HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS INC
8-K, 1997-12-15
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   __________

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 10, 1997



                      HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.
                 -------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


    Maryland                 1-8895                   33-0091377
    --------                 ------                   ----------
     (State or Other      (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
     Jurisdiction of                                  Identification No.)
     Incorporation


       4675 MacArthur Court, 9th Floor, Newport Beach, California  92660
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


                                (714) 221-0600
            ------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
<PAGE>
 
Item 5.  Other Events.
         ------------ 

COMMON STOCK OFFERING

     On June 18, 1997, Health Care Property Investors, Inc. (the "Company")
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-29485) (the "Registration
Statement"), as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement filed
with the Commission on June 26, 1997, relating to the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to $385,000,000 aggregate offering
price of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, preferred stock, par value
$1.00 per share, and/or unsecured debt securities of the Company, which
Registration Statement was declared effective on June 27, 1997.

     On December 10, 1997, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the
"Purchase Agreement") with Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and EVEREN Securities, Inc.
(collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to
issue and sell up to 1,437,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Common
Shares").  Each of the Purchase Agreement, an opinion with respect to the
legality of the Common Shares and an opinion with respect to tax matters is
attached hereto as an Exhibit.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
         --------------------------------- 

   (c) Exhibits.

          1.1  Purchase Agreement, dated December 10, 1997, by and among the
     Company, Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
     Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and EVEREN Securities, Inc.

          5.1  Opinion re legality of Common Stock.

          8.1  Opinion re tax matters.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

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

Dated:  December 10, 1997

                         HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.


                         By: /s/ Edward J. Henning
                             ---------------------------------------
                              Name:   Edward J. Henning
                              Title:  Senior Vice President,
                                      General Counsel and
                                      Corporate Secretary

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


1.1       Purchase Agreement, dated December 10, 1997, by and among the
          Company, Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
          Smith Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and EVEREN Securities,
          Inc.

5.1       Opinion re legality of Common Stock.

8.1       Opinion re tax matters.

                                 Exhibits - 1

<PAGE>
 
                                1,250,000 Shares

                      HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.
                            (a Maryland corporation)



                                  Common Stock
                          (Par Value $1.00 Per Share)



                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                               ------------------
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Page
                                                                                 ----
<S>             <C>                                                               <C>
Section 1.  Representations and Warranties.....................................   -3-
     (i)        Compliance with Registration Requirements......................   -3-
     (ii)       Incorporated Documents.........................................   -3-
     (iii)      Independent Accountants........................................   -4-
     (iv)       Financial Statements...........................................   -4-
     (v)        No Material Adverse Change in Business.........................   -4-
     (vi)       Good Standing of the Company...................................   -5-
     (vii)      Good Standing of Subsidiaries..................................   -5-
     (viii)     REIT Status....................................................   -5-
     (ix)       Capitalization.................................................   -5-
     (x)        Absence of Defaults and Conflicts..............................   -6-
     (xi)       Absence of Proceedings.........................................   -6-
     (xii)      Absence of Further Requirements................................   -7-
     (xiii)     Authorization of Purchase Agreement............................   -7-
     (xiv)      Title to Property..............................................   -7-
     (xv)       Investment Company Act.........................................   -7-

Section 2.  Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.........................   -8-

Section 3.  Covenants of the Company...........................................   -9-
     (a)       Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests..   -9-
     (b)       Filing of Amendments............................................   -9-
     (c)       Delivery of Registration Statements.............................  -10-
     (d)       Delivery of Prospectuses........................................  -10-
     (e)       Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.......................  -10-
     (f)       Blue Sky Qualifications.........................................  -10-
     (g)       Earnings Statement..............................................  -11-
     (h)       Use of Proceeds.................................................  -11-
     (i)       Preparation of Prospectus Supplement............................  -11-
     (j)       Reporting Requirements..........................................  -11-
     (k)       Lock-up Period..................................................  -11-

Section 4.  Payment of Expenses................................................  -12-

Section 5.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations............................  -12-
     (a)       Effectiveness of Registration Statement.........................  -12-
     (b)       Opinions........................................................  -12-
     (c)       Officer's Certificate...........................................  -17-
     (d)       Accountant's Comfort Letter.....................................  -18-
     (e)       Bring-down Comfort Letter.......................................  -18-
     (f)       Listing.........................................................  -18-
     (h)       Additional Documents............................................  -18-
</TABLE>

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>           <C>                                                               <C> 
     (i)       Over-allotment Option........................................... -18-

Section 6.  Indemnification.................................................... -20-
     (a)       Indemnification of Underwriters................................. -20-
     (b)       Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers.............. -21-
     (c)       Actions Against Parties; Notification........................... -21-
     (d)       Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.............. -22-
     (e)       EDGAR........................................................... -22-

Section 7.     Contribution.................................................... -22-

Section 8.     Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.. -23-

Section 9.     Termination of Agreement........................................ -23-

Section 10.    Default by One or More of the Underwriters...................... -24-

Section 11.    Notices......................................................... -25-

Section 12.    Parties......................................................... -25-

Section 13.    Governing Law and Time.......................................... -25-
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                                1,250,000 Shares

                      HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.
                            (a Maryland corporation)

                                  Common Stock
                          (Par Value $1.00 Per Share)


                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                               ------------------


                                                               December 10, 1997


Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
       Incorporated
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
EVEREN Securities, Inc.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
         Incorporated
  Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
  North Tower
  World Financial Center
  New York, New York  10281-1209


Dear Sirs:

     Health Care Property Investors, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
"Company"), confirms its agreement with each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"), BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and EVEREN
Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), which term shall also
include any Underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10), for
whom Merrill Lynch is acting as a representative (in such capacity, Merrill
Lynch shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Representative"), with respect

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") set forth in Schedule
A hereto, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters,
acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof
to purchase all or any part of 187,500 additional shares of Common Stock to
cover over-allotments.  The aforesaid 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock (the
"Initial Securities") to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of
the shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b)
hereof (the "Option Securities") are collectively hereinafter called the
"Securities".

     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-29485) and a related
preliminary prospectus for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act") of Common Stock, including the Securities, preferred
stock, par value $1.00 per share, and debt securities (collectively, the
"Registered Securities"), which registration statement has been declared
effective by the Commission and copies of which have heretofore been delivered
to you.  Such Registration Statement, in the form in which it was declared
effective, as amended through the date hereof, including all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein through the date
hereof, is hereinafter referred to as the "Original Registration Statement".
Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") is
herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement".  The Company
proposes to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations the Prospectus Supplement (as defined in Section 3(i) hereof)
relating to the Securities and the prospectus dated September 19, 1997 (the
"Base Prospectus") relating to the Registered Securities, and has previously
advised you of all further information (financial and other) with respect to the
Company set forth therein.  The Base Prospectus together with the Prospectus
Supplement, in their respective forms on the date hereof (being the forms in
which they are to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the
1933 Act Regulations), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein through the date hereof, are hereinafter
referred to as, collectively, the "Prospectus", except that if any revised
prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be provided to the Underwriters by the
Company for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities which
differs from the Prospectus (whether or not such revised prospectus or
prospectus supplement is required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to such
revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, as the case may be, from and after
the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use.  Unless the
context otherwise requires, all references in this Agreement to documents,
financial statements and schedules and other information which is "contained",
"included", "stated", "described in" or "referred to" in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be
deemed to mean and include all such documents, financial statements and
schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be;
and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the
filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934
Act") after the date of this Agreement which is or is

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, as the case may be.

     The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Underwriters deem advisable after this
Agreement has been executed and delivered.


     Section 1.  Representations and Warranties.  (a) The Company represents and
                 ------------------------------                                 
warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof (such date being hereinafter
referred to as the "Representation Date") and as of the Closing Time referred to
in Section 2 as follows:
  
               (i) Compliance with Registration Requirements.  The Company meets
                   -----------------------------------------                    
     the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
     Regulations.  Each of the Original Registration Statement and any Rule
     462(b) Registration Statement and the Base Prospectus, at the respective
     times the Original Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective and as
     of the Representation Date, complied and comply in all material respects
     with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations
     (including Rule 415(a) of the 1933 Act Regulations), and did not and as of
     the Representation Date do 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 Representation Date (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 Securities which differs from
     the Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the
     1933 Act Regulations, 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 in or
     omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance
     upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing
     by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the information contained in
     any Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of a trustee under the Trust
     Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act") filed as an exhibit to
     the Registration Statement (a "Form T-1").  For purposes of this Section
     1(a), all references to the Registration Statement, any post-effective
     amendments thereto and the Prospectus shall be deemed to include, without
     limitation, any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
     Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and
     Retrieval system ("EDGAR").

             (ii) Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated or deemed
                  ----------------------                                       
     to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of
     Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, 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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934
     Act Regulations"), and, when read together and with the other information
     in the Prospectus, at the respective times the Registration Statement and
     any amendments thereto became effective, at the Representation Date and at
     Closing Time, did not, do not and will not contain an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
     of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

             (iii)  Independent Accountants.  The accountants who certified the
                    -----------------------                                    
     financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent
     public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
     Regulations.

             (iv) Financial Statements.  The financial statements and any
                  --------------------                                   
     supporting schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
     included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
     Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the
     results of their operations for the periods specified; and, except as
     otherwise stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, said
     financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally
     accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis; and the
     supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated
     therein; the pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in
     accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro
     forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases
     described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are
     reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect
     to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein; and the
     Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges included in the Prospectus
     under the caption "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges" and in Exhibit 12 to
     the Registration Statement have been calculated in compliance with Item
     503(d) of Regulation S-K of the Commission.

             (v) No Material Adverse Change in Business.  Since the respective
                 --------------------------------------                       
     dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby,
     (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
     or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or
     not arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) there have been no
     transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other
     than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with
     respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
     and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock, there
     has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by
     the Company on any class of its capital stock.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
             (vi) Good Standing of the Company.  The Company has been duly
                  ----------------------------                            
     incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
     under the laws of the State of Maryland with corporate power and authority
     to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
     corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
     jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of
     the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except
     where the failure to so qualify and be in good standing would not have a
     material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
     earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and the Company is in
     substantial compliance with all laws, ordinances and regulations of each
     state in which it owns properties that are material to the properties and
     business of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise
     in such state.

             (vii)  Good Standing of Subsidiaries.  Each subsidiary of the
                    -----------------------------                         
     Company which is a significant subsidiary (each, a "Significant
     Subsidiary") as defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C of the 1933 Act
     Regulations has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
     corporation or partnership, as the case may be, in good standing under the
     laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority as a
     corporation or partnership, as the case may be, to own, lease and operate
     its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus
     and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or partnership, as the case
     may be, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
     in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership
     or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure
     to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
     financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise;
     all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such corporate
     subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and
     non-assessable and, except for directors' qualifying shares, is owned by
     the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any
     security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity;
     and all of the issued and outstanding partnership interests of each such
     subsidiary which is a partnership have been duly authorized (if applicable)
     and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for
     other partnership interests described in the Prospectus) are owned by the
     Company, directly or through corporate subsidiaries, free and clear of any
     security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

             (viii)  REIT Status.  The Company has at all times operated in such
                     -----------                                                
     manner as to qualify as a "real estate investment trust" under the Internal
     Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and intends to continue to
     operate in such manner.

             (ix) Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of the Company
                  --------------                                              
     is as set forth in the Prospectus under "Capitalization" (except for
     subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or
     employee benefit plans referred to in the Prospectus); the shares of issued
     Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the Company has the requisite
     corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
     perform its obligations hereunder and the Securities have been duly
     authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this
     Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this
     Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be
     validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms
     to all statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and such
     descriptions conform to the rights set forth in the instruments defining
     the same; the issuance of the Securities is not subject to preemptive
     rights or similar rights; and, after giving effect to the sale of the
     Securities and the sale of any other of the Registered Securities to be
     issued prior to the delivery of the Securities, the aggregate amount of
     Securities which have been issued and sold by the Company will not exceed
     the aggregate amount of theretofore unsold Registered Securities.

             (x) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.  Neither the Company nor any
                 ---------------------------------                              
     of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or bylaws or in material
     default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement,
     covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
     agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or
     to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is subject and in which the violation or default might result
     in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or
     in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
     its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and the execution, delivery
     and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated herein and compliance by the Company with its obligations
     hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and
     will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or
     result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
     upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease
     or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
     party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the
     property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject,
     nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
     charter or bylaws of the Company or any law, administrative regulation or
     administrative or court order or decree.

             (xi) Absence of Proceedings.  There is no action, suit or
                  ----------------------                              
     proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic
     or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened,
     against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is
     required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as
     disclosed therein), or which 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 considered as one
     enterprise, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties
     or assets thereof or which might materially and adversely affect the
     consummation of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby; all
     pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their
     respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in or
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, including ordinary
     routine litigation incidental to the business, are, considered in the
     aggregate, not material; and there are no contracts or documents of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries which are required to be filed or
     incorporated by reference as exhibits to, or incorporated by reference in,
     the Registration Statement by the 1933 Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations
     which have not been so filed.

             (xii)  Absence of Further Requirements.  No authorization,
                    -------------------------------                    
     approval, consent, order or decree of any court or governmental authority
     or agency is required for the consummation by the Company of the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in connection with the
     offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder, except such as may
     be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or state
     securities laws.

             (xiii)  Authorization of Purchase Agreement.  This Agreement has
                     -----------------------------------                     
     been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, upon
     execution and delivery by the Underwriters, will be a valid and legally
     binding agreement of the Company.

             (xiv)  Title to Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries have
                    -----------------                                        
     good title to all real property or interests in real property owned by it
     or any of them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and
     defects except such as are stated or incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus or such as would not materially adversely affect the condition,
     financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business
     prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise;
     the Company and its subsidiaries have obtained satisfactory confirmations
     (consisting of policies of title insurance or commitments or binders
     therefor or opinions of counsel based upon the examination of abstracts)
     confirming, except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, (A) that the
     Company and its subsidiaries have the foregoing title to such real property
     and interests in real property, and (B) that the instruments securing the
     Company's and its subsidiaries' real estate mortgage loans create valid
     liens upon the real properties described in such instruments enjoying the
     priorities intended, subject only to exceptions to title which have no
     material adverse effect on the value of such real properties and interests
     in relation to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise; and no material real property and buildings are held under
     lease by the Company (other than long-term ground leases).

             (xv) Investment Company Act.  The Company is not required to be
                  ----------------------                                    
     registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
     Act").

     (b) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to
the Underwriters 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.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 2.  Sale and Delivery to 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 $36.3025 per share, the
number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of
such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Securities 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 187,500 shares of Common Stock at the price per
share set forth in paragraph (a) above.  The option hereby granted will expire
30 days after the Representation Date, and may be exercised in whole or in part
from time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be
made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities
upon notice by the Underwriters to the Company setting forth the number of
Option Securities as to which the Underwriters are then exercising the option
and the time, date and place of payment and delivery for such Option Securities.
Any such time and date of delivery (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by
the Underwriters, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the
exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to Closing Time, as hereinafter
defined, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company.  If
the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each
of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that
proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which
the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of
such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject in
each case to such adjustments as the Underwriters in their discretion shall make
to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities.

     (c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for,
the Initial Securities shall be made at the office of Latham & Watkins, 633 West
Fifth Street, Suite 4000, Los Angeles, California 90071-2007, or at such other
place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company, at 7:00 A.M.,
Los Angeles time, on December 16, 1997 (unless postponed in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10 hereof), or such other time not later than ten business
days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company
(such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased
by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for and delivery of
certificates for such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned
office of Latham & Watkins, or at such other place as shall be mutually agreed
upon by the Underwriters and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified
in the notice from the Underwriters to the Company.  Payment shall be made to
the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account
designated by the Company against delivery to the Underwriters of certificates
for the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters.  Certificates for the
Initial Securities and the Option Securities shall be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
Underwriters may request in writing at least one business day before Closing
Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.  It is understood
that each Underwriter other than Merrill Lynch has authorized Merrill Lynch, for
its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the
purchase price for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase.  Merrill
Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but
shall not be obligated to) make payment to the Company on behalf of any
Underwriter or Underwriters for the Securities to be purchased by such
Underwriter or Underwriters, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter
or Underwriters from its obligations hereunder.  The certificates for the
Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, will be made available for
examination and packaging by the Underwriters not later than 10:00 A.M. on the
last business day prior to Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the
case may be in New York, New York.

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

          (a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.
              --------------------------------------------------------------  
     The Company will notify the Underwriters immediately, and confirm the
     notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment
     to the Registration Statement, (ii) of the mailing or the delivery to the
     Commission for filing of the Prospectus or any amendment to the
     Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any
     document to be filed pursuant to the 1934 Act during any period when the
     Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, (iii) of the
     receipt of any comments or inquiries from the Commission relating to the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus, (iv) of any request by the Commission
     for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or
     supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (v) of the
     issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceeding for that
     purpose, and (vi) of the issuance by any state securities commission or
     other regulatory authority of any order suspending the qualification or the
     exemption from qualification of the Securities under state securities or
     Blue Sky laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose.  The
     Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance by the
     Commission of any stop order and, if any such stop order is issued, to
     obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.  The Company
     will provide the Underwriters with copies of the form of Prospectus, in
     such number as the Underwriters may reasonably request, and file or
     transmit for filing with the Commission such Prospectus in accordance with
     Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations by the close of business in New
     York on the second business day immediately succeeding the date hereof.

          (b) Filing of Amendments.  The Company will give the Underwriters
              --------------------                                         
     notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the
     Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)) or any
     amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (including any revised prospectus
     which the Company proposes for use by the Underwriters in connection with
     the offering of the Securities that differs from the prospectus filed with
     the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
     Regulations, whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations or any abbreviated term
     sheet prepared in reliance on Rule 434 of the 1933 Act Regulations), will
     furnish the Underwriters 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 the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall
     reasonably object.

          (c) Delivery of Registration Statements.  The Company will deliver to
              -----------------------------------                              
     the Underwriters as many signed copies of the Registration Statement as
     originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed
     therewith and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference therein) as the Underwriters may reasonably request and will also
     deliver to the Underwriters as many conformed copies of the Registration
     Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including
     documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein
     but without exhibits filed therewith) as the Underwriters may reasonably
     request.

          (d) Delivery of Prospectuses.  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, such number of
     copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) the Underwriters may
     reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act or the
     1934 Act or the respective applicable rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder.

          (e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  If any event shall
              -----------------------------------------                     
     occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for
     the Underwriters or counsel for the Company, 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 to a purchaser, the
     Company will forthwith amend or supplement the Prospectus (in form and
     substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters) so that, as so
     amended or supplemented, the Prospectus will not contain 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 to a purchaser, not misleading, and
     the Company will furnish to the Underwriters a reasonable number of copies
     of such amendment or supplement.

          (f) Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Company will endeavor, in
              -----------------------                                
     cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering
     and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other
     jurisdictions of the United States as the Underwriters may designate;
     provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any
     --------  -------                                                     
     general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
     corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified.  In each
     jurisdiction in which the Securities shall have been so qualified, the
     Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by laws of
     such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for as long as
     may be required for the distribution of the Securities.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
          (g) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to
              ------------------
     its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days
     after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in
     form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations)
     covering the twelve month period beginning not later than the first day of
     the Company's fiscal quarter next following the "effective date" (as
     defined in said Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

          (h) Use of Proceeds.  The Company will use the net proceeds received
              ---------------                                                 
     by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner to be specified in the
     Prospectus Supplement under "Use of Proceeds".

          (i) Preparation of Prospectus Supplement.  Immediately following the
              ------------------------------------                            
     execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare a prospectus
     supplement, dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus Supplement"), containing
     the terms of the Securities, the plan of distribution thereof and such
     other information as may be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
     Regulations or as the Underwriters and the Company deem appropriate, and
     will file or transmit for filing with the Commission in accordance with
     Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations copies of the Prospectus (including
     such Prospectus Supplement).

          (j) Reporting Requirements.  The Company, during the period when the
              ----------------------                                          
     Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
     will file promptly all documents required to be filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the 1934 Act within the time periods
     required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

          (k) Lock-up Period.  During a period of 90 days from the date of this
              --------------                                                   
     Agreement, the Company will not without the prior written consent of
     Merrill Lynch, 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 to purchase or
     otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any
     securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
     or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to the
     foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement or transaction
     that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic
     consequences of ownership of Common Stock, whether any such swap,
     agreement, or other transaction described in (i) or (ii) above is to be
     settled by delivery of Common Stock, other securities, cash or otherwise,
     except for (A) Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement, (B) Common
     Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to
     existing employee benefit plans of the Company, or (C) Common Stock issued
     or securities exchangeable for shares of Common Stock in connection with
     the acquisition of properties or interests therein (provided that the
     recipients of such Common Stock or securities referred to in this clause
     (C) agree in writing to lock-up provisions substantially identical to those
     contained in the Lock-Up Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A).

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.  Payment of Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses
                 -------------------                                    
incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including
(i) the printing and filing of the Registration Statement as originally filed
and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of
the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) the fees and
disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants, (iv) the qualification
of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fee and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in
connection with the preparation of a Supplemental Blue Sky Survey, (v) the
printing and delivery to the Underwriters in quantities as hereinabove stated of
copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, of each preliminary prospectus and preliminary prospectus supplement
and of the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement and any amendments or
supplements thereto, including any abbreviated term sheet delivered by the
Company pursuant to Rule 434 of the 1933 Act Regulations, (vi) the printing and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Supplemental Blue Sky Survey and
(vii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.

     If this Agreement is cancelled or terminated by the Underwriters in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i) hereof, the
Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket
expenses, including the reasonable fee and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters.

     Section 5.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligations of
                 ---------------------------------------                     
the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company herein contained, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

          (a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement.  At Closing Time no stop
              ---------------------------------------                          
     order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
     been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or
     threatened by the Commission.  The Prospectus (including the Prospectus
     Supplement referred to in Section 3(i) hereof) shall have been filed or
     transmitted for filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the
     1933 Act Regulations within the prescribed time period, and prior to
     Closing Time the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the
     Underwriters of such timely filing or transmittal.

          (b) Opinions.  At Closing Time the Underwriters shall have received:
              --------                                                        

               (1) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Latham &
          Watkins, special counsel for the Company, in form and scope
          satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:

                        (i) The Registration Statement (including any Rule
               462(b) Registration Statement) has been declared effective under
               the 1933 Act and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no
               stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
               Statement has been issued under the

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
               1933 Act and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or
               threatened by the Commission.

                        (ii) The Registration Statement (including any Rule
               462(b) Registration Statement) at the time it became effective
               and at the Closing Date, appeared on its face to comply as to
               form in all material respects with the requirements for
               registration statements on Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the
               1933 Act Regulations; it being understood that such counsel need
               express no opinion with respect to documents incorporated by
               reference therein except as set forth in paragraph (iii) below,
               or the financial statements, schedules and other financial and
               statistical data and related schedules included or incorporated
               by reference in the Registration Statement.  In passing upon the
               compliance as to form of the Registration Statement, such counsel
               may assume that the statements made and incorporated by reference
               therein are true, correct and complete.

                        (iii)  Each document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act and
               incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than the
               financial statements, schedules and other financial and
               statistical data and related schedules included or incorporated
               by reference therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered),
               at the time it was filed with the Commission, appeared on its
               face to comply as to form in all material respects with the
               requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.  In
               passing upon compliance as to form of such documents, such
               counsel may assume that the statements made therein are true,
               correct and complete.

                        (iv) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are
               no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened which
               are required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.

                        (v) No authorization, approval, consent, decree or order
               of any Federal or California court or governmental authority or
               agency is required for the consummation by the Company of the
               transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in connection with
               the sale of the Securities hereunder, except such as may have
               been obtained or rendered, as the case may be, or as may be
               required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or state
               securities laws (including real estate syndication laws).

                        (vi) The issue and sale of the Securities and the
               compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Agreement
               and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will
               not result in a breach or violation of any material term or
               provision of, or constitute a default under the Material
               Agreements (as defined in such opinion) at

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
               the date hereof; nor will such action, to the best of such
               counsel's knowledge, result in any material violation of any
               statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the
               Company of any court or governmental agency or body having
               jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
               of their properties, except that such counsel need express no
               opinion under federal securities laws except as expressly
               otherwise provided in this Section 5(b)(1), and no opinion under
               state securities laws (including real estate syndication laws) or
               any antifraud laws.

                        (vii)  The Company is not required to be registered
               under the 1940 Act.

               (2) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Latham &
          Watkins, special counsel for the Company, in form and scope
          satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and subject to customary
          assumptions, limitations and exceptions acceptable to counsel for the
          Underwriters, to the effect that:

                        (i) the Company was organized in conformity with the
               requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust
               under the Code commencing with its taxable year ending December
               31, 1985, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to
               meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real
               estate investment trust under the Code; and

                        (ii) the information in the Prospectus under the
               captions "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations to the
               Company" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations to
               Holders of Common Stock," insofar as such statements constitute
               matters of law, summaries of legal matters, documents or
               proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by them and
               is accurate in all material respects.

               (3) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Ballard
          Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Maryland counsel for the Company, in form
          and scope satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect
          that:

                        (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
               validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
               of the State of Maryland.

                        (ii) The Company has the corporate power and authority
               to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
               business as described in the Prospectus.

                        (iii)  The authorized capital stock of the Company is as
               set forth in the Prospectus under "Capitalization."

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
                       (iv)  The Securities have been duly authorized for
               issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement
               and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this
               Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein,
               will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable. The
               issuance of such Securities is not subject to preemptive rights
               under the charter or bylaws of the Company or the Maryland
               General Corporation Law.

                        (v)  Texas HCP, Inc. has been duly incorporated and is
               validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
               of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the corporate
               power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
               to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.  All of
               the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of such
               subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are
               fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company,
               directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
               interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

                        (vi) This Agreement has been duly and validly
               authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

                       (vii) The Common Stock conforms to the description
               thereof contained in the Prospectus and the form of certificate
               used to evidence the Securities is in due and proper form.

                      (viii) The issuance and sale of the Securities by the
               Company and the compliance by the Company with the provisions of
               this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
               contemplated thereby, will not result in any violation of the
               provisions of the charter or bylaws of the Company

                        (ix) No authorization, approval, consent, decree or
               order of any court or governmental authority or agency is
               required under the Maryland General Corporation Law for the
               consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
               this Agreement or in connection with the sale of the Securities
               hereunder, except such as may have been obtained or rendered, as
               the case may be, or as may be required under the 1933 Act or the
               1933 Act Regulations or state securities laws.

               In rendering its opinion, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll shall
          state that Brown & Wood llp, in rendering its opinion pursuant to
          Section 5(b)(5), may rely upon such opinion as to matters arising
          under the laws of the State of Maryland.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
               (4) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Edward J.
          Henning, General Counsel of the Company, in form and scope
          satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:

                        (i)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
               information, the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
               corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
               jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of substantial
               properties or the conduct of its business requires such
               qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not
               have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
               otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business
               prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
               enterprise.

                        (ii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
               information, each Significant Subsidiary of the Company is duly
               qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
               good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or
               lease of substantial properties or the conduct of its business
               requires such qualification, except where the failure to so
               qualify and be in good standing would not have a material adverse
               effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
               business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
               subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

                       (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
               information, no material default exists in the due performance or
               observance by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any
               obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
               contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
               other instrument described or referred to in the Registration
               Statement or filed as an exhibit thereto or incorporated by
               reference therein which would 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 considered as one enterprise.

                        (iv) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
               information, there are no contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan
               agreements, notes, leases or other instruments or documents
               required to be described or referred to in the Registration
               Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those
               described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by
               reference as exhibits thereto and the descriptions thereof or
               references thereto are correct.

                         (v) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
               stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under
               "Capitalization "

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
               (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to
               reservations, agreements, dividend reinvestment plans or employee
               or director stock plans referred to in the Prospectus), and the
               shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock have been duly
               authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-
               assessable.

               (5) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Brown &
          Wood LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to the matters
          set forth in (i) and (ii) of subsection (b)(1) and (i), (iv), (vi) and
          (vii) of subsection (b)(3) of this Section.  In rendering such
          opinion, Brown & Wood LLP may rely upon the opinion of Ballard Spahr
          Andrews & Ingersoll, rendered pursuant to Section 5(b)(3) as to
          matters arising under the laws of the State of Maryland.

               (6) In giving their opinions required by subsections (b)(1) and
          (b)(5), respectively, of this Section, Latham & Watkins and Brown &
          Wood LLP shall each additionally state that nothing has come to their
                         ----                                                  
          attention that would cause them to believe that the Registration
          Statement, at the time it became effective, contained an untrue
          statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
          required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
          therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, at the Representation
          Date (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 Securities which differs from the Prospectus
          on file at the Commission at the Representation Date, in which case at
          the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use) or at
          Closing Time, included or includes an untrue statement of a material
          fact or omitted or omits 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; it being understood that
          such counsel shall express no opinion with respect to the financial
          statements, schedules and other financial and statistical data in the
          Registration Statement or the Prospectus.  In giving their opinions,
          Latham & Watkins and Brown & Wood LLP may rely, to the extent recited
          therein, (A) as to all matters of fact, upon certificates and written
          statements of officers of the Company, and (B) as to the qualification
          and good standing of the Company and each Significant Subsidiary to do
          business in any state or jurisdiction, upon certificates of
          appropriate government officials.

          (c) Officer's Certificate.  At Closing Time there shall not have been,
              ---------------------                                             
     since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information
     is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, 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 considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
     ordinary course of business, and the Underwriters shall have received a
     certificate of the President or a Vice President of the Company and the
     chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of
     Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material
     adverse change, (ii) the representations

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
     and warranties in Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the same force
     and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the
     Company has performed or complied with all agreements and satisfied all
     conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing
     Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
     Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose
     have been initiated or, to the best knowledge and information of such
     officer, threatened by the Commission.  As used in this Section 5(c), the
     term "Prospectus" means the Prospectus in the form first used to confirm
     sales of the Securities.

          (d) Accountant's Comfort Letter.  At the time of execution of this
              ---------------------------                                   
     Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a
     letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Underwriters, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily
     included in accountants "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to
     financial statements and financial information included and incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including,
     without limitation, the pro forma financial statements, if any) and
     substantially in the same form as the draft letter previously delivered to
     and approved by the Underwriters.

          (e) Bring-down Comfort Letter.  At Closing Time the Underwriters shall
              -------------------------                                         
     have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Time,
     to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter
     furnished pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section, except that the
     specified date referred to therein shall be a date not more than three
     business days prior to Closing Time.

          (f) Listing.  At Closing Time the Securities shall have been duly
              -------                                                      
     listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange.

          (g) Lock-up Agreements.  The Representatives shall have received an
              ------------------                                             
     agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto signed by the
     persons listed on Schedule B hereto, dated as of the date of this
     Agreement.

          (h) Additional Documents.  At Closing Time and each Date of Delivery,
              --------------------                                             
     if any, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such
     documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of
     enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as
     herein contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to evidence the
     accuracy and completeness of any of the representations and warranties, or
     the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all
     proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale
     of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and
     substance to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters.

          (i) Over-allotment Option.  In the event the Underwriters exercise
              ---------------------                                         
     their option provided in Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any portion of
     the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company
     contained herein and the

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
     statements in any certificates furnished by the Company hereunder shall be
     true and correct as of each Date of Delivery, and the Underwriters shall
     have received:

               (1) The favorable opinion of Latham & Watkins, special counsel
          for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
          Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option
          Securities and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by
          Sections 5(b)(1) and 5(b)(6) hereof.

               (2) The favorable opinion of Latham & Watkins, special counsel
          for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
          Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, reaffirming their opinion
          delivered at Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(b)(2) hereof.

               (3) The favorable opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll,
          Maryland counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory
          to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating
          to the Option Securities and otherwise to the same effect as the
          opinion required by Sections 5(b)(3) hereof.

               (4) The favorable opinion of Edward J. Henning, General Counsel
          of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
          Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, reaffirming his opinion
          delivered at Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(b)(4) hereof.

               (5) The favorable opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel for the
          Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option
          Securities and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by
          Sections 5(b)(5) and 5(b)(6) hereof.

               (6) A certificate of the President or a Vice President of the
          Company and the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the
          Company, dated such Date of Delivery, confirming that the certificate
          delivered at Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof remains true
          and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

               (7) A letter from Arthur Andersen LLP, in form and substance
          satisfactory to the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery,
          substantially the same in scope and substance as the letter furnished
          to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof except that the
          "specified date" in the letter furnished pursuant to this subsection
          shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date
          of Delivery.

     If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled
when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Underwriters by notifying the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time,
and such termination shall be without

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4
hereof.  Notwithstanding any such termination, the provisions of Sections 1, 4,
6, 7 and 8 shall remain in effect.

     Section 6.  Indemnification.
                 --------------- 

     (a)  Indemnification of Underwriters.  The Company agrees to indemnify and
          -------------------------------                                      
hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act, as follows:

             (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
     (or any amendment thereto), or any omission or alleged omission therefrom
     of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
     alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary
     prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement or the Prospectus (or any
     amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission
     therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading;

             (ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
     settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with
     the written consent of the Company; and

             (iii)  against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
     (including, subject to Section 6(c) hereof, the fees and disbursements of
     counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating,
     preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
     proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
     any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or
     any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
     expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that (A) this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any
- --------  -------                                                          
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus,
preliminary prospectus supplement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), and (B) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus or
preliminary prospectus supplement, this indemnity agreement shall not inure to
the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit of any person controlling such
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
the 1933 Act) to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense of such Underwriter or any person controlling such Underwriter results
from the fact that such Underwriter sold Securities to a person to whom there
was not sent or given by such Underwriter or on such Underwriter's behalf at or
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person,
a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented), if required by law
to have been so delivered, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented)
would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense.

     (b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers.  Each Underwriter
         --------------------------------------------------                   
severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each
of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the
indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only
with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or
omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus, preliminary prospectus supplement or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Merrill Lynch
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or
such preliminary prospectus, preliminary prospectus supplement or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (c) Actions Against Parties; Notification.  Each indemnified party shall
         -------------------------------------                               
give written notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be
sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not
relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve
it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this
indemnity agreement.  In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill
Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company.  An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such
action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not
        --------  -------                                                  
(except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the
indemnified party.  In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for
fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.  No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in
respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such litigation,

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.

     (d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.  If at any time an
         --------------------------------------------------                    
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.

     (e) EDGAR.  For purposes of this Section 6, all references to the
         -----                                                        
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, preliminary prospectus
supplement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing, shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR.

     Section 7.  Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
                 ------------                                                   
hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.

     The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in
each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus (or, if Rule 434 is used,
the corresponding location on the Term Sheet) bear to the aggregate public
offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover (or corresponding
location on the Term Sheet, as the case may be).

     The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters,
on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
omission or alleged omission to state a material

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

     The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7.  The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

     For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company.  The Underwriters'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in
proportion to the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective names
in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

     Section 8.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, or
contained in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto
or thereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters or any controlling
person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters.

     Section 9.  Termination of Agreement.  (a) The Underwriters may terminate
                 ------------------------                                     
this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing
Time (i) if there has been, since the date of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, (ii) if there has occurred any outbreak of
hostilities or other calamity or crisis or change or development involving a
prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic
conditions, in each case the effect of which on the financial markets of the
United States is such as to make it, in the judgement of the Underwriters,
impracticable to market the Securities or enforce contracts for the sale of the
Securities, or (iii) if trading in the securities of the Company has been
suspended by the Commission, or if trading generally on either the American
Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange or in the NASDAQ National Market
has been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or
maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by either of said
Exchanges or by order of the Commission, the NASD or any other governmental
authority, or if a banking moratorium has been declared by either federal, New
York or California authorities.  As used in this Section 9(a), the term
"Prospectus" means the Prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the
Securities.

     (b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
provided in Section 4 hereof.  Notwithstanding any such termination, the
provisions of Sections 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8 shall remain in effect.

     Section 10.  Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If any Underwriter
                  ------------------------------------------                    
shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Securities which it is obligated to
purchase hereunder (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representative shall have
the right, but not the obligation, within 24 hours thereafter, to make
arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other
underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted
Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set
forth; if, however, the Representative shall have not completed such
arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

          (a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
     number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-
     defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to
     purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective
     underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of
     all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

          (b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of
     Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to
     any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of
     the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option
     Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery, shall
     terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

     No action pursuant to this Section shall relieve any  defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
     In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement, either the Non-Defaulting Underwriters or the Company shall have
the right to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in
order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or in any other documents or arrangements.

     Section 11.  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall
                  -------                                                       
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of written telecommunication.  Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to them at Merrill Lynch & Co., 10877 Wilshire
Boulevard, Suite 1900, Los Angeles, CA 90024, Attention: James F. Flaherty III,
Managing Director, and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 4675
MacArthur Court, 9th Floor, Newport Beach, California 92660, Attention: Kenneth
B. Roath, President and Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Pamela B. Kelly,
Esq. at Latham & Watkins, 633 West Fifth Street, Los Angeles, California 90071.

     Section 12.  Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
                  -------                                                      
binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors.
Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any person, firm or corporation other than the Underwriters
and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and
the officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof and their
heirs and legal representatives any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.  This
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and said officers and
directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no
other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from any
Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

     Section 13.  Governing Law and Time.  This Agreement shall be governed by
                  ----------------------                                      
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable
to agreements made and to be performed in such State.  Unless stated otherwise,
all specified times of day refer to New York City time.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between
the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.


                                          Very truly yours,

                                          HEALTH CARE PROPERTY INVESTORS, INC.



                                          By:  /s/ Edward J. Henning
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Name:  Edward J. Henning
                                               Title: Senior Vice-President



CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
        INCORPORATED
BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
EVEREN SECURITIES, INC.



By:  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                INCORPORATED



By: /s/ Paul M. Meurer
    -----------------------------------------------
                  Authorized Signatory

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE A


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                  Number of
Underwriters                               Securities
- ----------------------------------------   ----------
<S>                                        <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith         
         Incorporated...................      418,000
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated.............      416,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc..................      416,000
                                            ---------
 
         Total..........................    1,250,000
                                            =========
</TABLE>

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE B


1.   Kenneth B. Roath
2.   James G. Reynolds
3.   Devasis Ghose
4.   Edward J. Henning
5.   Paul V. Colony
6.   Robert R. Fanning, Jr.
7.   Michael D. McKee
8.   Orville E. Melby
9.   Harold M. Messmer, Jr.
10.  Peter L. Rhein
11.  Stephen R. Maulbetsch

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit A
                               December __, 1997



Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
   Incorporated
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
EVEREN Securities Inc.

c/o  Merrill Lynch & Co.
     Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
     Incorporated
     Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
     North Tower
     World Financial Center
     New York, New York  10281-1209

       Re:  Proposed Public Offering by Health Care Property Investors, Inc.
            ----------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sirs:

     The undersigned, a stockholder and an executive officer and/or director of
Health Care Property Investors, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"),
understands that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill
Lynch"), BT Alex. Brown Incorporated EVEREN Securities, Inc. propose to enter
into an Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with the Company providing
for the public offering of shares (the "Securities") of the Company's common
stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock").  In recognition of the
benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder
and an executive officer and/or 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 to be named in the
Purchase Agreement that, during a period of 90 days from the date of the
Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent
of Merrill Lynch, (i) offer, pledge (other than a pledge to a lending
institution as collateral or security for a bona fide loan), sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any opinion, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise dispose of
or transfer, directly or indirectly, any shares of the Company's Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exchangeable or

                                     

                                      A-1
<PAGE>
 
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 any registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the foregoing 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 Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause
(i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise.

                                            Very truly yours,



                                            Signature:
                                                       -----------------------
                                                       
                                            Print Name: 
                                                       -----------------------


                                      

                                      A-2

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

 
               [LETTERHEAD OF BALLARD SPAHR ANDREWS & INGERSOLL]


                               December 10, 1997

Health Care Property Investors, Inc.
10990 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1200
Los Angeles,  California  90024


     Re:   Health Care Property Investors, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
           "Company") - up to One Million Four Hundred Thirty-Seven Thousand
           Five Hundred (1,437,500) shares (the "Shares") of the Common Stock of
           the Company, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), to be
           issued and sold pursuant to Registration Statement on Form S-3, as
           amended (Registration No. 333-29485), including the Prospectus dated
           September 19, 1997, comprising a part thereof (the "Prospectus"), and
           the Prospectus Supplement, dated December 10, 1997 (the "Prospectus
           Supplement")
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    In connection with the registration of the offering and sale of the Shares 
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), by the Company on 
Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about June 18, 
1997, as amended, (the "Registration Statement"), you have requested our opinion
with respect to the matters set forth below.

    We have acted as special Maryland corporate counsel for the Company in 
connection with the matters described herein.  In our capacity as special 
Maryland corporate counsel to the Company, we have reviewed and are familiar 
with proceedings proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the 
authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares, and for purposes of this opinion
have assumed such proceedings will be timely completed in the manner presently 
proposed. In addition, we have relied upon certificates and advice from the 
officers of the Company upon which we believe we are justified in relying and on
various certificates from, and documents recorded with, the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT"), including the charter of the
Company (the "Charter"), consisting of Articles of Restatement


<PAGE>
 
BALLARD SPAHR ANDREWS & INGERSOLL


Health Care Properties Investors, Inc.
December 10, 1997
Page 2



filed with the SDAT on April 27, 1992 and Articles Supplementary filed with the
SDAT on or about September 26, 1997. We have also examined the Bylaws of the
Company, as amended through the date hereof (the "Bylaws"), and Resolutions of
the Board of Directors of the Company and committees thereof adopted on or
before the date hereof and in full force and effect on the date hereof; and such
laws, records, documents, certificates, opinions and instruments as we deem
necessary to render this opinion.


     We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of
all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic or conformed copies. In
addition, we have assumed that each person executing any instrument, document or
certificate referred to herein on behalf of any party is duly authorized to do
so. We have also assumed that none of the Shares will be issued or transferred
in violation of the restrictions on ownership and transfer of stock contained in
the Charter of the Company and described in the Prospectus under the caption
"Transfer Restrictions, Redemption and Business Combination Provisions."

     Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions and qualifications
set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date of this letter, the
Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company, and the Shares will, upon issuance and delivery in accordance
with the terms and conditions described in the Registration Statement against
payment of the purchase price therefor as determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company or a committee thereof, be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

     We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and further consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the applications to securities commissioners for the various states of the
United States for registration of the Shares. We also consent to the
identification of our firm as Maryland counsel to the Company in the section of
the Prospectus (which is part of the Registration Statement) entitled "Legal
Matters."

     The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the state of
Maryland and we express no opinion concerning any laws other than the laws of
the State of Maryland. Furthermore, the opinions presented in this letter are
limited to the matters
<PAGE>
 
BALLARD SPAHR ANDREWS  & INGERSOLL

Health Care Properties Investors, Inc.
December 10, 1997
Page 3


specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the 
matters expressly stated.

                                           Very truly yours,


                                           Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 8.1

                         [Latham & Walkins letterhead]





                               December 10, 1997


                                        



Health Care Property Investors, Inc.
4675 MacArthur Court, 9th Floor
Newport Beach, California 92660

     Re: Health Care Property Investors, Inc.
         1,250,000 Shares of Common Stock
         --------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We have acted as special counsel to Health Care Property Investors,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the sale by the
Company to Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, and EVEREN Securities, Inc.
(collectively, the "Underwriters") of 1,250,000 shares of the Company's common
stock, $1.00 par value per share (including up to an additional 187,500 shares
of the Company's common stock if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is
exercised), pursuant to (i) a registration statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on June 18, 1997 (File No. 333-29485), as amended
by pre-effective Amendment No. 1 thereto, filed with the Commission on June 26,
1997, and declared effective by the Commission on June 27, 1997, (ii) a
Prospectus dated September 19, 1997 (the "Base Prospectus"), as supplemented by
the Prospectus Supplement dated December 10, 1997, filed with the Commission on
<PAGE>
 
Health Care Property Investors, Inc.
December 10, 1997
Page 2

December 11, 1997 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act (the "Prospectus
Supplement," and together with the Base Prospectus, the "Prospectus") and (iii)
a purchase agreement dated December 10, 1997 between the Underwriters and the
Company (the "Purchase Agreement").

          This opinion is based on various assumptions and is conditioned upon
certain representations made by the Company as to factual matters through a
certificate of an officer of the Company (the "Officer's Certificate"). In
addition, this opinion is based upon the factual representations of the Company
concerning its business and properties as set forth in the Prospectus.

          In our capacity as such counsel, we have made such legal and factual
examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents,
corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

          In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the
legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to
authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

          We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only
of the federal income tax laws of the United States and we express no opinion
with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of other
federal laws, the laws of any state or other jurisdiction or as to any matters
of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies with any state.

          Based upon the facts set forth in the Prospectus and Officer's
Certificate, it is our opinion that the information in the Prospectus Supplement
set forth under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations to
Holders of Common Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law,
summaries of legal matters, documents or proceedings, or legal conclusions, has
been reviewed by us and is correct in all material respects.

          No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed herein.

          This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations
promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue
Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are
subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. Also, any variation or
difference in the facts from those set forth in the Prospectus or Officer's
Certificate may affect the conclusions stated herein.

          This opinion is rendered only to you and is solely for your benefit in
connection with the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of
this opinion as an exhibit to the
<PAGE>
 
Health Care Property Investors, Inc.
December 10, 1997
Page 3

Registration Statement. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other
purpose, or furnished to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or
corporation for any purpose, without our prior written consent.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ LATHAM & WATKINS


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