, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and the Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(e) Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(f) Withholding . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(g) No Waiver . The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(h) Entire Agreement . As of the Effective Date, this Agreement, together with the Indemnification Agreement and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement between the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any and all other agreements, offers or promises, whether oral or written, by any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (a “ Predecessor Employer ”), or representative thereof, whose business or assets any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates succeeded to in connection with the initial public offering of the common stock of the REIT or the transactions related thereto. The Executive agrees that any such agreement, offer or promise between the Executive and a Predecessor Employer (or any representative thereof) is hereby terminated and will be of no further force or effect, and the Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon his execution of this Agreement, he will have no right or interest in or with respect to any such agreement, offer or promise. In the event that the Effective Date does not occur, this Agreement (including, without limitation, the immediately preceding sentence) shall have no force or effect.

(i) Amendment . No amendment or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(j) Counterparts . This Agreement and any agreement referenced herein may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, each of the REIT and the Operating Partnership has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name:   Victor J. Coleman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.,
a Maryland limited partnership
By:   Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name:   Victor J. Coleman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
“EXECUTIVE”

/s/ Howard S. Stern

      Howard S. Stern

 

14


EXHIBIT A

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

GENERAL RELEASE

For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever discharge the “ Releasees ” hereunder, consisting of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, and each of their partners, subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, lawyers, insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “ Claims ”), which the undersigned now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon, or related to the employment or termination of employment of the undersigned by the Releasees, or any of them; any alleged breach of any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on Releasees’ right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not operate to release any rights or claims of the undersigned (i) to payments or benefits under either Section 4(a) or 4(b) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the undersigned (the “ Employment Agreement ”), whichever is applicable to the payments and benefits provided in exchange for this release, (ii) to payments or benefits under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, (iii) with respect to Section 2(b)(vi) or 6 of the Employment Agreement, (iv) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, as of the date hereof under any applicable plan, policy, practice, program, contract or agreement with the Company, or (v) to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

 

B-1


THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS HE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE;

(B) HE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND

(C) HE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE, AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD.

The undersigned represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which he may have against Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity.

The undersigned agrees that if he hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder or in any manner asserts against Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned agrees to pay to Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.

The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Release this              day of             ,             .

 

 

 

B-2

EXHIBIT 10.8

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 22, 2010, is entered into by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ REIT ”), Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”) and Mark T. Lammas (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the REIT and the Operating Partnership (collectively, the “ Company ”) desire to employ the Executive and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Employment Period . Subject to the provisions for earlier termination hereinafter provided, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a term (the “ Employment Period ”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). If not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for one additional year immediately following the Initial Term (such extension, the “ Renewal Term ”), unless either the Executive or the Company elects not to so extend the Employment Period by notifying the other party, in writing, of such election (a “ Non-Renewal ”) not less than sixty (60) days prior to the last day of the Initial Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company experiences a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2010 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”)) during the Renewal Term, then the Employment Period shall instead continue through the first anniversary of the consummation of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date of the closing of the initial public offering of shares of the REIT’s common stock.

2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position and Duties .

(i) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Chief Financial Officer of the REIT and the Operating Partnership, and shall perform such employment duties as are usual and customary for such positions. The Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. At the Company’s request, the Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in other capacities in addition to the foregoing consistent with the Executive’s position as Chief Financial Officer of the REIT and the Operating Partnership. In the event that the Executive, during the Employment Period, serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, the Executive’s compensation shall not be increased beyond that specified in Section 2(b) hereof. In addition, in the event the Executive’s service in one or more of such additional capacities is terminated, the Executive’s compensation, as specified in Section 2(b) hereof, shall not be diminished or reduced in any manner as a result of such termination provided that the Executive otherwise remains employed under the terms of this Agreement.


(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive may be entitled, the Executive agrees to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on boards, committees or similar bodies of charitable or nonprofit organizations, (B) fulfill limited teaching, speaking and writing engagements, and (C) manage his personal investments, in each case, so long as such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

(iii) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s principal offices located in Los Angeles, California (the “ Principal Location ”), except for travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(b) Compensation, Benefits, Etc .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive a base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of $300,000 per annum. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors of the REIT (the “ Board ”) and may be increased from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for executive salaries generally, but no less often than monthly. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase in accordance herewith and the term “Base Salary” as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased.

(ii) Annual Bonus . In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be eligible to earn, for each fiscal year of the Company ending during the Employment Period, a discretionary cash performance bonus (an “ Annual Bonus ”) under the Company’s bonus plan or program applicable to senior executives. The amount of the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion based on such performance criteria as the Compensation Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing contained herein confers on the Executive any right to an Annual Bonus in any year, and that whether the Company pays him an Annual Bonus and the amount of any such Annual Bonus shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.

(iii) Restricted Stock Award . Subject to adoption by the Board and approval by the REIT’s stockholders of the Incentive Plan, on or as soon as practicable following the date of the closing of the REIT’s initial public offering (the “ Offering Date ”), the REIT shall issue to the Executive an award of Restricted Stock (as defined the Incentive Plan) with respect to the number of shares of the REIT’s common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $300,000 by (y) the initial public offering price of a share of the REIT’s common stock (the “ Restricted Stock Award ”). Subject to the

 

2


Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each such date, one-third of the Restricted Stock Award shall vest and become nonforfeitable on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Offering Date. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award shall be set forth in a separate award agreement in a form prescribed by the Company (the “ Restricted Stock Award Agreement ”), to be entered into by the Company and the Executive, which shall evidence the grant of the Restricted Stock Award. Immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, the Restricted Stock Award shall, to the extent not previously vested, become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

(iv) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in all other incentive plans, practices, policies and programs, and all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case that are available generally to senior executives of the Company.

(v) Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive’s eligible family members shall be eligible for participation in the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, if applicable, medical, dental, disability, employee life, group life and accidental death insurance plans and programs) maintained by the Company for its senior executives.

(vi) Expenses . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company provided to senior executives of the Company.

(vii) Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to such fringe benefits and perquisites as are provided by the Company to its senior executives from time to time, in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company, and shall receive such additional fringe benefits and perquisites as the Company may, in its discretion, from time-to-time provide.

(viii) Vacation . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to its senior executives but in no event less than four (4) weeks per calendar year; provided , however , that the Executive shall not accrue any vacation time in excess of four (4) weeks (twenty (20) days) (the “ Accrual Limit ”), and shall cease accruing vacation time if the Executive’s accrued vacation reaches the Accrual Limit until such time as the Executive’s accrued vacation time drops below the Accrual Limit.

(ix) Indemnification Agreement . The parties hereby acknowledge that in connection with the execution of this Agreement, they are entering into an Indemnification Agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , which shall become effective as of the Effective Date.

 

3


3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. Either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment in the event of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-month period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

(b) Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events unless, to the extent capable of correction, the Executive fully corrects the circumstances constituting Cause within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below):

(i) the Executive’s willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after his issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties;

(ii) the Executive’s willful commission of an act of fraud or dishonesty resulting in reputational, economic or financial injury to the Company;

(iii) the Executive’s commission of, or entry by the Executive of a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

(iv) a willful breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duty to the Company which results in reputational, economic or other injury to the Company; or

(v) the Executive’s willful and material breach of the Executive’s obligations under a written agreement between the Company and the Executive, including without limitation, such a breach of this Agreement.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

 

4


(c) Good Reason . The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent, unless the Company fully corrects the circumstances constituting Good Reason (provided such circumstances are capable of correction) within forty-five (45) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below) delivered by the Executive:

(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent actions not taken in bad faith and which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

(ii) the Company’s material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Principal Location which shall, in any event, include only a relocation of the Principal Location by more than thirty (30) miles from its existing location;

(iv) the Company’s failure to cure a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement after written notice is delivered to the Company by the Executive which specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive believes that the Company has breached its obligations under the Agreement and the Company is given a reasonable opportunity to cure any such breach.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (1) the Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed by the Executive to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after the date of the occurrence of any event that the Executive knows or should reasonably have known to constitute Good Reason, (2) the Company fails to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (3) the effective date of the Executive’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.

(d) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other parties hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive

 

5


or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(e) Termination of Offices and Directorships . Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices, directorships, and other employment positions if any, then held with the Company, and shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.

4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination .

(a) Without Cause or For Good Reason . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if, the Executive incurs a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (a “ Separation from Service ”) during the Employment Period by reason of (1) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of the Executive’s Disability), or (2) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason:

(i) The Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, the aggregate amount of the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of such termination (the “ Accrued Obligations ”) and any Annual Bonus required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) above for any fiscal year of the Company that ends on or before the Date of Termination to the extent not previously paid (the “ Unpaid Bonus ”).

(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the sixtieth (60 th ) day after the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (such date, the “ Date of Termination ”), an amount equal to two (2) (the “ Severance Multiple ”) times the sum of (x) the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, plus (y) the highest Annual Bonus earned by the Executive (regardless of whether such amount was paid out on a current basis or deferred) during the Employment Period (or, in the event that the Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of the completion of the first full fiscal year of the Company during the Employment Period, then the amount in clause (y) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall such amount be less than the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination), plus (z) the highest Equity Award Value (as defined below) of any Annual Grant made to the Executive by the Company during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Equity Award Value ” shall mean (A) with respect to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (each as defined in the Incentive Plan), the grant date fair value, as computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (or any successor accounting standard), and (B) with respect to Awards (as defined in the Incentive Plan) other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (and excluding cash Awards

 

6


under the Incentive Plan), the product of (1) the number of shares or units subject to such Award, times (2) the “fair market value” of a share of the REIT’s common stock on the date of grant as determined under the Incentive Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Annual Grant ” shall mean the grant of an equity-based Award that constitutes a component of a given year’s annual compensation package and shall not include any isolated, one-off or non-recurring grant outside of the Executive’s annual compensation package, such as (but not limited to) the Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) above, an initial hiring Award, a retention Award, an Award that relates to multi-year or other long-term performance, an outperformance Award or other similar award, in any event, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), Annual Bonus shall include any portion of the Executive’s Annual Bonus received in the form of equity rather than cash.

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(iv) During the period commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (i) the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes eligible to receive benefits under a “group health plan” (within the meaning of Section 4980B of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“ COBRA ”)) of a subsequent employer of the Executive (of which eligibility the Executive hereby agrees to give prompt notice to the Company), subject to the Executive’s valid election to receive COBRA benefits, the Company shall continue to provide the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependants with coverage under its group health plans at the same levels and the same cost to the Executive as would have applied if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the amounts provided for in Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(a)(iii) and 4(a)(iv) above that the Executive execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Release ”) within twenty-one (21) days (or, to the extent required by law, forty-five (45) days) following the Date of Termination and that Executive not revoke such Release during any applicable revocation period.

(b) Company Non-Renewal . Subject to Section 4(e) below, in the event that the Executive incurs a Separation from Service during the Employment Period by reason of a Non-Renewal of the Initial Term by the Company and the Executive is willing and able, at the time of such Non-Renewal, to continue performing services on the terms and conditions set forth herein during the Renewal Term (a “ Non-Renewal Termination ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 4(a) hereof, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4(a) (including, without limitation, the Release requirement contained therein), provided , however , in the event of a Non-Renewal Termination that does not occur within one year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal one (1). For the avoidance of doubt, if a Non-Renewal Termination occurs on or within one (1) year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal two (2).

 

7


(c) For Cause, Without Good Reason or Other Terminations . If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, by the Executive without Good Reason or for any other reason not enumerated in this Section 4, in any case, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Accrued Obligations in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination (or by such earlier date as may be required by applicable law).

(d) Death or Disability . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if the Executive incurs a Separation from Service by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period:

(i) The Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, in cash on or as soon as practicable following the date of the Executive’s termination;

(ii) Any Unpaid Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, on the Date of Termination; and

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(e) Six-Month Delay . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits, including without limitation any severance payments or benefits payable under Section 4 hereof, shall be paid to the Executive during the six (6)-month period following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code) if the Company determines that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first business day following the end of such six (6)-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A of the Code without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of the Executive’s death), the Company shall pay the Executive a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable to the Executive during such period.

(f) Exclusive Benefits . Except as expressly provided in this Section 4 and subject to Section 5 below, the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits upon or in connection with his termination of employment.

5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

6. Limitation on Payments .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive (including any payment or

 

8


benefit received in connection with a termination of the Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments under this Agreement shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments hereunder shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (A) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (B) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (C) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to Employee on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting and payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (D) reduction of any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, in each case beginning with payments that would otherwise be made last in time.

(b) For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation; and (iii) the value of any non cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

9


7. Confidential Information and Non-Solicitation .

(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, which shall have been obtained by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; provided , however , that if the Executive receives actual notice that the Executive is or may be required by law or legal process to communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, the Executive shall promptly so notify the Company.

(b) While employed by the Company and, for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, or encourage any employee or consultant of any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate their employment or other relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates or to cease to render services to any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity. During his employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not use any trade secret of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates to solicit, induce, or encourage any customer, client, vendor, or other party doing business with any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate its relationship therewith or transfer its business from any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity.

(c) In recognition of the facts that irreparable injury will result to the Company in the event of a breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 7(a) and (b) hereof, that monetary damages for such breach would not be readily calculable, and that the Company would not have an adequate remedy at law therefor, the Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that in the event of such breach, or the threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal remedies and damages available, to specific performance thereof and to temporary and permanent injunctive relief (without the necessity of posting a bond) to restrain the violation or threatened violation of such obligations by the Executive.

8. Representations . The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the Executive is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that the performance of his obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between the Executive and any other person, firm, organization or other entity, and (b) the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other party that would be violated by his entering into this Agreement and/or providing services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

10


9. Successors .

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

10. Payment of Financial Obligations . The payment or provision to the Executive by the Company of any remuneration, benefits or other financial obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated among the Operating Partnership, the REIT and any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in such manner as such entities determine in order to reflect the services provided by the Executive to such entities; provided , however , that the Operating Partnership and the REIT shall be jointly and severally liable for such obligations.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive : at the Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company.

If to the REIT or the Operating Partnership :

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Attn: General Counsel

 

11


with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins

355 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560

Attn: Julian Kleindorfer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company determines, in its good faith judgment, that any transfer or deemed transfer of funds hereunder is likely to be construed as a personal loan prohibited by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, then such transfer or deemed transfer shall not be made to the extent necessary or appropriate so as not to violate the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d) Section 409A of the Code .

(i) To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company shall work in good faith with the Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A of the Code, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided , however , that this Section 11(d) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.

(ii) To the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any separate payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and Section 4(e) hereof to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception or provision of Section 409A of the Code.

(iii) To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive under this Agreement, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2(b)(vii), are deemed to constitute compensation to the Executive to which Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) would apply, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the

 

12


payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and the Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(e) Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(f) Withholding . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(g) No Waiver . The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(h) Entire Agreement . As of the Effective Date, this Agreement, together with the Indemnification Agreement and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement between the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any and all other agreements, offers or promises, whether oral or written, by any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (a “ Predecessor Employer ”), or representative thereof, whose business or assets any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates succeeded to in connection with the initial public offering of the common stock of the REIT or the transactions related thereto. The Executive agrees that any such agreement, offer or promise between the Executive and a Predecessor Employer (or any representative thereof) is hereby terminated and will be of no further force or effect, and the Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon his execution of this Agreement, he will have no right or interest in or with respect to any such agreement, offer or promise. In the event that the Effective Date does not occur, this Agreement (including, without limitation, the immediately preceding sentence) shall have no force or effect.

(i) Amendment . No amendment or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(j) Counterparts . This Agreement and any agreement referenced herein may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, each of the REIT and the Operating Partnership has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name: Victor J. Coleman
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.,
a Maryland limited partnership
By:   Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name: Victor J. Coleman
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
“EXECUTIVE”

/s/ Mark T. Lammas

  Mark T. Lammas

 

14


EXHIBIT A

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

GENERAL RELEASE

For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever discharge the “ Releasees ” hereunder, consisting of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, and each of their partners, subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, lawyers, insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “ Claims ”), which the undersigned now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon, or related to the employment or termination of employment of the undersigned by the Releasees, or any of them; any alleged breach of any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on Releasees’ right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not operate to release any rights or claims of the undersigned (i) to payments or benefits under either Section 4(a) or 4(b) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the undersigned (the “ Employment Agreement ”), whichever is applicable to the payments and benefits provided in exchange for this release, (ii) to payments or benefits under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, (iii) with respect to Section 2(b)(vi) or 6 of the Employment Agreement, (iv) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, as of the date hereof under any applicable plan, policy, practice, program, contract or agreement with the Company, or (v) to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

 

B-1


THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS HE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE;

(B) HE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND

(C) HE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE, AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD.

The undersigned represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which he may have against Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity.

The undersigned agrees that if he hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder or in any manner asserts against Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned agrees to pay to Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.

The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Release this             day of             ,             .

 

 

 

B-2

EXHIBIT 10.9

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 22, 2010, is entered into by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ REIT ”), Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”) and Christopher Barton (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the REIT and the Operating Partnership (collectively, the “ Company ”) desire to employ the Executive and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Employment Period . Subject to the provisions for earlier termination hereinafter provided, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a term (the “ Employment Period ”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). If not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for one additional year immediately following the Initial Term (such extension, the “ Renewal Term ”), unless either the Executive or the Company elects not to so extend the Employment Period by notifying the other party, in writing, of such election (a “ Non-Renewal ”) not less than sixty (60) days prior to the last day of the Initial Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company experiences a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2010 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”)) during the Renewal Term, then the Employment Period shall instead continue through the first anniversary of the consummation of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date of the closing of the initial public offering of shares of the REIT’s common stock.

2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position and Duties .

(i) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President – Operations and Development of the REIT and the Operating Partnership, and shall perform such employment duties as are usual and customary for such positions. The Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. At the Company’s request, the Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in other capacities in addition to the foregoing consistent with the Executive’s position as Executive Vice President – Operations and Development of the REIT and the Operating Partnership. In the event that the Executive, during the Employment Period, serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, the Executive’s compensation shall not be increased beyond that specified in Section 2(b) hereof. In addition, in the event the Executive’s service in one or more of such additional capacities is terminated, the Executive’s compensation, as specified in Section 2(b) hereof, shall not be diminished or reduced in any manner as a result of such termination provided that the Executive otherwise remains employed under the terms of this Agreement.


(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive may be entitled, the Executive agrees to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on boards, committees or similar bodies of charitable or nonprofit organizations, (B) fulfill limited teaching, speaking and writing engagements, and (C) manage his personal investments, in each case, so long as such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

(iii) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s principal offices located in Los Angeles, California (the “ Principal Location ”), except for travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(b) Compensation, Benefits, Etc .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive a base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of $300,000 per annum. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors of the REIT (the “ Board ”) and may be increased from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for executive salaries generally, but no less often than monthly. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase in accordance herewith and the term “Base Salary” as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased.

(ii) Annual Bonus . In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be eligible to earn, for each fiscal year of the Company ending during the Employment Period, a discretionary cash performance bonus (an “ Annual Bonus ”) under the Company’s bonus plan or program applicable to senior executives. The amount of the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion based on such performance criteria as the Compensation Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing contained herein confers on the Executive any right to an Annual Bonus in any year, and that whether the Company pays him an Annual Bonus and the amount of any such Annual Bonus shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.

(iii) Restricted Stock Award . Subject to adoption by the Board and approval by the REIT’s stockholders of the Incentive Plan, on or as soon as practicable following the date of the closing of the REIT’s initial public offering (the “ Offering Date ”), the REIT shall issue to the Executive an award of Restricted Stock (as defined the Incentive Plan) with respect to the number of shares of the REIT’s common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $300,000 by (y) the initial public offering price of a share of the REIT’s common stock (the “ Restricted Stock Award ”). Subject to the

 

2


Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each such date, one-third of the Restricted Stock Award shall vest and become nonforfeitable on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Offering Date. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award shall be set forth in a separate award agreement in a form prescribed by the Company (the “ Restricted Stock Award Agreement ”), to be entered into by the Company and the Executive, which shall evidence the grant of the Restricted Stock Award. Immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, the Restricted Stock Award shall, to the extent not previously vested, become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

(iv) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in all other incentive plans, practices, policies and programs, and all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case that are available generally to senior executives of the Company.

(v) Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive’s eligible family members shall be eligible for participation in the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, if applicable, medical, dental, disability, employee life, group life and accidental death insurance plans and programs) maintained by the Company for its senior executives.

(vi) Expenses . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company provided to senior executives of the Company.

(vii) Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to such fringe benefits and perquisites as are provided by the Company to its senior executives from time to time, in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company, and shall receive such additional fringe benefits and perquisites as the Company may, in its discretion, from time-to-time provide.

(viii) Vacation . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to its senior executives but in no event less than four (4) weeks per calendar year; provided , however , that the Executive shall not accrue any vacation time in excess of four (4) weeks (twenty (20) days) (the “ Accrual Limit ”), and shall cease accruing vacation time if the Executive’s accrued vacation reaches the Accrual Limit until such time as the Executive’s accrued vacation time drops below the Accrual Limit.

(ix) Indemnification Agreement . The parties hereby acknowledge that in connection with the execution of this Agreement, they are entering into an Indemnification Agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , which shall become effective as of the Effective Date.

 

3


3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. Either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment in the event of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-month period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

(b) Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events unless, to the extent capable of correction, the Executive fully corrects the circumstances constituting Cause within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below):

(i) the Executive’s willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after his issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties;

(ii) the Executive’s willful commission of an act of fraud or dishonesty resulting in reputational, economic or financial injury to the Company;

(iii) the Executive’s commission of, or entry by the Executive of a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

(iv) a willful breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duty to the Company which results in reputational, economic or other injury to the Company; or

(v) the Executive’s willful and material breach of the Executive’s obligations under a written agreement between the Company and the Executive, including without limitation, such a breach of this Agreement.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

 

4


(c) Good Reason . The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent, unless the Company fully corrects the circumstances constituting Good Reason (provided such circumstances are capable of correction) within forty-five (45) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below) delivered by the Executive:

(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent actions not taken in bad faith and which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

(ii) the Company’s material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Principal Location which shall, in any event, include only a relocation of the Principal Location by more than thirty (30) miles from its existing location;

(iv) the Company’s failure to cure a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement after written notice is delivered to the Company by the Executive which specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive believes that the Company has breached its obligations under the Agreement and the Company is given a reasonable opportunity to cure any such breach.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (1) the Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed by the Executive to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after the date of the occurrence of any event that the Executive knows or should reasonably have known to constitute Good Reason, (2) the Company fails to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (3) the effective date of the Executive’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.

(d) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other parties hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive

 

5


or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(e) Termination of Offices and Directorships . Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices, directorships, and other employment positions if any, then held with the Company, and shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.

4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination .

(a) Without Cause or For Good Reason . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if, the Executive incurs a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (a “ Separation from Service ”) during the Employment Period by reason of (1) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of the Executive’s Disability), or (2) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason:

(i) The Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, the aggregate amount of the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of such termination (the “ Accrued Obligations ”) and any Annual Bonus required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) above for any fiscal year of the Company that ends on or before the Date of Termination to the extent not previously paid (the “ Unpaid Bonus ”).

(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the sixtieth (60 th ) day after the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (such date, the “ Date of Termination ”), an amount equal to two (2) (the “ Severance Multiple ”) times the sum of (x) the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, plus (y) the highest Annual Bonus earned by the Executive (regardless of whether such amount was paid out on a current basis or deferred) during the Employment Period (or, in the event that the Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of the completion of the first full fiscal year of the Company during the Employment Period, then the amount in clause (y) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall such amount be less than the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination), plus (z) the highest Equity Award Value (as defined below) of any Annual Grant made to the Executive by the Company during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Equity Award Value ” shall mean (A) with respect to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (each as defined in the Incentive Plan), the grant date fair value, as computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (or any successor accounting standard), and (B) with respect to Awards (as defined in the Incentive Plan) other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (and excluding cash Awards

 

6


under the Incentive Plan), the product of (1) the number of shares or units subject to such Award, times (2) the “fair market value” of a share of the REIT’s common stock on the date of grant as determined under the Incentive Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Annual Grant ” shall mean the grant of an equity-based Award that constitutes a component of a given year’s annual compensation package and shall not include any isolated, one-off or non-recurring grant outside of the Executive’s annual compensation package, such as (but not limited to) the Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) above, an initial hiring Award, a retention Award, an Award that relates to multi-year or other long-term performance, an outperformance Award or other similar award, in any event, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), Annual Bonus shall include any portion of the Executive’s Annual Bonus received in the form of equity rather than cash.

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(iv) During the period commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (i) the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes eligible to receive benefits under a “group health plan” (within the meaning of Section 4980B of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“ COBRA ”)) of a subsequent employer of the Executive (of which eligibility the Executive hereby agrees to give prompt notice to the Company), subject to the Executive’s valid election to receive COBRA benefits, the Company shall continue to provide the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependants with coverage under its group health plans at the same levels and the same cost to the Executive as would have applied if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the amounts provided for in Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(a)(iii) and 4(a)(iv) above that the Executive execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Release ”) within twenty-one (21) days (or, to the extent required by law, forty-five (45) days) following the Date of Termination and that Executive not revoke such Release during any applicable revocation period.

(b) Company Non-Renewal . Subject to Section 4(e) below, in the event that the Executive incurs a Separation from Service during the Employment Period by reason of a Non-Renewal of the Initial Term by the Company and the Executive is willing and able, at the time of such Non-Renewal, to continue performing services on the terms and conditions set forth herein during the Renewal Term (a “ Non-Renewal Termination ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 4(a) hereof, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4(a) (including, without limitation, the Release requirement contained therein), provided , however , in the event of a Non-Renewal Termination that does not occur within one year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal one (1). For the avoidance of doubt, if a Non-Renewal Termination occurs on or within one (1) year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal two (2).

 

7


(c) For Cause, Without Good Reason or Other Terminations . If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, by the Executive without Good Reason or for any other reason not enumerated in this Section 4, in any case, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Accrued Obligations in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination (or by such earlier date as may be required by applicable law).

(d) Death or Disability . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if the Executive incurs a Separation from Service by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period:

(i) The Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, in cash on or as soon as practicable following the date of the Executive’s termination;

(ii) Any Unpaid Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, on the Date of Termination; and

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(e) Six-Month Delay . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits, including without limitation any severance payments or benefits payable under Section 4 hereof, shall be paid to the Executive during the six (6)-month period following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code) if the Company determines that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first business day following the end of such six (6)-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A of the Code without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of the Executive’s death), the Company shall pay the Executive a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable to the Executive during such period.

(f) Exclusive Benefits . Except as expressly provided in this Section 4 and subject to Section 5 below, the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits upon or in connection with his termination of employment.

5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

6. Limitation on Payments .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive (including any payment or

 

8


benefit received in connection with a termination of the Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments under this Agreement shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments hereunder shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (A) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (B) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (C) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to Employee on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting and payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (D) reduction of any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, in each case beginning with payments that would otherwise be made last in time.

(b) For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation; and (iii) the value of any non cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

9


7. Confidential Information and Non-Solicitation .

(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, which shall have been obtained by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; provided , however , that if the Executive receives actual notice that the Executive is or may be required by law or legal process to communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, the Executive shall promptly so notify the Company.

(b) While employed by the Company and, for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, or encourage any employee or consultant of any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate their employment or other relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates or to cease to render services to any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity. During his employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not use any trade secret of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates to solicit, induce, or encourage any customer, client, vendor, or other party doing business with any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate its relationship therewith or transfer its business from any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity.

(c) In recognition of the facts that irreparable injury will result to the Company in the event of a breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 7(a) and (b) hereof, that monetary damages for such breach would not be readily calculable, and that the Company would not have an adequate remedy at law therefor, the Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that in the event of such breach, or the threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal remedies and damages available, to specific performance thereof and to temporary and permanent injunctive relief (without the necessity of posting a bond) to restrain the violation or threatened violation of such obligations by the Executive.

8. Representations . The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the Executive is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that the performance of his obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between the Executive and any other person, firm, organization or other entity, and (b) the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other party that would be violated by his entering into this Agreement and/or providing services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

10


9. Successors .

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

10. Payment of Financial Obligations . The payment or provision to the Executive by the Company of any remuneration, benefits or other financial obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated among the Operating Partnership, the REIT and any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in such manner as such entities determine in order to reflect the services provided by the Executive to such entities; provided , however , that the Operating Partnership and the REIT shall be jointly and severally liable for such obligations.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive : at the Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company.

If to the REIT or the Operating Partnership :

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Attn: General Counsel

 

11


with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins

355 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560

Attn: Julian Kleindorfer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company determines, in its good faith judgment, that any transfer or deemed transfer of funds hereunder is likely to be construed as a personal loan prohibited by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, then such transfer or deemed transfer shall not be made to the extent necessary or appropriate so as not to violate the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d) Section 409A of the Code .

(i) To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company shall work in good faith with the Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A of the Code, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided , however , that this Section 11(d) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.

(ii) To the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any separate payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and Section 4(e) hereof to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception or provision of Section 409A of the Code.

(iii) To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive under this Agreement, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2(b)(vii), are deemed to constitute compensation to the Executive to which Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) would apply, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the

 

12


payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and the Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(e) Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(f) Withholding . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(g) No Waiver . The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(h) Entire Agreement . As of the Effective Date, this Agreement, together with the Indemnification Agreement and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement between the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any and all other agreements, offers or promises, whether oral or written, by any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (a “ Predecessor Employer ”), or representative thereof, whose business or assets any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates succeeded to in connection with the initial public offering of the common stock of the REIT or the transactions related thereto. The Executive agrees that any such agreement, offer or promise between the Executive and a Predecessor Employer (or any representative thereof) is hereby terminated and will be of no further force or effect, and the Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon his execution of this Agreement, he will have no right or interest in or with respect to any such agreement, offer or promise. In the event that the Effective Date does not occur, this Agreement (including, without limitation, the immediately preceding sentence) shall have no force or effect.

(i) Amendment . No amendment or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(j) Counterparts . This Agreement and any agreement referenced herein may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, each of the REIT and the Operating Partnership has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name:   Victor J. Coleman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.,
a Maryland limited partnership
By:   Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name:   Victor J. Coleman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
“EXECUTIVE”

/s/ Christopher Barton

      Christopher Barton

 

14


EXHIBIT A

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

GENERAL RELEASE

For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever discharge the “ Releasees ” hereunder, consisting of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, and each of their partners, subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, lawyers, insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “ Claims ”), which the undersigned now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon, or related to the employment or termination of employment of the undersigned by the Releasees, or any of them; any alleged breach of any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on Releasees’ right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not operate to release any rights or claims of the undersigned (i) to payments or benefits under either Section 4(a) or 4(b) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the undersigned (the “ Employment Agreement ”), whichever is applicable to the payments and benefits provided in exchange for this release, (ii) to payments or benefits under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, (iii) with respect to Section 2(b)(vi) or 6 of the Employment Agreement, (iv) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, as of the date hereof under any applicable plan, policy, practice, program, contract or agreement with the Company, or (v) to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

 

B-1


THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS HE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE;

(B) HE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND

(C) HE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE, AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD.

The undersigned represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which he may have against Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity.

The undersigned agrees that if he hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder or in any manner asserts against Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned agrees to pay to Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.

The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Release this             day of             ,             .

 

 

 

B-2

EXHIBIT 10.10

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 22, 2010, is entered into by and between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ REIT ”), Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership (the “ Operating Partnership ”) and Dale Shimoda (the “ Executive ”).

WHEREAS, the REIT and the Operating Partnership (collectively, the “ Company ”) desire to employ the Executive and to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive desires to accept employment with the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Employment Period . Subject to the provisions for earlier termination hereinafter provided, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall be for a term (the “ Employment Period ”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”). If not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for one additional year immediately following the Initial Term (such extension, the “ Renewal Term ”), unless either the Executive or the Company elects not to so extend the Employment Period by notifying the other party, in writing, of such election (a “ Non-Renewal ”) not less than sixty (60) days prior to the last day of the Initial Term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company experiences a Change in Control (as defined in the Company’s 2010 Incentive Award Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”)) during the Renewal Term, then the Employment Period shall instead continue through the first anniversary of the consummation of the Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date of the closing of the initial public offering of shares of the REIT’s common stock.

2. Terms of Employment .

(a) Position and Duties .

(i) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President – Finance of the REIT and the Operating Partnership, and shall perform such employment duties as are usual and customary for such positions. The Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. At the Company’s request, the Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in other capacities in addition to the foregoing consistent with the Executive’s position as Executive Vice President – Finance of the REIT and the Operating Partnership. In the event that the Executive, during the Employment Period, serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, the Executive’s compensation shall not be increased beyond that specified in Section 2(b) hereof. In addition, in the event the Executive’s service in one or more of such additional capacities is terminated, the Executive’s compensation, as specified in Section 2(b) hereof, shall not be diminished or reduced in any manner as a result of such termination provided that the Executive otherwise remains employed under the terms of this Agreement.


(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive may be entitled, the Executive agrees to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Employment Period, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on boards, committees or similar bodies of charitable or nonprofit organizations, (B) fulfill limited teaching, speaking and writing engagements, and (C) manage his personal investments, in each case, so long as such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

(iii) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s principal offices located in Los Angeles, California (the “ Principal Location ”), except for travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.

(b) Compensation, Benefits, Etc .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive a base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) of $300,000 per annum. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors of the REIT (the “ Board ”) and may be increased from time to time by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for executive salaries generally, but no less often than monthly. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any increase in accordance herewith and the term “Base Salary” as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased.

(ii) Annual Bonus . In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive shall be eligible to earn, for each fiscal year of the Company ending during the Employment Period, a discretionary cash performance bonus (an “ Annual Bonus ”) under the Company’s bonus plan or program applicable to senior executives. The amount of the Annual Bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion based on such performance criteria as the Compensation Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that nothing contained herein confers on the Executive any right to an Annual Bonus in any year, and that whether the Company pays him an Annual Bonus and the amount of any such Annual Bonus shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion.

(iii) Restricted Stock Award . Subject to adoption by the Board and approval by the REIT’s stockholders of the Incentive Plan, on or as soon as practicable following the date of the closing of the REIT’s initial public offering (the “ Offering Date ”), the REIT shall issue to the Executive an award of Restricted Stock (as defined the Incentive Plan) with respect to the number of shares of the REIT’s common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $300,000 by (y) the initial public offering price of a share of the REIT’s common stock (the “ Restricted Stock Award ”). Subject to the

 

2


Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each such date, one-third of the Restricted Stock Award shall vest and become nonforfeitable on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Offering Date. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award shall be set forth in a separate award agreement in a form prescribed by the Company (the “ Restricted Stock Award Agreement ”), to be entered into by the Company and the Executive, which shall evidence the grant of the Restricted Stock Award. Immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, the Restricted Stock Award shall, to the extent not previously vested, become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

(iv) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in all other incentive plans, practices, policies and programs, and all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case that are available generally to senior executives of the Company.

(v) Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive’s eligible family members shall be eligible for participation in the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, if applicable, medical, dental, disability, employee life, group life and accidental death insurance plans and programs) maintained by the Company for its senior executives.

(vi) Expenses . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company provided to senior executives of the Company.

(vii) Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to such fringe benefits and perquisites as are provided by the Company to its senior executives from time to time, in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company, and shall receive such additional fringe benefits and perquisites as the Company may, in its discretion, from time-to-time provide.

(viii) Vacation . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company applicable to its senior executives but in no event less than four (4) weeks per calendar year; provided , however , that the Executive shall not accrue any vacation time in excess of four (4) weeks (twenty (20) days) (the “ Accrual Limit ”), and shall cease accruing vacation time if the Executive’s accrued vacation reaches the Accrual Limit until such time as the Executive’s accrued vacation time drops below the Accrual Limit.

(ix) Indemnification Agreement . The parties hereby acknowledge that in connection with the execution of this Agreement, they are entering into an Indemnification Agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , which shall become effective as of the Effective Date.

 

3


3. Termination of Employment .

(a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. Either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment in the event of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for ninety (90) consecutive days or for a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12)-month period, in either case as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

(b) Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events unless, to the extent capable of correction, the Executive fully corrects the circumstances constituting Cause within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below):

(i) the Executive’s willful and continued failure to substantially perform his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after his issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Company, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties;

(ii) the Executive’s willful commission of an act of fraud or dishonesty resulting in reputational, economic or financial injury to the Company;

(iii) the Executive’s commission of, or entry by the Executive of a guilty or no contest plea to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;

(iv) a willful breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duty to the Company which results in reputational, economic or other injury to the Company; or

(v) the Executive’s willful and material breach of the Executive’s obligations under a written agreement between the Company and the Executive, including without limitation, such a breach of this Agreement.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

 

4


(c) Good Reason . The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events without the Executive’s prior written consent, unless the Company fully corrects the circumstances constituting Good Reason (provided such circumstances are capable of correction) within forty-five (45) days after the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination (as defined below) delivered by the Executive:

(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent actions not taken in bad faith and which are remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;

(ii) the Company’s material reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Principal Location which shall, in any event, include only a relocation of the Principal Location by more than thirty (30) miles from its existing location;

(iv) the Company’s failure to cure a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement after written notice is delivered to the Company by the Executive which specifically identifies the manner in which the Executive believes that the Company has breached its obligations under the Agreement and the Company is given a reasonable opportunity to cure any such breach.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will not be deemed to have resigned for Good Reason unless (1) the Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed by the Executive to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after the date of the occurrence of any event that the Executive knows or should reasonably have known to constitute Good Reason, (2) the Company fails to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such notice, and (3) the effective date of the Executive’s termination for Good Reason occurs no later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.

(d) Notice of Termination . Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other parties hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b) hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Notice of Termination ” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive

 

5


or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

(e) Termination of Offices and Directorships . Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, unless otherwise specified in a written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices, directorships, and other employment positions if any, then held with the Company, and shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.

4. Obligations of the Company upon Termination .

(a) Without Cause or For Good Reason . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if, the Executive incurs a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (a “ Separation from Service ”) during the Employment Period by reason of (1) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of the Executive’s Disability), or (2) a termination of the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good Reason:

(i) The Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, the aggregate amount of the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary and accrued but unpaid vacation pay through the date of such termination (the “ Accrued Obligations ”) and any Annual Bonus required to be paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) above for any fiscal year of the Company that ends on or before the Date of Termination to the extent not previously paid (the “ Unpaid Bonus ”).

(ii) In addition, the Executive shall be paid, in a single lump-sum payment on the sixtieth (60 th ) day after the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (such date, the “ Date of Termination ”), an amount equal to two (2) (the “ Severance Multiple ”) times the sum of (x) the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination, plus (y) the highest Annual Bonus earned by the Executive (regardless of whether such amount was paid out on a current basis or deferred) during the Employment Period (or, in the event that the Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of the completion of the first full fiscal year of the Company during the Employment Period, then the amount in clause (y) shall be determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event shall such amount be less than the Base Salary in effect on the Date of Termination), plus (z) the highest Equity Award Value (as defined below) of any Annual Grant made to the Executive by the Company during the Employment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Equity Award Value ” shall mean (A) with respect to Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (each as defined in the Incentive Plan), the grant date fair value, as computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (or any successor accounting standard), and (B) with respect to Awards (as defined in the Incentive Plan) other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (and excluding cash Awards

 

6


under the Incentive Plan), the product of (1) the number of shares or units subject to such Award, times (2) the “fair market value” of a share of the REIT’s common stock on the date of grant as determined under the Incentive Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Annual Grant ” shall mean the grant of an equity-based Award that constitutes a component of a given year’s annual compensation package and shall not include any isolated, one-off or non-recurring grant outside of the Executive’s annual compensation package, such as (but not limited to) the Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) above, an initial hiring Award, a retention Award, an Award that relates to multi-year or other long-term performance, an outperformance Award or other similar award, in any event, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 4(a)(ii), Annual Bonus shall include any portion of the Executive’s Annual Bonus received in the form of equity rather than cash.

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(iv) During the period commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the earlier of (i) the eighteen (18)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes eligible to receive benefits under a “group health plan” (within the meaning of Section 4980B of the Code and the regulations thereunder (“ COBRA ”)) of a subsequent employer of the Executive (of which eligibility the Executive hereby agrees to give prompt notice to the Company), subject to the Executive’s valid election to receive COBRA benefits, the Company shall continue to provide the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependants with coverage under its group health plans at the same levels and the same cost to the Executive as would have applied if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall be a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the amounts provided for in Sections 4(a)(ii), 4(a)(iii) and 4(a)(iv) above that the Executive execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Release ”) within twenty-one (21) days (or, to the extent required by law, forty-five (45) days) following the Date of Termination and that Executive not revoke such Release during any applicable revocation period.

(b) Company Non-Renewal . Subject to Section 4(e) below, in the event that the Executive incurs a Separation from Service during the Employment Period by reason of a Non-Renewal of the Initial Term by the Company and the Executive is willing and able, at the time of such Non-Renewal, to continue performing services on the terms and conditions set forth herein during the Renewal Term (a “ Non-Renewal Termination ”), then the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided in Section 4(a) hereof, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 4(a) (including, without limitation, the Release requirement contained therein), provided , however , in the event of a Non-Renewal Termination that does not occur within one year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal one (1). For the avoidance of doubt, if a Non-Renewal Termination occurs on or within one (1) year after the consummation of a Change in Control of the Company, the Severance Multiple shall equal two (2).

 

7


(c) For Cause, Without Good Reason or Other Terminations . If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause, by the Executive without Good Reason or for any other reason not enumerated in this Section 4, in any case, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Accrued Obligations in cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination (or by such earlier date as may be required by applicable law).

(d) Death or Disability . Subject to Section 4(e) below, if the Executive incurs a Separation from Service by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period:

(i) The Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, in cash on or as soon as practicable following the date of the Executive’s termination;

(ii) Any Unpaid Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries or to the Executive, as applicable, on the Date of Termination; and

(iii) All outstanding equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.

(e) Six-Month Delay . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits, including without limitation any severance payments or benefits payable under Section 4 hereof, shall be paid to the Executive during the six (6)-month period following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code) if the Company determines that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code. If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first business day following the end of such six (6)-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid under Section 409A of the Code without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of the Executive’s death), the Company shall pay the Executive a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable to the Executive during such period.

(f) Exclusive Benefits . Except as expressly provided in this Section 4 and subject to Section 5 below, the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits upon or in connection with his termination of employment.

5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

6. Limitation on Payments .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive (including any payment or

 

8


benefit received in connection with a termination of the Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 4 hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments under this Agreement shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments hereunder shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). The Total Payments shall be reduced in the following order: (A) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (B) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (C) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable to Employee on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting and payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (D) reduction of any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, in each case beginning with payments that would otherwise be made last in time.

(b) For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account; (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation; and (iii) the value of any non cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

9


7. Confidential Information and Non-Solicitation .

(a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates, which shall have been obtained by the Executive in connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it; provided , however , that if the Executive receives actual notice that the Executive is or may be required by law or legal process to communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data, the Executive shall promptly so notify the Company.

(b) While employed by the Company and, for a period of one (1) year after the Date of Termination, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, or encourage any employee or consultant of any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate their employment or other relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates or to cease to render services to any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity. During his employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive shall not use any trade secret of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates to solicit, induce, or encourage any customer, client, vendor, or other party doing business with any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates to terminate its relationship therewith or transfer its business from any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the Executive shall not initiate discussion with any such person for any such purpose or authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any other individual or entity.

(c) In recognition of the facts that irreparable injury will result to the Company in the event of a breach by the Executive of his obligations under Sections 7(a) and (b) hereof, that monetary damages for such breach would not be readily calculable, and that the Company would not have an adequate remedy at law therefor, the Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that in the event of such breach, or the threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal remedies and damages available, to specific performance thereof and to temporary and permanent injunctive relief (without the necessity of posting a bond) to restrain the violation or threatened violation of such obligations by the Executive.

8. Representations . The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the Executive is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that the performance of his obligations hereunder will not violate any agreement between the Executive and any other person, firm, organization or other entity, and (b) the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from competing, directly or indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or other party that would be violated by his entering into this Agreement and/or providing services to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

10


9. Successors .

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

10. Payment of Financial Obligations . The payment or provision to the Executive by the Company of any remuneration, benefits or other financial obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated among the Operating Partnership, the REIT and any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in such manner as such entities determine in order to reflect the services provided by the Executive to such entities; provided , however , that the Operating Partnership and the REIT shall be jointly and severally liable for such obligations.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive : at the Executive’s most recent address on the records of the Company.

If to the REIT or the Operating Partnership :

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Attn: General Counsel

 

11


with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins

355 South Grand Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560

Attn: Julian Kleindorfer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c) Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the Company determines, in its good faith judgment, that any transfer or deemed transfer of funds hereunder is likely to be construed as a personal loan prohibited by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, then such transfer or deemed transfer shall not be made to the extent necessary or appropriate so as not to violate the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d) Section 409A of the Code .

(i) To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company shall work in good faith with the Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A of the Code, including without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A of the Code, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance; provided , however , that this Section 11(d) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company have any liability for failing to do so.

(ii) To the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any separate payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code and Section 4(e) hereof to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception or provision of Section 409A of the Code.

(iii) To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive under this Agreement, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2(b)(vii), are deemed to constitute compensation to the Executive to which Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) would apply, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the

 

12


payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and the Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(e) Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(f) Withholding . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(g) No Waiver . The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(h) Entire Agreement . As of the Effective Date, this Agreement, together with the Indemnification Agreement and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement between the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and replaces and supersedes any and all other agreements, offers or promises, whether oral or written, by any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (a “ Predecessor Employer ”), or representative thereof, whose business or assets any member of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates succeeded to in connection with the initial public offering of the common stock of the REIT or the transactions related thereto. The Executive agrees that any such agreement, offer or promise between the Executive and a Predecessor Employer (or any representative thereof) is hereby terminated and will be of no further force or effect, and the Executive acknowledges and agrees that upon his execution of this Agreement, he will have no right or interest in or with respect to any such agreement, offer or promise. In the event that the Effective Date does not occur, this Agreement (including, without limitation, the immediately preceding sentence) shall have no force or effect.

(i) Amendment . No amendment or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(j) Counterparts . This Agreement and any agreement referenced herein may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Board, each of the REIT and the Operating Partnership has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, INC.,

a Maryland corporation

By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name: Victor J. Coleman
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

HUDSON PACIFIC PROPERTIES, L.P.,

a Maryland limited partnership

By:   Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Victor J. Coleman

  Name: Victor J. Coleman
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
“EXECUTIVE”

/s/ Dale Shimoda

  Dale Shimoda

 

14


EXHIBIT A

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

GENERAL RELEASE

For valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned does hereby release and forever discharge the “ Releasees ” hereunder, consisting of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, and each of their partners, subsidiaries, associates, affiliates, successors, heirs, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, lawyers, insurers, and all persons acting by, through, under or in concert with them, or any of them, of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, attorneys’ fees or expenses, of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent (hereinafter called “ Claims ”), which the undersigned now has or may hereafter have against the Releasees, or any of them, by reason of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever from the beginning of time to the date hereof. The Claims released herein include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claims in any way arising out of, based upon, or related to the employment or termination of employment of the undersigned by the Releasees, or any of them; any alleged breach of any express or implied contract of employment; any alleged torts or other alleged legal restrictions on Releasees’ right to terminate the employment of the undersigned; and any alleged violation of any federal, state or local statute or ordinance including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination In Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not operate to release any rights or claims of the undersigned (i) to payments or benefits under either Section 4(a) or 4(b) of that certain Employment Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2010, between Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P. and the undersigned (the “ Employment Agreement ”), whichever is applicable to the payments and benefits provided in exchange for this release, (ii) to payments or benefits under the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, (iii) with respect to Section 2(b)(vi) or 6 of the Employment Agreement, (iv) to accrued or vested benefits the undersigned may have, if any, as of the date hereof under any applicable plan, policy, practice, program, contract or agreement with the Company, or (v) to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS BEEN ADVISED BY LEGAL COUNSEL AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1542, WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

 

B-1


THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING AWARE OF SAID CODE SECTION, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHTS HE MAY HAVE THEREUNDER, AS WELL AS UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTES OR COMMON LAW PRINCIPLES OF SIMILAR EFFECT.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT OF 1990, THE UNDERSIGNED IS HEREBY ADVISED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE SIGNING THIS RELEASE;

(B) HE HAS TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS TO CONSIDER THIS RELEASE BEFORE SIGNING IT; AND

(C) HE HAS SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER SIGNING THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE THIS RELEASE, AND THIS RELEASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON THE EXPIRATION OF THAT REVOCATION PERIOD.

The undersigned represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which he may have against Releasees, or any of them, and the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any liability, Claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees, or any of them, as the result of any such assignment or transfer or any rights or Claims under any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the undersigned under this indemnity.

The undersigned agrees that if he hereafter commences any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released hereunder or in any manner asserts against Releasees, or any of them, any of the Claims released hereunder, then the undersigned agrees to pay to Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.

The undersigned further understands and agrees that neither the payment of any sum of money nor the execution of this Release shall constitute or be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever by the Releasees, or any of them, who have consistently taken the position that they have no liability whatsoever to the undersigned.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Release this      day of             ,         .

 

 

     

 

B-2

EXHIBIT 10.18

 

 

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

by and among

FARALLON CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.

FARALLON CAPITAL INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.P.

FARALLON CAPITAL INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS III, L.P.

VICTOR J. COLEMAN

and

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Dated as of February 15, 2010

 

 

 


SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of February 15, 2010 by and among Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), Farallon Capital Partners, L.P., a California limited partnership (“ FCP ”), Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P., a California limited partnership (“ FCIP ”), Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ FCIPIII ”), and Victor J. Coleman (“ Coleman ”). Each of FCP, FCIP, FCIPIII and Coleman may be referred to herein as an “ Investor ” and, collectively, as the “ Investors .”

RECITALS

A. The Company proposes to undertake an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

B. The Investors desire to purchase Common Stock of the Company in a private placement transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, and the mutual undertakings set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

ARTICLE I.

IRREVOCABLE SUBSCRIPTION FOR SHARES.

Section 1.1 Each Investor irrevocably subscribes for and agrees to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock indicated in this Subscription Agreement on the terms provided for herein. The Investor agrees to and understands the terms and conditions upon which the Common Stock is being offered. The price per share paid by the Investor shall be the initial public offering price for the Common Stock in the IPO. The aggregate purchase price for the shares of Common Stock purchased by each Investor will be the dollar amount set forth opposite the name of such Investor on Schedule A to this Agreement (the “ Committed Purchase Amount ”), and the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by each Investor will be the number obtained by dividing the Committed Purchase Amount for such Investor by the initial public offering price per share for the Common Stock in the IPO. The date, time and place of the consummation of the IPO shall be referred to herein as the “ IPO Closing .”

 

1


ARTICLE II.

CONDITIONS; CLOSING

Section 2.1 Conditions to the Company’s Obligations . The obligations of the Company to effect the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the following conditions precedent:

(i) The representations and warranties of each Investor contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct in all material respects on the date such representations and warranties were made, and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of such date;

(ii) The obligations of each Investor contained in this Agreement shall have been duly performed on or before the Closing Date and no such Investor shall have breached any of its covenants contained herein in any material respect;

(iii) Concurrently with the Closing, each Investor shall have executed and delivered to the Company the documents required to be delivered by such Investor pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof; and

(iv) No order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, injunction, stay, decree or restraining order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction or governmental entity that prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no litigation or governmental proceeding seeking such an order shall be pending or threatened.

Any or all of the foregoing conditions may be waived by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.

Section 2.2 Conditions to the Investors’ Obligations . The obligations of each Investor to effect the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the following conditions precedent:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct in all material respects on the date such representations and warranties were made, and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of such date;

(ii) The obligations of the Company contained in this Agreement shall have been duly performed on or before the Closing Date and the Company shall not have breached any of its covenants contained herein in any material respect;

(iii) Concurrently with the Closing, the Company shall each have executed and delivered to the Investors the documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof;

(iv) No order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, injunction, stay, decree or restraining order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction or governmental entity that prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no litigation or governmental proceeding seeking such an order shall be pending or threatened; and

 

2


(v) The IPO Closing shall be occurring concurrently with the Closing (or the Closing shall occur prior to, but be conditioned upon the immediate subsequent occurrence of, the IPO Closing).

Section 2.3 Time and Place . The date, time and place of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder (the “ Closing ” or “ Closing Date ”) shall occur concurrently with (or prior to, but conditioned upon the immediate subsequent occurrence of) the IPO Closing, in the office of Latham & Watkins LLP, 355 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California.

Section 2.4 Closing Deliveries . At the Closing, each Investor will pay its Committed Purchase Amount in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated upon reasonable advance notice by the Company. At the Closing, the parties shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause to be made, executed, acknowledged and delivered through such third party as may be applicable, the legal documents and other items (collectively the “ Closing Documents ”) necessary to carry out the intention of this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated to take place in connection therewith, which Closing Documents and other items shall include, without limitation, the following:

(i) Share Certificates, evidence of delivery of uncertificated shares of Common Stock by book-entry, and/or other evidence of the transfer of Common Stock to the applicable Investors;

(ii) The Registration Rights Agreement between the Investors, certain other parties and the Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ;

(iii) Lock-up Agreements signed by or on behalf of each Investor, each such Lock-up to be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B ;

If requested by the Company, on the one hand, or any Investor, on the other hand, each party shall provide to the requesting party a certified copy of all appropriate corporate resolutions or partnership actions authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement, any related documents and the documents listed in this Section 2.4.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTORS

Each Investor, severally, and not jointly or jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Company as set forth below in this Article 3, which representations and warranties are true and correct as of the date hereof and will (except to the extent expressly relating to a specified date) be true and correct as of the date of Closing (provided, that Coleman only makes the below representations and warranties to the extent applicable to an individual and not an entity):

Section 3.1 Organization; Authority; Qualification . Such Investor has been duly formed, and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation. Such Investor has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

3


Section 3.2 Due Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement by such Investor have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action of such Investor and its members or partners. The Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with its terms, as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy or the application of equitable principles.

Section 3.3 Consents and Approvals . Except as shall have been satisfied prior to the Closing Date, no consent, waiver, approval or authorization of any third party or governmental authority or agency is required to be obtained by such Investor in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, except for those consents, waivers, approvals or authorizations, the failure of which to obtain would not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”) of such Investor.

Section 3.4 No Violation . None of the execution, delivery or performance of the Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereby does or will, with or without the giving of notice, lapse of time, or both, violate, conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under or give to others any right of termination, acceleration, cancellation or other right adverse to the Company of (A) the organizational documents, including the operating agreement, if any, of such Investor, (B) any agreement, document or instrument to which such Investor is a party or by which such Investor is bound, or (C) any term or provision of any judgment, order, writ, injunction, or decree, or require any approval, consent or waiver of, or make any filing with, any person or governmental or regulatory authority or foreign, federal, state, local or other law binding on such Investor or by which such Investor or its assets are bound or subject; provided in the case of (B) and (C) above, unless any such violation, conflict, breach, default or right would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.5 Investment Purposes . Such Investor acknowledges its understanding that the offering and issuance of Common Stock to be acquired by it pursuant to this Agreement are intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act and that the Company’s reliance on such exemption is predicated in part on the accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of such Investor contained herein. In furtherance thereof, such Investor, severally, and not jointly or jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

Section 3.5.1 Investment . Such Investor is acquiring Common Stock hereunder solely for its own account and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. Such Investor agrees and acknowledges that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer, transfer, sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (hereinafter, “ Transfer ”) any of the Common Stock acquired hereunder, unless (i) the Transfer is pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and qualification or other compliance under applicable blue sky or state securities laws, or (ii) counsel for such Investor (which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company, it being agreed that Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP

 

4


is acceptable to the Company) shall have furnished the Company with an opinion, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, to the effect that no such registration is required because of the availability of an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

Section 3.5.2 Knowledge . Such Investor is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in business and financial matters and fully understands the limitations on transfer imposed by the Federal securities laws and as described in the Agreement. Such Investor is able to bear the economic risk of holding the Common Stock for an indefinite period and is able to afford the complete loss of its investment in the Common Stock; such Investor has received and reviewed all information and documents about or pertaining to the Company, the business and prospects of the Company and the issuance of the Common Stock, as such Investor deems necessary or desirable, and has been given the opportunity to obtain any additional information or documents and to ask questions and receive answers about such information and documents, the Company, the business and prospects of the Company and the Common Stock, which such Investor deems necessary or desirable to evaluate the merits and risks related to its investment in the Common Stock. Such Investor has reviewed with its legal counsel and tax advisors the forms of Articles of Amendment and Restatement and Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company and the partnership agreement of the Company’s operating partnership subsidiary.

Section 3.5.3 Holding Period . Such Investor acknowledges that it has been advised that (i) the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement are “restricted securities” (unless registered in accordance with applicable U.S. securities laws) under applicable federal securities laws and may be disposed of only pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption therefrom and such Investor understands that the Company has no obligation to register such Investor’s Common Stock, except to the extent set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement; accordingly, such Investor may have to bear indefinitely the economic risks of an investment in such Common Stock, (ii) a restrictive legend in the form hereafter set forth shall be placed on the Share Certificates, and (iii) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of the Company indicating that the shares of Common Stock issued hereunder are subject to restrictions on transfer.

Section 3.5.4 Accredited Investor . Such Investor is an “accredited investor” (as such term is defined in Rule 501 (a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act). Such Investor has previously provided the Company with a duly executed Accredited Investor Questionnaire. No event or circumstance has occurred since delivery of such Investor’s Questionnaire to make the statements contained therein false or misleading.

Section 3.5.5 Legend . Each Share Certificate issued pursuant to this Agreement, unless registered in accordance with applicable U.S. securities laws, shall bear the following legend:

The securities evidenced hereby have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), or the securities laws of any state and may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in the absence of such registration, unless the transferor delivers to the company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the company, to the effect that the proposed sale, transfer or other disposition may be effected without registration under the Act and under applicable state securities or “ Blue Sky ” laws;

 

5


In addition to the foregoing legend, each Share Certificate shall bear a legend which generally provides the following:

The shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”). Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Corporation’s Charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock in excess of 9.8% (in value or number of shares) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially or Constructively Own Capital Stock that would result in the Corporation being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) no Person may Transfer shares of Capital Stock if such Transfer would result in the Capital Stock of the Corporation being owned by fewer than 100 Persons. Any Person who Beneficially or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock which causes or will cause a Person to Beneficially or Constructively Own shares of Capital Stock in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation. If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership set forth in (i) through (iii) above are violated, the shares of Capital Stock represented hereby will be automatically transferred to a Trustee of a Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. In addition, the Corporation may take other actions, including redeeming shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Directors in its sole and absolute discretion if the Board of Directors determines that ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above. Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described above may be void ab initio . All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Charter of the Corporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Capital Stock of the Corporation on request and without charge. Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Corporation at its Principal Office.

Section 3.6 No Brokers . Neither such Investor nor any of its officers, directors or employees, to the extent applicable, has employed or made any agreement with any broker, finder or similar agent or any person or firm which will result in the obligation of the Company or any of its affiliates to pay any finder’s fee, brokerage fees or commissions or similar payment in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.

Except as set forth in this Article III, no Investor makes any representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, and the Company acknowledges that it has not relied upon any other such representation or warranty.

 

6


ARTICLE IV.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company represents and warrants to the Investors as set forth below in this Article 4, which representations and warranties are true and correct as of the date hereof and will (except to the extent expressly relating to a specified date) be true and correct as of the date of Closing:

Section 4.1 Organization; Authority . The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, to the extent required under applicable law, is qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the character of its property make such qualification necessary.

Section 4.2 Due Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action of the Company. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy or the application of equitable principles.

Section 4.3 Consents and Approvals . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investors made hereunder and except in connection with the IPO, no consent, waiver, approval or authorization of any third party or governmental authority or agency is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, except any of the foregoing that shall have been satisfied prior to the Closing Date or the IPO Closing, as applicable, and except for those consents, waivers and approvals or authorizations, the failure of which to obtain would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.4 Non-Contravention . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investors made hereunder, none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the subscription transactions contemplated hereby will (A) result in a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) or give to any third party any right of termination, cancellation, amendment or acceleration under, or result in any loss of any material benefit, pursuant to any material agreement, document or instrument to which the Company or any of its properties or assets may be bound or (B) violate or conflict with any judgment, order, decree, or law applicable to the Company or any of its properties or assets; provided in the case of (A) and (B), unless any such default, violation or conflict would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.5 REIT Status . At the effective time of the IPO and Closing, the Company shall be organized in a manner so as to qualify as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (a “ REIT ”). As described in the prospectus relating to the IPO, the Company intends to elect to be taxed and to operate in a manner that will allow it to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2010.

 

7


Section 4.6 Common Stock . The Common Stock issuable at the Closing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and not subject to preemptive or similar rights created by statute or any agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

Section 4.7 No Litigation . There is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company that, if adversely determined, would have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the Company to execute or deliver, or perform its obligations under, this Agreement and the documents executed by it pursuant to this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

Section 4.8 No Prior Business . Since the date of its formation, the Company has not conducted any business, nor has it incurred any liabilities or obligations (direct or indirect, present or contingent), in each case except in connection with the formation transactions and the IPO and as contemplated under this Agreement.

Section 4.9 No Broker . Neither Company nor any of its officers, directors or employees, to the extent applicable, has employed or made any agreement with any broker, finder or similar agent or any person or firm which will result in the obligation of any Investor or any of its respective affiliates to pay any finder’s fee, brokerage fees or commissions or similar payment in connection with transactions contemplated by the Agreement.

Except as set forth in this Article 4, the Company does not make any representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, and each Investor acknowledges that it has not relied upon any other such representation or warranty.

ARTICLE V.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1 Information . The Company may request from the Investor such additional information as the Company may deem necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the Investor to acquire the Common Stock, and may request from time to time such information as the Company may deem necessary to determine the eligibility of the Investor to hold the Common Stock or to enable the Company to determine the Company’s compliance with applicable regulatory requirements or tax status, and the Investor shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested.

Section 5.2 Further Assurances . The Investors and the Company shall take such other actions and execute such additional documents following the Closing as the other may reasonably request in order to effect the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 5.3 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 5.4 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to the choice of laws provisions thereof.

 

8


Section 5.5 Amendment; Waiver . Any amendment hereto shall be in writing and signed by all parties hereto. No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

Section 5.6 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto constitute the entire agreement and supersede conflicting provisions set forth in all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 5.7 Assignability . This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement may not be assigned (except by operation of law) by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties, except to an affiliate, and no assignment shall relieve a party from its obligations under this Agreement.

Section 5.8 Titles . The titles and captions of the Articles, Sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall have no effect on the construction or meaning of this Agreement.

Section 5.9 Third Party Beneficiary . Except as may be expressly provided or incorporated by reference herein, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions hereof, no provision of this Agreement is intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to provide or create any third party beneficiary rights or any other rights of any kind in any customer, affiliate, stockholder, partner, member, director, officer or employee of any party hereto or any other person or entity.

Section 5.10 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, is for any reason held to any extent to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of the void or unenforceable provision and to execute any amendment, consent or agreement deemed necessary or desirable by the Company to effect such replacement.

Section 5.11 Reliance . Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that it is not relying on tax advice or other advice from the other party to this Agreement, and that it has or will consult with its own advisors.

Section 5.12 Survival . It is the express intention and agreement of the parties hereto that the representations, warranties and covenants of each of the Investors and the Company set forth in this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 5.13 Notice . Any notice to be given hereunder by any party to the other shall be given in writing by either (i) personal delivery, (ii) registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iii) facsimile transmission (provided such facsimile is followed by an original of such notice by mail or personal delivery as provided herein), and any

 

9


such notice shall be deemed communicated as of the date of delivery (including delivery by overnight courier, certified mail or facsimile). Mailed notices shall be addressed as set forth below, but any party may change the address set forth below by written notice to other parties in accordance with this paragraph.

To the Company :

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Phone: (310) 445-5700

Facsimile: (310) 445-5710

Attn: General Counsel

To the Investors :

Farallon Capital Partners, L.P.

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100

San Francisco, California 94111

Phone: (415) 421 2132

Facsimile: (415) 421-2133

Attn: Daniel J. Hirsch

Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P.

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100

San Francisco, California 94111

Phone: (415) 421 2132

Facsimile: (415) 421-2133

Attn: Daniel J. Hirsch

Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P.

One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100

San Francisco, California 94111

Phone: (415) 421 2132

Facsimile: (415) 421-2133

Attn: Daniel J. Hirsch

Victor J. Coleman

11601 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Phone: 310 445-5700

Facsimile: (310) 445-5710

Attn: Victor J. Coleman

Section 5.14 Equitable Remedies . The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the specific terms hereof or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the

 

10


parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any federal or state court located in California (as to which the parties agree to submit to jurisdiction for the purpose of such action), this being in addition to any other remedy to which the parties are entitled under this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to permit the Investors to enforce consummation of the IPO.

Section 5.15 Dispute Resolution . The parties hereby agree that, in order to obtain prompt and expeditious resolution of any disputes under this Agreement, each claim, dispute or controversy of whatever nature, arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to the interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement (or any other agreement contemplated by or related to this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties), including without limitation any claim based on contract, tort or statute, or the arbitrability of any claim hereunder (an “ Arbitrable Claim ”), shall, subject to Section 5.13 above, be settled by final and binding arbitration conducted in Los Angeles, California. The arbitrability of any Arbitrable Claims under this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with a two-step dispute resolution process administered by Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services, Inc. (“ JAMS ”) involving, first, mediation before a retired judge from the JAMS panel, followed, if necessary, by final and binding arbitration before the same, or if requested by either party, another JAMS panelist. Such dispute resolution process shall be confidential and shall be conducted in accordance with California Evidence Code Section 1119.

Section 5.16 Mediation . In the event any Arbitrable Claim is not resolved by an informal negotiation between the parties within fifteen (15) days after either party receives written notice that a Arbitrable Claim exists, the matter shall be referred to the Los Angeles, California office of JAMS, or any other office agreed to by the parties, for an informal, non-binding mediation consisting of one or more conferences between the parties in which a retired judge will seek to guide the parties to a resolution of the Arbitrable Claims. The parties shall select a mutually acceptable neutral arbitrator from among the JAMS panel of mediators. In the event the parties cannot agree on a mediator, the Administrator of JAMS will appoint a mediator. The mediation process shall continue until the earliest to occur of the following: (i) the Arbitrable Claims are resolved, (ii) the mediator makes a finding that there is no possibility of resolution through mediation, or (iii) thirty (30) days have elapsed since the Arbitrable Claim was first scheduled for mediation.

Section 5.17 Arbitration . Should any Arbitrable Claims remain after the completion of the mediation process described above, the parties agree to submit all remaining Arbitrable Claims to final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS in accordance with the then existing JAMS Arbitration Rules. Neither party nor the arbitrator shall disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of all parties. Except as provided herein, the California Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings pursuant to this subparagraph. The arbitrator is without jurisdiction to apply any substantive law other than the laws selected or otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement. The arbitrator shall render an award and a written, reasoned opinion in support thereof. Judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

11


Section 5.18 Survivability . This dispute resolution process shall survive the termination of this Agreement. The parties expressly acknowledge that by signing this Agreement, they are giving up their respective right to a jury trial.

Section 5.19 Enforcement Costs . Should any party institute any action or proceeding under Section 5.15 above (or, with respect to the Company, Sections 5.16 or 5.17 above), the prevailing party shall be entitled to receive all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by such prevailing party in connection with such action or proceeding. A party entitled to recover costs and expenses under this Section shall also be entitled to recover all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred in the enforcement of any judgment or settlement obtained in such action or proceeding and provision (and in any such judgment provision shall be made for the recovery of such post-judgment costs and expenses).

Section 5.20 Several Liability . It is understood and acknowledged that to the extent any Investor makes a representation, warranty or covenant hereunder, or assumes liability for indemnification or otherwise hereunder, the same is made or assumed by such Investor severally, and not jointly or jointly and severally with any other Investor.

[signature page to follow]

 

12


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Subscription Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

“COMPANY”
Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
“INVESTORS”
FARALLON CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Farallon Partners, L.L.C., its General Partner
By:  

 

  Name:
  Managing Member
FARALLON CAPITAL INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Farallon Partners, L.L.C., its General Partner
By:  

 

  Name:
  Managing Member
FARALLON CAPITAL INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS III, L.P.
By: Farallon Partners, L.L.C., its General Partner
By:  

 

  Name:
  Managing Member
VICTOR J. COLEMAN

 

 

S-1


SCHEDULE A

 

Investor

   Committed Purchase Amount

Farallon Capital Partners, L.P.

   $  

Farallon Capital Institutional Partners, L.P.

  

Farallon Capital Institutional Partners III, L.P.

  

Victor J. Coleman

   $ 2,000,000
      
   $ 20,000,000
      

 

Schedule A-1


EXHIBIT A

TO

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit A-1


EXHIBIT B

TO

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit B-1


Exhibit B-1

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT FOR VICTOR COLEMAN AND HOWARD STERN

[•], 2010

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Barclays Capital Inc.

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o

   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
  

  Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

  Re: Proposed Public Offering by Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

Dear Sirs:

The undersigned, a stockholder and/or an officer and/or a director of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), understands that Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“ Morgan Stanley ”) and Barclays Capital Inc. (“ Barclays ”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), for whom Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Barclays are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “ Representatives ”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with the Company and Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, providing for the public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). In recognition of the benefit that the Public Offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder and/or an officer and/or a director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each Underwriter that, during a period of 180 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Lock-up Period ”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or file, or cause to be filed, any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”) with respect to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Lock-Up Securities ”) or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

Subject to the conditions set forth below, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence shall not apply to:

 

1


Exhibit B-1

(1)(i) gifts or other dispositions by will or intestacy (including, without limitation, any disposition from a revocable trust, family trust or similar trust arrangement providing for the distribution of assets upon death or intestacy); (ii) transfers made to (x) limited partners, members, stockholders or affiliates of the undersigned or (y) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity all of the equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the undersigned; (iii) bona fide gifts, sales, distributions, contributions or other dispositions, in each case that are made exclusively between and among the undersigned and (w) members of the undersigned’s family, (x) affiliates of the undersigned that are controlled by the undersigned, or (y) a trust the beneficiaries of which are, (A) a limited liability company the membership interest holders of which are, or (B) a partnership the partners of which are, exclusively the undersigned and/or members of the undersigned’s family; or (iv) donations or transfer to charitable organizations; provided, however , that in the case of any gift, sale, distribution, contribution, transfer or other disposition pursuant to this clause (1), it shall be a pre-condition that (a) the recipient, transferee or donee, as applicable, executes and delivers to the Representatives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-up Period, (b) no filing by any party under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer or distribution, (c) each party shall agree to not voluntarily make, any public announcement of the transfer or disposition and (d) the undersigned notifies the Representatives at least three business days prior to the proposed gift, sale, distribution, contribution, transfer or other disposition;

(2) dispositions or transfers made to an escrow account by the undersigned, or from an escrow account to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries or any other party identified by the undersigned in the Operative Documents (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), in connection with the operation of any pledge arrangements set forth in the Operative Documents relating to any indemnification obligations of the undersigned under the Operative Documents; or

(3) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock acquired by the undersigned in the open market after completion of the Public Offering; provided, however , that (a) any subsequent sale of the shares of Common Stock acquired in the open market are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if: (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the scheduled expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the 180 th day of the Lock-up Period, the restrictions imposed by this lock-up agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that written notice of any extension of the Lock-up Period pursuant to the previous paragraph will be delivered by the Representatives to the Company and the undersigned (in accordance with the notice provisions of the Underwriting Agreement) and that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned. The undersigned further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date of this lock-up agreement to and including the 34 th day following the expiration of the initial 180 th day of the Lock-up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

 

2


The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

Very truly yours,
Signature:      
Print Name:    

 

 

 

3


Exhibit B-2

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT FOR FARALLON CONTRIBUTORS

February [ · ], 2010

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Barclays Capital

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
     Incorporated
     One Bryant Park
     New York, New York 10036

 

  Re: Proposed Public Offering by Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

 

     Dear Sirs:

The undersigned, a stockholder and/or an officer and/or a director of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), understands that Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“Morgan Stanley”) and Barclays Capital (“Barclays”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Barclays are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company and Hudson Pacific Properties, L.P., a Maryland limited partnership, providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). In recognition of the benefit that the Public Offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder and/or an officer and/or a director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each Underwriter that, during a period of 365 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Lock-up Period”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or file, or cause to be filed, any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) with respect to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”) or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, that, commencing on the date that is 180 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (such 180 day period, the “Demand Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned shall have the right to require the Company to file a registration statement (the “Farallon Demand Registration Statement”) registering up to 25% of the aggregate shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the Farallon Funds pursuant to the Formation Transactions (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) and the concurrent private placement for resale in an underwritten offering registered pursuant to the 1933 Act, and to sell the shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to such Farallon Demand Registration Statement.

Subject to the conditions set forth below, the restrictions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to:

(1)(i) gifts or other dispositions by will or intestacy (including, without limitation, any disposition from a revocable trust, family trust or similar trust arrangement providing for the distribution of assets upon death or intestacy); (ii) transfers made to (x) limited partners, members, stockholders or affiliates of the undersigned or (y) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity all of the equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the undersigned; (iii) bona fide gifts, sales, distributions, contributions or other dispositions, in each case that are made exclusively between and among the undersigned and (w) members of the undersigned’s family, (x) affiliates of the undersigned that are controlled by the undersigned, or (y) a trust the beneficiaries of which are, (A) a limited liability company the membership interest holders of which are, or (B) a partnership the partners of which are, exclusively the undersigned and/or members of the undersigned’s family; or (iv) donations or transfer to charitable organizations; provided, however , that in the case of any gift, sale, distribution, contribution, transfer or other disposition pursuant to this clause (1), it shall be a pre-condition that (a) the recipient, transferee or donee, as applicable, executes and delivers to the Representatives a

 

1


signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-up Period, (b) no filing by any party under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer or distribution, (c) each party shall agree to not voluntarily make, any public announcement of the transfer or disposition and (d) the undersigned notifies the Representatives at least three business days prior to the proposed gift, sale, distribution, contribution, transfer or other disposition;

(2) dispositions or transfers made to an escrow account by the undersigned, or from an escrow account to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries or any other party identified by the undersigned in the Operative Documents (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), in connection with the operation of any pledge arrangements set forth in the Operative Documents relating to any indemnification obligations of the undersigned under the Operative Documents; or

(3) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock acquired by the undersigned in the open market after completion of the Public Offering; provided, however , that (a) any subsequent sale of the shares of Common Stock acquired in the open market are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if: (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period or the Demand Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the scheduled expiration of the Lock-up Period or the Demand Lock-Up Period, as applicable, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-up Period or the Demand Lock-Up Period, as applicable, the restrictions imposed by this lock-up agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Representatives waive, in writing, such extension.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that written notice of any extension of the Lock-up Period pursuant to the previous paragraph will be delivered by the Representatives to the Company and the undersigned (in accordance with the notice provisions of the Underwriting Agreement) and that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned. The undersigned further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date of this lock-up agreement to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the Lock-up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

Very truly yours,

Signature:                                          

Print Name:                                       

 

2

EXHIBIT 23.3

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions “Experts” and to the use of our report dated May 12, 2010 with respect to the balance sheet of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc,; our report dated April 9, 2010 with respect to the combined financial statements and schedule of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. Predecessor; our report dated April 9, 2010 with respect to the combined statement of revenues and certain expenses of GLB Encino, LLC and Glenborough Tierrasanta, LLC; our report dated February 16, 2010 with respect to the statement of revenues and certain expenses of City Plaza; and our report dated April 9, 2010 with respect to the statements of revenues and certain expenses of Howard Street Associates, LLC, all included in the Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statements on Form S-11 and related Prospectus of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. for the registration of its common stock.

/ S /    E RNST  & Y OUNG LLP

Los Angeles, California

May 12, 2010

EXHIBIT 23.4

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (No. 333-164916) on Form S-11 of Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. of our report dated February 15, 2010, relating to our audits of the combined financial statements of Hudson Pacific Properties Inc. Predecessor as of December 31, 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the period from July 31, 2007 (inception) through December 31, 2007, appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

/s/    M CGLADREY & P ULLEN , LLP

Chicago, Illinois

May 12, 2010

EXHIBIT 99.6

CONSENT OF MARK D. LINEHAN

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (the “Company”) intends to file a Registration Statement on Form S-11 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Registration Statement”) registering its common shares of beneficial interest for issuance in its initial public offering. As required by Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents to being named in the Registration Statement as a person who has agreed to serve as a director of the Company beginning immediately after the closing of the offering.

Dated: April 20, 2010

 

/s/ M ARK D. L INEHAN

Mark D. Linehan

EXHIBIT 99.7

 

LOGO    The California
   Opportunity
   April 2010
  

by:

Kenneth T. Rosen

Randall Sakamoto

Olivia O’Bryon

Amber Schiada-Eversole

Melinda Gilbert

  

Rosen Consulting Group

1995 University Avenue

Suite 550

Berkeley, CA 94704

510 549-4510

510 849-1209 fax

   www.rosenconsulting.com
   © 2010 Rosen Consulting Group

 


The California Opportunity – Executive Summary

California

 

 

California’s diverse economy produced $1.8 trillion in goods and services in 2008, making it the world’s eighth-largest economy. Leading economic drivers are professional and business services, technology innovation and investment, media and information industries, international trade, agriculture, tourism and travel, and medical/scientific research and development. The vast pool of skilled and educated residents in the technological fields will help to lead the recovery, particularly given the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of many of the state’s workers.

 

 

California is the most populous state in the nation. According to projections from the state, the population is expected to grow an average of 1.1% annually between 2010 and 2050, increasing to 59.5 million by 2050. California is an international gateway that serves as the first point of entry for many international in-migrants and immigration is especially important to California’s demographic character. California will continue to be an attractive state for people to live and work in, despite the current bout of economic weakness.

 

 

California has survived many periods of deficit spending and weak tax revenue, signaling that the current situation is part of an ongoing pattern of up and down years for the state. Financial crises followed by surpluses reflect the cyclical nature of the state government in California and the current downturn is reflective of this historical economic pattern. Although the state may appear on the brink of bankruptcy, this is not the likely outcome, though the budget crisis is severe.

 

 

Commercial real estate assets nationwide and in California are facing problems because of job losses, and consequently higher vacancy rates, as well as limited capital availability. A wave of publicly and privately held debt is coming due during the next five years. Approximately $195 billion in commercial mortgage maturities are scheduled for 2010, the majority of which is held by banks. The total amount is expected to increase to $220 billion in 2011, and peak at $225 billion in 2012 and 2013, before slowly declining thereafter. As more loans come due, and occupancies and rental income deteriorate, the level of commercial assets in distress will likely increase. These distressed assets will be seen as opportunities for those investors with access to capital and the willingness to take on risk. Additionally, investors with solid operating acumen and the capital ability to take on these distressed properties could benefit most from entering the market within the next year as fundamentals reach bottom, and then develop these assets into high-performing properties once economic conditions improve.

 

 

The outlook for California is bright, particularly given the state’s diverse and adaptive economy, creative and resilient population, and dynamic clusters of existing businesses in the knowledge industries. Although challenges will persist through the short term, conditions are expected to improve during the next couple of years, with hiring regaining traction by 2011. Looking forward, we expect that the innovative nature of many of the state’s main industries will spark a strong recovery, with firms in the clean tech, biotech, and health care clusters leading the way in job expansion.

 

 

The state is a significant player in each of the industries that are likely to achieve accelerated growth in the coming years and shape the way we live in the future.

 

 

Healthcare and clean energy-related tech firms will likely be among the first to expand, helped by government incentives, as well as an explosion of new innovation. Clean energy technology is in growing demand globally and an expanding hub of related employment already exists within the state. For firms specializing in healthcare technology, the transition of the large baby-boomer population into older adulthood will likely help to increase demand for these innovations as the need for medical services grows.

 

 

The state is the worldwide center for entertainment employment. Additionally, the innovative workforce has applied many advances in digital technology and other tech-related products to produce significant advancements in areas such as computer animation and bridged the gap between gaming and traditional entertainment such as movies. California should remain the hub of new media as the state has the creative talent necessary to captivate audiences via content while utilizing and innovating new technologies for content delivery.

 

 

As hiring accelerates and the demand for goods and services increases, GSP growth is expected to pick up as well, climbing from 1.5% in 2011 to 2.5% in 2014. The rate of GSP growth will likely lag national GDP growth through the forecast period.

 

 

The current challenges facing the State of California are part of a cyclical pattern that will segue way into a new era of innovation and entrepreneurialism. California is among the most sought-after places in the country to live and work, helping to attract and retain a highly talented, creative and entrepreneurial workforce. Innovation is a key component of the work culture in the state, historically giving way to new products, industries and sources of employment.

Los Angeles

 

 

Los Angeles payrolls totaled almost 3.9 million as of December 2009. Major economic drivers include trade, media-related industries, professional and business services, educational and health services, and tourism. We do not believe the current recession will exhibit the same level of decline seen during the early 1990s recession, with only 264,300 job losses expected

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   i


 

between year-end 2007 and 2010 based on our forecast, compared with 387,000 jobs lost between year-end 1990 and year-end 1993.

 

 

Looking forward, we expect job declines to decelerate but continue through 2010, with the economy losing an additional 9,000 positions from year-end 2009 through year-end 2010. We believe that most employment sectors will lose jobs during that period, with the educational and health services sector adding jobs at the healthiest pace because of continued strong demand for medical services and growth in the private education subsector. Total employment growth should resume in 2011, accelerating from 0.2% to 0.9% by 2014, with all sectors except manufacturing adding jobs by the end of the forecast period.

 

 

The entertainment industry is one of Los Angeles’s core economic strengths and one of the region’s most high-profile sectors. The media and entertainment industry employed more than 161,000 people as of 2008 in the motion picture and sound industries, broadcasting, and as independent artists, writers and performers. In addition, the video game and digital media development industries are in growing demand as more film studios utilize digital effects and computer-generated graphics to complete their films. In fact, digital media is expected to be a driver of the economic recovery during the coming years, with consumer demand for digital content on the rise even in spite of the current recession.

 

 

Job losses contributed to weaker demand in the overall office market, reflected in the vacancy rate increasing to 17.0% by the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with 12.6% at year-end 2008. The average overall asking rent declined by 6.9% from year-end 2008 through the fourth quarter of 2009. Weak demand through 2010 should push rents down by an additional 1.9%. The current vacancy rate is nearing historical highs, but we do not expect the rate to exceed that reached during the last two recessions. As the economy recovers and job growth accelerates beginning in 2011, increased tenant demand should push the vacancy rate down to 13.4% by 2014, and rents should grow at an average annual rate of 3.4%.

Orange County

 

 

The small geographic size and large population means that Orange County is one of the most densely populated counties in the nation in spite of its image as a suburban haven. The leisure and hospitality industry feeds into Orange County’s second-largest sector, trade, where retail trade makes up roughly two-thirds of the total jobs within that sector. Orange County also boasts a large concentration of professional and business services and financial activities sector employment.

 

 

Employment growth is expected to be flat in 2010 and then pick up by 2012 as nearly all sectors add jobs. We are expecting hiring to accelerate from the mid-1% range in 2012 to 2.0% by 2014. In terms of employment sectors, we believe that the educational and health services sector will lead the way in terms of employment growth, followed by the professional and business services sector. Within the employment sectors, industries such as technology and medical devices, should be the employment growth leaders.

 

 

Weak tenant demand continues to erode office market fundamentals in Orange County, with the vacancy rate increasing 3.7 percentage points during 2009 to 20.2%. Reflecting this weakness in demand is the falling average asking rental rate, which declined by 15.3% by the fourth quarter compared with year-end 2008 to $25.95 per square foot. We expect absorption to be somewhat slower in the next growth cycle, and the vacancy rate is not expected to fall below 20% until 2012. Weaker demand conditions will likely keep rents near 2004 and 2005 levels during the near-term forecast period. We expect rent growth will be minimal in 2011, at 1.4% annually, increasing to 3.7% growth in 2012, 5.2% growth in 2013 and 6.0% growth in 2014.

San Diego

 

 

San Diego has a diverse economy, with a dynamic mix of innovative employers in the biotech and high-tech industries, as well as a strong government, military, and defense presence. Throughout most of the past two decades, San Diego outperformed the nation in job creation. San Diego was among the first markets in the country to be affected by the housing downturn. Despite early signs of improvement in the housing market, the real estate downturn is still the main drag on the local economy. In spite of the downturn in civilian employment, the military generally provides a steady source of jobs both directly and indirectly to the region, with an estimated one in four local jobs tied to the strong military presence.

 

 

Looking forward, we expect the economy in San Diego to stabilize in 2010, with employment growth picking back up by 2011. San Diego is home to one of the nation’s most diverse technology clusters, with firms in the biotechnology, software, Internet, communications, information technology, aerospace and defense sectors. Although the initial rebound will be slow, we expect long-term health to return to the region led by the area’s innovative firms. Between 2011 and 2014, employment is expected to increase an average of 1.6% annually.

 

 

Given the ongoing weakness in the economy, the vacancy rate reached 21.3% during the fourth quarter of 2009. For the suburban submarkets, the downturn has been more severe, largely because construction was focused in these areas during recent years, and tenant demand is more cyclical than in the CBD where tenants are mainly government and legal users. However, the good news for both markets is that the vacancy rate is expected to peak by year-end 2010, reaching 16.9% downtown and 22.8% in the suburbs, marking a pivotal shift in these markets as demand begins to improve next year. We expect the vacancy rate to decrease to 9.7% downtown and 12.7% in the suburbs by 2014. Overall rents will likely be weak through the short term, declining 3.5% in 2010. As occupancy

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   ii


 

stabilizes, rent growth will likely resume, averaging 4.4% annually between 2011 and 2014. We expect rent growth to recover most quickly downtown, averaging 4.9% annually during this period, compared with 4.3% annually in the suburbs.

 

 

Even with short-term challenges, the office market in San Diego is poised for long-term growth. The medium- to longer- term employment outlook for the region is healthy, signaling the potential for strong improvement in demand in the years to come.

San Francisco

 

 

The San Francisco metropolitan division contains a population of 11.8 million and a workforce of approximately 934,000 as of year-end 2009. Top research universities in the Greater Bay Area such as UCSF, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz not only provide a source for innovative technologies, but also help to educate and sustain the area’s high-skilled labor force.

 

 

There is a significant presence of firms in the high-technology manufacturing, software, biotechnology, clean technology and multimedia production and design industries within the San Francisco metropolitan division. Biotech firms cluster in the region in order to take advantage of the highly skilled workforce as well as to benefit from the synergies created by nearby research universities. Incorporating elements of high-tech manufacturing and software development with more traditional arts and media, local multimedia firms leverage existing local clusters and skill sets. San Francisco has a large concentration of social media headquarters located within the city.

 

 

Within the San Francisco metropolitan division, 44,000 jobs were eliminated during 2009, or 4.6% of total employment. Job growth should resume in 2010 with a 0.5% increase in total employment and the addition of more than 4,900 jobs that year. Thereafter, we expect total employment growth to increase by an average of 1.3% annually through 2014.

 

 

As of the fourth quarter of 2009, the total office vacancy rate increased 230 basis points from year-end 2008 to 15.5%, in spite of a low level of new supply. The total office vacancy rate should trend downward to 10.4% in 2014 as a result of resumed job growth and very limited construction. Rent growth should follow a lagged pace, with an annual decrease of 4.0% in asking rents in 2010. Subsequently, we expect the average asking rent to rebound in line with office-using employment. In the long term, much of the new office space expected to come online in the overall office market during the next ten years will be concentrated in the Mission Bay area. The expansion of San Francisco’s biotechnology cluster should counter the effects of this new supply, while continued growth in the high-tech, multimedia, entertainment, advertising and clean tech clusters fuels demand for office space throughout the metropolitan division.

San Jose

 

 

The economy in the San Jose metropolitan area is dominated by tech employment, making the region highly susceptible to the changes in the business cycle. Given our outlook that the innovative tech industry will help lead the national recovery, the San Jose region is well-positioned for growth in the coming years. The San Jose metropolitan area is ranked third in educational attainment nationally based on the percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

 

 

Overall, total non-farm payrolls declined by 3.9% year-over-year, reflecting the loss of 35,200 jobs. By year-end 2010, we expect total employment growth to return to positive territory, increasing by 0.8% followed by a 1.1% increase in total payrolls by 2011.

 

 

The Web 2.0 and clean technology firms are expected to drive future economic expansion. Clean tech firms, in particular, will likely be among the first to expand, with increased demand for clean energy resulting from new federal and state incentives. Even in light of challenges, the region is still the largest tech center in the country, with major firms likely to continue to attract start-ups seeking proximity to larger names in the years to come. The region will likely always be prone to boom and bust cycles, and the current downturn is not an exception.

 

 

Venture capital is vital to the entrepreneurial economy in the region, and Silicon Valley is home to some of the most notable financial backers in the world.

 

 

Anemic leasing activity and the addition of 1.5 million square feet of new office space in 2009 pushed the overall vacancy rate to 22.2% during the fourth quarter. For the most part, tenants with expiring leases are choosing to renew existing leases instead of relocating, contributing to weak leasing activity at newly completed properties. Overall suburban rents declined 13.7% year-to-date through the fourth quarter. The overall vacancy rate is expected to increase only slightly to 22.4% in 2010. Competing for tenants, office owners will be forced to lower lease rates. We expect overall rents to decline by 4.9% in 2010. As the local economy recovers through the latter part of the forecast period, the expected rise in office employment combined with no new construction activity should bring the vacancy rate to the mid-teens and overall rents to nearly $30 per square foot by 2014.

Oakland

 

 

The region is home to more than 2.5 million people, and boasts a highly educated workforce, with approximately 39.1% of the population over the age of 25 years-old holding a bachelor’s degree. The East Bay is typically the lower-cost alternative to San Francisco, and its industry mix revolves around trade activity, educational and health services, and government.

 

 

The East Bay unemployment rate reached 11.8% in December 2009, the highest level since the recession in the early-1980s.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   iii


 

As job growth returns in 2010 and accelerates through the forecast period, the unemployment rate is expected to decline accordingly, falling to 8.9% by 2011. The rate of job losses slowed in recent months, and we believe the economy is poised for a rebound in 2010, with employment growth accelerating in 2011 through 2014, averaging 1.2% annually.

 

 

The vacancy rate as of the fourth quarter of 2009 stood at 18.7%, surpassing its tech-bust high. Accordingly, asking office rents dropped 12.1% year-over-year to $23.47 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and are expected to fall through 2010. Oakland’s office market should see minimal new construction through 2012. We expect absorption to slowly and steadily ramp up through the forecast period, as companies in high-growth sectors seek cost efficient space and back-office operations continue to grow in the area. We predict a fall in the vacancy rate to 15.1% in 2014, while annual rent growth accelerates to 3.7%. In the near term, we expect the East Bay market to slowly recover, with more substantial growth occurring beyond our forecast horizon.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   iv


The California Opportunity

California Economy

California boasts the largest labor force of any U.S. state, and accounts for roughly 13.0% of the national gross domestic product. Although employment conditions are currently weak, California’s economy has a history of resilience in the course of several boom and bust cycles. The current downturn is reflective of the national economic situation, and despite the currently high level of unemployment and job losses, the California economy, along with the national economy, should rebound and expand again within the next two years.

Historical Conditions

California’s diverse economy produced $1.8 trillion in goods and services in 2008, making it the world’s eighth-largest economy ahead of Russia, Spain, Brazil and Canada. California’s non-farm labor force totaled more than 13.8 million people as of December 2009, accounting for approximately 10.7% of national workers, or more than 1 out of every 10 jobs. The majority of the state’s jobs are in service-producing industries, while goods-producing industries account for less than one out of every five positions. Mean per capita income in California has typically been higher than in most other states, and as of 2009, the level was the 11 th -highest nationally, while Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and Massachusetts — typically white-collar employment states — had the highest mean per capita incomes. California’s per capita income, though, was 11.3% higher than all states, on average, during 2009.

Leading economic drivers are professional and business services, technology innovation and investment, media and information industries, international trade, agriculture, tourism and travel, and medical/ scientific research and development. High-technology, including software and semiconductor development and manufacturing, and the associated venture capital investment are primarily clustered in the Northern California region. A high concentration of biotechnology

LOGO

and medical research clusters are located in the area, particularly near universities. Additionally, Northern California has agriculturally focused industries, including winemaking and independent organic farming. Southern California has a large media cluster, particularly focused on entertainment ventures including filmmaking, television production and editing, and music production. In addition, Southern California’s biotechnology cluster, primarily centered in San Diego but with a smaller cluster in Los Angeles, is a strong and growing contributor to California’s overall economic health. Both Northern and Southern California are important trade centers, with the Ports of Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach serving as three of the largest port complexes in the nation. California’s Central Valley and Central Coast is a large agricultural hub, sometimes referred to as “America’s salad bowl”, growing a large majority of the nation’s fruit and vegetable food supplies. Additionally, food manufacturing and processing plants have a large presence in the region because of their need for proximity to fresh food sources. Tourism is a major industry throughout most of the state, and visitors are attracted to the various theme parks and beaches in Southern California, the historical sites in San Francisco, and the numerous state and federal parks sprinkled throughout the state’s approximately 158,000 square miles.

Historically, job growth in California has mirrored the national trend, outpacing the rate of national job creation during several cycles, including the period following the mid-1970s recession, the late 1980s recession, and during the late 1990s. Between year-end 1969 and year-end 2009, average annual job growth in California outpaced the national rate by 24 basis points. Although California has a history of outpacing national job creation, economic downturns in the state are typically more severe than nationally, reflective of the presence of highly specialized industries that are prone to volatility. Two examples of this phenomenon included the contraction of the defense and aerospace manufacturing industries in the 1990s, and the decline of the technology manufacturing industry following the dot-com bust in 2001.

California’s defense and aerospace industry declined markedly following the end of the Cold War, exacerbating the unemployment situation in California on the heels of a national recession. Although the national recession officially ended by March 1991, the sharp contraction in California’s manufacturing sector, largely tied to the defense and aerospace industries, continued and contributed to a prolonged recession in the state. The manufacturing sector contracted at a 4.8% compound annual rate between year-ends 1990 and 1993, or by 13.7% cumulatively during the period, shedding roughly 265,000 jobs. Comparatively, manufacturing jobs nationwide declined at a 1.1% compound annual rate, or by 3.3% cumulatively during the same period. The decline of the defense and aerospace industries, the emergence of offshore manufacturing by domestic firms and

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   1


LOGO

rise of low-cost foreign manufacturers, and the national recession all contributed to a prolonged recessionary period in California during the early 1990s relative to the nation. However, following this period, California’s economy made a strong recovery, with the total number of jobs increasing at a 3.0% compound annual rate between year-ends 1994 and 2000, adding approximately 2.6 million jobs, compared with 2.2% compound annual growth nationally. California’s rate of recovery during this time exceeded the national rate, and accounted for approximately 13.3% of national job growth during the same six-year period.

A similar trend occurred during the period following the tech bust in 2001. California’s highly concentrated technology manufacturing industry experienced exponential growth in the late 1990s through 2001, but fell hard when the bubble burst, which was compounded by the events of 9/11 when the national economy fell into recession. Manufacturing employment contracted at a 6.7% compound annual rate, or by 18.7% on a cumulative basis between year-ends 2000 and 2003, shedding about 351,000 jobs, relatively close to the national trend during the same period on a percentage basis. Tech-related job losses hit the Northern California region particularly hard during this period. Although manufacturing employment declined by about 134,000 jobs in San Francisco, the East Bay, and Silicon Valley combined, the region’s other employment sectors that feed off of the health of the technology industry suffered as well, bringing total job losses to more than 409,000 during the three-year period. Comparatively, Southern California, as a combination of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego, shed roughly 175,000 manufacturing jobs, but because the region was less tech-oriented, job losses in relation to high-technology or Internet activities were far fewer. In fact, Southern California gained almost 66,000 jobs on net during the three-year period, offsetting the severe losses in Northern California.

California’s manufacturing industry has not recovered since the tech bust, particularly as more firms have utilized offshore manufacturing to reduce costs. However, other employment sectors offset the losses in manufacturing to such a degree that employment growth between year-ends 2003 and 2007 averaged 1.4% annually, adding more than 794,000 jobs during the period. Professional and business services are closely tied to the technology industry, and the sector suffered more than 198,000 job losses between year-ends 2000 and 2003. Although manufacturing employment continued to decline following the tech-boom period, the professional and business services sector gained all of the jobs lost during the recession, and 4,000 more, by 2007. The leisure and hospitality, educational and health services, and trade sectors all contributed to strong employment growth as well, adding nearly 471,000 jobs. Even though California has a variety of specialized industries, the overall economy is still quite diverse, and this factor will continue to support long-term growth in the state.

Current Conditions

California is currently in recession, with job losses totaling more than 1.3 million since losses began in May of 2008. The unemployment rate reached 12.3% in December 2009, the highest rate since 1946, compared with the national rate of 10.0% during the same period. However, the California unemployment rate has historically been higher than the national rate, averaging 1.0 percentage point higher on a monthly basis since 1969. This is largely a result of the state’s strong population growth, however, and its subsequently more rapidly growing labor force, rather than a result of poor economic conditions.

Southern California and the Central Valley led the state into recession as a result of a weak single family housing market. As prices began to fall, development halted, and many construction jobs were lost. Further, as the subprime crisis reached a climax, the financial markets nationwide began to suffer, and this was also the case in California’s financial activities sector. Lack of capital availability seeped into Northern California’s venture capital industry, reducing funding for tech-based start-ups and other ventures. As the national recession worsened in 2008 and into 2009, California suffered from

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   2


weaker trade volumes, lower home prices, state budget cuts, and subsequently, mass layoffs, wage cuts, and reduced worker hours. However, the worst may be behind the state, and we expect slow growth to begin in 2010, with a stronger economic expansion beginning in 2011.

Despite the current economic weakness, California is poised for long-term growth. Several industries and employment sectors support the overall health of the economy, and we expect these sectors will drive growth going forward.

Major Industries

Several employment sectors drive California’s growth, including professional and business services, trade, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality. The growth of these sectors accounted for more than 84% of the state’s total job creation during the last expansion between year-ends 2003 and 2007. In addition to the specific sectors that drive growth, several industries are highly concentrated in California relative to the nation, and are important pillars of the overall economy, even if employment growth is not always positive. The nearby chart indicates that as of December 2009, government had the highest concentration at 17.9% of total employment, followed by professional and business services at 14.7%, and educational and health services at 12.7%.

LOGO

Professional and Business Services

The professional and business services sector accounts for roughly 14.7% of total employment, and is the state’s second-largest sector behind government. Professional and business services includes legal, consulting, accounting, engineering, computer design, research and development, management, administration, and support services for companies, and is a significant component of employment throughout the state. During the 1990s, the sector did not suffer losses to the same degree that manufacturing or financial activities did, shedding

LOGO

only 16,400 positions during 1991 and 1992. During the period leading up to the tech-boom, the sector expanded by more than 775,000 jobs or by 52.0% on a cumulative basis.

Tech-based firms rely heavily on the engineering, computer design, and software development skills of professionals within this sector, and the build-up of the tech industry during the late 1990s drove sector growth. This is evident in the quicker pace of expansion in this sector from 1995 through 2000, when annual growth averaged 5.9% annually, and the sector added more than 658,000 jobs. Accordingly, when the Internet bubble burst in 2001, the sector contracted at an average annual rate of 3.0% from 2001 through 2003, with job losses exceeding 198,000. However, the relatively small number of jobs lost compared with the number gained during the previous growth cycle is a testament to this sector’s resilience and significant role within California’s economy.

Professional and business services accounted for the strongest absolute growth during the last expansion between year-ends 2003 and 2007, adding approximately 202,400 positions. Job losses accelerated in 2009, and the sector contracted by 6.8% year-over-year in December 2009.

Financial Activities

The financial activities sector includes insurance, securities, real estate leasing and sales, and banking positions, and accounts for 5.7% of total employment. The housing market morass in California and nationwide contributed to the decline of the financial activities sector since 2006, with the sector shedding 159,100 jobs through December 2009. A similar trend occurred in the early 1990s, when job losses totaled more than 89,000 from year-end 1990 through 1996. During the early 2000s recession, though, the sector did not lose any jobs, but instead expanded at an average annual rate of 2.5%. Growth was weakest in 2000, at 1.0%, but following the tech-bust, many investors shied away from tech stocks, instead investing in real estate. As the housing bubble grew, many financial firms, including mortgage companies, commercial banks, and

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   3


real estate-related professionals, reaped the benefits of increased demand for housing. Once the housing bubble burst, however, job losses ensued. We believe the sector will reach bottom by year-end 2009, and should expand again beginning in 2010, and at a quicker pace beginning in 2011.

LOGO

Government

The government sector is California’s largest sector with 17.9% of total employment as of December 2009. The government sector includes federal, state and local government employees, as well as public sector education. Employment in this sector has historically been less volatile than in most sectors, partially because its employees provide necessary services to a growing population. Nonetheless, the government sector contracted by 1.7% year-over-year in December 2009, and job cuts could have been higher if not for forced furlough days and other means of cutting hours and wages. The cause of this decline was the state’s ongoing multibillion dollar budget deficit, and the recession resulted in decreased tax revenues and local budget shortfalls. In order to meet financial obligations, lawmakers passed measures that cut huge sums from areas of the

LOGO

state’s budget causing layoffs in the government sector. Since 1997, the government sector has grown every year except in 2003, when a similar deficit led to trimmed budgets for many areas of California’s state and local governments.

This sector grew by an average of 34,500 employees per year from 1999 to 2007, with the largest gains posted in the late 1990s, a period of fiscal health. Government sector employment contracted year-over-year in December 2009 by 1.7%, but should begin to rebound in 2011 alongside resumed economic growth. Continued population growth should fuel the need for government services and public education, while rising tax revenues will help to close some of the gaps in the state’s budget. Additionally, expanded public programs from federal stimulus dollars as well as increased regulatory oversight should lead to more substantial employment expansion. We expect these factors to cause extended growth in the government sector through the long term, although the rate of growth may be subject to political shifts.

Trade

California is a gateway to Asia, and has three of the largest West Coast ports. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the Port of Oakland serve as major trade centers, with cargo volume through the ports totaling more than 13.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2009. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach support approximately 496,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the five-county Southern California region, according to a study by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. The Port of Oakland, likewise, plays a significant role in Northern California’s trade industry. Trade through these ports is concentrated with Asian countries and cargo moving through California ports is transshipped to every state in the nation.

In addition to the ports, several international airports in the state also support wholesale trade activity, including the Oakland International Airport and the Los Angeles International Airport. The Oakland International Airport handled roughly 622,030 metric tons of international and domestic cargo trade during 2008, while the Los Angeles International Airport recorded 1.5 million tons of international and domestic freight and mail cargo during 2009. In addition, an average of more than 559,000 metric tons of cargo moved through San Francisco International Airport annually from 2000 through 2009, further supporting trade activity in the state.

Trade employment contracted during the 1990s recession, shedding 91,600 jobs between year-ends 1990 and 1993. However, the number of jobs returned to the pre-recession level by year-end 1996, exceeding that level by 27,000 positions. During the tech-bust recession, sector growth was flat; the wholesale trade sector shed about 5,200 jobs in 2003, but was bolstered by roughly 9,100 job gains in retail trade, preventing severe job losses in the sector overall. During the most recent period, however, job losses in the sector overall reached more than 296,000 from year-end 2007 through December 2009. Fewer

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   4


LOGO

dollars are being spent on consumer and business goods, reducing trade activity. Additionally, the global recession has led to reduced trade activity worldwide, particularly import activity from Asia as American consumers pull back on spending.

Despite current weakness in the overall trade sector, we believe this will be a temporary downturn. California’s wholesale trade industry is suffering the effects of a global recession, and the retail trade sector is suffering from weak consumer spending. We believe prospects for long-term growth are positive, however. The wholesale trade sector accounts for 4.5% of the total employment base in the state, but the impact on other industries makes it an important driver of overall employment growth. When combined with the retail trade sector, trade jobs account for 15.3% of total employment.

High-Technology and Biotechnology

The state’s highly educated workforce contributes to the success of its knowledge-based economy, particularly in industries such as high-technology and biotechnology. Several clusters exist throughout the state. San Diego is an especially important hub for the biotechnology and life sciences industry, as is the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly near universities but also in San Francisco. The high-technology industry is largely clustered in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly in Silicon Valley cities including Palo Alto, Mountain View, and San Jose. Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area each have video game development clusters. These industries are tied to jobs in several sectors, including educational and health services, information services, professional and business services, and financial activities. Specifically, the state’s venture capital industry feeds into the growth of the high-technology and biotechnology industries, as start-ups are heavily reliant on venture capital funding. Moreover, California’s growing baby-boomer population, as well as the growth nationwide, will continue to create demand for these products and services, thus supporting long-term growth in the industry.

California received a total of $2.5 billion in venture capital funding during the fourth quarter of 2009, or about 50.1% of all venture capital investment in the United States during the period, more than any other state. Statewide, venture capital investment averaged approximately $3.1 billion on a quarterly basis since 1995. Since the first quarter of 2003, investment averaged $2.8 billion on a quarterly basis. Although recent investment activity is slightly lower relative to the historical average, this is largely a result of capital market conditions. As the recovery begins and exit strategies become more apparent, investment activity will likely increase in concert.

Historically, venture capital has been highly concentrated within particular regions of the United States. Despite the bursting of the tech bubble in Silicon Valley at the beginning of the decade, it remains by far the location of choice for venture capital investment, in part due to its unparalleled talent pool and entrepreneurial environment. Along with the availability of highly skilled workers and entrepreneurs, other factors, including access to major educational and research institutions and a highly desirable quality of life, have contributed to California’s clusters of high-technology and biotechnology activity.

Venture capital funding in the Silicon Valley region (including the San Francisco Bay Area) during the fourth quarter of 2009 totaled more than $1.9 billion, with 25.3%, or $480 million, going toward software-related ventures. The second-largest amount went to semiconductor ventures, at $174 million. Biotechnology investment rounded out the top three, with more than $169 million invested in such ventures during the period. The Los Angeles and Orange County region recorded nearly $288 million in deals during the same period, with the largest share going to industrial and energy ventures, at about $61 million. Medical device and equipment ventures received the second-largest share, at $45 million. San Diego received about $300 million in funding during the period, with biotechnology ventures gaining the majority of capital, at $185 million, and software development ventures receiving the second-largest amount, at $32 million during the period. The majority of venture capital funding toward biotechnology ventures in San Diego speaks to its strong life sciences cluster.

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   5


Although venture capital activity is down from the level recorded during the Internet boom, and relative to recent years as a result of financial market conditions and concerns over timing of exit strategies via initial public offerings or mergers and acquisitions, the number of deals and the amount of financing stabilized, and both will likely increase in the next year as the financial markets open up. Additionally, patent applications and innovation in general tend to pick up during recessions, as job losses often inspire new business ventures for the unemployed, particularly in knowledge-based economies where a larger share of the population earned a college degree.

Media and Entertainment

The highest concentration of jobs in California relative to the United States is in information services, a sector that includes publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and telecommunications. The sector accounts for roughly 3.2% of total jobs in California. The entertainment industry in Southern California supports the information services sector, and although the sector has been shrinking, it has not been losing jobs at the same pace that occurred nationally. Jobs have been on the decline in this sector since the tech-bust, in part due to the rapidly shifting composition of the traditional media industry, particularly the print media industry.

Looking further back, the sector also experienced a decline during the 1990s recession, shedding 9,300 jobs in 1991. The sector recovered however, gaining more than 213,000 positions through 2000, as tech-related employment boomed, but suffered either significant jobs losses or anemic growth since that time. Between year-end 2000 through 2003, the sector shed 123,200 jobs, and an additional 22,000 jobs were lost from year-end 2008 through December 2009 (years-end 2008 and 2009 data are not seasonally adjusted).

The growth and popularity of the Internet changed the way people obtain and view various forms of media, contributing to a decline in various industries, including publishing and print media, television, film, radio, and telecommunications. This shift will likely continue for the foreseeable future, as new technologies and uses for the

LOGO

Internet emerge every year, further changing the composition of the information services industry. Nonetheless, this shift is simultaneously opening up new avenues for growth in the entertainment industry in the state as the production of digital content gains momentum. Digital media is an expanding industry, with increased consumer demand for controllable content, as well as demand from advertisers to reach a targeted audience with less expense than with traditional media outlets.

In addition to changes to traditional media, the film industry is also undergoing significant changes. The use of digital film has revolutionized filmmaking, and the Internet has opened up avenues for independent filmmakers that were closed to those outside of the industry in previous decades. However, despite these changes, California is still the leader in the filmmaking, television and production industry, and the industry itself has already begun to adapt to these shifts within the industry. Moreover, the down economy has actually contributed to strong ticket sales at the box office as consumers look for inexpensive forms of entertainment. This increased activity will likely spur additional movie-making activity in California in the coming months. In 2009, box offices grossed more than $29.9 billion, an annual increase of about 7.6%.

During the summer months of 2009, ticket sales cooled slightly, reflecting a lack of major blockbusters compared with a year earlier, particularly given that The Dark Knight was such a success in 2008. In general, moviegoers are becoming more selective in choosing which films to view, utilizing social media sites to gauge the reaction of other fans to films before purchasing tickets, which in turn can fuel either the success or failure of a film. Moreover, even though people generally turn to movies for inexpensive entertainment during recessions, the depth of the current downturn has left many households cutting off all means of discretionary spending. During the summer season, which lasted from May 1 to September 7, ticket revenues totaled $4.4 billion, with 594 million tickets sold. In order to compare these results with last summer, one week has to be removed because of the late date for Labor Day this year, leaving ticket sales at $4.3 billion, with 572 million tickets purchased. These figures reflect a roughly 2% increase in revenue but about a 2% decline in the total number of tickets sold. Although these results are mixed, they demonstrate relative stability in the entertainment industry in spite of the sharp economic downturn throughout the nation.

According to the most recent available data from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), in 2007, the motion picture and television industry generated more than 2.5 million jobs nationwide, and more than $41.1 billion in aggregated wages to employees within the industry. By comparison, in 2005, the industry employed an estimated 1.3 million people nationally, accounting for $30.2 billion in aggregated wages, reflecting the ongoing growth during recent years. Although these numbers reflect the industry as a whole, California’s share of the industry is the largest, followed by New York and Nevada. In 2007, California motion picture and television production produced approximately $16.3 billion in direct wages, with 529 movies and television programs filmed in the state.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   6


In the entertainment and media industry as a whole, roughly 228,500 people were employed in California in 2008, including positions in motion picture and sound industries, broadcasting, and independent artists, writers and performers, as cited by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. As of 2008, according the California Economic Development Department, the average annual pay for individuals employed in the motion picture and sound industry was $82,264, while those in the broadcasting industry were paid an average of $79,820. Independent artists, writers, and performers earned the highest wage, averaging $219,960 annually during 2008. The large concentration of entertainment-related professionals helps fuel creative development in a variety of industries. We expect California will remain the center of the movie and television industries for the foreseeable future, and this should continue to generate a strong economic impact for the state.

Tourism

The leisure and hospitality sector, which includes the performing arts, gaming and food services, generated above-average job growth since the end of the last recession, growing at a compound annual rate of 2.4% between year-end 2003 through 2008. In fact, the sector was one of only two sectors that recorded job gains consistently on an annual basis through the last recession, and the last year job losses were recorded was in 1992. The sector accounts for approximately 10.7% of total employment. Job losses totaled approximately 72,700 in the 12 months through December, largely as a result of households spending less on discretionary goods and services, and reduced tourism activity. However, the state is a popular international and domestic tourism destination, and we believe this will be the case for the foreseeable future. Tourists are attracted to Southern California and its world-renowned theme parks and destinations including Hollywood and the various film studios, as well as San Francisco, regularly listed as one of the best tourist cities in the United States, and Napa County’s numerous wineries.

LOGO

The current drop in leisure and hospitality employment is temporary and should be brief, rebounding when the overall economy recovers at a stronger pace in the next year or so when consumers feel more comfortable spending money.

Construction

California’s housing industry has long been an engine of economic growth, which increased the state’s vulnerability to the housing bubble. Trends in construction sector employment illustrate this point. During the real estate bust of the early 1990s, construction sector employment decreased at an average annual rate of 10.0% from 1991 to 1993. Afterward, employment increased each year through 2006. Annual growth was most rapid in the economically healthy period of the late 1990s, when the sector increased at an average rate of 9.9% from 1997 to 2000. With a pullback in commercial construction activity, growth in the construction sector moderated thereafter with an average annual increase of 4.2% from 2001 to 2005. The housing boom years of 2004 and 2005 posted the fastest employment expansion with 6.4% and 8.0%, respectively.

In 2006, California’s construction sector began to contract as the single family housing market slowed, declining by 2.8%. As credit tightened and mass layoffs commenced, demand for single family homes fell even further and new home construction ground to a near halt. In 2008, employment in the construction sector decreased by 14.9%. Still-sluggish residential sales and a slowdown in commercial real estate construction contributed to more construction job losses in 2009, with an annual contraction of 21.8% as of December 2009. The construction sector accounted for 4.1% of total employment as of December 2009, compared with 6.3% at its peak in June 2006.

The single family market in California experienced over-building in some areas and this excess inventory is slowly being cleared. Additionally, a high rate of foreclosure and large price declines are exacerbating market conditions. We believe that the California single family housing market will slowly rebound in 2010, modestly increasing demand for construction workers thereafter. With payrolls

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   7


already at a minimum, the pace of job growth could accelerate in 2011 and 2012, alongside improvement in single family conditions. Long-term, positive demographic growth should fuel demand for employment in this sector.

Manufacturing

As previously mentioned, manufacturing employment has been on the decline since the early 1990s, losing approximately 705,700 jobs since year-end 1990 through December 2009. The manufacturing sector accounted for 8.9% of total employment as of December 2009. Producers continue to find it more economical to outsource manufacturing operations to lower-cost areas, particularly to Asia and Mexico. However, this is not all bad news for California, especially since the state has the advantage of being located adjacent to Mexico and of being one of the first points of entry from Asia. The maquiladora programs along border cities, including San Diego, are a benefit to the state and its producers. Many manufacturers find it in their best economic interests to have components shipped to Mexico for assembly, and have them returned to the United States, only having to pay the duties on the added value of the goods. This saves on costs for production, and helps support the Mexican economy, which subsequently helps fuel retail spending in border cities within California. Additionally, higher value-added manufacturing or finished assembly can be performed in the state at competitive rates if raw materials and early-stage processing is performed elsewhere.

In addition to maquiladora industries, California is a leader in food manufacturing. The Central Valley of California is an agricultural leader nationwide, producing a majority of the nation’s fresh fruits and vegetables. These goods are often packaged near the site, and thus agribusiness is major supporter of the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing may not be the strongest sector within California, but it is nonetheless an essential component of California’s economy.

LOGO

Economic Summary

Although California is currently in recession, the state has experienced several periods of severe contraction in the past, and has always bounced back at a strong pace. The educational and health services sector has continued to grow, despite the national recession, also doing so during the 2001 recession and the early 1990s recession.

California is a hotbed for innovation, driven by its acclaimed public university system and numerous other colleges and universities within the state, strong demographics and entrepreneurial and creative environment. It is this innovative spirit that fosters the growth of new industries within the state. California is a highly desirable place to live, and its industry clusters, including high-technology, media, tourism, biotechnology, agriculture, and trade, attract a highly educated workforce. In fact, as of 2008, 37.2% of Californians had an associate’s degree or higher, compared with 35.2% nationally, and 29.6% of Californians had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 27.7% nationally.

California’s innovative spirit combined with its highly educated workforce and desirability as a place to live will continue to foster new industry growth. We are cautious to point to any one particular industry as the “next big thing,” but the emergence of clean tech and renewable energy production are possibilities, as is the life sciences industry. California’s various specialized clusters and immense size are partly to blame for California’s boom and bust cycles, but over the longer term, California’s employment base has consistently expanded, almost doubling in size since 1969.

California Demographics

Population Trends

California is the most populous state in the nation, with approximately 38.5 million residents, as estimated by the California Demographic Research Unit in 2009. The state accounts for 12.5% of the total United States population, exceeding the share of the second most populous state, Texas, by more than half. California’s population has grown at a 1.7% compound annual rate for the past 40 years, with growth peaking during the 1980s, averaging 2.3% from 1980 through 1989. During the 1990s recession, population growth was slower, reflecting weaker economic conditions, averaging 1.4% annually from 1990 through 1999. During the most recent decade, population growth held steady, averaging 1.4% from 2000 through 2009. As housing affordability fell in conjunction with the housing boom, fewer people migrated into the state, and a number of existing residents moved to lower-cost states to the north and east to take advantage of lower home prices.

California is a highly desirable place to live, but low affordability was a deterrent for many in the past few years. However, now that home prices have fallen to more affordable levels, population growth

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   8


will likely accelerate as fewer residents move to neighboring lower housing-cost states. California single family affordability increased to 43.7% by the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with a low of 17.1% in 2005. California’s increased affordability, combined with its temperate weather, highly accredited university system, and industry clusters that attract a highly educated workforce from around the world, should draw more residents to the state, particularly as employment conditions improve in the next year.

According to projections from the California Demographic Research Unit, the state population is expected to grow an average of 1.1% annually between 2010 and 2050, increasing by 21.3 million from an estimated 38.5 million in 2009 to 59.5 million by 2050. This will amount to an average increase of 512,700 people each year between 2010 and 2050, reflecting not just natural growth, but the long-term draw of the state for new residents. California continually attracts new residents because of its high desirability as a place to live and work. The ongoing growth of the population is a major source of strength for the state, as more people means more sales and more tax revenue, helping to stimulate the overall economy while also contributing to the stability of the state government. Likewise, population growth also creates a larger pool of workers for businesses to choose from, adding to the desirability of the state for employers and further contributing to innovation and economic expansion. In addition to natural increases, immigration is a major source of population growth in California, particularly from neighboring Mexico and Central American countries. The growth of the Hispanic population is expected outpace that of the overall population growth during the coming years, averaging 1.9% annual increases between 2010 and 2050.

Demographic growth in California is primarily driven by two age cohorts: the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, and the echo boomers, otherwise known as the children of the baby boomers, born primarily between 1982 and 1994. In 2008, the baby-boomer cohort, or those primarily between the ages of 45 and 64 years-old, accounted for approximately 24.0% of the total population in California.

LOGO

The share of the population between the ages of 45 and 64 years-old has steadily increased from a recent low of 16.9% in 1991, reflecting the aging baby-boomer population. California baby boomers totaled more than 8.8 million people in 2008. Baby boomers are an important demographic base for California’s economy because this group drives growth in the educational and health services sector. As this group ages, their demand for specialized health services increases accordingly. Similarly, as the nation’s baby-boomer population requires a greater level of medical care, California life science and healthcare-related industries should thrive.

The echo-boomer demographic was primarily between the ages of 15 and 24 years-old as of 2008, and this group constituted approximately 15.0% California’s total population. The U.S. share of the population between the ages of 15 and 24 years-old in 2008 was only 14.1% in 2008. California’s higher share is largely a reflection of the state’s large student population, and this group will increase in the coming years as student enrollment grows. Not only are there great numbers of resident students in California, but also many out-of-state students remain in California following graduation. This demographic group is an important driver of the California economy as this group typically allocates more discretionary income toward entertainment and technology goods, two industries with strong ties to California.

LOGO

Household Trends

Strong employment growth encourages new household formation. This trend is evident in California, as well as nationally, where the household formation rate slowed between 1993 and 1996 in the aftermath of the recession, averaging 0.7% annually during the period, compared with a compound annual rate of growth of 1.2% between 1980 and 2008. The 2001 recession in California was not as deep as in the early 1990s and household formation did not slow as precipitously, particularly as low mortgage rates and looser lending standards promoted homeownership. However, the household formation rate began to slow again in 2006, and turned negative

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   9


in 2008 because of negative economic conditions. People tend to move in with roommates or with relatives during recessions in an effort to save on living costs. The negative household formation rate in 2008 is particularly interesting in that it points to the decline in California’s housing market and the number of households that have been foreclosed upon, in addition to job losses, which are the usual reason for foreclosures.

Net Migration Trends

The in-migration rate is a good, albeit lagging, indicator of a region’s health as it correlates strongly with economic growth. Although California has maintained steady population growth since the early 1990s, net migration has been more volatile during economic downturns. According to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), the deep recession of the early 1990s was responsible for a large out-migration from California. California’s economy recovered more slowly following the recession, overtaking national employment growth by 1996 as the technology boom gained momentum. Between 1993 and 1996, California lost slightly more than 408,000 people on a net basis, while population growth merely slowed to an average annual rate of 0.8%. Out-migration was largely concentrated in the Southern California region, which suffered large-scale losses in manufacturing employment due to post-Cold War spending cutbacks. Since then, net migration has stabilized, averaging more than 194,000 residents per year between 1997 and 2009.

Although net migration overall has been steady, in recent years, out-migration to lower-cost states to the north and east increased because of high California home prices. According to the Pew Research Center and the Census, migration out of California to other states totaled more than 948,622 people between 2005 and 2007, ranking California first among all 50 states for domestic out-migration. The largest share of these out-migrants went to Arizona, with 248,576 residents moving to the nearby state. The second-largest share went to Texas, at 244,907 residents. California recorded a net loss of approximately 473,468 residents to other states during the three-year

LOGO

period. In 2007 alone, the net loss for California to both states was 151,254 to Texas and 250,911 to Arizona, where housing affordability was much higher in the larger metropolitan areas in those states. As an example, almost three-fourths of households in Dallas and Houston could afford a median-priced single family home, while almost half could do so in Phoenix at the height of the housing boom. However, with California home prices now more affordable, and job prospects in other cities lackluster, net migration out of the state to other lower-cost areas of the country should slow.

Immigration

Immigration is especially important to California’s demographic character. International in-migration is closely correlated to the overall net migration rate, indicating the role of the economy in determining how demographic patterns take shape. During periods of stronger economic growth, immigration and net migration rates are stronger, and correspondingly, those rates are slower during periods of weaker economic growth. Immigration declined by 16.7% year-over-year during 1994 and by 19.7% in 1995, reflecting the weak economic growth during the period. Immigration picked up sharply during the dot-com boom, increasing by 34.9% in 2000 and 30.0% in 2001, again demonstrating that immigration trends mirror the economic health of the state and the availability of jobs. To further illustrate the point, immigration declined sharply following the dot-com bust, by 39.4% in 2003.

California is an international gateway that serves as the first point of entry for many international in-migrants. From 1984 through 2008, annual immigration averaged about 205,800 per year, with dips occurring during periods of economic weakness, only to pick up again during recovery periods. Among the three regions, Southern California had the largest share of legal immigrants entering the region in 2008, with 57.0%, compared with 25.9% entering Northern California, and 9.5% entering the Central Valley. Immigration trends within the state bolster future population growth, and second-generation immigrants are a growing demographic group. According to the PPIC,

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   10


second-generation immigrants accounted for 16% of the state’s population, or 3.1 million residents in 1970. By 2005 this number increased to roughly 7.0 million residents, or more than 21% of the state’s population. This group is typically better educated than are their parents, and earn more income during their lifetimes, both of which benefit California’s economy. Additionally, the propensity for entrepreneurship within both first- and second-generation immigrant groups is higher. According to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, more than 50% of Silicon Valley start-ups were created by at least one immigrant co-founder between 1995 and 2005. In addition to more sophisticated ventures, however, immigrants throughout the United States founded more independent businesses in 2005 than their native-born counterparts, averaging 35 businesses out of every 100,000 adults, compared with 29 per 100,000 adults for U.S.-born residents.

Immigration is an important driver of California’s economy, as many immigrants hold post-secondary degrees. In fact, 35% of immigrants who arrived between 2004 and 2007 held a degree, compared with 19% who arrived in the late 1980s, according to a study by the PPIC. These immigrants bring fresh talent to the labor force, and contribute to California’s reputation for having a highly educated workforce. The San Francisco-Oakland and San Jose metropolitan areas had the highest shares of immigrants holding college degrees in 2007, with 35% and 45%, respectively, which were up from 26% and 29% in 1990, respectively. The high-technology clusters in these markets attract highly educated talent, and should do so for the foreseeable future as the technology industry continues to evolve.

In addition to the legal immigrants are the undocumented immigrants entering the state annually. According to the PPIC, undocumented in-migration closely follows legal in-migration, and is closely related to job growth and economic conditions. Accordingly, the PPIC estimates that undocumented in-migration averaged approximately 100,000 people annually during the early 1980s, increasing to an annual average of 200,000 people during the latter half of the decade. During the early 1990s, the number dropped again according to the PPIC, in accordance with the economic recession at the time. Between 2000 and 2006, the undocumented immigrant population grew by 13% or by about 50,000 people annually. This slower growth rate is likely related to heightened border security following the events of 9/11, as well as policy actions directed toward thwarting undocumented in-migration. Recently, poor job prospects as a result of the recession have likely curtailed undocumented immigration activity. Nonetheless, California has the largest share of undocumented immigrants after Texas. According to a 2008 study by the PPIC, approximately 2.8 million undocumented immigrants resided in the state as of 2006, or about one-quarter of the nation’s total. It may be safe to assume that undocumented in-migration follows the same pattern as net migration as a whole, and as economic conditions improve, in-migration rates increase.

Income Trends

California’s income per capita has trended higher than the national figure since 1948, when record keeping began. As of 2009, mean income per capita (in chained 2005 dollars) in the state was just under $39,000, compared with $35,900 nationally. Income per capita in California exceeded the national figure by an average of 15.5% annually since 1948, although the gap steadily declined since that time. The income gap was particularly narrow during the 1990s recession, exceeding the national figure by only 5.4% from 1994 through 1997. Since then, income per capita in California exceeded the national figure by an average of 8.6%. The income per capita gap narrowed to 7.6% in 2009, from 8.5% the previous year and 9.6% in 2007. The gap typically narrows during periods of economic decline, and this cycle is no different.

Demographic Summary

California will continue to be an attractive state for people to live and work in, despite the current bout of economic weakness. Population growth, driven by healthy levels of immigration, an increasing student population, and strong baby-boomer and echo-boomer growth should continue at a healthy rate in the longer term. California has experienced several boom and bust cycles, and its demographic character often reflects the economic conditions within the state. However, population growth has not turned negative, even during periods of negative net migration, and this consistent population growth speaks to the strong international in-migration trends within the state, in addition to natural increase. Although demographic trends tend to weaken during periods of economic decline, the long-term trend for California has been consistent growth, despite severe recessions and periods of fiscal instability. This consistent pace of growth speaks to the desirability of the state as a place to live, its status as an international gateway, and its many other positive attributes, including temperate weather, a highly accredited university system, and the presence of several sophisticated industry sectors, including high-tech, biotech, and media, that continue to attract a highly educated workforce, and ultimately push California toward long-term growth.

California Fiscal Environment

The cyclical nature of the economy in California contributes to boom and bust cycles for the state budget and government. Although the current economic downturn fueled the existing state fiscal crisis, the government is not bankrupt and has found creative avenues to balance the budget in order to keep most state operations functioning through the recession. On a state level, tax revenues are mainly derived from personal income and sales taxes, putting pressure on the state when weak consumer spending and job losses limit income flows. An estimated 82.5% of the state’s General Fund revenues are expected to come from personal income and sales taxes in fiscal year 2009-2010, demonstrating the importance of these sources in funding the state government. On a city and county level, property

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   11


taxes are also an important source of income, with the decline in property values contributing to weakness among local governments, particularly given the simultaneous drop-off in consumer spending and personal incomes. Nonetheless, even with short-term instability, government finances in California follow the up and down movement of the economy, signaling the strong potential for recovery in the coming years.

Budget Challenges

The immense size of the economy in California contributes to the budget challenges facing the state. As aforementioned, California had the eighth-largest economy in the world in 2008, keeping pace with entire countries in the production of goods and services, and outpacing all other states in the country. With such a large economy, lawmakers often struggle to meet the diverse needs of the dynamic industries and residents in the state. Balancing the budget given the spectrum of political viewpoints is often a difficult task. For fiscal year 2009-2010, total expenditures by the state are expected to require $119.2 billion, reflecting a vast pool of money for legislators to manage.

Since the passing of Proposition 13 in 1978, local governments in California have become less reliant on property taxes and more dependent on income and sales taxes for revenue, tying the government’s fiscal health directly to the economy. Proposition 13 limits the property tax rate to 1% of the assessed value at the time of purchase with annual increases no greater than 2%. As such, property tax revenue was already limited prior to the downturn. However, with the decline in home values, this income stream decreased, leaving many local governments scrambling to fill budget gaps. Whereas property values had generally increased or remained stable in the past, the current downturn has weakened what used to be a fairly secure source of income. By comparison, during the boom years, property tax revenue increased markedly as climbing home prices and soaring sales drove up assessed values. These growing revenues motivated many counties and cities to increase spending, leaving significant budget gaps once the economy shifted, particularly given the simultaneous drop-off in taxable sales and personal income.

Budget Solutions

Decreasing revenues have left the state stretching to meet budget needs. In February 2009, the state had a $41.6 billion shortfall, including the previous deficit as well as the projected funding gap for the current fiscal year. By July, the gap had grown to $60 billion, reflecting a greater-than-expected shortfall in the previous year’s revenue collection and lower revenue projections for the current fiscal year. California requires a two-thirds majority in order to pass changes to the budget, which generally prevents swift action in response to financial challenges. Nonetheless, the budget was balanced in July to bridge this large gap, but not without large cuts to social programs throughout the state, as well as widespread furloughs and layoffs of state employees. Approximately $31 billion

LOGO

in social spending was trimmed from the budget in conjunction with $12.5 billion in tax increases. These temporary tax hikes included a 0.25% increase in the Vehicle Licensing Fees, a 1% increase in sales and use taxes, a 0.25% increase in personal income taxes, as well as a reduction in the dependent credit.

Expenditures totaled an estimated $119.3 billion in the General Fund, special funds and bond funds for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, reflecting an 18% decline from two years earlier. The state is relying on $10 billion in bonds from the $43 billion bond package approved by voters in 2006 to reach these goals. Likewise, federal assistance through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping to bridge the gap in falling tax revenues, with an estimated $94 billion in federal funds received by the state in financial year 2009-2010, up from $56 billion in 2007-2008 and $77 billion in 2008-2009. In addition to increased borrowing, cutting spending, and raising taxes, the state also resorted to creative accounting tactics in order to overcome this enormous shortfall, including the transfer of funds from other accounts to the General Fund. These transfers will likely have to be replenished at some point in the future.

Developing Budget Hurdles

In spite of the budget agreement, tax revenues have been volatile in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, falling short of estimates through November 2009. Although revenues improved in recent months, unpredictable revenues are creating planning difficulties for the state, especially as

How the $60 Billion Budget Gap Was Closed

(Dollars in Millions)

 

     2009 Budget Act -
Enacted in February
   Amendments to the
Budget Act of 2009
   Total Solutions

Cuts

   $ 14,893    $ 16,125    $ 31,018

Taxes

   $ 12,513      —      $ 12,513

Federal Stimulus

   $ 8,016      —      $ 8,016

Other Total

   $ 402    $ 8,034    $ 8,436

Total

   $ 35,824    $ 24,159    $ 59,983

Source: California State Budget

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   12


the recession wears on. Moreover, a $3.5 billion court ruling against the state in October could further disrupt the balanced budget. The Supreme Court of California ruled that $3.5 billion of General Fund money was illegally diverted away from local transportation agencies in order to balance the budget, leaving the state liable for restoring these funds to the appropriate entities. Accordingly, even with the major cuts made to programs throughout the state in July, further action will likely be necessary in order to deal with the ongoing challenges facing the state. Given the required two-thirds majority to change the budget, the response to these hurdles will likely be delayed. Whereas a swift resolution is unlikely in the short term, a movement is afoot to change the constitution in California and abolish the requirement for a two-thirds majority. The two-thirds majority was established in an effort to prevent overspending; however, it has instead led to gridlock and did not prevented increased spending by the state. If the push to change the required majority is successful, the state budget process would likely become more streamlined and effective in response to changing conditions.

The budget agreement reached in July was supposed to leave a $5.0 billion surplus in order to deal with additional surprises and to help usher the state out of the current fiscal crisis. Given the unpredictable tax revenues and recent court ruling against the state, it is highly unlikely that any surplus will remain in fiscal year 2009-2010. In fact, it is more likely that another year of deficit spending will emerge. As of March 2010, the state faced a developing $20 billion shortfall, most of which is anticipated for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. In response to this gap, lawmakers passed a package to reduce the deficit by an estimated $4 billion, with an additional reduction anticipated if tax revenues are strong through the remainder of the fiscal year. However, even with these changes, the state faces significant hurdles in bridging the remainder of the gap, as cuts to state programs have already been deep. Even in light of the extreme challenges facing the state, we expect fiscal health to return with the recovery of the state economy, following the historical cycle of booms and busts for the state.

Budget Outlook

California has survived many periods of deficit spending and weak tax revenue, signaling that the current situation is part of an ongoing pattern of up and down years for the state. Already, the current fiscal crisis has resulted in three years of deficit General Fund spending between fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2008-2009, totaling nearly $13.9 billion. Nonetheless, the deficit between fiscal years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 totaled $11.1 billion, and the state still emerged from the downturn with a four-year period of surplus. This period of turmoil occurred in synch with the tech bust, reflecting the negative impact of economic downturns on state coffers. Likewise, the state faced a five-year budget crisis beginning in fiscal year 1987-1988 and lasting through fiscal year 1992-1993, mirroring the recession of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and recovered with the improvement of the state’s economy. This period of downturn was

LOGO

followed by seven years of surplus, demonstrating yet again that long periods of distress can be followed by even longer periods of health for the state.

These financial crises followed by surpluses reflect the cyclical nature of the state government in California and the current downturn is reflective of this historical economic pattern. Although the state may appear on the brink of bankruptcy, this is not the likely outcome, though the budget crisis is severe. In fact, the state survived many such periods, illustrating resilience and connection to the movements of the overall economy. As the state-wide economy recovers, we expect tax revenues to stabilize and then increase with the resumed growth of personal incomes and consumer spending, helping to return the state to a period of surplus. Already, tax revenues exceeded estimates beginning in December 2009 through March 2010, signaling that despite ongoing challenges, declines may be tapering off and budget conditions may be stabilizing. In fact, tax revenues exceeded projections by $2.3 billion, or 4.1%, through March 2010 for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Commercial Real Estate Price Weakness

Commercial real estate assets nationwide and in California are facing problems because of job losses and consequently higher vacancy rates. The large number of jobs eliminated has contributed to weaker demand for office space, and with occupancy down, some landlords are having trouble repaying commercial mortgage loans because of reduced rent rolls. Trends in commercial real estate tend to lag overall economic conditions, so further effective rent contractions as well as decreased occupancy levels should mean that the number of distressed assets could increase through the coming year, even as the unemployment rate levels or begins to decrease, providing additional opportunities for investors with the corresponding appetite for risk.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   13


Rise of Distressed Assets

CMBS delinquencies increased to 5.2% of the more than $797 billion outstanding as of December, according to Realpoint Research. This is up from 4.7% delinquent the previous month. The number of delinquencies could rise further in 2010 as hiring will be weak, contributing to both weaker demand and operating income. Fitch Ratings reported a delinquency rate of 6.3% in February in its U.S. CMBS portfolio, representing $28.5 billion in unpaid balances outstanding out of $452.6 billion total outstanding in 2,505 loans.

A sharp rise in bank construction and development loan delinquencies is underway, reflecting below-pro forma results and values. According to the FDIC, the delinquency rate climbed to 15.95% of the $451 billion total outstanding at the end of December from 8.75% a year earlier. The delinquency rate had reached a low of 0.38% at the end of 2005.

LOGO

According to data from Real Capital Analytics, the volume of distressed commercial assets for all property types grew to $181.9 billion at the end of December 2009, from $169.1 billion the previous month. The volume of new distress in December was $15.7 billion. Office properties composed about 15.3% of the total volume of distressed assets in December, or $27.5 billion. This is more than two and a half times the volume of distress in December 2008. Opportunities for liquid investors to take on some of these distressed assets will be numerous in the coming quarters.

Capital Raised

REITs have been raising capital at a swift pace in the public market in an effort to pay down debt. According to data compiled by NAREIT and SNL, REITs raised more than $21.2 billion in capital during 2009, 72.3% more than the $12.3 billion raised in 2008. However, all of the capital raised in 2009 was through common stock offerings, while in years past secondary equity was raised through a combination of

LOGO

preferred and common shares. In 2006 and 2007, REITs raised $4.2 billion in capital in each of those years through the sale of preferred stock, and $1.2 billion in 2008. In addition to equity raising, REITs have also increased debt offerings in the last year. During 2009, REITs raised more than $10.4 billion in unsecured debt, compared with more than $5.1 billion in 2008 and a 10-year high of $26.8 billion in 2006. Additionally, the number of debt offerings more than tripled to 34 during 2009 compared with only 11 in all of 2008.

Though REITs have raised capital, they have yet to start buying properties at a rapid pace. The same can be said for private real estate owners. Having overpaid perhaps in recent years, investors are on hold until some indication that pricing has reached bottom. According to Real Capital Analytics, sales volume overall reached $53.7 billion during 2009, in 3,715 deals. This was down from $144.3 billion in 8,242 deals in 2008, and $502.3 billion in 19,446 deals in 2007. Investment in office properties followed a similar trend, with sales volume totaling more than $15.6 billion in 627 deals during 2009, compared with $53.0 billion in 1,672 deals in 2008 and more than $206.2 billion in 4,543 deals in 2007.

The private market has also amassed a significant war chest, though some of the funds have been withdrawn since initial allocation. While it is difficult to aggregate funding at the property type and geographic levels, total fundraising indicates that interest in real estate remains in spite of weak operating fundamentals. Approximately $8 billion was raised by private equity firms for real estate investment throughout the world in the fourth quarter, according to Preqin. Global real estate fundraising totaled approximately $42 billion in 2009, according to Preqin, compared with $133 billion in 2008. In spite of the difficulties in compiling data on fundraising specifically targeted toward California properties, suffice it to say that a large amount of capital remains on the sidelines awaiting deployment.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   14


Debt Coming Due

A wave of publicly and privately held debt is coming due during the next five years. Approximately $195 billion in commercial mortgage maturities are scheduled for 2010, the majority of which is held by banks. The total amount is expected to increase to $220 billion in 2011, and peak at $225 billion in 2012 and 2013, before slowly declining thereafter. The amount of debt coming due in the next three years is troubling, as some of these debt-holders may be unable to repay the loans because of weak operating performance. Upcoming debt maturities and poor property performance will force undercapitalized owners to sell over-leveraged assets in order to pay down debt and to avoid significant, future property-level capital expenditures. These properties could be viewed as acquisition opportunities for investors with capital and the willingness to take on risk.

LOGO

According to Real Capital Analytics, lenders were only able to recoup roughly 62% of loan balances in 2009, or $4.8 billion of the $7.6 billion liquidated. Office properties fared second- worst among core property types, after apartments, with a 64% recovery rate. The recovery rate was about even between suburban and CBD properties, with suburban office properties recording a recovery rate of 64% on loan balances, and CBD properties recording a recovery rate of 65% on loan balances. When faced with the choice of either extending the payment schedule or reclaiming the asset, some lenders are choosing the former, particularly on performing loans, since many are not interested in playing the role of real estate operator in the current environment. This trend, however, is not sustainable, and we believe that eventually lenders will have to reclaim and sell the properties connected to delinquent loans, likely within the next two years. With approximately $220 billion in debt scheduled to come due in 2011, owners with insufficient operating income may be forced to sell properties in an effort to pay off loans. Although the economy is expected to have recovered by this time, employment trends are often a lagging indicator, and operating incomes, which grow or shrink in relation to tenant demand for space, may not yet be at levels to support the prices paid for some buildings. The growing number of owners who are unable to pay the debt coming due in the next two to three years will likely force lenders to reclaim properties, resulting in a number of foreclosures and therefore acquisition opportunities for investors.

Banks and other loan holders have been actively writing down underwater loans and renegotiating terms when possible. However, it is more difficult to renegotiate terms on loans tied up in securitized CMBS packages. According to Trepp, as of the end of June 2009, 5.38% of CMBS bonds had been transferred to special servicers, reflecting weaker market fundamentals. Underwater mortgages are also contributing to the rise in delinquencies. Some owners bought at the top of the market and, with values currently down, owe more on these loans than the properties are worth.

According to Fitch Ratings, CMBS loans resolved by special servicers increased in 2008 to $2.2 billion in 358 loans, compared with $1.8 billion in 319 loans in 2007. Office properties recorded the second-highest level of severity of loss in 2008, at 67.1%, behind hotel properties. In 2009, the number of CMBS loans going to special servicers consistently increased, and by year-end the amount of loans in special servicing within Fitch’s U.S. CMBS portfolio had increased to 17.5% of the $452.6 billion total. Approximately 52% of the loans within the portfolio in special servicing as of year-end were non-performing loans.

Bank loans make up the largest share of loans coming due in the next few years, peaking at $148 billion in 2012. CMBS loans, however, are expected to surpass bank loans by 2016, and dominate the share of loans coming due through 2017, when CMBS loan maturities are expected to increase to $121 billion. As CMBS loans are more difficult to restructure because of the nature of securitization, the number of commercial real estate foreclosures could increase as owners have difficulty repaying the debt. The number of opportunities for capital-infused investors to take on these distressed assets will increase as CMBS loans come due and possibly fall into default.

As loans mature and rental income deteriorates in the near term, the weak operating fundamentals on over-leveraged assets will result in asset-level operating distress. Accordingly, a growing number of owners who are unable to satisfy their debt service obligations and repay upcoming debt maturities will likely force lenders to foreclose on properties. These distressed assets will be seen as opportunities for those investors with access to capital and the willingness to take on risk. Additionally, investors with solid operating acumen and the capital ability to take on these distressed properties could benefit most from entering the market within the next year as fundamentals reach bottom, and then develop these assets into high-performing properties once economic conditions improve. California is full of such opportunities given the size of its commercial real estate market, the historically robust investor interest in this market, and the potential for appreciation. Entering at the bottom of the market could prove extremely fruitful over the long term.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   15


California Assets

California garnered significant investor interest not only during the recent boom years, but throughout much of the last several decades. The state’s demographics, as noted previously, attract commercial real estate investment and many investors are willing to pay the “California premium”. By 2004, commercial real estate investment in California rebounded from the tech bust and totaled nearly $45.2 billion. From 2005 through 2007, investment activity spiked as a result of the easy credit environment and frenzied pace of real estate acquisitions and valuations. The onset of the recession curtailed activity, with sales volume falling to $25.9 billion in 2008. By year-end 2009, cumulative sales transactions totaled only $11.9 billion. The decrease in sales was a result of the credit markets, recession and general state of the real estate industry as opposed to diminished interest in California as the state’s share of national investment activity rose to 22.2% in 2009 from its five-year average of 20.0% from 2004 through 2008.

Supply constraints exist throughout the state, primarily in the form of a lack of developable land and strict regulatory barriers. A confluence of factors, including land costs, zoning regulations, anti-growth measures and environmental regulations serve to limit new development. Geographically, there is a limited amount of land along the desirable coastal plains and adjacent to most major metropolitan areas. In fact, readily-developable land directly along the coastline is virtually nonexistent. What open space remains is typically subject to land use restrictions or is under government or non-profit control. Furthermore, California’s development-approvals process is one of the most complicated in the nation. In addition to local ordinances that vary greatly by municipality, projects are subject to state mandated environmental review. Citizen-sponsored initiatives also play a significant role, and the California Supreme Court has been extremely accommodating of initiatives that involve local land use controls. The permit approval process helps to deter prospective developers and can prevent significant overbuilding.

LOGO

An influx of distressed properties is coming available for sale in California, providing discounted opportunities for some investors. Many of the buyers in the 2005 through 2007 period utilized high levels of leverage and are having difficulty refinancing with the decline in asset values. Also, many investment funds that were responsible for a disproportionate share of acquisition activity in the 2003 through 2007 period are seeking liquidity as the lives of their investment vehicles expire. Given the low level of active buyers, as well as the challenging leasing environment and investors’ unwillingness to enter the market too early, these properties are generally taking a while to sell and trading at large discounts relative to valuations a few years ago. Competition for real estate acquisitions has also diminished as many prospective buyers exited the market due to capital constraints or a focus on managing legacy assets. With indications of an economic recovery increasing, and acquisition activity still low, many of the distressed properties are creating great opportunities for investors that have access to capital and are willing to undertake continued vacancy risk as well as the possibility of further value depreciation. According to CoStar Group, California had the highest number of distressed properties of any state in the country in September 2009, with 10,239 properties in distress, while Real Capital Analytics reported nearly $19 billion in distressed assets in the state as of December, nearly $4.2 billion of which were office properties. In general, the downturn in commercial real estate lags that of the overall economy, signaling the potential for an onslaught of distressed properties during the coming quarters.

More Defaults on the Horizon

With the number of defaults on the rise, the peak in commercial foreclosures in California still awaits. Currently, many lenders are delaying the foreclosure process by renegotiating terms in an effort to limit balance sheet losses, a process dubbed “amend and pretend.” However, as weak employment conditions drag on through the short term and occupancy levels remain low, lenders will likely be forced to act on delinquent properties, contributing to a rise in distressed assets available on the market. Moreover, given the current lending constraints in conjunction with the high vacancy rate, it is likely that more properties that are not currently distressed will be unable to secure refinancing when loans come due during the next couple of years, resulting in additional foreclosures. Further refinancing obstacles are expected to arise as falling values cause loan-to-value ratios to increase, with some landlords becoming underwater in their loans, contributing to further defaults.

We expect the number of distressed assets available for sale to peak in 2010, with opportunities persisting through the next few years. The short-term volatility in the economy, as well as the limited access to capital and refinancing, will likely contribute to the worst conditions occurring in 2010. Distress levels will remain elevated through the next few years, as the large volume of commercial mortgages set to come due works through the system. Nonetheless, as leasing fundamentals improve with the recovery of the job market and refinancing becomes more easily available, we expect the number of distressed properties to decrease slightly from the peak in 2010, reflecting an increase in options available to troubled property owners.

Part of the reason that so many distressed assets exist in California is because investment interest in the region is so high. The desirability

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   16


of the state as a place to both live and work contributes to interest from investors, as the state will always be a place that people want to be located, helping to fuel employment and corresponding leasing demand for commercial space. During both the boom and bust years of the economy, investment interest in California was high as shown by the cap rate premium investors were willing to pay for California properties, with many investors trading large portfolios of properties in the state. Now that the economy has shifted, many of these same properties are distressed, with weak operating fundamentals and market values far below the last purchase price.

Owners of Distressed Assets in California

Large property holders with distressed assets in California are generally operating companies/developers or REITs. Major operating companies and developers with distressed properties include Hines, Tishman Speyer, and Opus Corporation. Although many REITs are facing challenges, Maguire is one of the few large REITs in the state that is presently unloading distressed properties. Not all REITs are in trouble solely because of weak operating conditions, with some REITs instead struggling in response to stock market volatility, extensive use of leverage and a drop in capital availability. Accordingly, the largest REITs in the state vary in strength, with not all REITs rushing to dispose of troubled assets. In fact, some firms are raising public debt to deploy opportunistically as conditions warrant.

It is also important to note that not all owners of portfolios in California are on the verge of collapse without capital injections or renegotiated financing. In fact, property holders with more conservative strategies during recent years are generally performing better, with far fewer defaults. Likewise, firms holding long-term assets that were priced out of the market at the peak of pricing are not facing the same challenges as those companies that acquired multiple properties and used high levels of leverage during this same period. In general, private companies with deep pockets are surviving the downturn most easily, with far fewer delinquencies than their counterparts. These better-performing portfolios provide a degree of stability to the market.

LOGO

Now that the economy has shifted, many of the troubled portfolios include distressed assets that can no longer be sold at the same value as during the boom years. In early October 2009, for example, Tishman Speyer sold 3 MacArthur Place in Orange County for $31 million, reflecting a 62.7% discount from the purchase price of $83 million in 2007. Similar stories exist throughout the state, illustrating the challenges facing property owners that bought during the boom years and now need to sell. In light of the serious capital constraints facing the market, owners forced to sell properties are facing little demand and, in many cases, huge losses from their purchase prices.

Regional Variations Reflective of Overall State

Although conditions vary in severity from region to region, one theme holds constant: distressed assets exist in every major market. In April 2010, according to the most recent available data from Real Capital Analytics, distressed office assets totaled $1.4 billion in Los Angeles, $386 million in San Francisco, and $368 million in the East Bay. With many additional distressed assets located throughout other areas of the state as well, investors have their pick of opportunities. In general, areas hit hardest by the housing downturn and the mortgage meltdown have the highest concentration of distressed assets, although even regions that have been less affected still have rising levels of commercial foreclosures as well.

Among the California markets, Los Angeles had the highest dollar volume of distressed office properties as of April, ranking first in the state and fifth in the country. The high dollar volume of distress in the Los Angeles market is reflective of the sharp downturn in employment resulting in occupancy losses as well as the massive inventory of office space in the region. The downturn in the housing market took its toll on office occupancy, with major mortgage companies returning large blocks of space in the region, reflecting a pattern common in areas hit hard by the housing downturn throughout the state. Large real estate portfolios with distressed assets in Los Angeles include Maguire Partners and Tishman Speyer. In August, Maguire Partners, one of the largest commercial property owners in the state, defaulted on seven properties in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions. These defaults were in part connected with the REIT’s decision to purchase properties at the peak of the market from Blackstone utilizing high levels of leverage. The large dollar volume of defaults in Los Angeles is reflective of trends throughout the state, just amplified by the sheer size of the market. Many companies that bought properties at inflated prices throughout the state during the last couple of years are now upside down in their mortgages as a result of declining property values and high initial loan-to-value ratios.

Even in markets less affected by the housing downturn, defaults are on the rise. For example, San Francisco’s economy was among the last in the state to enter the recession, with less of a connection to the meltdown in the mortgage market, as well as a less severe

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   17


housing downturn than in many other parts of the state. Nonetheless, the number of distressed properties is still rising with the drop in employment and lack of active investors. In April, 19 office properties were classified as distressed, totaling $386 million in assets. Many of these properties are located in the financial district and were last traded in the past few years for high purchase prices relative to the current demand in the market. These distressed properties illustrate that while market conditions may be worse in areas of the state hit hardest by the housing downturn, other parts of the state have not escaped unscathed.

Outlook for Opportunities and Distressed Properties in California

Even though the rise in commercial delinquencies in California is reflective of short-term weakness in the economy, it is also creating major opportunities for investors with access to capital and appetite for risk. The large discount on property values compared with recent years could potentially result in significant gains as the economy recovers and fewer distressed assets are available for sale. Already, investors throughout the world are working to pool funds to cash in on the rise in defaults on commercial properties. With much of this capital currently on the sidelines, the effect of these efforts will depend on how much money is actually deployed into the system. If enough funds are raised to purchase a large volume of these distressed properties, some further defaults could be prevented by boosting property valuations and increasing the ability of some firms to recapitalize. Additionally, with the development pipeline closed and California’s stringent regulatory environment, the risk of new construction competing with these distressed assets for either tenants or investors is minimal.

We expect the number of distressed properties in California to peak in the next year, as more lenders are forced to take action on delinquent properties, ongoing vacancies push additional property owners to default on their loans, and limited access to refinancing forces more properties into foreclosure. Although delinquencies will likely persist beyond 2010 as additional commercial loans come due, the number of distressed properties is expected to decline in line with the recovery of the overall economy, particularly as leasing fundamentals and access to capital improve. For well-positioned investors, these defaults will create excellent opportunities to buy properties at much lower prices than during recent years. Elevated foreclosure levels will persist through the next 12 to 18 months, depending on how much capital is available from the sidelines, and will provide investors with a wide array of opportunities.

Prospective Health of State

The outlook for California is bright, particularly given the state’s diverse and adaptive economy, creative and resilient population, and dynamic clusters of existing businesses in the knowledge industries. Although challenges will persist through the short term, conditions are expected to improve during the next couple of years, with hiring regaining traction by 2011. Even with its mature and large economy, California follows a boom and bust cycle, typically recovering from major downturns with periods of prosperity.

Looking forward, we expect that the innovative nature of many of the state’s main industries will spark a strong recovery, with firms in the clean tech, biotech, and health care clusters leading the way in job expansion. Tech growth will likely be the biggest key to the state’s recovery, with firms in the state’s existing clusters developing new technologies that reinvigorate the industry, as well as the overall economy. Although the current recession is unlike any in the history of the state, we expect this pattern of innovation and adaptation to hold true in the years to come.

A Place People Want to Live and Work

In spite of the higher-than-average cost of living in California, the state is consistently a destination where people want to live and work, and in turn a place that businesses want to locate. Even as some people leave the state, more are entering. California is a major recipient of in-migrants from throughout the country, as well as immigrants from all over the world. Many of these immigrants enter the United States via the H-1B visa program and are highly educated, reflecting both the desirability of the state to potential residents and the strong pool of educated workers available to employers.

For immigrants, the state is one of the main gateways into the country, resulting in a large population of foreign-born residents. These residents help provide diversity to the state, while also increasing demand for services and supporting employment. Likewise, they contribute to the huge buying power of minorities in the state. According to a report published by the state’s California Business Investment Services agency in June of 2009, the Hispanic population represents more than $228 billion in buying power, followed by the Asian population with $150 billion. The strong presence of immigrants attracts foreign investment, which contributes to the health of the economy. In 2007, California ranked first in the nation for direct foreign investment received by a state. This trend is expected to extend through the years to come as well.

California’s desirability as a place to live is tied to the state’s rich geography, temperate climate, diverse job centers, and top-ranked universities. The California lifestyle is unmatched by most other parts of the country, offering residents easy access to a wide variety of recreational opportunities, as well as to world-class cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. This allure is strong enough to ensure that there will always be people who want to live in California, in turn helping to ensure the survival of the state’s economy, as well as retain businesses in the area.

Although the downturn has hit California hard, it has increased housing affordability levels, which will attract residents in the years to come. For residents that purchased homes during the boom years and can still afford their mortgages, the drop in home prices is also

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   18


making relocation to other states less attractive, as there is little incentive to sell at a loss when avoidable. The nation as a whole has been hit by this recession, making California no less attractive than its peers to people seeking to relocate. In fact, the aforementioned long-term draws of the state make it potentially more attractive to residents than many other parts of the country. As job opportunities improve during the next few years, we expect migration to California to accelerate, in turn driving the need for additional jobs to service the growing population.

Businesses are attracted to California for a variety of reasons, including the highly educated and creative workforce. California outpaces the nation in educational attainment with 29.6% of the population aged 25 years-old or older possessing a bachelor’s degree, compared with 27.7% nationally. The strong presence of major research universities will undoubtedly help in attracting additional research jobs and venture capital to the state once the economy begins to recover, as well as provide the talent for start-ups and spin-offs. In 2009, California received approximately 50.1% of the venture capital invested throughout the country, reflecting the strong draw of the tech industry and major educational institutions in the state.

Innovative Industries

The vast pool of skilled and educated residents in the technological fields will help to lead the recovery, particularly given the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of many of the state’s workers. In fact, recessionary periods typically lead to increased entrepreneurial activity, as unemployed workers have more time and impetus to develop ideas. This is most commonly reflected in the increase in the number of patents issued, as beleaguered workers return to the drawing board and put their concepts into action. Given the highly desirable lifestyle offered by California, workers are committed to finding ways to stay in the state, even if it means branching off and starting new small businesses, which in turn benefits the local economy. In the past, this increased activity has fueled growth in the technology industry, which bounced back from a major downturn earlier in the decade. We expect the current recession to have a similar effect on innovation, with the development of new ideas helping to spur the recovery of the state’s economy.

California is a worldwide leader in tech employment. With more than one million high-tech workers, the state accounts for nearly one-sixth of all tech employment in the United States. Nonetheless, it is not just the workers that make the state such a key player in the tech industry. Major firms located throughout the state play a pivotal role in attracting new firms and residents to the region. Tech firms are attracted to California in spite of the relatively high cost to do business, largely because of the existing talent pool of well-educated workers and existing clusters of well-established firms. Because the technology industry is a major driver of the economy, the cyclical nature of tech employment has contributed to large job gains and losses for the state. In the case of the current downturn, we expect tech employment to help fuel the recovery, with the biotech and clean tech clusters driving the first wave of job gains.

Healthcare and clean energy-related tech firms will likely be among the first to expand, helped by government incentives, as well as an explosion of new innovation. Clean energy technology is in growing demand globally and an expanding hub of related employment already exists within the state. Government incentives on both the state and federal levels have been passed during recent months that will likely help to reignite growth in this emerging industry. For firms specializing in healthcare technology, the transition of the large baby-boomer population into older adulthood will likely help to increase demand for these innovations as the need for medical services grows, in turn driving the expansion of related employment.

Already, the large population of aging adults is fueling job gains in the educational and health services sector with the growth of health care practices throughout the state. In many regions, the educational and health services sector has been one of the only sources of employment growth through the downturn. Given the growing population of retirees in need of medical services, we expect the sector to help drive the economy in the years to come, expanding at an even faster pace as conditions stabilize. In addition, the large echo-boomer population transitioning into adulthood will keep hiring at private educational institutions strong throughout the coming years, further bolstering the educational and health services sector.

In addition to the healthcare and technology industries in California, the state is the worldwide center for entertainment employment. Motion picture and television production provided approximately $16.3 billion in direct wages in 2007, more than double the wages in any other state. Even though competition from other locales is luring some productions away from the state, the industry is anchored in California by the numerous existing production studios and talented workforce concentrated within the Los Angeles region. Additionally, the innovative workforce has applied many advances in digital technology and other tech-related products to produce significant advancements in areas such as computer animation and bridged the gap between gaming and traditional entertainment such as movies. California should remain the hub of new media as the state has the creative talent necessary to captivate audiences via content while utilizing and innovating new technologies for content delivery. Accordingly, we expect the entertainment industry to continue to flourish in California in the years to come, further contributing to the resumed health of the state.

Recovering State Government

Given the massive size of the economy in California, it is little wonder that the government plays such a large role in providing both employment and stability through social services. Although the financial crisis plaguing the state is contributing to the current weakness in the economy, conditions are expected to improve as hiring returns

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   19


to the private sector and tax revenues increase. Growth in the tech industry is expected to lead the recovery in the economy, and in turn the recovery for the state government. Given the growing demand for clean technology and healthcare services, it is likely that the clean tech and biotech clusters will be the next major sources of economic growth nation-wide, with California benefiting from the strong existing roots that these industries already have in the state. As these industries flourish, so will the state economy, stabilizing tax revenues and helping to overcome emerging shortfalls.

Already the state has demonstrated its flexibility by reaching a budget deal in July 2009 that tackled the $60 billion deficit, which was no small feat. The ability of the state to handle such an immense shortfall illustrates the long-term viability of the government in California. Although an additional deficit looms, increasing tax revenues and the stabilizing economy bode well for a solution to be met. Even more promising, efforts are under way to reform the system, providing the possibility for more rapid responses to future budget hurdles or the potential for preventing similar budget crises in the future. Regardless of the outcome of these policy-change efforts, we anticipate restored health to the state government during the years to come, which in turn will help contribute to the stability of the overall economy.

Positive Outlook for California

While California is currently experiencing weak economic conditions, we believe it is well positioned for a recovery over the long term to outpace the national economy, especially given the strong mix of innovative industries already present in the state and strong demographics. The state is a significant player in each of the industries that are likely to achieve accelerated growth in the coming years and shape the way we live in the future. Even in spite of the recession, clean tech is gaining traction, with solar panel manufacturing and sales on the rise, as well as growing efforts to develop and produce LED lighting, green materials, biofuels, electric vehicles, and smart grids for utility systems. Traditionally, California has been on the cutting edge in adopting and developing new technologies, and the recent shift toward higher levels of sustainability is no exception. In fact, this shift will likely be the foundation of the recovery for the state, fueling job growth in the years to come. Already, California residents use more than 50% less energy per capita than the national average, reflecting the early embrace of clean tech in the state. By 2010, utility companies in California will be required to provide one-fifth of the power in the state from renewable sources, climbing to one-third by 2020. Consequently, demand for clean tech options is growing in the state, signaling the potential for strong economic expansion in the years to come.

In addition to growth in the clean tech industry, health care is likely to be a major driver of the recovery in California. Demand for healthcare services is on the rise both nationally and in the state in response to the large population of aging baby boomers in growing need of medical care. Hiring at local hospitals and practices is expected to accelerate during the coming years, as well as at biotech companies developing treatments for the aging population nationally. As with clean tech and other segments of the tech industry, biotech employment is concentrated in the state, with firms on the cutting edge of medical breakthroughs likely to contribute to payroll expansion during the years to come, helping the state to emerge from the current recession.

California Employment Trends

 

Statistic

  Units     2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Total Employment

  (000   14,700.3      14,443.6      14,449.1      14,386.0      14,627.8      14,953.9      15,117.7      15,180.8      14,645.7      13,809.6      13,838.6      13,947.9      14,136.2      14,286.1      14,520.4   

% change

    3.4   -1.7   0.0   -0.4   1.7   2.2   1.1   0.4   -3.5   -5.7   0.2   0.8   1.4   1.1   1.6

Natural Resources & Mining

  (000   26.9      24.3      22.7      22.7      22.9      24.3      25.2      27.5      28.6      24.1      24.4      24.7      25.0      25.1      25.3   

% change

    2.7   -9.7   -6.6   0.0   0.9   6.1   3.7   9.1   4.0   -15.7   1.3   1.3   1.0   0.5   0.9

Construction

  (000   765.5      772.6      781.3      818.1      870.1      939.5      912.8      854.7      727.3      568.5      569.2      574.5      584.0      591.2      603.3   

% change

    7.6   0.9   1.1   4.7   6.4   8.0   -2.8   -6.4   -14.9   -21.8   0.1   0.9   1.7   1.2   2.1

Manufacturing

  (000   1,876.3      1,685.8      1,592.0      1,525.2      1,510.5      1,499.4      1,478.4      1,449.8      1,377.3      1,231.2      1,214.1      1,202.3      1,202.5      1,199.3      1,202.1   

% change

    2.2   -10.2   -5.6   -4.2   -1.0   -0.7   -1.4   -1.9   -5.0   -10.6   -1.4   -1.0   0.0   -0.3   0.2

Trade, Transportation & Utilities

  (000   2,761.8      2,704.8      2,723.8      2,716.3      2,773.4      2,852.4      2,894.1      2,917.7      2,744.0      2,573.5      2,577.6      2,595.6      2,625.4      2,651.4      2,689.9   

% change

    2.9   -2.1   0.7   -0.3   2.1   2.8   1.5   0.8   -6.0   -6.2   0.2   0.7   1.1   1.0   1.4

Information

  (000   601.0      522.8      479.4      477.8      484.3      477.9      463.4      477.9      471.5      449.5      449.1      450.4      453.8      456.2      461.1   

% change

    11.2   -13.0   -8.3   -0.3   1.4   -1.3   -3.0   3.1   -1.3   -4.7   -0.1   0.3   0.7   0.5   1.1

Financial Activities

  (000   815.4      846.7      870.1      891.5      911.5      941.6      924.9      879.1      827.2      782.5      783.9      789.1      798.2      805.2      815.3   

% change

    1.0   3.8   2.8   2.5   2.2   3.3   -1.8   -5.0   -5.9   -5.4   0.2   0.7   1.2   0.9   1.3

Professional & Business Services

  (000   2,267.1      2,121.6      2,108.4      2,068.7      2,123.3      2,187.2      2,265.3      2,271.1      2,166.8      2,018.8      2,029.0      2,050.2      2,082.3      2,105.2      2,143.9   

% change

    5.4   -6.4   -0.6   -1.9   2.6   3.0   3.6   0.3   -4.6   -8.2   0.5   1.0   1.6   1.1   1.8

Educational & Health Services

  (000   1,402.1      1,478.8      1,517.9      1,549.2      1,571.4      1,599.4      1,630.0      1,698.5      1,743.9      1,747.2      1,782.6      1,824.8      1,873.6      1,917.1      1,976.5   

% change

    1.2   5.5   2.6   2.1   1.4   1.8   1.9   4.2   2.7   0.2   2.0   2.4   2.7   2.3   3.1

Leisure & Hospitality

  (000   1,353.1      1,364.1      1,391.5      1,416.8      1,454.8      1,496.4      1,539.0      1,574.5      1,546.6      1,476.2      1,483.6      1,497.8      1,521.0      1,537.2      1,563.7   

% change

    2.5   0.8   2.0   1.8   2.7   2.9   2.8   2.3   -1.8   -8.2   0.5   1.0   1.6   1.1   1.7

Other Services

  (000   493.1      502.0      507.1      502.8      504.4      504.4      510.3      517.0      500.1      467.3      469.0      473.6      479.3      483.6      491.3   

% change

    2.2   1.8   1.0   -0.8   0.3   0.0   1.2   1.3   -3.3   -6.6   0.4   1.0   1.2   0.9   1.6

Government

  (000   2,338.0      2,420.1      2,454.9      2,396.9      2,401.2      2,431.4      2,474.3      2,513.0      2,512.4      2,470.8      2,456.3      2,465.2      2,491.9      2,516.0      2,549.3   

% change

    2.8   3.5   1.4   -2.4   0.2   1.3   1.8   1.6   0.0   -8.2   -0.6   0.4   1.1   1.0   1.3
                                                                                               

Gross State Product Growth

    7.6   -0.4   1.3   3.0   5.2   4.3   3.1   1.8   0.4   -3.2   0.8   1.5   3.1   2.2   2.5
                                                                                               

Sources: BLS, California Employment Development Department, RCG

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   20


LOGO

Through the short-term, economic instability will likely persist as the recession lingers in many consumer-led segments of the economy. However, employment will likely begin to stabilize in 2010, as firms stop cutting payrolls and initial hiring resumes. In 2010, we expect employment to be virtually flat, with payrolls growing 0.2%, reflecting the addition of 29,000 jobs. GSP will also likely stop declining in 2010, stabilizing with 0.2% growth year-over-year. Initially, clean tech and health-care related employment will likely be the main sources of hiring as other segments of the economy stabilize and stop shedding jobs. However, in 2011, we expect hiring to begin to pick up across other sectors, with payrolls increasing 0.8% year-over-year with the addition of nearly 109,300 jobs.

As the recovery spreads throughout the economy, overall job growth will likely accelerate. We expect payrolls to increase 1.4% in 2012, expanding by roughly 188,300 positions. Moreover, in 2013, we anticipate employment growth to climb to 1.1%, reflecting the addition of approximately 149,100 jobs, followed by 1.6% growth in 2014 creating 234,400 jobs. In total, we expect 710,800 jobs to be created between 2010 and 2014, helping to offset the losses of recent years and position the economy for robust growth as conditions stabilize and new innovations take hold. In addition to strength in cutting edge industries, population growth will likely help to fuel the economic recovery, as new residents add to demand for goods and services, while also contributing to tax revenues. Between 2010 and 2014, the population in California is expected to grow by a total of 1.9 million residents, expanding the sales tax, income tax and property tax bases.

Looking at individual sectors, educational and health services will likely be among the first to help drive the recovery, with payrolls expanding 2.0% in 2010, followed by accelerated hiring later in the forecast period. We expect the educational and health services sector to expand an average of 2.6% annually between 2011 and 2014, sparked in large part by the increased need for medical services among the aging baby boomer population. In total, the sector is expected to add roughly 229,300 jobs between year-end 2009 and 2013. In contrast to nearly every other sector in the state, educational and health services has not shed jobs through the recession, reflecting the ability of the industry to perform well in spite of difficulties in other segments of the economy.

While it will take many of the sectors time to rebuild employment to the same highs of recent boom years, the government sector is expected to surpass the 2008 peak in employment by 2013. Strength in federal employment will likely help to fuel government hiring in the years to come offsetting local budget shortfalls and hiring freezes, with state hiring also recovering later in the forecast period. The growing population in the state fuels revenue growth and keeps the need for government services on the rise, in turn fueling job gains. We expect the government sector to add 78,500 jobs between year-end 2009 and 2014, with annual increases averaging 0.6% between 2010 and 2014.

Biotech and clean tech innovation will contribute to resumed strength in the professional and business services and information services sectors during the years to come, while also helping to stabilize the manufacturing sector as well. Between 2011 and 2014, growth in the professional and business services sector is expected to average 1.4% annually, with the addition of nearly 115,000 jobs from year-end 2010 to 2014. Growth in the information services sector will likely be slightly slower, averaging 0.7% annually between 2011 and 2014, with the addition of 12,100 jobs during the three-year period. Overall, all sectors of the economy in California are expected to resume growth by 2012, ushering the state into a new era of prosperity.

As hiring accelerates and the demand for goods and services increases, GSP growth is expected to pick up as well, climbing from 1.5% in 2011 to 2.5% in 2014. Although GSP growth will lag the national expansion of GDP through the short term, it is expected to outperform GDP growth later in the forecast period. Whereas we expect GDP growth to average 2.6% annually between 2012 and 2014, we expect GSP growth to average 2.2%. California is set for a strong recovery later in the forecast period because of its cutting edge technology and healthcare industries, as well as its dynamic population of highly-adaptive workers.

Summary

The current challenges facing the State of California are part of a cyclical pattern that will segue way into a new era of innovation and entrepreneurialism. California is among the most sought-after places in the country to live and work, helping to attract and retain a highly talented, creative and entrepreneurial workforce. Moreover, the state is already home to numerous well-established businesses

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   21


that are pillars of the economy and will help lead the recovery, as well as attract additional start-ups in the years to come. Innovation is a key component of the work culture in the state, historically giving way to new products, industries and sources of employment.

We expect the economy to follow this long-term pattern of adaptation during the years to come, emerging from the recession with resumed job growth and transforming cutting-edge industries. In particular, we expect the biotech, clean energy, and health care fields to be the main sources of growth, propelling expansion in other sectors as well. The economic recovery will help to stabilize the state government, as tax revenues improve with resumed consumer spending and personal income growth. The strengthening economy will in turn positively impact the demand for office space, real estate market fundamentals and, ultimately, real estate valuations. Improved real estate market conditions will also be supported by a limited supply of new commercial real estate, which is constrained in California due to limited availability of land, restrictive local entitlement processes and high building costs. California has historically experienced strong rebounds in its real estate market after prior recessions as demand for commercial real estate in the state is driven by the dynamic, innovative and diversified economy that will continue to grow and create demand for office space over the long term. Given the strong draw of the state for residents and businesses alike, we expect California to bounce back from the recession with strength and renewed health.

Southern California

Los Angeles

Economy

Overview

The Los Angeles metropolitan area is entirely composed of Los Angeles County, and is bounded by Ventura County and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Kern County to the north, San Bernardino County to the east, and Orange County to the south. Covering nearly 4,084 square miles, Los Angeles is home to an estimated 10.2 million people and is one of the world’s largest and most influential economies, able to rely on a variety of industries for employment growth. Los Angeles is a highly educated metropolitan area, as 28.1% of the population had a bachelor’s degree or higher as of 2008.

Los Angeles payrolls totaled almost 3.9 million as of December 2009. Major economic drivers include trade, media-related industries, professional and business services, educational and health services, and tourism. According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the county’s gross domestic product in nominal dollars was more than $513.6 billion in 2008, ranking it among the top 20 economies worldwide. Several specific industries are clustered in Los Angeles, and are vital to the regional economy including trade, media and entertainment, and tourism.

We do not believe the current recession will exhibit the same level of decline seen during the early 1990s recession, with only 264,300 job losses expected between year-end 2007 and 2010 based on our forecast, compared with 387,000 jobs lost between year-end 1990 and year-end 1993. The housing market boom during the earlier half of the decade drove growth in real estate-related sectors, including construction, professional and business services, and financial activities. After the housing market began to correct in 2007, those sectors shed jobs accordingly. Between year-end 2006 and 2008, the

LOGO

three sectors combined lost roughly 78,000 jobs, and we believe an additional 45,000 jobs will be lost in those sectors between year-end 2008 and year-end 2010.

Los Angeles has a large informal economy, which includes self-employed workers such as real estate agents, entertainment industry contractors, day laborers and various service employees that are not included in payroll employment statistics. Therefore, the unemployment rate, which is derived from a survey of households, is a better indication of labor market conditions. The unemployment rate has reached 12.5% in December, one of the highest rates on record, and some estimate that as many as 20% of residents are unemployed or underemployed. We expect the unemployment rate will exceed 10% through at least 2012, as job market conditions remain weak.

Looking forward, we expect job declines to decelerate but continue through 2010, with the economy losing an additional 9,000 positions from year-end 2009 through year-end 2010. We believe that most employment sectors will lose jobs during that period, with the educational and health services sector adding jobs at the healthiest pace because of continued strong demand for medical services and growth in the private education subsector. Total employment growth should resume in 2011, accelerating from 0.8% to 1.6% by 2014, with all sectors except manufacturing adding jobs by the end of the forecast period.

Growth Industry Clusters

Trade

The trade sector, which includes wholesale and retail trade, is a major driver of the local economy, accounting for more than 15.5% of all jobs. Wholesale trade employed roughly 200,000 people as of December, and activity in this subsector is driven by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the world’s fifth-largest port complex, and the largest in the United States. Together the two ports support roughly 496,000 jobs throughout the Southern California region. In addition to the ports, the Los Angeles International Airport handles a

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   22


large amount of cargo, and the value of imports and exports totaled more than $78.7 billion in 2008. Imports are largely from Asian countries, and imports that move through the Los Angeles area are transshipped via rail and truck to nearly every major destination in the United States.

Cargo volume, as measured by twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), began to decline at the Port of Los Angeles in 2007, by 1.4%, followed by a decline of 6.0% in 2008 and a 14.0% decline in 2009. The Port of Long Beach followed a similar trend, with cargo volume declining by 11.3% in 2008 and by 21.9% in 2009. Nonetheless, in total the port complex handled the most cargo of any other domestic port, with 11.8 million TEUs passing through in 2009.

In addition to the contraction in wholesale trade, retail trade employment is shedding jobs because of weak sales and store closings. The retail trade subsector employed roughly 396,000 people as of December, making it almost 2.0 times larger than the wholesale trade subsector. Between December 2007 and December 2009, the subsector shed 58,000 jobs, although this figure is not seasonally adjusted, and includes holiday season hires, skewing the net loss slightly more negative. Retail trade employment growth has been highly correlated with total employment growth since 1990. During the housing boom, between year-end 2004 and through December 2006, year-over-year employment growth in the retail trade subsector outpaced total employment growth by an average of 100 basis points on a monthly basis. However, once homeowners were unable to use the equity in their homes to pad discretionary income, retail spending and consequently employment in the subsector began to decline, helping to lead Los Angeles into recession. However, Los Angeles is a popular shopping destination, which should continue to draw affluent shoppers from around the world. In addition, the region’s population continues to grow, which will ultimately fuel demand for goods in all categories and bolster retail trade employment.

Overall trade employment is expected to slowly rebound in 2012, adding 1,500 jobs that year. By 2014, the trade sector is expected to add an additional 3,000 jobs. The sector is an important driver of Los Angeles’s overall economy, supporting jobs in a number of related industries. Because Los Angeles is an important gateway to Asia, trade volume will increase again as the global economy picks up speed in the coming years. Recent indications of improvement in many Asian economies bode well for demand for exports from the United States in the near term. Although overall trade activity is lower due to the global recession, we expect that regional cargo activity will return to a growth trend and fuel job creation.

Media and Entertainment

The entertainment industry is one of Los Angeles’s core economic strengths and one of the region’s most high-profile sectors. Although feature films increasingly are shot in other states or abroad, television production, spurred by higher demand for programming from cable networks, is making up much of the difference. The information services sector is largely driven by media-related industries, including publishing and broadcasting, but the sector also includes telecommunications activities. The sector is 2.4 times more concentrated in Los Angeles than it is nationally, reflecting the large cluster of media and entertainment firms in the area.

Employment in the information services sector declined dramatically during the recession in the early 2000s, shedding 51,300 jobs in 2001 and 2002, but this was largely a reflection of the build-up of the tech industry prior to 2000, when 18,800 jobs were added in 1998 and 1999. Since 2002, however, evolving consumer preferences for various forms of media have created a shift in the industry, particularly with the increasing popularity of the Internet and the methods by which media can be obtained. Print media, in particular, has experienced a decline as consumers increasingly turn to the Internet or television instead. Nonetheless, Los Angeles’s media and entertainment industry is still an important economic driver, largely supported by the film, television, and broadcast industries that are so popular, and highly visible, around the world.

The media and entertainment industry employed more than 161,000 people as of 2008 in the motion picture and sound industries, broadcasting, and as independent artists, writers and performers. Professionals in the motion picture and sound industries earned an average of $87,620 annually during 2008, exceeding the state average by 6.5%. Those in broadcasting earned $104,832 on average during 2008, exceeding the state average by 31.3%. Independent artists, performers and contractors earned the highest wages in the industry, averaging $320,060 annually in 2008, exceeding the state average by 45.5%. The number of employees in the industry may be much higher than reported, as many within the industry are independent contractors and not included on regular payrolls. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that at least 1 out of 12 workers in Los Angeles County are tied to the entertainment industry.

In addition, the video game and digital media development industries are in growing demand as more film studios utilize digital effects and computer-generated graphics to complete their films. Advancements in technology and a growing supply of skilled labor in this field have also helped the industry expand. Several major video game production companies have a presence in Los Angeles, including Electronic Arts, Activision, and Disney Interactive Studios. Video game development will likely be a source for growth in the local economy as consumer spending improves nationally. Likewise, digital media is forging a new path for the entertainment industry, with growth in alternative types of production fueling job gains in the region. In fact, digital media is expected to be a driver of the economic recovery during the coming years, with consumer demand for digital content on the rise even in spite of the current recession. Given the financial pressure created by the weak economy, many advertisers and producers are turning to digital content as a means to save money while also appealing to increased consumer demand for more control over content. Pricewaterhouse Coopers expects

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   23


spending on digital entertainment in the United States to rise to 25% of entertainment expenditures by 2013, compared with 15% in 2008. Consequently, creators of digital content will likely fuel increased demand for production space in Los Angeles during the years to come.

Even as alternative media takes off, traditional production still dominates economic activity in Los Angeles. According to Film L.A., Inc., nearly 37,976 on-location production days, which includes feature films, commercials, and television programs, took place year-to-date in Los Angeles County during 2009. However, this number does not include productions that took place at studio locations, so the actual number of production days is much higher. In addition to feature films and television programs already in production, pilot production is also an important driver of the entertainment industry. During the 2009-2010 cycle, 76 pilots were produced in the Los Angeles area. This was a 28.8% increase from the previous year when 59 pilots were produced and spending on the productions exceeded $200 million. The rebounding economic conditions should support further increases in production activity, including commercials which already increased 61% during the first quarter of 2010 following three years of annual declines. We believe that Los Angeles will continue to be the premier location for production activities, attracting and retaining some of the most creative talent in the world.

Despite a positive longer-term outlook for the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, the current recession is creating obstacles for related employment, particularly given the drop in ad revenue for many traditional media outlets. According to FilmL.A., Inc, in the year through December 2009, on-location production days across all categories of filming in the region dropped 19.4% year-over-year to 37,976. For feature films, the number of on-location days increased 13.6% year-over-year during the fourth quarter, but was still down 29.9% year-to-date through December. For television production, the number of days decreased 16.6% during 2009. Nonetheless, commercial production is beginning to show signs of stabilization, with production days increasing 20.5% year-over-year during the fourth quarter, which is good news for the overall entertainment industry in Los Angeles.

Although production on location occurs throughout the Los Angeles County area, film and television studios are typically located west and north of Downtown within the West Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities submarkets, where Burbank and Universal City are located. Many of the major studios offer backstage tours, generating an additional economic impact by way of tourism. Top studios in these areas include Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Studios and Columbia Pictures. These well-known studios typically own their properties, but several studios within the county are independently owned and operated, and are available for use by independent production companies.

As the industry has grown to include more independent film studios, the media cluster in Los Angeles has expanded geographically to include areas south of Downtown Los Angeles, including Long Beach and Manhattan Beach. Raleigh Studios is the largest independent film studio in the world, with a studio and a prop storage facility in Manhattan Beach that the company uses as an extension of their Hollywood studio. A similar trend is occurring in Long Beach, where outdated warehouse facilities and airplane hangars are being converted into studio space. However, some independent studios are located north of Downtown near the prominent studios, and are the original studios where widely known films were shot during the “golden age” of Hollywood. The original Columbia Pictures studio located in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard has been rebranded as Sunset Gower Studios, and currently films the popular television series Heroes, as well as several other popular television series and feature films. Similarly, the original Warner Bros. studio is located on Sunset Boulevard, where The Jazz Singer and Gone with the Wind were filmed, and is now Sunset Bronson Studios, home to several popular television productions as well as KTLA, Los Angeles’s CW Network affiliate. Many of the smaller independent studios today include state-of-the-art facilities that compete with the larger film studios, and are generally considered valuable real estate assets.

Los Angeles’s media and entertainment industry attracts its fair share of venture capital funding, a testament to financiers’ confidence in the creative talent emerging in the industry. Venture capital investment in 2009 totaled more than $49 million, down by 53.3% compared with 2008. There were 19 deals completed, compared with 31 in 2008, and the average deal amount in 2009 was 23.9% lower compared with 2008. Historically, venture capital investment averaged $71 million on a quarterly basis since the first quarter of 1995, but this average is skewed higher by the number of deals made leading up to the Internet bubble bursting in 2001. From the second quarter of 1999 through year-end 2000, there were 24 deals made on average each quarter compared with 7 deals each quarter on average since the first quarter of 1995 through the fourth quarter of 2009. Excluding the aforementioned high activity period, venture capital investment averaged $41 million quarterly. Fewer deals at present are reflective of capital market conditions rather than a disinterest in Los Angeles’s media and entertainment industry.

The entertainment industry is also a major driver of the leisure and hospitality sector. Many entertainment-related sites within Los Angeles attract tourists, including the major film studios, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, several historic theater venues attract visitors from around the world. Tourism activity declined since the start of the recession causing the leisure and hospitality sector to shed 12,900 jobs in 2008, and an additional 7,100 jobs between year-end 2008 and year-end 2009. As of 2008, visitor-related spending totaled more than $13.8 billion, and although the figure may have come down some in 2009 because of the recession, tourism still has a strong economic impact in Los Angeles. As the economic recovery gets underway, we expect tourist traffic and spending from both domestic and international visitors to increase.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   24


Office Market

Overview

The Los Angeles office market totals more than 181 million square feet of space. Because of the economic diversity and sheer size of the region, each submarket is distinct. For example, entertainment and media firms are typically located in the Tri-Cities submarket, which includes Burbank and Universal City, while professional services and financial firms and government agencies drive demand for space in the CBD.

During the recession of the early 1990s, the market was hit especially hard, a result of the permanent restructuring of Los Angeles’s prominent aerospace industry. Although the defense-heavy South Bay submarket experienced the worst of it, all submarkets posted vacancy rates of more than 20% for at least two years. The downturn in the real estate markets resulted in significant losses in construction employment, but also quelled demand for services performed by firms supporting the real estate industry, including those in the financial activities sector, which declined by more than one-sixth between 1990 and 1997. As a result, the office market remained weak until the second half of the decade.

With its large, well-educated and creative workforce, the Los Angeles region was well positioned to benefit from the Internet boom of the late 1990s. As venture capital investment soared, office market conditions tightened considerably, particularly in the West Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities submarkets, where media firms historically have had a significant presence. As suitable blocks of space became scarce, firms were forced to turn to the nearby South Bay submarket. As a result of this spillover demand, the South Bay vacancy rate was cut in half in just four years, falling to 10% in 2000.

Although Los Angeles is characterized by sprawl, developable land is relatively limited and virtually nonexistent near the coastline. Also, environmental regulations such as CEQA and California Coastal Act can prohibit many types of development. The voracious demand for office space during the late 1990s pushed down the overall office vacancy rate to 12.7% in 2000, compared with 17.0% only two years prior. Developers were able to find suitable sites despite the complicated zoning and environmental regulations; however, it is likely that new product would be delivered quicker and with larger

LOGO

footprints if not for the regulatory environment. As a result, the construction pipeline filled rapidly, as developers sought to profit from tight market conditions. Between 1999 and 2003, new construction totaled approximately 12 million square feet, nearly half of which was in the San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities submarket. Approximately 3.7 million square feet of space came online in West Los Angeles, and nearly 2.1 million square feet were added to the South Bay market. As the economy slowed, the Los Angeles office market once again softened as space that was already in the pipeline was delivered to the market. Landlords of existing buildings were forced to compete with developers of the new buildings for an ever-shrinking pool of prospective tenants. Consequently, the overall vacancy rate peaked at 18.8% in 2002, but conditions were not as dire as in the early 1990s. This time, Los Angeles’s diverse economy enabled the region to emerge from the national recession with relatively moderate job losses. By 2007, the vacancy rate fell to 10.6%, mirroring the trend following the 1990s recession, and reflecting the boom and bust cycles within the commercial real estate market and the economy as a whole.

Market Conditions

Job losses contributed to weaker demand in the overall office market, reflected in the vacancy rate increasing to 17.0% by the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with 12.6% at year-end 2008. Because job growth lags other indicators of economic expansion, demand is expected to remain weak through 2010, with the vacancy rate

Los Angeles Overall Office Market Statistics (1)

 

          2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Stock

   (SF,000)      175,946        176,600        178,426        179,466        181,715        182,645        182,748        182,748        183,148        184,358   

New Construction

   (SF,000)      791        654        1,826        1,041        2,249        929        104        —          400        1,210   

Net Absorption

   (SF,000)      4,877        3,778        1,316        (2,682     (6,098     (300     1,020        1,700        2,670        3,550   

Occupied Stock

   (SF,000)      154,475        158,252        159,569        156,886        150,788        150,488        151,508        153,208        155,878        159,428   

Vacancy Rate

        12.2     10.4     10.6     12.6     17.0     17.6     17.1     16.2     14.9     13.5

Rent

   ($/SF)    $ 25.25      $ 27.24      $ 32.84      $ 34.66      $ 31.87      $ 31.27      $ 31.78      $ 32.83      $ 34.30      $ 35.74   

Rent Growth

        2.2     7.9     20.5     5.5     -6.9     -1.9     1.6     3.3     4.5     4.2

 

(1)

Construction, net absorption and rent growth are year-to-date values.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   25


reaching 17.6% by the fourth quarter. Overall asking rents increased by 20.5% in 2007, when demand peaked, to $32.84 per square foot. The number of new buildings entering the market in 2007 and 2008 also pushed rents to higher levels. The average overall asking rent declined by 6.9% from year-end 2008 through the fourth quarter of 2009. Weak demand through 2010 should push rents down by an additional 1.9%. Construction activity delivered a total of more than 2.2 million square feet of space to the market in 2009. Few projects are in the pipeline for 2010 through 2012 in line with reduced development trends nationwide. Construction activity should return close to historical levels by 2014.

Los Angeles’s overall office market is currently softening because of the recession, but construction activity during this cycle did not reach the same levels seen during the tech-boom, averaging 1.7 million square feet delivered annually from 2007 to 2009. Comparatively, construction activity averaged more than 2.6 million square feet in deliveries annually from 1999 through 2002. This lower level of construction activity should help the market recover more quickly than in previous recessions. The overall vacancy rate increased to 18.8% by 2002 after a low of 12.7% only two years prior. By 2005, the rate had fallen to 12.2%, and as job growth accelerated, the rate fell to 10.4% in 2006, reflecting the ability of the Los Angeles office market to bounce back strongly within a few years. The current vacancy rate is nearing historical highs, but we do not expect the rate to exceed that reached during the last two recessions. As the economy recovers and job growth accelerates beginning in 2012, increased tenant demand should push the vacancy rate down to 13.4% by 2014, and rents should grow at an average annual rate of 3.4% from 2011 through 2014.

The Hollywood submarket is synonymous with Southern California’s television and movie industry. At slightly more than 2.1 million square feet, the submarket is home to a high concentration of entertainment and media firms. Between 2001 and 2007, Hollywood was one of the most improved submarkets in the county, with the vacancy rate falling from 29.7% to 6.2%. The local revitalization efforts, coupled with overflow tenants from surrounding submarkets, also spurred the average asking rent beyond the $35 per square foot threshold by 2008. More recently, the vacancy rate returned to double-digit territory, reaching 10.9% by the fourth quarter of 2009. In spite of the increase in available space, the overall average asking rent has not fallen precipitously as in other submarkets, declining by 3.0% annually in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Class A direct weighted average asking rental rate increased by 1.2% during the same period. There is little supply-side risk in Hollywood due to the lack of available land for office projects. In fact, the submarket lost office space in the past few years as buildings were converted to residential and retail uses.

Investment Activity

In 2009, the overall Los Angeles office market recorded 38 property transactions totaling more than $749 million in volume, according

LOGO

to Real Capital Analytics. Investors paid an average price of $231 per square foot, higher than the national average of $187 per square foot during the same period. The average transaction size was $20.0 million relative to $25.1 million nationally, indicating that investors sought smaller deals in the second half of 2009. Transaction activity declined dramatically since the start of the national recession, with 226 transactions completed in 2007, before falling to 94 in 2008, and falling again to the current level.

Cap rates in Los Angeles are trending higher than the national rate as of the fourth quarter, and have increased in the past year. The average office cap rate was 8.7% during the 12 months through the fourth quarter, compared with the national average of 8.3% during the same period, according to Real Capital Analytics. Cap rates reached a high of 8.9% in 2002, reflecting the weaker office market and waning investment interest following the start of the recession at that time. However, as the investment market picked up, and investors became more active in bidding on properties, the cap rate declined to average about 5.8% during the 12 months through the second quarter of 2008. The average cap rate now, however, is somewhat unreliable because of the smaller number of published cap rates and the reduced number of deals. Current cap rates are slightly higher than is the reported average, but this spread will remain uncertain until more deals occur.

The number of distressed assets is on the rise, with 79 assets in distress since mid-2008, according to Real Capital Analytics, and only a fraction resolved as of March 2010. As of March 2010, Los Angeles was ranked first among California markets as having the most distressed office assets by dollar volume, and fourth in the country, although this was largely due to the size of the market.

CBD Market Conditions

The CBD office market contains approximately 29 million square feet of space in 57 buildings. The CBD continued to perform relatively well in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with other office markets in Los Angeles County. The vacancy rate increased 2.9 percentage

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   26


LOGO

points from year-end 2008 to 16.7%, and the average overall rent declined by 4.5% during the same period, but this was the second-smallest decline among major Los Angeles office submarkets after the San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities submarket. The CBD’s large concentration of government tenants should continue to serve as a source of stability in the market going forward.

We expect the vacancy rate to increase an additional 0.5 percentage points through the end of 2010, to 17.2%, declining thereafter to around 15.7% by year-end 2014. We expect the average overall asking rent to decline by 2.1% through year-end 2010, compared with a 1.9% decline in the overall Los Angeles rent, bringing the CBD rent back to late 2007 levels. A lack of construction completions through at least 2014 should benefit the market, allowing the excess space to be absorbed and annual rent growth to accelerate to the mid-4% range by the end of the forecast period.

The CBD area was revitalized in recent years, with the completion of thousands of residential units and a variety of entertainment and retail options, anchored by the $2.5 billion L.A. Live complex. The increased vitality of the downtown area should continue to boost its appeal to tenants, particularly as additional projects are completed.

Just one office property traded during 2009, as the portfolio sales that drove investment volume in recent years were nonexistent. According to Real Capital Analytics, the largest transaction was the purchase of the 106,000 square-foot Crown Plaza in July for approximately $15.5 million. The property was 70% occupied at the time of the sale.

West Los Angeles Market Conditions

The West Los Angeles office submarket is composed of almost 50 million square feet of space, accounting for approximately 27% of the Los Angeles region’s office stock. It is currently the second-largest office submarket in the metropolitan area, behind the San Fernando Valley/Tri Cities submarket. West Los Angeles includes some of Los Angeles’s most expensive and high-profile communities, including Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood and West Hollywood. Entertainment, technology and media firms are the main drivers of demand in this submarket. Technology firms prefer the campus settings available in Santa Monica and Culver City. The submarket’s office stock is relatively new and dense, with nearly 60% of its space built during the past 25 years, and an estimated 70% of its space located in mid- and high-rise buildings. Driven by strong growth in the entertainment, media, finance and business services industries, West Los Angeles rapidly improved from the region’s weakest submarket in 2002, when the vacancy was 19.9%, to one of its strongest in 2006, when the vacancy rate fell to a low of 6.5%.

The formerly high-flying West Los Angeles office market struggled through 2009 as a large amount of new and sublease space flooded the market. The vacancy rate increased to 14.7% – 4.3 percentage points higher than year-end 2008, and more than double the cyclical low of 6.5% in the fourth quarter of 2006. The average overall asking rent plunged 16.7% through year-end 2009, the largest decline among the five major Los Angeles County office markets, largely because of the availability of lower-cost sublease space. With an additional 796,000 square feet of new space slated for completion during 2010, we expect the vacancy rate to trend higher, reaching 15.8% at year-end 2010. Rents should continue to decline, albeit at a slower pace, with the average overall asking rent falling an additional 2.6% by the end of 2010. In the medium term, lower levels of construction coupled with rebounding demand for space in this prestigious office market should drive down the vacancy rate to the 11.8% by 2014. Rents should increase by an average of 5.0% annually from 2012 through 2014.

Although conditions in the West Los Angeles market are likely to remain weak in the near term, the medium- and long-term outlooks are positive. The Westside’s high quality of life and accessibility to transportation and freeways make it one of the nation’s most desirable office markets and the premier location for firms in industries

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   27


including entertainment, finance and technology. On the supply side, a limited amount of developable land and general opposition to development by local residents should constrain the amount of new office space delivered to the market.

Although several high-profile properties came on the market in recent quarters, the large bid-ask spread limited the number of transactions. Local observers expect deal volume to pick up during the next 12 months as the number of distressed assets increases and buildings become available at a significant discount to replacement cost.

San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities Market Conditions

The San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities office market is located northwest of downtown, and is composed of 344 buildings and more than 53 million square feet of office space. Cities within the submarket include Burbank, Pasadena, Universal City, Encino and Sherman Oaks. Media and entertainment firms drive demand for space in the Tri-Cities submarket, particularly near Burbank, while technology firms are drawn to Pasadena, where the California Institute of Technology is located. About 70% of the office space in this submarket was built in 1970 or later.

Hit hard by space givebacks by firms in the construction, finance and insurance industries, the San Fernando Valley/Tri-Cities office market remained one of the weakest in Los Angeles at year-end 2009. Although the rate at which companies returned space to the market appeared to be slowing, the completion of more than 1.2 million square feet of space in several buildings, two of which were not significantly pre-leased, contributed to a 5.6 percentage-point increase in the vacancy rate through year-end 2009 to 18.3% – the highest level among the five major Los Angeles office markets. Weak demand will likely push the vacancy rate higher to 18.7% by year-end 2010. A lack of construction between 2010 and 2012 should benefit the market, resulting in the vacancy rate declining to 12.8% by year-end 2014, although this would be more than double the recent cyclical low of 5.5% reached during the second quarter of 2007. With demand remaining weak in the short term, we forecast an additional 2.8% decline in the average overall asking rent through the end of 2010, followed by annual rent growth accelerating to 3% by 2012 as the economy rebounds.

According to Real Capital Analytics, transaction volume tumbled more than 69% during 2009 to $222 million. In one of the largest transactions in Los Angeles County in 2009, Grosvenor Americas sold the 225,800 square-foot Two North Lake property in Pasadena to a private buyer in August for $52 million. The 9.0% cap rate on the deal mirrored the trend of most transactions with reported cap rates during the year.

Market Summary

Overall, Los Angeles’s office market is experiencing a correction after several years of strong growth driven by the housing market boom. When economic growth accelerates during the second half

LOGO

of the forecast period, we expect strong tenant demand to return to the office market. Because of the relatively low level of construction activity expected during the forecast period, the market should tighten up by 2014 as existing space is leased. The number of distressed assets is relatively high, but this level is a reflection of the overall size of the market, and the number of real estate transactions that occurred at the height of the market. Some buyers may have overpaid for properties in recent years, or overleveraged their investments, but these distressed sales present opportunities for capital-rich, risk-inclined investors to take advantage of the income potential that the more prominent buildings can offer once economic conditions improve. The real estate clock is currently in the decline phase, at 1:30, reflecting the market’s increased vacancy rates and declining rents in the near term.

Orange County

Economy

Overview

Located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles County and north of San Diego County, Orange County is geographically the smallest county in Southern California by far, covering only 948 square miles. Approximately 3.0 million people lived within the county as of 2009, and employment as of December 2009 totaled more than 1.4 million positions. The small geographic size and large population means that Orange County is one of the most densely populated counties in the nation in spite of its image as a suburban haven. Orange County’s labor force is highly educated and approximately 43.4% of the population over the age of 25 held an associate’s degree or higher as of 2008 compared with 35.2% nationally. Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher composed 35.5% of the population in Orange County compared with 27.7% nationally.

Orange County is a top leisure destination given its many popular beaches and Disneyland, as well as other nationally recognized theme parks. The leisure and hospitality industry feeds into Orange County’s

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   28


LOGO

second-largest sector, trade, where retail trade makes up roughly two-thirds of the total jobs within that sector. Orange County also boasts a large concentration of professional and business services and financial activities sector employment. Approximately 367,000 employees worked in these two sectors as of December 2009, including nearly 259,000 employees in professional and business services, Orange County’s largest sector.

Historically, Orange County has been able to better weather various periods of economic decline than its Southern California neighbors. During the recession that struck Los Angeles particularly hard in the early 1990s, Orange County only shed 51,000 jobs, or 4.4% of total employment, between year-end 1990 and year-end 1993. Comparatively, Los Angeles shed more than 388,000 jobs, or 9.5% of its workforce during the same period. During the period leading up to the 2001 recession, employment growth was strong, averaging 3.3% annually from year-end 1993 through year-end 2000. During the 2001 recession, Orange County shed only 5,800 jobs overall as large job losses in specific sectors, including manufacturing and information services, were outpaced by gains in others, including financial activities, leisure and hospitality, and educational and health services.

Orange County has several highly concentrated employment industries including construction, manufacturing, financial activities, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. Because many of these employment sectors are tied to industries related to housing, many of these industries suffered when the housing market collapse began in 2007. As construction slowed dramatically, many employed within this sector were laid off. Likewise, as mortgage lending tightened, and the subprime crisis began to take shape, local mortgage firms closed, leading to job losses in the financial activities sector. Orange County was the center of the subprime industry prior to the housing market collapse and thus was hit particularly hard by the downturn. Also, as the housing market continued to weaken, fewer homeowners were able to borrow against their houses or refinance mortgages, thus restricting consumer spending and ultimately leading to weakness in Orange County’s typically strong local retail trade and tourism industries.

The overall employment level contracted by 3.3% year-over-year in December 2009, with the loss of 47,800 jobs. However, the rate of job loss has been slowing on a monthly basis, from an annual contraction of 4.4% in September, indicating that the bulk of job losses may be over. The number of job losses in the current cycle has contributed to the market’s highest unemployment rate on record, at 9.8% as of December 2009. Orange County’s unemployment rate averaged 4.7% on a quarterly basis since 1990. As the local economy rebounds, we believe the unemployment rate will come down slowly through the forecast period, to 5.5% by 2014.

Employment growth is expected to be flat in 2010 and then pick up by 2012 as nearly all sectors add jobs. We are expecting hiring to accelerate from the mid-1% range in 2012 to 2.0% by 2014. In terms of employment sectors, we believe that the educational and health services sector will lead the way in terms of employment growth, followed by the professional and business services sector. Within the employment sectors, industries such as technology and medical devices, should be the employment growth leaders. Our long-term outlook is positive since the region offers a highly skilled and entrepreneurial workforce and an attractive lifestyle, is a popular tourist destination, and boasts above-average household incomes.

Growth Industry Clusters

Health Care and Medical Device and Equipment Manufacturing

Orange County’s health care industry includes health services and medical device and equipment manufacturing. Although these two segments are vastly different in terms of employment classification, the same demand forces, namely the aging baby-boomer population, drives growth in these industries. Baby boomers are those born between 1946 and 1964, and composed roughly 36.2% of Orange

Largest Orange County Medical Device Makers

Ranked by Number of Local Employees in 2009

 

Name

  

City

   Employees   

Products

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

  

Irvine

   2,091    Heart valves and monitoring systems

Beckman Coulter Inc.

  

Fullerton

   2,005    Research and testing instruments

B. Braun Medical Inc.

  

Irvine

   1,314    Intravenous solutions and equipment

Applied Medical Resources Corp.

   Rancho Santa Margarita    1,037    Less-invasive surgery devices

Alcon Research, Ltd.

  

Irvine

   785    Eye surgery devices

Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.

  

Tustin

   697    Diagnostic imaging equipment

Masimo Corp.

  

Irvine

   679    Vital sign monitors

Medtronic Heart Valves

  

Santa Ana

   650    Tissue heart valves

Sybron Dental Specialties Inc.

  

Orange

   640    Consumable dental products

Abbott Medical Optics, Inc.

  

Santa Ana

   533    Eye surgery and care technologies

Source: Orange County Business Journal Book of Lists 2010

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   29


County’s population as of 2009. Orange County’s 45+ age cohorts has been growing at a much faster pace than the demographic below the age of 45 years-old, supporting growth in the local health care and services industry. Similarly, the growing baby-boomer demographic nationwide supports Orange County’s medical device and equipment manufacturing business, as these products are shipped throughout the United States. The share of the population between the ages of 45 and 64 years-old nationally was 25.7% in 2008, and this demographic will continue to grow as baby boomers age, adding to the demand for medical devices and equipment for years to come.

Locally, the educational and health services industry employed roughly 150,800 people as of December 2009. The health services subsector makes up a large portion of jobs within the sector, employing about 127,000 workers. Educational and health services employment has rarely contracted, pointing to the consistently increasing demand for these services, namely health care. Between year-end 1990 and December 2009, the health services subsector alone grew by roughly 60%, from an employment base of 80,600. Even during the current recession, the number of jobs has held steady.

Orange County’s manufacturing is highly concentrated and had 160,000 employees in December. Similar to nationwide trends, employment has been on the decline in this sector for several years, as more companies outsource manufacturing to other parts of the world. Most of the manufacturing activity takes place in the northern part of the county, where about 65% of manufacturing jobs are clustered, with the remainder located in the southern part of the county, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. Several large medical device and equipment manufacturers are located within the county, employing more than 13,000 workers in the top-25 largest firms alone, according to an estimate by the Orange County Business Journal. Edwards Lifesciences Corp., a medical device company, was the largest employer in 2009, with 2,091 local employees. Beckman Coulter, Inc. and B. Braun Medical Inc. rounded out the top three, with 2,005 and 1,314 employees, respectively. For a more complete list, please refer to the nearby table.

Venture capital investment in health care services in Los Angeles and Orange counties combined averaged more than $45 million on a quarterly basis since the first quarter of 1995 through the fourth quarter of 2009. Investment averaged $41 million a quarter since the first quarter of 2005. Total investment from the first quarter of 2005 through the fourth quarter of 2009 was $8.2 billion. In 2009, venture capital investment totaled $954 million in 159 deals, compared with $2.0 billion in 243 deals during 2008. The weaker economy has dampened investment activity, following the trend in most investment arenas since 2008. However, when the economy improves and exit strategies for financiers becomes more apparent, investment activity will pick up in kind, following the trend of previous investment cycles.

As demand for health services continues to grow with an aging baby-boomer population, the health care and the medical device and equipment manufacturing industries should expand accordingly. Orange County’s large cluster of medical device manufacturers in particular should help drive overall economic growth in the market.

Office Market Overview

Orange County’s office stock currently totals approximately 81 million square feet and is relatively new, with a large majority of the space built in 1980 or later. In accordance with the traditionally suburban character of the market, a great deal of the total office space is in low- and mid-rise buildings.

Orange County underwent a building boom during the 1980s. More than 22 million square feet, or about one-fourth of the current total stock, were built between 1986 and 1990 alone, which kept the vacancy rate at more than 20% and rents flat until the mid-1990s. Speculative construction slowed dramatically during the late 1990s as the new stock was absorbed, bringing the vacancy rate down to 12.2% by year-end 1999. However, as the Internet bubble burst in 2001, coinciding with 7.3 million square feet of new construction from 1999 through 2001, the vacancy rate climbed to 17.5% by year-end 2002. Development slowed from this period through the end of 2005, and as employment growth and consequently demand picked up, the vacancy rate declined to 12.9% by 2004. The vacancy rate fell further to 9.8% by 2005 as the housing boom and tenant demand from mortgage companies picked up, signaling another short building boom in the market. From 2006 through 2008, more than 5.3 million square feet were completed. However, much of the space delivered was speculative, and the vacancy rate crept back up to 16.6% by year-end 2008.

Orange County Overall Office Market Statistics (1)

 

          2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Stock

   (SF,000)      75,840        77,219        79,949        81,196        81,277        81,277        81,277        81,277        81,277        81,277   

New Construction

   (SF,000)      120        1,379        2,730        1,247        82        —          —          —          —          —     

Net Absorption

   (SF,000)      2,440        1,365        (721     (1,328     (2,806     (800     500        1,200        1,300        1,500   

Occupied Stock

   (SF,000)      68,389        69,754        69,033        67,705        64,898        64,098        64,598        65,798        67,098        68,598   

Vacancy Rate

        9.8     9.7     13.7     16.6     20.2     21.1     20.5     19.0     17.4     15.6

Rent

   ($/SF)    $ 25.33      $ 28.43      $ 32.43      $ 30.65      $ 25.95      $ 24.57      $ 24.92      $ 25.84      $ 27.18      $ 28.81   

Rent Growth

        8.5     12.2     14.1     -5.5     -15.3     -5.3     1.4     3.7     5.2     6.0

 

(1)

Construction, net absorption and rent growth are year-to-date values.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   30


LOGO

Similar to the vacancy rate, Orange County’s office market rents have moved in conjunction with demand trends. Following the dot-com bust in 2001, office rents declined by 8.0% to $24.10 per square foot in 2002, and further by 4.9% in 2003 to $22.91 per square foot. However, as the housing market grew, and as demand from mortgage and other financial services firms increased, landlords increased rents by 8.5% in 2005, again by 12.2% in 2006, and further by 14.1% in 2007. Once employment began to contract and firms shut their doors, rents came down, declining by 5.5% in 2008. At their peak, average asking rents were $32.43 per square foot in 2007.

Market Conditions

Weak tenant demand continues to erode office market fundamentals in Orange County, with the vacancy rate increasing 3.7 percentage points during 2009 to 20.2%. Reflecting this weakness in demand is the falling average asking rental rate, which declined by 15.3% by the fourth quarter compared with year-end 2008 to $25.95 per square foot. Given the weakness in the market, landlords were forced to lower rents and increase concession packages in order to maintain occupancy levels and attract tenant interest. Softer market conditions are expected through 2011, with the vacancy rate expected to increase to 21.1% by year-end 2010, falling slightly to 20.5% by year-end 2011.

After three years of high levels of new construction, activity has come to a standstill. Only one building totaling 82,000 square feet was completed in 2009. With no other construction activity expected through at least 2014, the market should have ample time to absorb the existing space while economic conditions improve through the forecast period. However, because construction activity was strong during the last growth cycle and some tenants such as subprime mortgage lenders will not return to the market, it may take several years for the excess to be absorbed. Orange County’s high concentration of financial activities and professional and business services employment typically drives demand for office space. Together, the sectors are expected to add more than 27,000 employees between year-end 2009 and year-end 2014, accounting for almost one-third of

LOGO

the market’s total employment growth during the period. However, this is not as strong as the pace of employment growth in these sectors during the last growth cycle from 2002 through 2005, when employment in these sectors accounted for more than half of total employment growth in the county. Therefore, we expect absorption to be somewhat slower in the next growth cycle, and the vacancy rate is not expected to fall below 20% until 2012. Weaker demand conditions will likely keep rents near 2004 and 2005 levels during the near-term forecast period. We expect rent growth will be minimal in 2011, at 1.4% annually, increasing to 3.7% growth in 2012, 5.2% growth in 2013 and 6.0% growth in 2014.

Longer term, however, we believe the excess space will be absorbed, and the county’s geographic and policy constraints will help to prevent overbuilding to the same degree as in the last cycle. As the county grows denser, and the economy expands, demand for office space will continue to increase.

Investment Activity

According to Real Capital Analytics, in 2009, only 23 properties traded hands in Orange County’s office market, with an average cap rate of 7.9%. This level is relatively weak for the market when compared with 2008 when 29 properties traded hands at an average cap rate of 6.6%, and compared with 2007 when 124 properties were sold with an average cap rate of 5.2%. Investment volume year-to-date through December 2009 totaled $695 million, compared with more than $6.8 billion in transactions in 2007.

A number of investors may have overpaid for properties during 2006 and 2007. Now, some of these investors are having trouble paying down the loans as a result of fewer tenants, reduced operating revenues, and refinancing difficulties. The volume of distressed assets was estimated to be more than $813 million as of March 2010, totaling about 31 properties; however, this figure is based only on what is reported, and the number in distress could potentially be higher.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   31


Orange County’s currently weak office market is largely a result of the housing boom and subsequent bust, which caused many financial firms to downsize and subprime lenders to fold. This phenomenon, combined with the effects of the national recession, has negatively impacted office market fundamentals, leaving owners holding the bag on distressed assets. Many of these owners will be forced to sell these assets in order to pay down their loans, providing many opportunities for cash-infused buyers with an appetite for risk to take over the loan or purchase the property at a reduced price. When the office market recovers in Orange County, these opportunistic investors will be in a good position to earn a return on their investment, particularly those with sharp operating acumen.

Market Summary

Despite current weakness in Orange County’s economy and office market, the area is poised for growth in the longer term. The housing boom drove much of the economic expansion leading up to the start of the most recent recession, but it was largely unsustainable and not a reflection of the long-term growth patterns in Orange County. As the economy recovers in 2011 and accelerates beginning in 2012, office market fundamentals should begin to improve. The region’s largest employment sector, professional and business services, is a mainstay of the economy, and should grow again beginning in 2010. Financial activities, too, should expand following the correction period. These two employment sectors should drive demand for office space in the long term. Currently, the Orange County office clock is positioned at 1:00, in the beginning of the decline phase of the real estate cycle because of the market’s high vacancy rate and falling rents. However, as the firms begin hiring again and office space is absorbed, Orange County’s office market should move toward the absorption phase within the next two years. Because Orange County is a place where many people want to live and work, the market should thrive once economic conditions improve.

San Diego

Economy

Overview

San Diego has a diverse economy, with a dynamic mix of innovative employers in the biotech and high-tech industries, as well as a strong government, military, and defense presence. In December, non-farm payrolls totaled 1.2 million. Although the region has not escaped the effects of the national recession, it is well-positioned for resumed health in the years to come. Prior to the downturn, the region had gone 16 years with positive annual job growth from 1992 to 2007, demonstrating resistance to some of the more cyclical economic challenges facing other areas of the state.

Geographically, the region is well-located, offering residents access to neighboring Orange County and the Los Angeles area, as well as the benefits of temperate weather and varied terrains. San Diego County is bounded by Orange and Riverside counties on the north,

Imperial County on the east, Mexico on the south, and the Pacific Ocean, which stretches for 70 miles along the region’s western edge. Spanning 4,200 square miles and more than 3.0 million residents, San Diego County is nearly four and a half times larger geographically than Orange County, despite having approximately 9,500 fewer residents. The San Diego lifestyle is a major draw for residents, businesses, and tourists alike, providing a long-term influx of capital to the region. Young, educated workers are especially attracted to the region, drawn in by the lifestyle and universities.

Although the high cost of living contributed to negative net migration between 2003 and 2006, this trend started to reverse in 2007, with positive gains beginning in 2008. As the economy recovers and housing affordability remains higher than during the boom years, net migration is expected to pick up, averaging 10,280 residents annually between 2010 and 2014. Whereas a low of just 10.5% of households were able to afford the median-priced home in 2005, affordability reached 39.0% of households in 2009, and is expected to remain higher than 25% through 2014. Increased affordability will likely help to attract and retain residents during the coming years.

Throughout most of the past two decades, San Diego outperformed the nation in job creation. Even with the tech bust in 2001, San Diego managed to add jobs overall as the nation was shedding them. This resilience is connected to the diversity of the economy, as local cuts in the technology industry were offset by gains in the construction, educational and health services, and government sectors. The housing boom during the first half of the decade helped to fuel economic growth through mid-2005. However, years of overbuilding and overlending pushed the region into the downturn ahead of many other parts of the state and country.

San Diego was among the first markets in the country to be affected by the housing downturn. In general, the recession has been less severe than in many other parts of the state, but has lasted longer. The recession continues to hurt local firms and nearly all sectors in the economy are cutting jobs. In December, total non-farm payrolls were down 3.3% year-over-year, reflecting the loss of 42,100 jobs during the 12-month period.

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   32


Despite early signs of improvement in the housing market, the real estate downturn is still the main drag on the local economy. In December, construction payrolls were down 8.0% year-over-year, with 5,700 jobs cut in the sector. Between 2006 and 2008, construction employment fell an average of 8.3% annually. Whereas these cuts were originally isolated to residential building, the shift in the economy and limited access to capital caused commercial construction to come to a halt as well, contributing to additional losses in the sector. Losses in the financial activities sector, on the other hand, decelerated through December, declining 3.6% year-over-year, with the elimination of 2,000 positions. The financial activities sector has also been cutting jobs since 2006, contracting an average of 3.9% annually between 2006 and 2008.

Weakness in consumer spending on both a local and national level is driving job cuts in the region. In December, employment in the trade and manufacturing sectors was down 3.5% and 6.5% year-over-year, respectively. The nation-wide slowdown in discretionary and business travel spending is slowing tourism in the region as well. In December, leisure and hospitality payrolls were down 4.4% year-over-year, reflecting the loss of 7,100 jobs. Year-to-date through February 2010, declining hotel occupancy caused RevPAR to drop 8.6% year-over-year, according to Smith Travel, underlining the trouble facing the hospitality industry, one of the biggest employers in the region.

Even the more innovative segments of the economy are being affected by the downturn in spending and limited access to capital. In 2009, venture capital investment totaled $903 million, down from $1.2 billion a year earlier and $1.9 billion in 2007. Weak venture capital investment and limited consumer spending are causing the local biotech and high-tech industries to contract, dragging down employment in the professional and business services sector. In December, the information services and professional and business services sectors were down 5.5% and 4.3% year-over-year, respectively. Cuts at local legal and accounting firms have also contributed to these losses.

The educational and health services sector has been the only private source of consistent employment growth through the recession. This growth has been largely connected to the growing demand for health services from the large population of aging baby boomers in the region. Nonetheless, in December, payrolls in the educational and health services sector were down 0.4% year-over-year, reflecting the spillover effects of the overall downturn in the economy. People are increasingly opting to postpone elective treatments, in turn slowing the expansion of area practices. As the economy recovers, we expect this trend to reverse, with strong demand for health services fueling hiring.

Largest Employers in San Diego

Ranked by Number of Local Employees in 2009

 

Name

   City    Employees

Federal Government

   Various locations    41,600

State of California

   San Diego    41,600

University of California, San Diego

   La Jolla    29,337

County of San Diego

   San Diego    16,505

San Diego Unified School District

   San Diego    14,555

Sharp HealthCare

   San Diego    14,400

Scripps Health

   San Diego    12,622

City of San Diego

   San Diego    11,087

Qualcomm, Inc.

   San Diego    9,859

Kaiser Permanente

   San Diego    7,618

Source: San Diego Business Journal Book of Lists 2010

In spite of the downturn in civilian employment, the military generally provides a steady source of jobs both directly and indirectly to the region, with an estimated one in four local jobs tied to the strong military presence. With the recent approval of approximately $2.8 billion in construction spending at local bases during the next few years, the San Diego economy will likely receive a small boost, particularly in the construction sector. On a similar note, the cutbacks in the state budget had not translated into major government sector job losses in the region through December. In fact, hiring in the sector was virtually flat year-over-year, falling 0.6%.

Looking forward, we expect the economy in San Diego to stabilize in 2010, with employment growth picking back up by 2011. The diverse and innovative firms in the biotech and clean tech clusters will help to lead the recovery. Likewise, the educational and health services sector, which has been one of the most resistant to the recession, will be one of the fastest to expand given the large population of aging baby boomers in growing need of medical services. We expect near-flat growth of 0.5% in 2010. Although the initial recovery will be slow, we expect long-term health to return to the region led by the area’s diverse mix of innovative firms. Between 2011 and 2014, employment is expected to increase an average of 1.6% annually.

Growth Industry Clusters

Defense

The military plays a huge role in the economy in San Diego with 12 Navy and Marine bases located in the region. According to the Military Advisory Council, local bases provided approximately 375,000 jobs in 2008, with an estimated annual economic impact of $24.6 billion. Given the strong military presence, many aerospace and defense companies are headquartered or have significant operations in San Diego, and thus are key drivers of the local economy. In 2008, more than 16,750 people worked for the four largest local employers in the defense sector: Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Northrop Grumman, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   33


(NASSCO), and General Atomics. Defense firms in the region are typically located near bases or to the north of the University of California, San Diego campus.

Employment in the defense sector boosted the local economy during the downturn at the beginning of the decade, and contractors continue to benefit from high levels of military and homeland security spending. San Diego was estimated to have received the highest level of Department of Defense spending of any region in the country in 2008. Nonetheless, under the new administration, it is still uncertain whether or not defense spending will fluctuate markedly.

High-Technology and Biotechnology

San Diego is home to one of the nation’s most diverse technology clusters, with firms in the biotechnology, software, Internet, communications, information technology, aerospace and defense sectors. Nonetheless, biotech remains the most concentrated cluster of innovation employment in the region. According to the Milken Institute, San Diego has the most geographically dense cluster of biotech employment in the world and ranked second in the nation for scientific research and development services in 2009. Firms are attracted to the region by the existing cluster of biotech companies, the highly educated workforce, and the presence of major research institutions. In 2004, 66 educational programs specialized in training biotech workers in the area.

In addition to producing graduates who are able to fill the needs of local biotech firms, many local institutions also conduct research that attracts companies to the area. Major non-profit research centers include The Scripps Research Institute, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the Burnham Institute, and the University of California, San Diego. Educational and non-profit institutions in the region help to draw large amounts of research money for both themselves and local firms from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, Small Business Innovation Research awards, and Small Business Technology Transfer awards. The State of California also supports a variety of programs that train biotech workers and fund research, including the industry-university matching grant programs at the University of California and California Sate University, as well as the Employment Training Panel through the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

Moreover, the presence of large pharmaceutical companies has helped to draw small to mid-sized firms to the area and produced spin-offs. Larger names in the region include Amylin Pharmaceuticals, BD Biosciences, Biogen Idec, Celgene, Élan, Genzyme, Integrated DNA Technologies, Merck, Pfizer and Vertex. In 2007, the scientific research and development services industry, which includes life sciences, employed an estimated 24,900 people. Biotech firms are generally clustered in the Golden Triangle near UC San Diego in the University Towne Center (UTC) and Torrey Pines submarkets. Firms have also spilled over into the Sorrento Mesa and Sorrento Valley areas. Sorrento Mesa is home to many mid-tier to late-stage firms with build-to-suit facilities, as the UTC and Torrey Pines submarkets are already largely built-out. Prior to the downturn in the economy, Carlsbad was emerging as a less expensive alternative for some biotech firms.

Although venture capital investment has fallen with the downturn in the economy, biotech is still the main recipient in the region. During the fourth quarter, biotech firms received 61.7% of the $300.0 million of venture capital funds invested locally. Despite short-term challenges facing many biotech firms short on cash, the long-term outlook for the biotech industry is positive, especially given the large population of aging baby boomers with growing healthcare needs throughout the country.

Tech firms in other emerging clusters, like gaming and clean energy, will also perform well during the years to come, particularly given the growing demand for these technologies and the innovative nature of many of these firms. Like the local biotech firms, these companies typically opt to lease space near UC San Diego in the Golden Triangle. According to a report published by Clean Edge in October 2009, San Diego ranked 11th in the United States for clean tech job activity, signaling the potential for more growth to the cluster as the economy recovers.

Office Market

Overview

San Diego’s office market, which encompasses all of San Diego County, performed consistently well throughout recent business cycles. The market consisted of 55.9 million square feet at the end of 2009, with 17.1% of this space downtown and 82.9% in the suburbs. During the past 20 years, negative absorption occurred just four times annually, illustrating the long-term strength of the market. The first occurrence was during the recession in 1992, the second was in response to the tech bust in 2001, and the third and fourth were part of the current downturn beginning in 2008. Although the present recession poses a unique set of hurdles given the vast overbuilding of recent years, the office market in San Diego has proven resilient through previous downswings in the economy.

The financial activities sector was hit the hardest during the recession of the early 1990s. Payroll growth in the information services and professional and business services sectors, however, was essentially flat between 1990 and 1992, followed by strong gains in the subsequent years. Accordingly, demand for office space did not plummet to the same degree as in some other metropolitan regions, as it was buoyed by demand from these more stable users. The vacancy rate peaked at 15.4% in 1992 before beginning a steady decline to just 5.1% in 2000. The lack of new speculative construction during much of the 1990s helped contribute to this decline. In contrast, 15.6 million square feet were completed between 1984 and 1991, creating an oversupply that caused construction to drop off until 1997. Even as development resumed in 1997, construction levels were still lower than during the last building cycle, helping to insulate the market from the next downturn.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   34


LOGO

The growth of demand from tech tenants began with efforts from local government and economic development agencies to attract firms in the 1980s. Accordingly, as tech employment expanded in the late 1990s with the development of the Internet, the San Diego office market was already positioned to benefit from growth in the cluster of existing tech tenants. Information services sector employment took off in 1993, with rapid growth in the financial activities and professional and business services sectors following suit, contributing to a decline in the vacancy rate. Nonetheless, the tech crash at the turn of the decade hurt related employment, contributing to a rise in the vacancy rate to 11.6% in 2002. Relative health in other sectors of the economy during this period, such as financial activities, helped to prevent a further increase in the vacancy rate.

Following the tech bust, the overall San Diego office market emerged relatively unscathed, even with the delivery of seven million square feet of office space between 1998 and 2002, though pockets of weakness existed throughout the county. As the tech industry stabilized and overall employment growth accelerated, the vacancy rate resumed its downward trend, reaching a low of 8.9% in 2005. Construction levels increased as the market improved, preventing an additional decline to the vacancy rate. Between 2005 and 2008, an average of 1.8 million square feet was delivered annually, outpacing absorption and helping to push the vacancy rate up to 19.4% in 2008. Whereas absorption remained positive through 2007, the shift in the economy with the current recession contributed to 1.6 million square feet of negative absorption in 2008, followed by an additional 673,000 square feet in 2009.

Market Conditions

Given the ongoing weakness in the economy, the vacancy rate reached 21.3% during the fourth quarter of 2009. For the suburban submarkets, the downturn has been more severe, largely because construction was focused in these areas during recent years, and tenant demand is more cyclical than in the CBD where tenants are mainly government and legal users. The vacancy rate in the suburban submarkets reached 22.3% during the fourth quarter, up from a low of 8.6% in 2005. In the CBD, the vacancy rate increased to 16.6% from 16.1% at year-end 2008, and a low of 8.6% in 2004. The increase in the vacancy rate is in turn contributing to declining rents as landlords compete to fill vacant spaces. In 2009, overall rents declined by 11.6% to $25.80 per square foot.

Although the construction boom of recent years is coming to an end, large blocks of space are still available for lease in recently completed projects, adding to the strain on the market. In 2009, 510,000 square feet were completed, contributing to the rise in the vacancy rate. Whereas the downtown submarket had no new construction in 2008 or 2009, the suburban submarkets received nearly 2.1 million square feet of space, putting upward pressure on the vacancy rate given the limited leasing in the market. Between 2005 and 2008, an average of 1.7 million square feet was added to the suburban submarkets annually, contributing to the increase in the vacancy rate. By comparison, an average of 180,000 square feet was delivered annually downtown during the same period. Low occupancy levels and ongoing layoffs are now causing developers to hold off on additional projects in the pipeline. In 2010, a total of 421,000 square feet is anticipated for completion in the suburbs, with no deliveries downtown. Through the forecast period, downtown will likely receive no additional construction. The suburban submarket is expected to receive an average of just 264,000 square feet completed annually between 2010 and 2014, as the market recovers from the oversupply of space created during recent years.

San Diego Overall Office Market Statistics (1)

 

          2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Stock

   (SF,000)      49,439        51,057        53,819        55,381        55,891        56,312        56,312        56,587        56,887        57,367   

New Construction

   (SF,000)      1,440        1,618        2,762        1,562        510        421        —          275        300        480   

Net Absorption

   (SF,000)      1,686        610        642        (1,638     (673     50        640        1,680        1,817        2,215   

Occupied Stock

   (SF,000)      45,033        45,643        46,285        44,646        43,973        44,023        44,663        46,343        48,160        50,375   

Vacancy Rate

        8.9     10.6     14.0     19.4     21.3     21.8     20.7     18.1     15.3     12.2

Rent

   ($/SF)    $ 26.44      $ 27.98      $ 29.06      $ 29.17      $ 25.80      $ 24.89      $ 25.37      $ 26.48      $ 27.94      $ 29.53   

Rent Growth

        12.8     5.8     3.9     0.4     -11.6     -3.5     1.9     4.4     5.5     5.7

 

(1)

Construction, net absorption and rent growth are year-to-date values.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   35


LOGO

Even with short-term challenges, the office market in San Diego is poised for long-term growth. The medium- to longer-term employment outlook for the region is healthy, signaling the potential for strong improvement in demand in the years to come. Given its location, San Diego will always be a place that people want to work and live, helping to restore health to the region as the national economy stabilizes. Nonetheless, through the short term, weakness will persist. Despite the recent stability to the vacancy rate downtown, large blocks of space resulting from downsizing and business closures are expected to be returned to the market during the coming quarters, putting upward pressure on the vacancy rate. Additionally, a handful of tenants are planning to relocate to the suburbs upon the expiration of their current downtown leases. Tenants are increasingly considering moves to the suburbs given the falling rents and oversupply of space in neighboring markets. Even with some additional demand from tenants in the CBD, overbuilding in the suburban markets during recent years will likely cause the suburban recovery to be slower than the improvement downtown. However, the good news for both markets is that the vacancy rate is expected to peak by year-end 2010, reaching 16.9% downtown and 22.8% in the suburbs, marking a pivotal shift in these markets as demand begins to improve next year.

As job creation resumes in the next couple of years, the vacancy rate will begin to decline, aided by the limited addition of new space through the short term. Nonetheless, the suburban market still has a great deal of recently completed space to work through. We expect the vacancy rate to decrease to 9.7% downtown and 12.7% in the suburbs by 2014, with the suburban submarkets taking longer to recover in light of the recent construction boom. It is important to note that conditions vary greatly by submarket. Overall rents will likely be weak through the short term, declining 3.5% in 2010. As occupancy stabilizes, rent growth will likely resume, averaging 4.4% annually between 2011 and 2014. We expect rent growth to recover most quickly downtown, averaging 4.9% annually during this period, compared with 4.3% annually in the suburbs. Even though the office market in San Diego faces short-term challenges, the longer-term outlook is positive, particularly given the lasting appeal of the region to residents and employers alike. In response to the shift in the economy, investment volume has plummeted, signaling the potential for significant opportunities for investors with access to capital.

Investment Activity

In March 2010, Real Capital Analytics reported that 14 troubled assets existed in the region, with additional properties likely to have slipped under their radar. For the overall office market, transaction volume fell to $471 million during the 12 months ending in December 2009, reflecting a 53.4% year-over-year decline. The average sales price decreased to $233 per square foot, compared with $338 per square foot a year earlier. This is likely reflective of the limited number of sales represented in the data as opposed to an actual increase in value. The 12-month average cap rate was 8.8%, up from 6.5% a year earlier. The majority of sales activity occurred in the suburbs, with just $3.2 million in transactions reported downtown during the 12-month period. Given the anticipated long-term health of the region, as well as the limited investment activity during recent months, the troubled assets in San Diego present an opportunity for investors to purchase properties at a discount before the economy recovers.

Golden Triangle/North City Market Conditions

The Golden Triangle is the most dynamic of the submarkets in the San Diego region, dominated by innovative tenants in the technology industry, and is widely considered the true center of the county’s office market. The submarket is located approximately 10 miles north of downtown and originally included just the University Town Centre (UTC), receiving its name from the triangle of land formed by the intersections of Interstates 5 and 805 and State Route 52. However, with the explosion of the tech industry, office development expanded and the definition grew to include six additional submarkets, including La Jolla, Sorrento Valley, Sorrento Mesa, Torrey Pines, Del Mar Heights and Pacific Beach/Rose Canyon/Morena. In 2009, the Golden Triangle accounted for 27% of the total office space in San Diego, with the UTC, Sorrento Mesa and Del Mar Heights submarkets accounting for nearly 81% of the total office space in the Golden Triangle.

Even though the Golden Triangle has a diverse mix of tenants, including law firms, brokerages, and accounting firms, it is dominated by activity from tech users. The area is well-known for its tech firms, such as Qualcomm and SAIC, as well as its high concentration of biotech employers. The Golden Triangle benefits from its proximity to several major research institutions such as the Kimmel Cancer Center in Torrey Pines and the Salk Institute and the University of California at San Diego, both located in La Jolla, which consequently is sometimes referred to as “Biotech Beach.” Accordingly, the health of the office market in the Golden Triangle is directly connected with the performance of the tech industry.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   36


Whereas the area outperformed the rest of San Diego during the dot-com boom, it also weakened the most with the ensuing tech bust. At the peak of the market in 2000, the Golden Triangle’s vacancy rate fell to just 3.7%, compared with 5.1% for all of San Diego. However, a more striking comparison is of overall rents and rent growth. Although San Diego’s overall average asking rent for all classes climbed nearly 15% year-over-year to $22.31 per square foot, the average rent in the Golden Triangle soared nearly 30%, to $31.04 per square foot on unprecedented demand for space from technology firms.

While the overall San Diego office market remained relatively healthy following the tech crash because of job growth in other industries and strong support from the defense sector, the Golden Triangle office market was one of the region’s hardest-hit submarkets. Its vacancy rate peaked at nearly 14% in 2002, and rents declined more than 16% between 2000 and 2002. Sorrento Mesa, where many software companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and communications firms - especially wireless telecommunications companies - were located, posted the highest vacancy rate, which topped off at 21.4% in 2003. The most significant rent decline occurred in the Sorrento Valley submarket, which also had a significant concentration of high-technology firms. Following the downturn in the Golden Triangle office market, construction activity came to a virtual standstill as a glut of recently vacated space became available.

As the economy recovered in the years following the tech bust, the vacancy rate for the Golden Triangle declined, reaching 8.9% by 2005. However, improvement in leasing fundamentals also caused construction to pick up through 2008, which is now adding to the pressure on the market. Given the slowdown in employment and cuts at many local biotech firms during recent months, the vacancy rate reached 18.8% in the fourth quarter of 2009, roughly unchanged from 18.7% during the same period a year earlier. Increasing vacancies are contributing to declining rents, with rents for the Golden Triangle declining 22.7% year-over-year during the second quarter. The short-term challenges facing the Golden Triangle are connected to the cyclical nature of the technology industry as well as the greater recession plaguing the economy. Nonetheless, given the positive overall employment forecast for San Diego, as well as the anticipated recovery of the technology industry, we expect the Golden Triangle to strengthen during the coming years, remaining a favored location for tech-related companies in the region. A major factor positively impacting the Golden Triangle’s office market is the shortage of developable land in the submarket. Although the exact amount is unknown, local observers believe that vacant, privately owned land is scarce, particularly in the UTC, Del Mar Heights and Sorrento Mesa submarkets. With the continued development of San Diego’s North County, the Golden Triangle will benefit even more from its central location, serving as a bridge between Downtown and North County, as well as Orange County further north.

The Golden Triangle will continue to be the submarket of choice for many tenants due to the high quality of life of its surrounding communities, its proximity to highly regarded educational and research institutions, and its central location. Also, as the biotechnology and high-technology industries recover from the current downturn, the submarket should contribute significantly to San Diego’s position as one of the nation’s most important research and technology centers. With the highly-desirable quality of life found in the communities comprising the Golden Triangle, we expect the region to remain a location of choice for both companies and their employees in the years to come.

Market Summary

The office market in San Diego is poised for long-term health, particularly given the desirability of the region as a place to live, as well as the existing clusters of major employers in the technology and defense industries. These firms will likely attract new employers to the region as the economy recovers, especially in the innovative fields of clean energy technology and biotech. With the most concentrated cluster of biotech employment in the world, San Diego will undoubtedly benefit as the industry resumes expansion in the coming years. Overall, payrolls in San Diego are expected to stabilize in 2010, with growth resuming in 2011, and gaining momentum through the end of the forecast period. Accordingly, we expect demand for office space in San Diego to be healthy as the economy recovers, contributing to positive absorption and rent gains through the medium term. Presently, we consider the San Diego office market to be at the 1:30 position on the Real Estate Cycle Clock, signaling that although the region is still in a state of decline, the recovery is just around the corner.

Bay Area

San Francisco

Economy

Overview

The San Francisco metropolitan division includes San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. This area of more than one thousand square miles contains a population of 1.8 million and a workforce of approximately 934,000 as of year-end 2009. Although the total population declined in 2009, driven by negative net migration as a result of the high cost of living and low single family home affordability, San Francisco continues to attract well-educated people from around the globe with its high quality of life and diverse mix of innovative businesses. Top research universities in the Greater Bay Area such as UCSF, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz not only provide a source for innovative technologies, but also help to educate and sustain the area’s high-skilled labor force. The educational attainment level of San Francisco’s population is much higher than the levels of both the California and United States total populations. According to the Census, 29.2% of San Francisco

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   37


LOGO

residents held a bachelor’s degree and 19.6% held a graduate or professional degree in 2008. In comparison, just 18.8% of workers in California held a bachelor’s degree and 10.8% held a graduate or professional degree.

The Bay Area economy is driven by high value-added services and high-technology-based production. There is a significant presence of firms in the high-technology manufacturing, software, biotechnology, clean technology and multimedia production and design industries within the San Francisco metropolitan division. The region’s proximity to Los Angeles is also a major boost for firms dealing directly with movie, music, and sound production, particularly those that can bridge the entertainment and technology industries. Advertising, market research, and print media have a large concentration in the San Francisco metropolitan division because of the large number of Fortune 500 companies, innovation, and knowledge industries, as well as the large pool of creative talent in the area. In addition to these industries, the tourism, finance and trade industries also play a significant role in San Francisco’s economy.

Despite its economic strengths, the San Francisco area suffered because of the housing market crash and its subsequent effects on the financial sector. Job losses associated with the housing market crash, credit crisis and synchronized global recession surfaced in 2008. In the San Francisco metropolitan division, 19,000 jobs were eliminated, or 1.9% of total employment, during 2008. The construction and financial activities sectors recorded heavy losses, directly related to the subprime mortgage meltdown that began in 2007. Declines in retail sales and the overall global trade of goods resulted in trade sector job losses, while the professional and business services sector was weighed down heavily by layoffs of temporary workers and job cuts among firms that support overall business activity. The rate of job loss in San Francisco accelerated in 2009. Every employment sector cut jobs with the exception of the educational and health services sector. A total of 44,000 jobs were eliminated during 2009, or 4.6% of total employment. Job growth should resume in 2010 with a 0.5% increase in total employment and the addition of more than 4,900 jobs that year. Thereafter, we expect total employment growth to increase by an average of 1.3% annually through 2014.

Growth Industry Clusters

High-Technology

A wide variety of software development firms are concentrated within the San Francisco metropolitan division. Local software firms fit into a range of categories including traditional home and business software, social media and networking, gaming, education and multimedia design. Though software firms are located throughout the Bay Area, the most innovative are densely concentrated in several submarkets. Firms engaged in developing social media and networking applications, a relatively new and highly innovative business line, are concentrated within the SoMa district of San Francisco, which provides flexible and urban work environments.

The presence of major tech players in Silicon Valley draws companies to the Bay Area as they seek to reap the benefits of clustering, in turn fueling office demand in the San Francisco metropolitan area. More than 20 high-tech companies in the Fortune 1000 are located in Silicon Valley, including Google, Apple, Cisco Systems, Intel and Oracle. Although most of these companies are located in Santa Clara County, several large companies have located in lower-cost markets such as Redwood City in San Francisco’s Peninsula submarket. Furthermore, start-ups are drawn to the area by the benefits of clustering, including the opportunity to collaborate, shared vendors and customers, and access to public research centers established to serve the industry. Many of these newcomers choose to locate in San Mateo County, which contains 14.4% of Bay Area high-tech employment. San Francisco County contains 9.2%, according to an August 2009 study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We expect the high-technology industry to continue to drive economic growth through the long term, particularly as other technology sectors, such as biotech and clean tech, also seek to reap cross-industry benefits from clustering.

Largest Employers in San Francisco

Ranked by Number of Local Employees in 2009

 

Name

   Local
Employees
   Total
Employees

City and County of San Francisco

   26,554    27,802

University of California, San Francisco

   24,759    27,778

Wells Fargo Bank

   9,214    275,601

California Pacific Medical Center

   6,800    6,800

Kaiser Permanente

   5,629    164,769

State of California

   5,555    243,408

United States Postal Service

   4,697    641,000

PG&E Corp.

   4,394    20,000

Gap Inc.

   3,804    134,000

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.

   3,000    13,000

Source: San Francisco Business Times Book of Lists 2010

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   38


Biotechnology

The San Francisco Bay Area is the birthplace of the biotech industry. The Bay Area has a high concentration of biotech companies in the United States, as these firms and their spinoffs have maintained a presence in the region for more than 30 years. According to BayBio, a biotech trade organization, the biotech industry alone employs more than 90,000 people. Venture capital funding for the biotech industry is well established in the Bay Area and in California. California captured 36% of total capital invested during the fourth quarter of 2009. As of the fourth quarter of 2009, biopharmaceutical deal volume in the Bay Area dropped 49.7% year-over-year, and the number of deals was down to 21 compared with 25 in the fourth quarter of 2008. Biopharmaceutical investment volume totaled $922 million on 80 deals during 2009, compared with $1.4 billion on 100 deals during 2008. In addition to private funding, the Bay Area consistently leads the nation in public funding as well. National Institutes of Health funding in Northern California totaled nearly $2.0 billion in 2008. Biotech firms cluster in the region in order to take advantage of the highly skilled workforce as well as to benefit from the synergies created by nearby research universities. Within the region, South San Francisco has the largest cluster of biotech firms. Notable firms located in South San Francisco include Amgen, Genentech, and Rigel Pharmaceuticals. South San Francisco, east of Highway 101, is specifically zoned for industrial and commercial activity, making it ideal for R&D and expansion. The Mission Bay district of San Francisco is emerging as a desirable location for biotech companies as well, with notable tenants including UCSF, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Nektar Therapeutics. According to BayBio, approximately 1,400 biotech companies are currently located throughout the Bay Area, employing around 250,000 people in total. Important local biotech sub-sectors include genetic engineering, biopharmaceuticals, as well as drug research, development and manufacturing. Major biotech employers include Amgen, Genentech, Exelixis, Monogram Biosciences, Theravance and Cell Genesys.

Clean Technology

According to Clean Edge, a clean technology research company, the San Francisco Bay Area, which includes Silicon Valley and the East Bay, is ranked first out of the largest MSAs for clean tech jobs. The ranking was based on area clean tech job postings, investment activity, industry presence and patent activity. A high concentration of finance, green building, and environmental consulting firms are located in the Downtown San Francisco submarket. A number of firms are also scattered across other parts of the city. San Francisco has leveraged its competitive advantage in finance, consulting and design, in addition to its local support for environmental awareness, to attract companies at this technical end of the clean tech value chain. Given the economy’s strength in legal services and public relations, San Francisco is also a hub for product commercialization and business development services.

Multimedia and Entertainment

The multimedia production and design industry is also concentrated in the San Francisco metropolitan division. Incorporating elements of high-tech manufacturing and software development with more traditional arts and media, local multimedia firms leverage existing local clusters and skill sets. Major companies with local operations include Pixar, LucasArts, Sony, Electronic Arts, Dolby, Sega of America, Konami Digital Entertainment America and PDI DreamWorks SKG. The San Francisco Center for Economic Development estimates that within the multimedia design category, more than 50 digital entertainment companies operate in San Francisco.

San Francisco has a large concentration of social media headquarters located within the city, the largest and most widely followed of which include Twitter, Craigslist, Yelp, and Flickr. According to the Internet research site Alexa, five of the top-ten websites visited are social sites and these companies have rapidly hired new staff in recent years. Although the recession also forced job cuts on many of these local firms, we expect that a rebound in business spending, particularly on advertising, could fuel extended growth in this sector, particularly as social media sites continue to grow in popularity.

An extension of the social media boom, online gaming has become a dominant form of entertainment in recent years, although it is still developing. Also attracted by the area’s high-tech presence, a growing online gaming cluster has formed in San Francisco. One example of this, Zynga, the largest and fastest-growing social network online gaming company, recently closed a deal bringing the company’s headquarters to Mission Bay. Should rapid growth in this fledgling industry continue, newer companies could be attracted to the presence of such a large and relatively established player.

Advertising

The advertising industry is well established in the San Francisco region. The high concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the area, as well as the large amount of well-known technology companies make it an important place for advertising agencies to keep a location. Additionally, the presence of digital media, entertainment, and high-tech companies in the area has created a cluster of advertising firms specializing in online, mobile, and other specialty advertising. For example, mobile advertising dollars increased by 30% in 2008, with analysts predicting an additional 15% increase in 2009, despite the recession. During the last six months of 2008, VC funding for mobile advertising firms totaled more than $80 million in the Bay Area alone.

Nevertheless, the traditional advertising industry has been under duress during the recent recession, with many companies cutting back on their advertising budgets. According to Nielsen, ad spending in the United States dropped 9.0% during 2009 compared with

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   39


2008. Print media, and particularly newspapers, were the hardest hit. National newspaper ad spending dropped by 13.7% in 2009, while local newspaper ad spending declined by 10.4%. The shift from print media to online media has also fueled the demand for digital marketing, which is likely to benefit San Francisco more directly than other cities, as not only are local firms more experienced in this arena but are also likely at the forefront of innovation in advertising. The metropolitan division is home to many ad agencies that specialize in digital marketing, including AKQA, the fourth-largest ad agency in the Bay Area, and Organic, Inc. Other large and more traditional advertising agencies with a presence in San Francisco include McCann Worldgroup; Avenue A/Razorfish; and Young & Rubicam. Notably, advertising agencies headquartered in San Francisco have a large percentage of local Fortune 500 clients, including Hewlett Packard, SanDisk, and Sprint.

Office Market

Overview

The San Francisco office market is divided primarily into three submarkets – the San Francisco central business district (CBD) office market, which is driven by a diverse array of industries, the non-CBD market and the Peninsula office market, both of which are primarily driven by high-tech and biotechnology. The Peninsula submarket includes all of the office space in San Mateo County, with biotechnology clustered in South San Francisco, venture capital clustered in Menlo Park and tech firms in communities such as Redwood City. The non-CBD market includes space in San Francisco County that is not in the Financial District, including SoMa, Mission Bay and neighboring Civic Center. These markets have experienced rapid growth in recent years as a result of redevelopment and growth of the tech and biotech industries.

Corporate headquarters, financial institutions, technology-related companies, as well as business and professional services firms occupy a majority of the space in the CBD, while high-tech and biotech firms generally choose to locate in the nearby SoMa or Mission Bay districts, or in the Peninsula. Roughly 67% of all office space in the City of San Francisco is located in the Financial District. With an estimated 560,000 downtown office workers employed in a wide range of managerial, professional, and clerical occupations serving businesses across the globe, San Francisco has emerged both as a major regional center for finance and high-technology companies and a home to thousands of skilled workers who are vital to the growing variety of industries.

The Peninsula submarket is more affordable and more horizontal, lending to the proliferation of its biotechnology cluster in South San Francisco and tech clusters throughout other parts of the market. Additionally, its location in between San Francisco and San Jose allows for ideal placement for finance and professional services firms wishing to serve technology clients, such as those located on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park. Furthermore, many tech-related firms have found it more affordable to locate in the Peninsula, such as Dreamworks in Redwood City and Facebook in Palo Alto. The area’s proximity to Stanford University also makes it an attractive locale for tech firms, both in terms of recruiting as well as familiarity with the neighborhood by company executives.

During the previous office market boom, the late 1990s tech bubble led to heightened demand for space in the San Francisco office market. This demand, when combined with limited supply conditions, produced perhaps the tightest office market in the country at the time, particularly for high quality assets. The overall Class A vacancy rate in the CBD office market plummeted to 2.1% in 2000, while the average direct Class A rent spiked from $29.35 per square foot in 1996 to $80.16 in 2000. During this cycle, the overall Class A vacancy rate for the non-CBD office market dropped to 2.1% in 1999, while the average direct non-CBD, Class A rent peaked at $66.24 per square foot in 2000. As market conditions tightened, companies stockpiled office space to accommodate planned future growth. Following the burst of the tech bubble in 2001, the slowing economy, job cuts, and downsizing among Internet and technology companies put the brakes on office demand and led to a flood of unoccupied office space into the market as company layoffs and business closures curbed the anticipated demand for space.

Following the dot-com bust, the San Francisco office market recovered. From 2005 to 2008, the resurgence of the high-tech and software industries, growth in the financial activities and professional and business services sectors, and the recent residential real estate boom drove the demand for office space in the supply-constrained CBD office market. For the first time since the end of the tech boom, the CBD overall Class A vacancy rate reached single digits in 2007, dropping to 8%. The direct Class A average rent surpassed $50 per

 

San Francisco Overall Office Market Statistics (1)

  

          2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Stock

   (SF,000)      104,475        104,956        104,956        107,117        107,368        107,578        107,578        107,578        107,761        108,503   

New Construction

   (SF,000)      847        481        —          2,161        251        210        —          —          183        742   

Net Absorption

   (SF,000)      4,593        3,660        5,155        (2,349     (2,329     1,000        1,150        1,700        980        1,760   

Occupied Stock

   (SF,000)      86,543        90,204        95,359        93,010        90,681        91,681        92,831        94,531        95,511        97,271   

Vacancy Rate

        17.2     14.1     9.1     13.2     15.5     14.8     13.7     12.1     11.4     10.4

Rent

   ($/SF)    $ 28.39      $ 31.24      $ 39.83      $ 42.48      $ 31.50      $ 30.25      $ 31.12      $ 33.23      $ 34.89      $ 37.32   

Rent Growth

        12.5     10.0     27.5     6.6     -25.9     -4.0     2.9     6.8     5.0     7.0

 

(1)

Construction, net absorption and rent growth are year-to-date values.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   40


LOGO

square foot in 2008, which was an increase of more than 66% from lease rates four years earlier. The Peninsula office market followed a similar trend, with the vacancy rate dropping to 9.9% in 2007 from 17.7% in 2006. Asking rents grew 38.1% during this time. However, as much as rental rates were driven by strong office demand, the rapid increase in lease rates was also a result of the high volume of transactions during this time, which had newly minted owners raising rates at every opportunity in an effort to justify pro forma numbers. For premium, high-view floors in downtown San Francisco, asking rents reached the $80 to $100 per-square-foot range for recently traded buildings.

Historically, very high construction costs, limited land availability, and San Francisco’s infamously strict building regulations have effectively prevented office developers from oversupplying the market. Regulations governing total office space delivered and casting of shadows by buildings, in addition to vocal neighborhood groups, act as significant hurdles to new development projects in the region. During the last 15 years, slightly more than 3.7 million square feet of new CBD office space were constructed. Two-thirds of this construction

LOGO

total was delivered in the five-year period between 1999 and 2003. The onset of the recession following the events of 9/11 and the dot-com bust brought a lull in downtown construction activity until 2008, when 872,000 square feet of CBD office space were completed. In the non-CBD and Peninsula office markets, development is less difficult and these submarkets drove most of the total office construction activity in recent years. From 2005 to 2008, an average of 872,000 square feet was delivered annually throughout the San Francisco metropolitan division.

Market Conditions

The recession caused consumers and businesses to pull back sharply on spending, reducing demand for space. Furthermore, job cuts at tech companies such as Cisco and Intel, as well as financial services firms like Charles Schwab, caused deteriorating market fundamentals throughout the San Francisco metropolitan division. As of the fourth quarter of 2009, the total office vacancy rate increased 230 basis points from year-end 2008 to 15.5%, in spite of a low level of new supply. These poor market conditions reduced landlord bargaining power and asking rents dropped 25.9% during 2009.

Job losses will dampen total office market performance in the near term. The total office vacancy rate should trend downward to 10.4% in 2014 as a result of resumed job growth and very limited construction. Rent growth should follow a lagged pace, with an annual decrease of 4.0% in asking rents in 2010. Subsequently, we expect the average asking rent to rebound in line with office-using employment. Rent growth should accelerate to 2.9% in 2011, 6.8% in 2012 and 5.0% in 2013. We do not expect any new deliveries from 2011 to 2012, as credit conditions and a high level of vacant space deter development. In the long term, much of the new office space expected to come online in the overall office market during the next ten years will be concentrated in the Mission Bay area. The expansion of San Francisco’s biotechnology cluster should counter the effects of this new supply, while continued growth in the high-tech, multimedia, entertainment, advertising and clean tech clusters fuels demand for office space throughout the metropolitan division. The combination of limited new supply and employment expansion in these high-growth industries should fuel improvement in the San Francisco metropolitan office market.

Investment Activity

In the San Francisco metropolitan division, 18 office properties traded hands in 2009, according to Real Capital Analytics. The total transaction volume was $808.7 million during this time for an average transaction price of $44.9 million in San Francisco compared with $25.1 nationally. Investors paid an average $342 per square foot, while the average price paid was $187 on the national level. The average prices paid per building and per square foot have historically been higher in San Francisco, and cap rates generally lower, as the area’s limited supply of assets and high potential for growth increased competition among investors. The average cap rate was 10.1% in

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   41


the fourth quarter of 2009, as compared with 8.3% nationally. The credit crunch and weakening fundamentals caused San Francisco office cap rates to rise from a recent quarterly low of 5.1% in the third quarter of 2007.

A lack of refinancing capital, in addition to reduced income generation and property devaluations, led to a rapid increase in the number of distressed assets in San Francisco. According to Real Capital Analytics, 26 office buildings became distressed from 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2009, and 11 of these deals were resolved or restructured. Although many lenders are currently willing to amend loan structures, we expect the number of distressed assets to increase as this trend dissipates.

CBD Market Conditions

By 2009, the effects of the deterioration of global financial markets, the softened real estate industry, and the decline in consumer and business spending on the San Francisco economy brought the office market into its current state of disarray. Major San Francisco layoffs and company downsizings during this recession took a toll on the San Francisco office market, particularly in the Financial District. Companies such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan Chase and Macy’s have enacted massive layoffs. Two of the city’s most prestigious law firms, Heller Ehrman, LLP and Thelen, LLP dissolved. Additional layoffs and company bankruptcies among some of the market’s long-time office tenants left the market in limbo. Leasing activity remains stagnant, with smaller, short-term leases dominating the market. As a result of this rapid downsizing and mass layoffs, companies dumped thousands of square feet of excess office space during 2008 and 2009. However, as job cuts slowed in recent months, so has the amount of space returning to the market. The CBD vacancy rate increased to 12.9% in the fourth quarter of 2009 from 11.6% at year-end 2008. Asking rents declined by 28.1% in 2009 as a result. The ongoing correction in the San Francisco office market is expected to erase the rent gains of the past three years.

Although the current economic environment forced owners to reduce rents and flooded the markets with available sublease space, the diversity of tenants in key office-consuming sectors such as finance, business services, legal services, accounting and the biotech industry assures a steady source for office demand during the long term. Expectations of rising tenant demand and future growth should continue to draw international capital to San Francisco, maintaining the city’s status as a premier global investment market. During the next five years, we expect more tempered levels of office absorption in comparison with the market’s recovery following the tech bust. The next upturn in this economic cycle will be less leveraged and more cautious in comparison with the most recent boom. Economic growth during this upturn will include heightened government regulation, lower consumption, and moderated levels of debt, which will prevent rapid expansions in some credit-dependent industries. The subdued levels of growth in the banking industry should restrain the demand for space in the Downtown office market, as major financial

LOGO

services firms take a more conservative approach to office leasing. We expect the CBD vacancy rate to trend downward alongside resumed employment growth to 8.5% in 2014. The average asking rent should decline in 2010, before rent growth accelerates to an annual increase of 8.5% in 2014. Beyond our forecast horizon, however, we expect more robust economic expansion to lead to significant improvements in office market fundamentals.

Office development in the San Francisco CBD is largely guided by the 1985 Downtown Plan. The plan’s ultimate objective was to limit office construction in the city and mitigate its impact on the area’s infrastructure and quality of life. The plan’s height limitations, strict design guidelines, and historic preservation requirements within commercially zoned areas help to preserve the Financial District’s character and restrain office construction. Complementing the city’s Downtown Plan and placing further restrictions on the growth of the downtown office pipeline is Proposition M, passed in 1986. The proposition places an annual limit of 950,000 square feet of permits for new office construction, divided into 875,000 square feet in large projects and 75,000 square feet in small office projects (of less than 50,000 square feet). Despite the positive long-term outlook

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   42


on the local economy, rising construction costs, strict building standards within the Financial District, and political limitations on the amount of new office space delivered annually should prevent severe overbuilding in the market. Given the current real estate and financing environment, we expect a majority of the projects in the development pipeline to face considerable delays.

Approximately two-thirds of downtown San Francisco’s office stock traded hands from 2005 to 2007, as investors rushed to purchase property in an environment of rapidly increasing values and income generation. In 2009, only 14 buildings sold, as prices tumbled and cap rates rose. With the number of troubled assets on the rise, as well as the large percentage of buildings purchased at peak prices, we believe there will be many favorable buying opportunities in the San Francisco CBD, given its positive long-term outlook.

Peninsula Market Conditions

The office market in San Mateo County has suffered as a result of high-tech job cuts, a slowdown in biotech hiring and the turmoil in the financial services industry. Additionally, the housing market crash and subsequent pullback in consumer spending caused many housing-related firms and small businesses to close. Mirroring trends in the CBD, the vacancy rate rose to 17.0% in the fourth quarter of 2009 from 14.8% at year-end 2008. During 2009, asking rental rates fell by 21.6% as landlords were faced with a large amount of vacant space. Furthermore, the decline in the global demand for high-technology and biopharmaceutical products has forced tenants in the market to trim payrolls, and consequently, excise unused office space. Tenants continue to add to the available sublease inventory, while smaller lease renewals and downsizings dominate leasing activity. Only 251,000 square feet of new office space came online during 2009, indicating that the increase in available space is primarily a result of declining tenant demand.

We believe that the introduction of new technologies and development of tech start-ups will remain subdued until the IPO market and VC funding activity rebound significantly. As a result, the expected

LOGO

LOGO

increase in bankruptcies and acquisitions of smaller companies and the resulting decline in office demand will weigh on the Peninsula office market through the near term. However, in the long term, the Peninsula submarket offers many competitive advantages that should allow for growth. The location between downtown San Francisco and Silicon Valley, coupled with its relative affordability, should drive demand for space from tech start-ups. Additionally, the preexisting biotechnology, finance and high-tech clusters should contribute to demand for office space through the long term, as we expect these innovative industries to drive economic growth on the local level going forward. We predict that the vacancy rate will have peaked in 2009, before moving down to 11.3% in 2014. We expect that it will be some time before the vacancy rate returns to the single digits in the Peninsula, as we suspect companies will be cautious in their hiring practices in the near term. Asking rents should decline to approximately $32 per square foot in 2010, before increasing through 2014 to more than $38 per square foot. New construction should not reappear until 2013, as financing difficulties and poor market conditions dissuade developers.

Office investment trends are fairly volatile in the Peninsula submarket. Fueled by the growth of the area’s biotechnology industry and high-tech cluster, investors rushed to purchase buildings during the most recent boom. Annual transaction volume peaked at more than $3.7 billion in 2007. In 2009, only four properties traded hands for a total investment volume of $413 million. A lack of financing, deteriorating office fundamentals and a slowdown in the biotech and tech industries account for this trend.

Market Summary

The San Francisco office market is currently correcting alongside the nation, but the presence of growth industries and limited new supply should help it recover more quickly. Additionally, a more diverse economy should limit the deterioration of office market fundamentals in coming years, as compared with the years following the tech bust. Rapidly dropping asking rents are a result of over-inflated rents during the boom, as many financial services organizations, established

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   43


technology firms and consumer-related companies were willing to pay much higher rents in that era of high profits. Furthermore, a high rate of properties trading hands among institutional investors caused buyers to demand higher rents at the same time. We expect rent growth to return at a moderate pace as economic growth accelerates in San Francisco. During the long term, the San Francisco office market should benefit from strict limits on development reducing the risk of oversupply, innovative technology clusters driving demand, and a high quality of life assuring an ample supply of well-educated employees for area firms. As tenant demand increases and little new product is available for occupancy, we expect accelerated achievable rent growth beyond our traditional forecast horizon. Although the investment market currently has a historically high level of distressed assets, we believe that the long-term growth prospects will cause investors to absorb the supply of troubled assets more quickly in San Francisco than in many other areas, fueling value appreciation in the future. The office clock is currently in its decline phase at 1:30, leaving additional room for the expected vacancy rate increase and rent decline, but also indicating that much of the downside risk is behind the market.

Silicon Valley

Economy

Overview

The economy in the San Jose metropolitan area is dominated by tech employment, making the region highly susceptible to the changes in the business cycle. While this dependence is difficult for the economy during periods of economic downturn, it also includes the benefits of great prosperity during boom years. Given our outlook that the innovative tech industry will help lead the national recovery, the San Jose region is well-positioned for growth in the coming years.

The San Jose MSA, or Silicon Valley, consists of Santa Clara and San Benito counties. However, San Benito County is primarily agricultural and its population is roughly 3% of the size of Santa Clara County. The Silicon Valley economy is vitally interconnected with its northern neighbor San Mateo County, as well as the remainder of the Bay Area. Geographically, Silicon Valley has access to a vast pool of educated workers throughout the Bay Area, with universities like Stanford and UC Berkeley attracting some of the top minds in the world to the region.

Educational attainment in the Bay Area is among the highest in the country, with many graduates of the region’s top-tier research universities choosing to start professional careers in the area. The San Jose metropolitan area is ranked third in educational attainment nationally based on the percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Employers in the Silicon Valley benefit from the highly educated workforce throughout the Bay Area, as many workers opt to commute to the South Bay from San Francisco.

The 2009 population estimate for the Silicon Valley was 1.82 million. Since the economic downturn in 2001, when the San Jose metropolitan area was hit particularly hard, net migration in the region has been negative almost every year. Although out-migration is still a trend due to the cost of living, the natural increase in population is curbing the impact. Moreover, the number of people leaving the region has slowed compared with earlier in the decade, and many of the out-migrants are now opting to live in other parts of the Bay Area, but still commute to the Silicon Valley for employment. Among young professionals, it is increasingly popular to live in San Francisco and work in the Silicon Valley, despite the commute.

Silicon Valley is home to numerous large employers within both the public and private sectors. The largest private sector employers include Cisco Systems, Stanford University, Lockheed Martin, Oracle, and Hewlett Packard. Even with the downturn in the economy, several tech clusters are still poised for growth through the longer term, including software and clean technology. The presence of existing tech firms will also likely attract new start-ups as the economy recovers and innovations take hold. However, tech firms began to cut payrolls in 2008, with total non-farm employment declining 1.9% year-over-year.

Weak electronic sales, limited private financing, and softness in the housing market led to job losses in the Silicon Valley in 2009. Internet companies continued to shed jobs, although at a more moderate pace toward the end of the year. The semiconductor and computer equipment manufacturing industry has borne the brunt of the reduction in demand for electronic products from both consumers and businesses, driving the 7.0% annual decline in manufacturing employment in December 2009.

With the exception of educational and health services and government, every sector of the economy shed jobs during the 12 months ending in December. Overall, total non-farm payrolls declined by 3.9% year-over-year, reflecting the loss of 35,200 jobs. The unemployment

Largest Employers in Silicon Valley

Ranked by Number of Local Employees in 2009

 

Name

   Local
Employees
   Total
Employees

Cisco Systems Inc.

   17,000    67,647

Country of Santa Clara

   15,350    15,350

Kaiser Permanente

   13,515    159,766

Stanford University, SLAC

   12,219    12,219

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.

   8,088    140,000

Oracle Corp.

   8,000    86,657

State of California

   7,751    211,784

Hewlett-Packard Co.

   7,500    321,000

Sun Microsystems

   6,400    33,423

City of San Jose

   6,256    6,256

Source: San Jose Business Journal Book of Lists 2010

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   44


rate reached 12.5%. Global weakness in consumer spending was the main drag on the economy, slowing demand for tech products, as well as local demand for goods and services. The real estate downturn is also affecting the region, with construction employment and financial activities employment declining 19.1% and 3.8% year-over-year, respectively.

The Silicon Valley’s full economic recovery is more than a year away, and the region’s dependence on the Internet and high-technology sectors that have yet to produce new local jobs poses a major risk factor. Off-shoring is a common phenomenon in the high-cost area and many local firms are expanding payrolls in satellite locations, rather than in Silicon Valley. Nonetheless, we anticipate that high-tech jobs will be created throughout the region as the economy recovers and innovations are developed. In fact, Silicon Valley tends to follow a more volatile boom-bust cycle as a result of its entrepreneurial environment and penchant for innovation.

By year-end 2010, we expect total employment growth to return to positive territory, increasing by 0.8% followed by a 1.1% increase in total payrolls by 2011. Though the pace has slowed in recent months, Silicon Valley companies continue to announce large job cuts. Lockheed Martin recently announced the elimination of 800 jobs, many of which will come from their Sunnyvale offices, while Cisco will lay off an additional 700 employees in the San Jose region as part of its ongoing restructuring. While such layoffs are expected to continue through the short term, the medium-term outlook is more positive, particularly given the expectation that the tech industry will help lead the recovery.

LOGO

The Web 2.0 and clean technology firms are expected to drive future economic expansion. Clean tech firms, in particular, will likely be among the first to expand, with increased demand for clean energy resulting from new federal and state incentives. Even in light of challenges, the region is still the largest tech center in the country, with major firms likely to continue to attract start-ups seeking proximity to larger names in the years to come. The region will likely always be prone to boom and bust cycles, and the current downturn is not an exception. We expect firms in Silicon Valley to regroup as the national economy recovers, restoring economic health to the region through a high level of innovation.

Growth Industry Clusters

High-Technology

According to a study released by the Milken Institute in 2009, Silicon Valley is the largest center of tech employment in North America. Given that periods of economic downturn generally lead to innovations and entrepreneurialism, we expect the overall tech industry to be reinvigorated in the next few years. Major tech employers in the region include Cisco Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Intel, IBM, Applied Materials, EBay, KLA-Tencor, Hitachi America, Symantec, Network Appliance, Xilinx, NVIDIA, Adobe, National Semiconductor, and Microsoft, which were each among the top-25 employers in the region in 2008. Major firms like Google and Yahoo! have also expanded their footprints during recent years.

Although global semiconductor sales remain low, there were positives signs of recovery through 2009 and into 2010. A leading indicator for the overall tech economy, global semiconductor sales increased by 56.2% year-over-year in February 2010, a promising trend. The recent rise in global semiconductor sales, a leading indicator for increasing demand for computer and electronic goods, should help curb further job cuts in the sector.

Venture capital is vital to the entrepreneurial economy in the region, and Silicon Valley is home to some of the most notable financial backers in the world. Nonetheless, the financial crisis sent many recipient firms scrambling to secure additional funding, contributing to layoffs throughout the region, and limited the emergence of new start-ups. In 2009, venture capital fell to $7.0 billion, down from $10.7 billion a year earlier and $10.8 billion in 2007. However, compared with most other parts of the country, the amount of venture capital flowing into the region is still high, signaling the power of the region to attract funds even during a severe national economic downturn.

The shortage of exit opportunities has forced venture funds to own companies longer, potentially forcing sales at reduced values and restraining investment in other technologies/companies. With five venture-backed IPOs in the second quarter of 2009, the market is showing signs of improvement. However, until the IPO window fully reopens and exits return to historical norms, we do not expect a high level of job creation. In the fourth quarter of 2009, there were no venture-backed IPOs. Once funding resumes at a normalized level, we expect this capital to fuel innovation and product development, setting the stage for accelerated growth within the technology industry.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   45


Clean Technology

The emerging clean tech cluster will likely be among the first to expand during the coming years, spurred by increased global demand for clean energy innovations. Already, the greater Bay Area region is ranked first in the country for clean-tech job activity according to Clean Edge. In 2008, $4 billion was invested in clean tech start-ups nationally, accounting for roughly 40% of the total venture capital investment for the year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. The high concentration of venture capital firms, as well as growing interest regarding the development of green technology from major tech firms like Cisco and Google, helps to attract clean energy start-ups to the region. Cisco, for example, is focused on leading the way in clean tech development with work on a smart grid technology system. Solar technology development is already concentrated in Silicon Valley, with firms like Soyndria and Nanosolar, largely because of the area’s existing silicon chip production and semiconductor companies, as well as access to the area’s highly educated workforce. The availability of existing manufacturing and R&D industrial space in the San Jose MSA is another draw for clean tech firms to the region. Moreover, the only clean tech business incubator in the entire Bay Area, Environmental Business Cluster, is located in San Jose, helping to attract firms by providing consulting services and commercialization assistance to fledgling clean tech companies in the Silicon Valley. Firms focused on clean energy generation, green building and design, finance, and energy consulting are concentrated in areas such as Santa Clara and Mountain View.

Office Market

Overview

The Silicon Valley office market measures more than 43.4 million square feet. The majority of this space is located in the suburbs, with inventory totaling 37.0 million square feet at the end of the fourth quarter. Major submarkets for tech demand include suburban San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Mountain View, which combined accounted for approximately 85% of the space in the suburban office inventory. In contrast, the Downtown San Jose office market totals just 6.5 million square feet, or 14.9% of the Silicon Valley office market. In keeping with the overall economy, office conditions in the region are cyclical, following the boom and bust cycles of the tech industry.

Prior to the dot-com bust, Silicon Valley had relatively steady growth in office employment. As tech companies began to move to Silicon Valley or increase their workforce in the Valley, office employment grew correspondingly. During the height of the dot-com era, the downtown market had virtually no space available, with a vacancy rate of 1.2% in 2000. Likewise, the suburban vacancy rate also bottomed in 2000, falling to 2.9%. Overall, the office vacancy rate was just 2.6% in 2000.

In many parts of Silicon Valley, massive overbuilding occurred right at the peak of the dot-com boom. This led to a large amount of vacant inventory once the economy shifted. Between 1998 and 2002, developers added 9.9 million square feet of new office space to the market. This trend was unsustainable, particularly given the sharp shift in employment caused by the tech bust in 2001. The rapid overbuilding, followed by a growth cycle in the residential real estate construction sector, led to a dramatic reduction in available land. As the office market slowed following the dot-com era, the development pipeline dried up, with no new space completed between 2003 and 2007.

During the height of the dot-com bust in mid-2003, the overall vacancy rate peaked at 29.6%. In the suburban markets, the vacancy rate climbed to 28.7% at year-end 2002, reflecting the overbuilding of recent years in conjunction with a sharp drop in demand for space. Conditions in the CBD also deteriorated quickly, even without overbuilding in the submarket during recent years. In the CBD, existing land constraints led to few new developments, with just 664,000 square feet completed during the boom years between 1998 and 2002. Although these new projects added to the level of vacant space, much of the spike in vacancy rates was attributable to a lack of tenant demand, with an absence of major corporate tenants driving the market. In contrast to the suburban market, where demand returned with the recovery in employment, the vacancy rate in the CBD continued to climb, reaching 27.4% in 2005.

Coinciding with swings in the market, asking rental rates have fluctuated greatly over the past decade. During the height of the boom, the dearth of available space drove up the average Class A asking rental rate to $54.19 per square foot per year in 2000, reflecting a 44.6% year-over-year increase. In fact, effective rents were above this rate as tenant competition for prime blocks of space was intense.

Silicon Valley Overall Office Market Statistics(1)

 

          2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Stock

   (SF,000)      40,396        40,468        40,468        41,948        43,494        44,348        44,348        44,348        44,348        44,348   

New Construction

   (SF,000)      —          73        —          1,480        1,546        854        —          —          —          —     

Net Absorption

   (SF,000)      2,686        430        437        (694     (871     570        800        1,035        760        1,250   

Occupied Stock

   (SF,000)      34,558        34,988        35,425        34,731        33,859        34,429        35,229        36,264        37,024        38,274   

Vacancy Rate

        14.5     13.5     12.5     17.2     22.2     22.4     20.6     18.2     16.5     13.7

Rent

   ($/SF)    $ 23.65      $ 24.78      $ 30.68      $ 32.00      $ 28.30      $ 26.92      $ 27.32      $ 28.06      $ 28.62      $ 29.79   

Rent Growth

        -1.0     4.8     23.8     4.3     -11.6     -4.9     1.5     2.7     2.0     4.1

 

(1)

Construction, net absorption and rent growth are year-to-date values.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   46


LOGO

With the end of the explosive tenant demand, and ensuing glut of sublease space, asking rents for Class A properties fell 53.1% from 2000 to 2003.

With the halt in construction in 2004, and a slow economic recovery under way by that time, organic tenant growth resulted in the absorption of excess vacant space, particularly in the suburbs. The recovery in Silicon Valley’s suburban office market was one of the most dramatic U.S. office market improvements during the middle of the decade. Strong positive net absorption emerged in 2004 and accelerated through 2005 as a variety of tenants opened offices or expanded operations, locking in favorable lease terms. Recovery in the suburbs was driven primarily by growing technology firms such as Yahoo! and Google. Consequently, the suburban vacancy rate dipped to 12.1% at year-end 2005 from 20.7% in 2004 and 25.9% in 2003.

With rental rates at historical lows, profits strong at many of the big local tech firms, and venture capital activity healthy, many tenants opted to secure space in anticipation of future growth. The improvement to the market continued with employment growth

LOGO

through 2007, driving the overall vacancy rate down to a year-end low of 12.5%. Even the CBD benefited from this improvement, with spillover demand from the suburbs driving the vacancy rate down to 16.6% in 2008, reflecting the lowest rate since 2001. However, this decrease also included BEA’s brief ownership of the Sobrato Building, which it intended to occupy but ended up returning to the market when the company was purchased by Oracle.

Market Conditions

As the business cycle once again shifted with the current recession, conditions throughout the Silicon Valley began to deteriorate. Anemic leasing activity and the addition of 1.5 million square feet of new office space in 2009 pushed the overall vacancy rate to 22.2% during the fourth quarter. Suburban office market conditions weakened as companies completed previously announced layoffs and shed excess space, while new space came to market. As companies reduced their need for office space and leasing activity remained stagnant, negative net absorption totaled more than one million square feet, which pushed the suburban office vacancy rate to 21.9%. For the most part, tenants with expiring leases are choosing to renew existing leases instead of relocating, contributing to weak leasing activity at newly completed properties. Overall suburban rents declined 13.7% year-to-date through the fourth quarter of 2009. The submarkets that exhibited the largest year-over-year declines in direct Class A rates during this period included Campbell, Cupertino and Santa Clara, with rents declining more than 15% year-over-year in each market.

The long-struggling CBD has also been affected by the recent downturn in the economy. As law firms adjusted their staff and billing practices to match the drop-off in the demand for legal services, and financial services companies continued to reel from capital market turmoil, the demand for office space from these traditional downtown users abated through 2009. During the fourth quarter, the CBD vacancy rate climbed to 23.6%, erasing much of the occupancy gains of the last couple of years. Nonetheless, downtown rents were still up 3.8% in 2009.

Although the office market is expected to benefit from improvement in the economy, the short-term outlook is weak. The overall vacancy rate is expected to increase only slightly to 22.4% in 2010. Competing for tenants, office owners will be forced to lower lease rates. We expect overall rents to decline by 4.9% in 2010. As more companies prioritize price over quality, we expect most newly completed space to remain vacant during the duration of this recession. We expect 854,000 square feet to be completed in 2010, marking the end of the recent building boom.

As the local economy recovers through the latter part of the forecast period, the expected rise in office employment combined with no new construction activity should bring the vacancy rate to the mid-teens and overall rents to nearly $30 per square foot by 2014. Given the high vacancy rate, we expect no new space to be completed between 2011 and 2014. Rent growth will likely resume in 2011,

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   47


climbing from 1.5% annual growth in 2011 to 4.1% in 2014. Into the forecast period, the Silicon Valley economy is well positioned to benefit from the expected growth in the renewable energy sector, as well as the increased innovation across the tech industry that generally emerges from a recessionary period. With continued support from federal government incentives and an established source of venture capital investment and new technologies, our long-term outlook on the market is positive.

Investment Activity

Investment opportunities abound with the rise in office defaults during recent months. In March 2010, Real Capital Analytics reported ten troubled assets through the past year in the region, with additional properties likely to have been overlooked. Given the improvement expected to the market through the longer term, as well as the weak investment activity in the current market, these properties will likely sell at sharp discounts. During the 12 months ending in December, total investment volume in the region fell to $190 million, down from nearly $1.3 billion during the same period a year earlier. The average sales price was $245 per square foot, compared with $295 per square foot a year earlier. The 12-month average cap rate was 6.6%, up from 6.2% a year earlier.

Market Summary

Even with short-term weakness, the resilience in office demand during previous cycles bodes well for a full recovery to the market in the coming years. Given the strong presence of tech firms in the region, the office market is susceptible to the changes in the business cycle, benefiting from periods of prosperity during up years, and weakness during downturns in the economy. Presently, the local office market is approaching the bottom of the cycle, signaling potential opportunities for investors with access to capital, particularly with the rise in distressed properties. In addition to the existing cluster of major technology firms, the region also attracts employers with its highly educated workforce and access to the rest of the Bay Area, which are attributes that are unlikely to lose value during the coming years. Although an oversupply of recently completed space will contribute to a slow recovery through the short term, we expect the office market to perform well through the longer term, improving with the revitalization of the innovative tech industry. On the Real Estate Cycle Clock, we put the Silicon Valley office market at 1:30, signaling short-term weakness but an impending recovery.

East Bay

Economy

Overview

The Oakland metropolitan area is composed of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, located inland across the bay from San Francisco, and is often referred to as the East Bay. The region was home to more than 2.5 million people in 2009, and boasts a highly educated workforce, with approximately 39.1% of the population over the age of 25 years-old holding a bachelor’s degree or higher as of 2008, compared with 27.7% nationally. The East Bay is the site of many colleges and universities, including UC Berkeley, Mills College, Saint Mary’s University, California State University East Bay, and numerous community colleges and technical schools, including Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. Additionally, it has the third largest port complex on the west coast, a busy international airport, and serves as an international gateway to Asia.

The East Bay is typically the lower-cost alternative to San Francisco, and its industry mix revolves around trade activity, educational and health services, and government. These key strengths are reflected in the area’s top employers, the top five of which are UC Berkeley, Kaiser Permanente, the State of California, Safeway Inc., and Alameda County. Together these firms employed more than 68,000 people in 2009, about 7.0% of the East Bay’s 977,000 employees. In addition to these top employers, the East Bay’s most prominent university, UC Berkeley, also supports the efforts of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The Livermore Lab, as it is commonly referred to, typically focuses research efforts on defense-related activities, while the Berkeley Lab also focuses on these areas as well as genetic research. The East Bay’s core industries also drive growth in other sectors, including professional and business services and financial activities.

Historically, the East Bay’s economy has typically held up well during recessions. During the early 1990s, the Oakland metropolitan area lost 22,400 jobs in 1991 and 1992, largely as a result of weakness in the manufacturing sector caused by a pullback in defense spending during the time. While California’s recession lasted from 1991 through 1993 in terms of job contraction, the East Bay began adding jobs again by 1993. Job losses in 1991 and 1992 in the East Bay resulted in a 2.5% contraction, compared with San Francisco’s contraction of 4.6% during the same period. The next eight years brought an additional 192,000 jobs to the region, until the tech bust in 2001. Between year-end 2000 and year-end 2003, the economy

Largest Employers in the East Bay

Ranked by Number of Local Employees in 2009

 

Name

 

City

   Employees

University of California, Berkeley

 

Berkeley

   22,277

Kaiser Permanente

 

Oakland

   17,572

State of California

 

Sacramento

   9,746

Safeway Inc.

 

Pleasanton

   9,570

Alameda County

 

Oakland

   9,000

Contra Costa County

 

Martinez

   8,423

Chevron Corp.

 

San Ramon

   7,636

John Muir Health

 

Walnut Creek

   6,335

Wells Fargo Bank

 

San Francisco

   5,685

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

 

Oakland

   5,265

Source: San Francisco Business Times Book of Lists 2010

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   48


shed 41,000 jobs, of which only 29,500 were recovered before the most recent recession took hold. However, the region is nonetheless on a long-term growth path. From year-end 1990 through year-end 2007, the region grew by almost 160,000 jobs, or by 18.0% on a cumulative basis.

Through December 2009, total employment contracted by 9.0% on a cumulative basis since January of 2008. The East Bay entered recession shortly after the national recession began, reflective of its large trade and government sectors – both of which drove overall jobs losses. The East Bay unemployment rate reached 11.8% in December 2009, the highest level since the recession in the early-1980s. As job growth returns in 2010 and accelerates through the forecast period, the unemployment rate is expected to decline accordingly, falling to 8.9% by 2011. The rate of job losses slowed in recent months, and we believe the economy is poised for a rebound in 2010, with employment growth accelerating in 2011 through 2014, averaging 1.2% annually.

The East Bay is an attractive place to live for those seeking proximity to San Francisco and San Jose, but at a lower cost. The economy is diverse, and this somewhat insulates the market from more severe contractions. In addition to its more traditional economic drivers such as trade, several smaller but growing clusters of employment are located in the East Bay, including biotech, clean energy technology innovation, and digital media.

LOGO

Growth Industry Clusters

Trade

Wholesale trade makes up about one-third of total trade employment, employing roughly 43,000 people as of December 2009. With direct and indirect support and generation of more than 55,000 jobs and $7 billion in annual economic activity, the Port of Oakland is a major driver of the Bay Area economy. More than 2.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo passed through the port in 2008, ranking it third in California behind Los Angeles and Long Beach and fifth in the United States. Wholesale trade employment has typically moved in tandem with the overall economy, reflecting trade activity nationwide since it serves as one of the first points of entry for cargo coming from Asia.

Container activity at the Port of Oakland fell 8.2% in 2009, with inbound-loaded TEUs falling by 19.8% and outbound-loaded TEUs increasing by 6.4% in comparison with the previous year. The drop in trade is reflective of the overall national recession and decline in imports. The weak dollar strengthened exports. However, as the economy recovers and trade activity picks up, we expect activity at Oakland’s ports and trade employment to increase accordingly.

In addition to wholesale trade, retail trade is a large component of overall trade activity, accounting for more than 70% of all trade jobs, or more than 104,000 jobs as of August. The largest retail trade employer in the region is Safeway Inc., a grocery chain headquartered in Alameda County. Overall retail trade employment has suffered the ill effects of the recession, as consumer spending has declined.

The overall trade sector accounts for 15.1% of total employment, and is one of the driving forces of economic growth. Although activity has slowed, this is largely a result of the global recession and weaker consumer demand. We expect employment growth will return in 2010, and accelerate through 2014.

Biotechnology

The East Bay has a small cluster of biotech employment, including major international firms Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals in Berkeley and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics in Emeryville. Bayer’s decision to stay in Berkeley in September 2009 is expected to attract additional modern manufacturing facilities to the East Bay in the coming years as the biotech hub expands. Other major biotech companies already in the area include Celera in Alameda, Xoma Ltd in Berkeley, Dynavax Technologies in Berkeley, and Onyx Pharmaceuticals in Emeryville. UC Berkeley and its affiliated Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a major draw for biotech firms locating in the region, particularly because of its Joint Genome Institute that is an arm of the Human Genome Project. Likewise, the highly skilled labor force associated with these institutions also benefits local firms. Furthermore, the East Bay’s proximity to suburban workforce housing provides an additional benefit beyond cost concerns. Although the existing cluster is small when compared with neighboring San Francisco, the East Bay is a highly competitive alternative in terms of cost efficiency, available land for growth and proximity to workforce housing.

Clean Technology

The Bay Area has a large clean tech industry cluster with a high concentration of related companies and venture capital investment firms located within the region. In 2009, the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose metropolitan area ranked first in the country for clean-tech

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   49


job activity, according to a report published by Clean Edge. Similar to biotech, the presence of UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has helped to attract clean tech firms and talent to the East Bay. Clean tech firms in the East Bay are mainly situated in areas adjacent to the cities of Berkeley and Emeryville in Alameda County.

Existing energy-related and biotechnology companies in the area, natural resources, and proximity to research institutions make the East Bay a prime location for companies focused on biofuel and renewable energy generation. By California standards, the Bay Area has a substantial amount of renewable natural resources. Altamont Pass in Alameda County is one the primary sources for wind energy for the state of California. Likewise, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties have relatively good solar resources to generate electrical power. The combination of renewable resources and consumer sentiment help fuel innovation and investment in the region.

Given the drop-off in venture capital activity during recent quarters, federal government funding has become the primary monetary source for clean tech innovations. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is one of the leading laboratories in funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Energy stimulus, receiving $156.1 million in federal stimulus money to support research in biofuels, fusion energy, and infrastructure improvements, as of August. Guided by federal assistance, advances in clean energy technology during this trough in the economic cycle should help spur job growth into the forecast period and place the East Bay economy in a favorable position once this down period in the cycle passes.

Digital Media

Emeryville has a small cluster of digital entertainment companies, including Pixar Animation Studios, MobiTV, Gracenote Inc., and Backbone Entertainment. This presence spills over into parts of Berkeley as well, which is home to Tippett Studio and the Berkeley Digital Film Institute. Although plans are on hold, major Hollywood producers have considered opening a film studio in the East Bay, demonstrating the draw of the small but dynamic cluster to outside entities. Although the digital media cluster in the East Bay is smaller than the cluster in Los Angeles, it is growing and drawing new talent from around the state. The digital media cluster in the East Bay only adds to the creative culture throughout California, and the services offered by this cluster complement the media and entertainment industry in Los Angeles, while also feeding off the new technologies being developed throughout the Bay Area. Given the innovative nature of the digital media industry, as well as the growing demand for new technological developments in entertainment, the digital media industry will likely be a source of expansion for the East Bay in the years to come.

LOGO

Office Market

Overview

The East Bay’s overall office market, which includes downtown Oakland, suburban Alameda County and Contra Costa County, contains nearly 59 million square feet of office space. The East Bay office market is a popular alternative to costly office space in San Francisco and the Peninsula. A significant portion of economic activity in the area is tied to the Port of Oakland. Several large corporations are headquartered within the Oakland MSA, including Kaiser Permanente, Dreyer’s, and Clorox. Furthermore, many companies have chosen the East Bay for their back-office operations because of the lower occupancy costs and suburban environment. UC Berkeley also draws a number of firms to the suburban Alameda submarket, particularly those that can benefit from the university’s resources, such as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. These companies include those in the small but growing local biotechnology and clean energy clusters.

Although job losses have had a negative impact on demand for office space, we expect office-using employment growth to return by 2010 and accelerate through the forecast period. The East Bay

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   50


East Bay Overall Office Market Statistics(1)

 

          2005     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010f     2011f     2012f     2013f     2014f  

Stock

   (SF,000)      58,147        58,147        58,423        58,467        58,860        58,927        58,927        58,927        58,927        58,927   

New Construction

   (SF,000)      —          —          276        44        393        67        —          —          —          —     

Net Absorption

   (SF,000)      1,482        526        (602     (238     (1,291     155        390        525        255        825   

Occupied Stock

   (SF,000)      49,460        49,986        49,384        49,146        47,854        48,009        48,399        48,924        49,179        50,004   

Vacancy Rate

        14.9     14.0     15.5     15.9     18.7     18.5     17.9     17.0     16.5     15.1

Rent

   ($/SF)    $ 22.26      $ 24.57      $ 26.54      $ 26.69      $ 23.47      $ 22.77      $ 23.04      $ 23.71      $ 24.25      $ 25.14   

Rent Growth

        1.5     10.4     8.0     0.6     -12.1     -3.0     1.2     2.9     2.3     3.7

 

(1)

Construction, net absorption and rent growth are year-to-date values.

office market benefits from its proximity to industry clusters, such as the technology cluster in Silicon Valley, as well as its relative affordability, access to a well-educated labor force, and ample transportation links.

The East Bay’s overall office market improved during the recent housing boom. The vacancy rate steadily declined from its high of 18.6% in 2002 to 14.0% in 2006. However, it was still far higher than the low of 5.0% posted in 2000. In spite of these historically high vacancy rates, a flood of capital into real estate caused competition between investors, and much of Downtown Oakland’s office stock traded hands during this time. These new institutional landlords, bolstered by rising occupancy levels, raised rents aggressively in an attempt to reach pro forma expectations. As a result, asking rent growth was robust during the boom, averaging 6.6% per year from 2005 to 2007. Historically, the area has received a low level of new construction, in part because of a difficult zoning and approval process, as well as a lack of demand. From 2005 to 2008, only 320,000 square feet of new supply were delivered throughout the East Bay’s office market.

Market Conditions

A contraction in employment led to an increase in the total office vacancy rate in the East Bay beginning in 2007. The vacancy rate as of the fourth quarter of 2009 stood at 18.7%, surpassing its tech-bust high. Accordingly, asking office rents dropped 12.1% year-over-year to $23.47 in the fourth quarter of 2008 and are expected to fall through 2010. The East Bay office market should see minimal new construction through 2012, although 67,000 square feet are expected in 2010. We expect absorption to slowly and steadily ramp up through the forecast period, as companies in high-growth sectors seek cost efficient space and back-office operations continue to grow in the area. Furthermore, a rebound in consumer and business spending should increase port activity, adding to demand for space. The growing need for health care should buoy demand through the long term, while growth industries such as clean energy and biotech in Alameda County fuel job creation. Extended population growth and a housing market recovery should also contribute to the long-term health of the East Bay economy. We predict a fall in the vacancy rate to 15.1% in 2014, while annual rent growth accelerates to 3.7%. In the near term, we expect the East Bay market to slowly recover, with more substantial growth occurring beyond our forecast horizon.

Investment Activity

Investors pulled back sharply on East Bay purchases as the recession hit. Annual dollar volume of transactions for office properties in the Oakland metropolitan area peaked at nearly $2 billion in 2007. Only seven properties traded hands in 2009 for a total volume of $187.5 million. Price and cap rate trends have generally fluctuated around the national average in the East Bay. In 2009, the average price paid per square foot was $236 as compared with $187 on the national level. The average cap rate in 2009 was 8.8% in the East Bay, as compared with 8.3% nationally, although with so few properties trading in the East Bay, this average cap rate measure may not be representative of values market-wide.

At year-end 2009, 18 properties had become distressed in the East Bay since the onset of the recession. Of these, four properties were foreclosed upon and three more went into receivership, with three resolved. We expect this trend to continue through the near term, as debt comes due for properties bought at the height of the market in an environment of stricter lending standards.

CBD Market Conditions

The Oakland CBD office market is comprised of more than 13.0 million square feet of office space, and includes the submarkets of Telegraph, Lake Merritt, Courthouse, Jack London Square and Oakland City Center. Anemic leasing activity, company relocations, and the delivery of new space further softened CBD office market

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   51


conditions through 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the CBD office vacancy rate increased 450 basis points year-over-year to 18.0%. The completion of 110,000 square feet of new office space in Jack London Square was the main contributor to the increase in the CBD vacancy rate in of the first half of 2009. With no tenants in place, the vacancy rate in the Jack London Square submarket increased to 25.7% by year-end from 15.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008. As a result of poor market conditions, asking rents fell by 10.8% in 2009.

Limited office employment growth in 2010 should restrain office demand, leading to an additional 2.9% decline in office rents that year, while the vacancy rate remains relatively flat. Weak demand fundamentals through much of the forecast period and the resultant limited financing for commercial construction will leave the development pipeline virtually empty through most of the forecast period. In the long term, however, this lack of new supply should benefit downtown Oakland office market fundamentals as demand slowly rebounds. Additionally, the relatively affordable office space, convenient transportation links and access to businesses and resources throughout the Bay Area should continue to draw companies to the Oakland MSA, particularly those dealing in trade, health care, construction and engineering. Growth in the educational and health services sector should be the main driver during the near term. Furthermore, as premium areas such as Jack London Square and Lake Merritt continue to develop, Oakland’s CBD could potentially attract a more diverse group of high-quality tenants. We expect the vacancy rate to drop to 12.3% by 2014, at which point annual growth in asking rents should reach 4.2%.

LOGO

During 2009, no office property transactions were completed in downtown Oakland.

Suburban Market Conditions

The suburban office market includes space in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Alameda County is the seat of many of the

LOGO

East Bay’s growth industries, such as digital media in Emeryville and clean tech in Berkeley. The expansive Contra Costa County office market has an inventory of about 33.5 million square feet of space, which is larger than the Oakland CBD and suburban Alameda County markets combined. Because land is more readily available for expansion in the market, Contra Costa County has experienced the largest growth in inventory since 1986. Contra Costa County’s suburban office market received much of its growth during the recent boom from housing-related industries, including mortgage lenders, construction companies and real estate agents. This led to an earlier deterioration of office fundamentals, with a rise in the vacancy rate beginning in 2006 in Contra Costa, as compared with 2008 for Alameda County. However, the educational and health services and government sectors have provided a relatively steady source of office-using employment throughout the suburban market.

Mounting sublease opportunities and falling office employment levels have left owners struggling to maintain occupancy levels. Declining office demand driven by continued cost-cutting measures by financial and tech-related companies and layoffs across all industry sectors brought swaths of unoccupied space to market. The main

LOGO

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   52


LOGO

LOGO

office-using employment sectors - financial activities, professional and business services, and information services - shed more than 7,000 jobs during 2009, following the loss of close to 13,000 office jobs in all of 2008.

This trend brought office vacancy rates to 18.9% in suburban Alameda and in Contra Costa County. Companies continue to shed excess space, while leasing activity is dominated by smaller lease renewals. Asking rents declined by 15.3% and 11.1% in suburban Alameda and Contra Costa County, respectively.

As the demand for office space remains flat through much of 2010, we expect lease rates to fall by another approximately 3% in both markets, effectively canceling out the increase in office lease rates during 2007 and 2008. In the long term, a lower cost of business, proximity to universities and research centers, and the presence of budding industry clusters bode well for the future of the East Bay’s suburban office market.

With no transactions recorded in the CBD, the suburban market accounted for the entirety of investment activity in the East Bay.

Market Summary

The Oakland metropolitan area office market offers many benefits to tenants seeking to locate in the Bay Area, including more affordable space than in adjacent markets, room for development, and access to a number of unique resources such as UC Berkeley. Additionally, its location allows for easy access to industry clusters in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. We expect that the affordability factor could be more important going forward as companies are reluctant to lease premium space following this recession. However, employment expansion will proceed at a slower pace in the East Bay, as compared with San Francisco or San Jose, because of the relatively small presence of growth industries in the area. Currently the Oakland office clock is at 1:30, reflecting the risk of further declines in fundamentals. This is a particularly significant near-term risk, as the East Bay is subject to trade declines caused by an extended depression of consumer and business spending. However, during the longer term, we expect that the region’s growth industries will fuel demand for quality office space and spillover tenants from the neighboring metropolitan areas will drive the office market’s rebound.

 

© 2010 Rosen Consulting Group, LLC

   53