ING Financial Markets LLC

Exhibit 1.1

30,000,000 Shares

HRPT PROPERTIES TRUST
(a Maryland real estate investment trust)

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
par value $.01 per share

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

January 7, 2004

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
4 World Financial Center
New York, NY 10080

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        HRPT Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the "Company"), confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters" which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10), for whom Merrill Lynch and RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. ("RBC") are acting as representatives (in such capacity, hereinafter referred to as the "Representatives), with respect to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Shares") set forth in said Schedule A and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters of the option described in Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any part of an additional 4,500,000 Common Shares to cover overallotments, if any. The aforesaid 30,000,000 Common Shares (the "Initial Shares"), together with all or any part of the 4,500,000 Common Shares subject to the option described in Section 2 hereof (the "Option Shares"), are collectively hereinafter called the "Shares."

        The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-56051) for the registration of debt securities, preferred shares of beneficial interest, depositary shares representing preferred shares, Common Shares and warrants under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and has filed such amendments thereto, if any, as may have been required to the date hereof. Such registration statement has been declared effective under the 1933 Act. Such registration statement (as amended, if applicable) and the prospectus constituting a part thereof, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares (including, in each case, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), as from time to time amended or supplemented pursuant to the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), or otherwise, are hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus", respectively. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is "contained", "included" or "stated" in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information

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which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, as the case may be.

        Section 1. Representations and Warranties.

        (a) The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof as follows:

        (i) At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (including the filing of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Commission) became effective, the Registration Statement complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, at the date hereof (unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which has been provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the Shares which differs from the Prospectus on file at the Commission at the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, in which case at the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use) and at the Closing Time referred to in Section 2 hereof, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection (i) shall not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.




        (ii) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at Closing Time, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.




        (iii) The Company is a Maryland real estate investment trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland. Each of its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trust in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, except where the failure to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has full power and authority (corporate and other) to carry on its business as described in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its properties. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trust, as the case may be, and is authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.




        (iv) The financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations. Such financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, present fairly

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the consolidated financial position, results of operations, shareholders' equity and changes in financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, at the dates or for the respective periods therein specified and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") consistently applied throughout the periods involved. The pro forma financial statements and other pro forma financial information (including the notes thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus (i) present fairly the information shown therein, (ii) have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and (iii) have been properly compiled on the basis described therein and the assumptions used in the preparation of such pro forma financial statements and other pro forma financial information (including the notes thereto) are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to therein. The adjusted pro forma financial statements and other adjusted pro forma financial information (including the notes thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus (i) present fairly the information shown therein and (ii) have been properly compiled on the basis described therein and the assumptions used in the preparation of such adjusted pro forma financial statements and other adjusted pro forma financial information (including the notes thereto) are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to therein.




        (v) The accountants who have certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus are independent certified public accountants as required by the 1933 Act; provided, however, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to Arthur Andersen LLP, who audited the financial statements of Hospitality Properties Trust for the years ended on and prior to December 31, 2001 and was convicted of obstruction of justice in June 2002 and ceased to practice before the Commission on August 31, 2002.




        (vi) All of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable (except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement) and free of preemptive or similar rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase securities provided for by law or by its Declaration of Trust or bylaws; the Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor as provided hereunder, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid, non-assessable (except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement) and free of preemptive or similar rights; there are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options, calls, convertible securities, commitments of sale or liens related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise to acquire any Common Shares of, or other ownership interest in, the Company, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and except for awards under the Company's incentive share award plans made in the ordinary course of business; all outstanding Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Company knows of no reason or set of facts which is likely to result in the delisting of such Common Shares or the inability to list the Shares; and there are no rights of holders of securities of the Company to the registration of Common Shares or other securities that would require inclusion of such Common Shares or other securities in the offering of the Shares.




        (vii) All of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of, or other ownership interests in, each of the Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and, except as to subsidiaries that are partnerships or limited liability companies, nonassessable, and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, are owned by the

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Company free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature.




        (viii) The authorized capital of the Company, including the Common Shares, conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus (or the documents incorporated therein by reference).




        (ix) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, and except as otherwise disclosed therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iii) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, (iv) the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not, (A) other than regular quarterly dividends, declared, paid or made a dividend or distribution of any kind on any class of its shares of beneficial interest (other than dividends or distributions from wholly owned subsidiaries to the Company), (B) issued any shares of beneficial interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase shares of beneficial interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than the issuance of Common Shares to the trustees and officers of the Company pursuant to the Company's incentive share award plans) or (C) repurchased or redeemed shares of beneficial interest, and (v) there has not been (A) any material decrease in the Company's net worth or (B) any material increase in the short-term or long-term debt (including capitalized lease obligations but excluding borrowings under existing bank lines of credit) of the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.




        (x) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.




        (xi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or other organizational documents or in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any other agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, except for any such violation that would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company is not in violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule or regulation or court decree to which it is subject, except for any such violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.




        (xii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, there is not now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any litigation, action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is or will be a party before or by any court or governmental agency or body, which (A) might result in any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) might materially and adversely affect the property or assets

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of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (C) concerns the Company and is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or (D) could adversely affect the consummation of this Agreement and the issuance, purchase and sale of the Shares. No contract or other document is required to be described in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described therein or filed as required.




        (xiii) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance, offering and sale by the Company of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement and by the Prospectus and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof, will not violate or conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under, (i) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust") or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company or the charter or by-laws or other organizational documents of any subsidiaries of the Company, (ii) any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets is bound, or (iii) any laws, administrative regulations or rulings or decrees to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets may be subject.




        (xiv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration, filing or qualification with, any governmental body or regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or made and such as may be required under foreign and state securities or "Blue Sky" or real estate syndication laws.




        (xv) Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title or ground leases to all real properties described in Registration Statement or in the Prospectus as being owned or leased by them, free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances and restrictions, except liens for taxes not yet due and payable and other liens, claims, encumbrances and restrictions which do not, either individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the current use or value thereof. Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, all leases to which the Company and each of its subsidiaries is a party which are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are valid and binding. Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus, no default under any such lease by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or, to the Company's knowledge, any tenant has occurred and is continuing which default would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. With respect to all properties owned or leased by the Company and each of its subsidiaries, the Company or such subsidiary has such documents, instruments, certificates, opinions and assurances, including without limitation, fee, leasehold owners or mortgage title insurance policies (disclosing no encumbrances or title exceptions which are material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus), legal opinions and property insurance policies in each case in form and substance as are usual and customary in transactions involving the purchase of similar real estate and are appropriate for the Company or such subsidiary to have obtained.




        (xvi) The Company and each of its subsidiaries owns, or possesses adequate rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, licenses and other rights necessary for

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the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of conflict with, or infringement of, the asserted rights of others with respect to any such patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, licenses and other such rights (other than conflicts or infringements that, if proven, would not have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole), and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries knows of any basis therefor.




        (xvii) All material tax returns required to be filed by the Company and each of its subsidiaries in any jurisdiction have been timely filed, other than those filings being contested in good faith, and all material taxes, including withholding taxes, penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries have been paid, other than those being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided.




        (xviii) Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to the Company's knowledge, after due investigation (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have been and are in compliance in all material respects with, and neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have any liability under, applicable Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined) which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has at any time released (as such term is defined in Section 101 (22) of CERCLA (as hereinafter defined)) or otherwise disposed of or handled, Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) on, to or from the real properties or other assets owned by the Company or its subsidiaries, except for such releases, disposals and handlings as would not be reasonably likely to cause the Company or its subsidiaries to incur liability which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (iii) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries intend to use the real properties or other assets owned by them other than in compliance in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws, (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries know of any seepage, leak, discharge, release, emission, spill, or dumping of Hazardous Materials into waters (including, but not limited to, groundwater and surface water) on, beneath or adjacent to the real properties or other assets owned by them, other than such matters as would not be reasonably likely to cause the Company or its subsidiaries to incur liability which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (v) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of, or has any knowledge of any occurrence or circumstance which, with notice or passage of time or both, would give rise to a claim under or pursuant to any Environmental Law by any governmental or quasi-governmental body or any third party with respect to the real properties or the assets of the Company or its subsidiaries or arising out of their conduct, except for such claims that would not be reasonably likely to cause the Company or its subsidiaries to incur liability which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole and that would not be required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (vi) none of the real properties owned by the Company or its subsidiaries is included or proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List issued pursuant to CERCLA by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") or on any similar list or inventory issued by any other federal, state or local governmental authority having or claiming jurisdiction over such properties pursuant to any other Environmental Law other than such inclusions or proposed inclusions as would not be reasonably likely to cause the Company or its subsidiaries to incur liability which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. As used herein, "Hazardous Material" shall include, without limitation, any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, chemicals, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials, mold or any hazardous material as defined by any federal, state or local law, ordinance, rule or regulation relating to the protection of human

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health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 9601-9675 ("CERCLA"), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Secs. 1801-1819, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 6901-6992K, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 11001-11050, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Secs. 2601-2671, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. Secs. 136-136y, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 7401-7642, the Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act), 33 U.S.C. Secs. 1251-1387, and the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 300f-300j-26, as any of the above statutes may be amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing (individually, an "Environmental Law" and collectively "Environmental Laws").




        (xix) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits, licenses, franchises and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (together, "permits"), including, without limitation, under any applicable Environmental Law, as are necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to engage in the business currently conducted by it, except such permits as to which the failure to own or possess will not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. All such permits are in full force and effect and each of the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such permits, except where the invalidity of such permits or the failure of such permits to be in full force and effect or the failure to comply with such permits will not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.




        (xx) To the knowledge of the Company, no labor problem exists or is imminent with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that could have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.




        (xxi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any officer, trustee or director purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has at any time: (i) made any contributions to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any such contributions, in violation of law; (ii) made any payment of funds to, or received or retained any funds from, any state, federal or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or allowed by applicable law; or (iii) engaged in any transactions, maintained any bank accounts or used any corporate funds, except for transactions, bank accounts and funds, which have been and are reflected in the normally maintained books and records of the Company and its subsidiaries.




        (xxii) Except as referred to or described in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, none of the subsidiaries of the Company owns any shares of stock or any other securities of any corporation or has any equity interest in any firm, partnership, association or other entity other than the issued capital shares of its subsidiaries, and the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, association or other entity other than the issued capital shares of its

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subsidiaries, except in each case for non-controlling positions acquired in the ordinary course of business.




        (xxiii) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to or for the benefit of any of the officers, trustees or directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the members of the families of any of them.




        (xxiv) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains insurance, duly in force, with insurers of recognized financial responsibility; such insurance insures against such losses and risks as are adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and by the Prospectus.




        (xxv) Neither the Company nor any of its officers and directors (as defined in the 1933 Act Regulations) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, prior to the termination of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which has caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.




        (xxvi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is an "investment company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal underwriter" for, an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), or an "investment adviser" as such term is defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.




        (xxvii) The Company is organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification, and, as of the date hereof the Company operates, and as of Closing Time the Company will operate, in a manner that qualifies the Company as a "real estate investment trust" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the rules and regulations thereunder, for 2003 and subsequent years. The Company qualified as a real estate investment trust under the Code for each of its taxable years from 1987 through 2002.




        (xxviii) No default exists, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is bound or may be affected, except such defaults which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as a whole, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.




        (xxix) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the 1934 Act) that (a) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer (or persons performing similar functions) by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in

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which the filings made by the Company with the Commission which it may make under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act are being prepared, (b) have been evaluated for effectiveness as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission and (c) are effective to perform the functions for which they were established.




        (xxx) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the business, operations, earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of Reit Management & Research LLC (the "Advisor"), whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Advisory Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of October 12, 1999 (the "Advisory Agreement"), between the Company and the Advisor, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and constitutes the valid agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (a) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors or (b) the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

        (b) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

        Section 2. Sale and Delivery to the Underwriters; Closing.

        (a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at a price per share of $9.3955, the number of Initial Shares set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

        (b) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 Shares at the price per share set forth in (a) above, less, in the case of any Option Share, an amount equal to any distributions (on a per share basis) declared by the Company which are payable on the Initial Shares but are not payable on such Option Share. The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date of this Agreement and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering overallotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Shares upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time, date and place of payment and delivery for such Option Shares. Any such time and date of delivery (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be later than seven full business days, nor earlier than two full business days, after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to Closing Time, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Shares, such Option Shares shall be purchased by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, in proportion to their respective Initial Share underwriting obligations as set forth in Schedule A.

        (c) Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of certificates for the Initial Shares shall be made at the offices of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at

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9:00 A.M. on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof) following the date of this Agreement, or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time"). In addition, in the event that the overallotment option described in (b) above is exercised by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for and delivery of certificates for the related Option Shares shall be made at the above-mentioned office of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, or at such other place as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company. Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds payable to an account designated in writing by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for the Shares to be purchased by them. The certificates for the Initial Shares and the Option Shares shall be in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as the case may be. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and to make payment of, the purchase price for, the Initial Shares and the Option Shares which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as representative of the several Underwriters may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Shares or the Option Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. The certificates for the Initial Shares and the Option Shares will be made available for examination and packaging by the Representatives not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to Closing Time or the Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

        Section 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

        (a) Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare a prospectus supplement setting forth the number of Shares covered thereby and their terms not otherwise specified in the Prospectus, the Underwriters' names, the price at which the Shares are to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company, and such other information as the Representatives and the Company deem appropriate in connection with the offering of the Shares; and the Company will promptly transmit copies of the Prospectus Supplement to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations and will furnish to the Underwriters as many copies of the Prospectus (including such Prospectus Supplement) as they shall reasonably request including, if requested by the Underwriters, in addition to or in lieu thereof, electronic copies of the Prospectus.

        (b) Until the termination of the initial offering of the Shares, the Company will notify the Representatives immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (ii) of the transmittal to the Commission for filing of any supplement or amendment to the Prospectus or any document to be filed pursuant to the 1934 Act, (iii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus with respect to the Shares or for additional information relating thereto, and (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

        (c) Until the termination of the initial offering of the Shares, the Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file or prepare any post-effective amendment to the

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Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement (including any document to be filed pursuant to the 1934 Act) to the Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the Company proposes for use by the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares which differs from the prospectus on file at the Commission at the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations), will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such amendment or supplement or use any such prospectus to which counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

        (d) The Company will deliver to the Representatives a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto filed prior to the termination of the initial offering of the Shares (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and the documents incorporated by reference into the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3).

        (e) The Company will furnish to the Underwriters, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act in connection with the offering, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as the Underwriters may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations including, if requested by the Underwriters, in addition to or in lieu thereof, electronic copies of the Prospectus.

        (f) If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with the sale of the Shares, any event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered, the Company will either (i) forthwith prepare and furnish to the Underwriters an amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus or (ii) make an appropriate filing pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the 1934 Act, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, which will amend or supplement the Prospectus so that it will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered, not misleading.

        (g) The Company will endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Representatives, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws and real estate syndication laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Representatives may designate; provided that, in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or trust or to file any general consent to service of process. In each jurisdiction in which the Shares have been so qualified the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Shares.

        (h) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than 90 days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement of the Company (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement. "Earning statements", "make generally available" and "effective date" will have the meanings contained in Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations.

        (i) The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in all material respects.

        (j) The Company will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Shares on the NYSE.

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