HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/
8-K, 1998-05-08
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<PAGE>   1
                       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):
                                   May 7, 1998

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


        Delaware                    1-8923             34-1096634
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission         (IRS Employer
   of incorporation)              File Number)      Identification No.)

One SeaGate, Suite 1500, P.O. Box 1475, Toledo, Ohio         43603-1475
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)

      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code): 419-247-2800

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

     In connection with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File
No. 333-43177), declared effective January 7, 1998, the Company has entered
into an Underwriting Agreement for an offering of 3,000,000 shares of 8 7/8%
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, of
the Company.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

        (a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

               None.

        (b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

               None.

        (c) Exhibits.



<PAGE>   2

               1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement

              23.1    Consent of Independent Auditors

                                    SIGNATURE


    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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                       HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.

                                  By: /s/ GEORGE L. CHAPMAN
                                     ---------------------------
                                          George L. Chapman

                                  Its: Chairman of the Board, Chief
                                       Executive Officer and President

Dated: May 8, 1998




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                   Designation
                                  Number Under




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Item 601 of
Exhibit No.         Regulation S-K         Description
- -----------         --------------         -----------
<S> <C>                    <C>        <C>                    
    1.1                    1          Form of Underwriting
                                        Agreement

   23.1                   23          Consent of Independent 
                                        Auditors

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1

                                3,000,000 SHARES


                             HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.

                    8 7/8% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock

                                ($1.00 Par Value)


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------


                                                                    May 7, 1998

BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
Smith Barney Inc.
EVEREN Securities, Inc.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
As Representative of the Several Underwriters
c/o  BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
     One South Street
     Baltimore, Maryland 21202


Gentlemen:

         Health Care REIT, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to sell to the several Underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in
Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives") an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of the
Company's 8 7/8% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share
(the "Preferred Stock"). The respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be so
purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in
Schedule I hereto. The Company also proposes to sell at the Underwriters' option
an aggregate of up to 450,000 additional Shares (the "Option Shares") as set
forth below.

         As the Representatives, you have advised the Company (a) that you are
authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters
and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not
jointly, to purchase the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares
if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole or in part for the
accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to
the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively
called the "Shares."

         In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>   2


         1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants as follows:

                   (i) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-43177)
         with respect to the Shares has been carefully prepared by the Company
         in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended (the "Act"), and the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and
         Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
         "Commission") thereunder and has been filed with the Commission under
         the Act. The Company has complied with the conditions for the use of
         Form S-3. Copies of such registration statement, including any
         amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the
         requirements of Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations) contained
         therein, the exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as finally
         amended and revised, and all documents incorporated by reference have
         heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. Such registration
         statement, herein referred to as the "Registration Statement," which
         shall be deemed to include all information omitted therefrom in
         reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the Prospectus referred to
         below and all information incorporated by reference therein, has been
         declared effective by the Commission under the Act and no
         post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
         as of the date of this Agreement. The form of prospectus first filed by
         the Company with the Commission pursuant to its Rule 424(b) and Rule
         430A, or if no such filing is required, the form of final prospectus
         included in the Registration Statement at the time the Registration
         Statement is declared effective, is herein referred to as the
         "Prospectus." Each preliminary prospectus included in the Registration
         Statement prior to the time it becomes effective is herein referred to
         as a "Preliminary Prospectus." Any reference herein to any Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include
         the documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements or
         amendments thereto filed with the Commission as of the date of such
         Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, and in the
         case of any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or
         Prospectus, also shall be deemed to include any documents incorporated
         by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as
         of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, and any
         supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission after the
         date of the filing of the Prospectus under Rule 424(b) or 430A, and
         prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the
         Underwriters. Any reference to any amendment or supplement to any
         Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, shall be
         deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of
         such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under
         the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
         Act"), and incorporated by reference into such Preliminary Prospectus
         or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment
         to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include
         any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration
         Statement that is incorporated by reference into the Registration
         Statement.

                  (ii) The Company has been duly organized and is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties
         and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement;
         the Company is duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions
         in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and
         in which the failure to qualify would have a materially adverse effect
         upon the business of the Company; except for HCRI Nevada Properties,
         Inc., 


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<PAGE>   3

         HCRI Overlook Green, Inc., HCRI Pennsylvania Properties, Inc., HCRI
         Texas Properties, Inc., HCRI Texas Properties, Ltd. and Health Care
         REIT International, Inc., the Company has no subsidiaries.

                 (iii) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company
         have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
         non-assessable and are duly listed on the New York Stock Exchange; the
         Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized
         and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly
         issued, fully-paid and non-assessable and have been approved for
         listing on the New York Stock Exchange subject to official notice of
         issuance; and no preemptive or similar rights of stockholders exist
         with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.

                  (iv) The shares of authorized capital stock of the Company,
         including the Shares, conform with the statements concerning them in
         the Registration Statement.

                   (v) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or
         suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus relating to the
         proposed offering of the Shares nor instituted proceedings for that
         purpose. The Registration Statement contains, and the Prospectus, and
         any amendments or supplements thereto, contain or will contain, all
         statements which are required to be stated therein by, and in all
         material respects conform to or will conform to, as the case may be,
         the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The
         documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they
         were or will be filed with the Commission, conformed or will conform at
         the time of filing, in all material respects to the requirements of the
         Exchange Act or the Act, as applicable, and the Rules and Regulations
         of the Commission thereunder. Neither the Registration Statement nor
         any amendment thereto, and neither the Prospectus nor any supplement
         thereto, including any documents incorporated by reference therein,
         contains or will contain, as the case may be, any untrue statement of a
         material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
         the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no
         representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted
         from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such
         amendment or supplement, or any documents incorporated by reference
         therein, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information
         furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
         Representatives, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

                  (vi) The financial statements of the Company, together with
         related notes and schedules as set forth or incorporated by reference
         in the Registration Statement, present fairly the financial position
         and the results of operations of the Company at the indicated dates and
         for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and the related
         notes and schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally
         accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the
         periods involved, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation
         of results for such periods have been made. The summary financial and
         statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the
         Registration Statement present fairly the information shown therein
         and, to the extent based upon or derived from the financial statements,
         have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements
         presented therein.

                 (vii) There is no action or proceeding pending or, to the
         knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or involving
         any property of the Company before any court or 


                                       3
<PAGE>   4

         administrative agency which might reasonably be expected to result in
         any material adverse change in the business or condition (financial or
         otherwise) of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration
         Statement.

                (viii) The Company has good and marketable title to all of the
         properties and assets reflected in the financial statements hereinabove
         described (or as described in the Registration Statement as owned by
         it), subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any
         kind except those reflected in such financial statements (or as
         described in the Registration Statement) or which are not material in
         amount or which do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be
         made of the property. The leases, agreements to purchase and mortgages
         to which the Company is a party, and the guaranties of third parties
         (a) are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and, to
         the knowledge of the Company, of all other parties thereto, and the
         Company knows of no default or defenses currently existing with respect
         thereto which might reasonably be expected to result in any material
         adverse change in the business or condition (financial or otherwise) of
         the Company, and (b) conform to the descriptions thereof set forth in
         the Registration Statement. Each mortgage which the Company holds on
         the properties described in the Registration Statement constitutes a
         valid mortgage lien for the benefit of the Company on such property.

                  (ix) The Company has filed all Federal, state and foreign
         income tax returns which have been required to be filed and has paid
         all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments received by it
         to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being
         contested in good faith. All tax liabilities have been adequately
         provided for in the financial statements of the Company.

                   (x) Since the respective dates as of which information is
         given in the Registration Statement, as it may be amended or
         supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change or any
         development involving a prospective material adverse change in or
         affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company or the
         earnings, business affairs, management, or business prospects of the
         Company, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business,
         and the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or
         obligations and there has not been any material transaction entered
         into by the Company, other than transactions in the ordinary course of
         business and changes and transactions contemplated by the Registration
         Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented. The Company has no
         material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in the
         Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented.

                  (xi) The Company is not (a) in default under any agreement,
         lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which
         it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or the
         Company's certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (b) in violation of
         any statute, or (c) in violation of any order, rule or regulation
         applicable to the Company or its properties, of any court or of any
         regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, any
         of which defaults or violations described in clauses (a) through (c)
         is, or after any required notice and passage of any applicable grace
         period would be, of material significance in respect of the business or
         condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company. The consummation of
         the transactions herein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms
         hereof will not conflict with or constitute a violation of any statute
         or conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
         provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
         deed of trust or 


                                       4
<PAGE>   5

         other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by
         which the Company or the Company's properties may be bound, or of the
         certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any order,
         rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the Company's
         properties or of any court or of any regulatory body, administrative
         agency or other governmental body.

                 (xii) Each approval, consent, order, authorization,
         designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory,
         administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with
         the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the
         consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (except such
         additional steps as may be required by the National Association of
         Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or may be necessary to qualify
         the Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under state
         securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made by the Company,
         and is in full force and effect.

                (xiii) The Company holds all material licenses, certificates and
         permits from governmental authorities which are necessary to the
         conduct of its businesses and the Company has not received any notice
         of infringement or of conflict with asserted rights of others with
         respect to any patents, patent rights, trade names, trademarks or
         copyrights, which infringement is material to the business of the
         Company.

                 (xiv) The Company qualifies as a real estate investment trust
         pursuant to Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of
         1986, as amended, has so qualified for the taxable years ended December
         31, 1984 through December 31, 1996 and no transaction or other event
         has occurred or is contemplated which would prevent the Company from so
         qualifying for its current taxable year.

                  (xv) To the best of the Company's knowledge, Ernst & Young
         LLP, who have certified certain of the financial statements and related
         schedules filed with the Commission as part of, or incorporated by
         reference in, the Registration Statement, are independent public
         accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

                 (xvi) To the knowledge of the Company, after inquiry of its
         officers and directors, there are no affiliations with the NASD among
         the Company's officers, directors, or principal stockholders, except as
         set forth in the Registration Statement or as otherwise disclosed in
         writing to the Representatives of the Underwriters.

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

               (xviii) Neither the Company nor any of its officers or directors
         has taken nor will any of them take, directly or indirectly, any action
         resulting in a violation of Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange
         Act, or designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or
         which reasonably might be expected to constitute, the stabilization or
         manipulation of the price of the Preferred Shares. The Company
         acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in transactions that
         stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Preferred
         Shares, including stabilizing bids, syndicate covering transactions and
         the imposition of penalty bids.


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<PAGE>   6

                 (xix) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
         Company is not a party to any written contract or agreement relating to
         any purchase of real property or the lending of funds secured by real
         property which is probable of being consummated.

                  (xx) The Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of
         the Exchange Act and have been approved for listing upon official
         notice of issuance on the New York Stock Exchange.

                 (xxi) The Company is not, and immediately after the sale of the
         Shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not
         be, an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
         company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

         2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE FIRM SHARES. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and subject to the
conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters and
each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of
$______ share, the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each
Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, subject to adjustments in accordance with
Section 9 hereof.

                  Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made
in New York Clearing House funds by certified or bank cashier's checks drawn to
the order of the Company for the Shares to be sold by it against delivery of
certificates therefor to the Representatives for the several accounts of the
Underwriters. Such payment and delivery are to be made at the offices of BT
Alex. Brown Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland, at 10:00 A.M.
Baltimore time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement or at
such other time and date not later than three business days thereafter as you
and the Company shall agree upon, such time and date being herein referred to as
the "Closing Date." (As used herein, "business day" means a day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open
for business and not permitted by law or executive order to be closed). The
certificates for the Firm Shares will be delivered by ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. (the "Transfer Agent") in such denominations and in such
registrations as the Representatives request in writing not later than the
second full business day prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available
for inspection by the Representatives at least one business day prior to the
Closing Date at such place as the Representatives and the Company shall agree.

                  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 to purchase the
Option Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first paragraph of this
Section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised in whole or in part by
giving notice (i) at any time before the Closing Date and (ii) only once
thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, by you, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, to the Company setting forth the
number of Option Shares as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the
option, the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be
registered and the time and date at which such certificates are to be delivered.
The time and date at which certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered
shall be determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three
nor later than 10 full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in
any event prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to
as the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of exercise of the option is three or
more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the Closing
Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option Shares to be purchased by
each Underwriter shall be in the 


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<PAGE>   7

same proportion to the total number of Option Shares being purchased as the
number of Firm Shares being purchased by such Underwriter bears to the total
number of Firm Shares, adjusted by you in such manner as to avoid fractional
shares. The option with respect to the Option Shares granted hereunder may be
exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the
Underwriters. You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel
such option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such
cancellation to the Company. To the extent, if any, that the option is
exercised, payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing
Date in New York Clearing House funds by certified or bank cashier's check drawn
to the order of the Company against delivery of certificates therefor (in such
denominations and in such registrations as the Representatives request in
writing not later than the second full business day prior the Option Closing
Date) at the offices of BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, One South Street,
Baltimore, Maryland. The Transfer Agent shall make the certificates for the
Option Shares available for inspection by the Representatives at least one
business day prior to the Option Closing Date.

         3. OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS. It is understood that the several
Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the
Representatives deem it advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially
offered to the public at the public offering price set forth in the Prospectus.
The Representatives may from time to time thereafter change the public offering
price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all, that any Option Shares
are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters will offer them to
the public on the foregoing terms.

                  It is further understood that you will act as the
Representatives for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in
accordance with a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and
the several other Underwriters.

         4. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and agrees with the
Underwriters that:

                   (i) The Company will (a) prepare and timely file with the
         Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, if the final
         form of the prospectus is not included in the Registration Statement at
         the time the Registration Statement is declared effective, a Prospectus
         containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness
         of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A, if applicable,
         of the Rules and Regulations, (b) use its best efforts to cause the
         Registration Statement to remain in effect as to the Shares for so long
         as the Representatives may deem necessary in order to complete the
         distribution of the Shares, (c) not file any amendment to the
         Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or document
         incorporated by reference therein, of which the Representatives shall
         not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which
         the Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or which
         is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations and (d) file on a
         timely basis all reports and any definitive proxy or information
         statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission
         subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and prior to the termination
         of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters; provided, however,
         that for each such report or definitive proxy or information statement,
         the Company will not file any such report or definitive proxy or
         information statement, or amendment thereto, of which the
         Representatives shall not previously have been advised and furnished
         with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
         objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and
         Regulations.


                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                  (ii) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of
         any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration
         Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional
         information, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use
         of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that
         purpose, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for
         offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and the Company will use its best
         efforts to prevent (a) the issuance of any such stop order preventing
         or suspending the use of the Prospectus or (b) any such suspension of
         the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any
         jurisdiction, and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting of any such
         stop order, if issued, or such suspension of qualification.

                 (iii) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in
         endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of
         such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have
         designated and will make such applications, file such documents, and
         furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that
         purpose, provided the Company shall not be required to qualify as a
         foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process
         in any jurisdiction or to subject itself to taxation as doing business
         in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to
         file such a consent or so subject to taxation. The Company will, from
         time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other
         documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in
         effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably
         request for distribution of the Shares.

                  (iv) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
         Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary
         Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company
         will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the
         period when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the Act, as many
         copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or
         supplemented, as the Representatives may reasonably request. The
         Company will deliver to the Representatives at or before the Closing
         Date, six signed copies of the Registration Statement and all
         amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will
         deliver to the Representatives such number of copies of the
         Registration Statement, including documents incorporated by reference
         therein, but without exhibits, and of all amendments thereto, as the
         Representatives may reasonably request.

                   (v) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(i) above, if
         during the period in which a prospectus is required by law to be
         delivered by the Underwriters or a dealer any event shall occur as a
         result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the opinion of
         counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or
         supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in
         the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is
         delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any
         time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the
         Company promptly will either (a) prepare and file with the Commission
         an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to
         the Prospectus or (b) prepare and file with the Commission an
         appropriate filing under the Exchange Act which shall be incorporated
         by reference in the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or
         supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so
         delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with
         law.

                  (vi) The Company will make generally available to its security
         holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not
         later than 15 months after the effective date of the 


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<PAGE>   9

         Registration Statement, an earnings statement (which need not be
         audited) in reasonable detail, covering a period of at least 12
         consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the
         Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
         requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and
         Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement has
         been so made available.

                 (vii) The Company will, for a period of five years from the
         Closing Date, deliver to the Representatives copies of annual reports
         and copies of all other documents, reports and information furnished by
         the Company to its stockholders or filed with any securities exchange
         pursuant to the requirements of such exchange or with the Commission
         pursuant to the Act or the Exchange Act. The Company will deliver to
         the Representatives similar reports with respect to significant
         subsidiaries, as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations,
         which are not consolidated in the Company's financial statements.

                (viii) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will use its best
         efforts to duly and validly authorize, by all necessary corporate
         action, the resolutions creating the Shares and designating the rights,
         preferences, restrictions, qualifications and limitations of the Shares
         (the "Designating Resolutions").

                  (ix) The Company will use its best efforts to list the Shares
         on the New York Stock Exchange.

         5. COSTS AND EXPENSES. The Company will pay all costs, expenses and
fees incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company; the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the
Underwriters, copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses,
the Prospectus, this Agreement, the applicable listing agreement for the New
York Stock Exchange, the Blue Sky Survey and any supplements or amendments
thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; the filing fees and expenses
(including legal fees and disbursements) incident to securing any required
review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares; the fees incident to
the listing agreement for the New York Stock Exchange; and the expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred
in connection with the qualification of the Shares under state securities or
Blue Sky laws. Any transfer taxes imposed on the sale of the Shares to the
several Underwriters will be paid by the Company. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters' expenses (other than
those related to qualification under state securities or Blue Sky laws) except
that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in
Section 7 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated by
the Representatives pursuant to Section 6 hereof (other than a termination as a
result of a failure to satisfy the condition set forth in subparagraph (iv) of
Section 6 hereof), or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part
of the Company to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this
Agreement or to comply with any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed,
unless such failure to satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms be
due to the default or omission of any Underwriter, then the Company shall
reimburse the several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses,
including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in
contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder, but the Company shall
not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on
account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Shares.



                                       9
<PAGE>   10

         6. CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares on the Closing Date
and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option Closing Date are subject to the
accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, and to
the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to
the following additional conditions:

                  (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been
         issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to
         the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

                  (ii) The certificate, setting forth a copy of the Designating
         Resolutions, shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company,
         shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
         Delaware and shall have become effective.

                  (iii) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date
         or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of
         Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, counsel for the Company, dated the
         Closing Date or the option closing date, as the case may be, and
         addressed to the Underwriters to the effect that:

                            (a) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
                  validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
                  laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and
                  authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
                  described in the Prospectus.

                            (b) The Company is duly qualified to transact
                  business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of its
                  business requires such qualification, and in which the failure
                  to qualify would have a materially adverse effect upon the
                  business of the Company.

                            (c) The Company has authorized and outstanding
                  capital stock as set forth under the caption "Capitalization"
                  in the Prospectus; the authorized shares of its Common Stock
                  have been duly authorized; the outstanding shares of its
                  Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and
                  are fully paid and nonassessable; all of the Shares conform in
                  all material respects to the description thereof contained in
                  the Prospectus; the certificates for the Shares are in due and
                  proper form and have been duly authorized for issuance by the
                  Company; the Shares to be sold by the Company pursuant to this
                  Agreement have been duly authorized and will be validly
                  issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued and paid for
                  as contemplated by this Agreement; and no preemptive or
                  similar rights of stockholders exist with respect to any of
                  the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.

                            (d) The Registration Statement has become effective
                  under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge no stop order
                  proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are
                  pending or threatened under the Act.

                            (e) The Designating Resolutions have been approved
                  and adopted by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the
                  Company; a certificate setting forth a copy of 


                                       10
<PAGE>   11

                  the Designating Resolutions has been duly executed on behalf
                  of the Company, has been duly filed with the Secretary of
                  State of the State of Delaware and has become effective. No
                  other filing, consent, approval, authorization, order,
                  license, certificate, permit, registration, designation or
                  filing with any court or other governmental agency or body is
                  required for the valid authorization, issue, delivery and sale
                  of the shares under this Agreement (except the registration
                  under the Act of the Shares and such consents, approvals,
                  authorizations, registration or qualification as may be
                  required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
                  with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the
                  Underwriters.)

                            (f) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and
                  each amendment or supplement thereto and documents
                  incorporated by reference therein comply as to form in all
                  material respects with the requirements of the Act or the
                  Exchange Act, as applicable, and the applicable rules and
                  regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need express
                  no opinion as to the financial statements, schedules and other
                  financial or statistical information included or incorporated
                  by reference therein).

                            (g) The statements under the caption "Description of
                  Series B Preferred Stock" in the Registration Statement on
                  Form 8-A, as amended, which is incorporated by reference into
                  the Prospectus, insofar as such statements constitute a
                  summary of documents referred to therein or matters of law,
                  are accurate summaries and fairly and correctly present in all
                  material respects the information called for with respect to
                  such documents and matters.

                            (h) The statements under the caption "Certain
                  Government Regulations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form
                  10-K, and any amendments thereto, for the fiscal year ended
                  December 31, 1997 as to matters of law stated therein, have
                  been reviewed by such counsel and constitute fair summaries of
                  the matters described therein which are material to the
                  business or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company.

                            (i) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or
                  documents required to be filed as exhibits to or incorporated
                  by reference in the Registration Statement or described in the
                  Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so
                  filed, incorporated by reference or described as required, and
                  such contracts and documents as are summarized in the
                  Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized
                  in all material respects.

                            (j) Such counsel knows of no material legal
                  proceedings pending or threatened against the Company except
                  as set forth in the Prospectus.

                            (k) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
                  the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do
                  not and will not conflict with or constitute a violation of
                  any statute or conflict with or result in a breach of any of
                  the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, the
                  certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company, any
                  material agreement or instrument known to such counsel to
                  which the Company is a party or by which the Company or the
                  Company's properties may be bound or any order known to such
                  counsel or rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the
                  Company's properties of any court or governmental agency or
                  body.


                                       11
<PAGE>   12

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

                            (m) No approval, consent, order, authorization,
                  designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory,
                  administrative or other governmental body is necessary in
                  connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
                  and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
                  (other than as may be required by the NASD or as required by
                  state securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel
                  need express no opinion) except such as have been obtained or
                  made by the Company, specifying the same.

                            (n) The Company is not an "investment company" or a
                  company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the
                  meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

                  In addition, such counsel will provide an opinion, based on
         such counsel's own review of the Company's certificate of
         incorporation, stating that the Company was organized and continues to
         be organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a
         real estate investment trust under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
         Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code") and, based on such counsel's
         review of the Company's federal income tax returns and discussions with
         management and independent public accountants for the Company, that the
         Company, taking into account operations for its taxable and fiscal
         years ended December 31, 1994 through December 31, 1997, satisfied the
         requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment
         trust under the Code for such years and that 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 for its
         taxable and fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. Furthermore, such
         counsel shall opine that the statements contained under the heading
         "Taxation" in the Registration Statement and in the Company's Annual
         Report on Form 10-K, and any amendments, for the fiscal year ended
         December 31, 1997 are correct and accurate in all material respects and
         present fairly and accurately the material aspects of the federal
         income tax treatment of the Company and of its stockholders.

                  In rendering such opinion, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP may
         rely as to matters governed by the laws of states other than the laws
         of the State of Ohio, the corporate laws of the State of Delaware or
         federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided that in
         such case Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP shall state that they believe
         that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying on such other
         counsel and such other counsel shall indicate that the Underwriters may
         rely on such opinion. As to matters of fact, to the extent they deem
         proper, such counsel may rely on certificates of officers of the
         Company and public officials so long as such counsel states that they
         have no reason to believe that either the Representatives or they are
         not justified in relying on such certificates. In addition to the
         matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to
         the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which
         leads them to believe that the Registration Statement, as of the time
         it became effective under the Act, the Prospectus or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to Rule 424(b),
         or any of the documents incorporated by reference therein, as of the
         date of effectiveness of the Registration 


                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         Statement or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference into
         the Prospectus after the date of effectiveness of the Registration
         Statement, as of the respective date when such documents were filed
         with the Commission, 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, and the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, or any of the documents incorporated by reference
         therein, as of the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement
         or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference into the
         Prospectus after the date of effectiveness of the Registration
         Statement, as of the respective date when such documents were filed
         with the Commission, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
         as the case may be, 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 (except that
         such counsel need express no view as to financial statements, schedules
         and other financial or statistical information included therein). With
         respect to such statement, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, may state
         that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth or
         incorporated by reference therein, but is without independent check and
         verification.

                  (iii) The Representatives shall have received from Calfee,
         Halter & Griswold LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, an opinion dated
         the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, with
         respect to the organization of the Company, the validity of the Shares,
         the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as
         the Representatives reasonably may request and such counsel shall have
         received such papers and information as they reasonably request to
         enable them to pass upon such matters.

                  (iv) The Representatives shall have received at or prior to
         the Closing Date from Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, a memorandum or
         summary, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives,
         with respect to the qualification for offering and sale by the
         Underwriters of the Shares under the state securities or Blue Sky laws
         of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have
         designated to the Company.

                  (v) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing
         Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a signed letter
         from Ernst & Young LLP, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing
         Date, as the case may be, which shall confirm, on the basis of a review
         in accordance with the procedures set forth in the letter, dated May
         7, 1998, signed by such firm and delivered to the Representatives
         by Ernst & Young LLP, that nothing has come to their respective
         attention during the period from the date five days prior to the date
         hereof, to a date not more than five days prior to the Closing Date or
         the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, which would require any
         change in its letter dated May 13, 1998 if it were required to be
         dated and delivered on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
         the case may be. All such letters shall be in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Representatives.

                  (vi) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing
         Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or
         certificates of the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
         President and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect
         that as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
         be, each of them severally represents as follows:

                            (a) The Registration Statement has become effective
                  under the Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
                  of the Registration Statement has been issued, 


                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                  and no proceedings for such purpose have been taken or are, to
                  his knowledge, contemplated by the Commission.

                            (b) He does not know of any litigation instituted or
                  threatened against the Company of a character required to be
                  disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not so
                  disclosed; he does not know of any material contract required
                  to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which
                  is not so filed; and the representations and warranties of the
                  Company contained in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as
                  of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
                  may be.

                            (c) He has carefully examined the Registration
                  Statement and the Prospectus and in his opinion, as of the
                  effective date of the Registration Statement, the statements
                  contained in the Registration Statement, including any
                  document incorporated by reference therein, were true and
                  correct, and such Registration Statement and Prospectus, or
                  any document incorporated by reference therein, did not omit
                  to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
                  necessary in order to make the statements therein not
                  misleading and, in his opinion, since the effective date of
                  the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should
                  have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the
                  Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement
                  or amendment.

                  (vii) The Shares to be sold by the Company as of the Closing
         Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been
         duly listed on the New York Stock Exchange subject to official notice
         of issuance.
                  The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are
in all material respects reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and to
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, counsel for the Underwriters.

                  If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this
Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement
to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated
by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in writing
or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be.

                  In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be
under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5
and 8 hereof).

         7. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. The obligations of the
Company to sell and deliver the portion of the Shares required to be delivered
as and when specified in this Agreement are subject to the conditions that at
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
issued and in effect or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened.

         8.       INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (i) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
         Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
         within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may


                                       14
<PAGE>   15


         become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
         claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect
         thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or
         alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained or incorporated
         by reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus,
         the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (b) the
         omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such
         controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
         by such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with
         investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability,
         action or proceeding; provided, however, that the Company will not be
         liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
         or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
         alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made or
         incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any
         Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or
         supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
         furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives specifically
         for use in the preparation thereof; and provided further that as to any
         Preliminary Prospectus this indemnity agreement shall not inure to the
         benefit of any Underwriter or any person controlling that Underwriter
         on account of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising from
         the sale of any Shares to any person by that Underwriter if that
         Underwriter failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus, as the
         same may be amended or supplemented, to that person within the time
         required by the Act, and the untrue statement or alleged untrue
         statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a
         material fact in such Preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the
         Prospectus, unless such failure resulted from non-compliance by the
         Company with Section 4(iv) or Section 4(v). This indemnity agreement
         will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise
         have.

                  (ii) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will
         indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of
         its officers who have signed the Registration Statement, and each
         person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act,
         against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company
         or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject
         under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of
         or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
         any material fact contained or incorporated by reference in the
         Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or
         any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon
         the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which
         they were made; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses
         reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or
         controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any
         such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided,
         however, that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the
         extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
         untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made or
         incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any
         Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement,
         in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
         to the Company by or through the Representatives specifically for use
         in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in
         addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.


                                       15
<PAGE>   16

                  (iii) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
         investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of
         which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person
         (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom
         such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing. No
         indemnification provided for in Sections 8(i) or (ii) shall be
         available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in
         this Section 8(iii) if the party to whom notice was not given was
         unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and
         was prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to
         give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties
         from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party
         for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of
         Sections 8(i) or (ii). In case any such proceeding shall be brought
         against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying
         party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be
         entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish
         jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
         the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified
         party and shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such
         counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any
         indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel at its
         own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party
         shall pay as incurred the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by
         the indemnified party in the event (a) the indemnifying party and the
         indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
         counsel or (b) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
         impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
         indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same
         counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
         interests between them, in which case the indemnifying party shall not
         be entitled to assume the defense of such suit notwithstanding its
         obligation to bear the fees and expenses of such counsel. It is
         understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with
         any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be
         liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate
         firm for all such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be designated in
         writing by you in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
         8(i) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
         Section 8(ii). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
         settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but
         if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the
         plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified
         party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
         settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
         any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying
         party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
         counsel as contemplated by the fifth sentence of this paragraph, the
         indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
         any proceeding effected without its written consent to which the
         indemnification obligations of the Company hereunder are applicable if
         (a) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by
         such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (b) such
         indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in
         accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

                  (iv) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
         unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless to the extent required
         therein an indemnified party under Sections 8(i) or (ii) above in
         respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
         proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
         indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
         such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such
         proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
         by the Company and the Underwriters from 


                                       16
<PAGE>   17

         the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the
         immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if
         the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under Section
         8(iii) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such
         amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as
         is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the
         relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters in connection with
         the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims,
         damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof),
         as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
         benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed
         to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
         offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the
         Underwriters bear to the total proceeds of the offering (the proceeds
         received by the Underwriters being equal to the total underwriting
         discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters), in each case
         as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The
         relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
         whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
         the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
         information supplied by the Company or 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 contributions pursuant to this Section 8(iv) 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 8(iv). The amount paid or payable by
         an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to
         above in this Section 8(iv) shall be deemed to include any legal or
         other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
         connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
         Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(iv), (a) no
         Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
         underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares
         purchased by such Underwriter and (b) no person guilty of fraudulent
         misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
         shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
         such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in
         this Section 8(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their
         respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

                  (v) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement,
         any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or
         amendment thereto, each party against whom contribution may be sought
         under this Section 8 hereby consents to the jurisdiction over any other
         contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be
         served upon him or it by any other contributing party and consents to
         the service of such process and agrees that any other contributing
         party may join him or it as an additional defendant in any such
         proceeding in which such other contributing party is a party.

         9. DEFAULT BY THE UNDERWRITERS. If on the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay
for the portion of the Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and
pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the
Company), you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your best
efforts to procure within 24 hours thereafter one or more of the other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be
agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Firm Shares 


                                       17
<PAGE>   18

or Option Shares, as the case may be, which the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 24 hours you, as such
Representatives, shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others,
to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, agreed to be
purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the
aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default shall occur does
not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered
hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to
the respective numbers of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of shares of
Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such
default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case
may be, covered hereby, the Company or you as the Representatives of the
Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next
24-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement
without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the
Company except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a
default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9, the
Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for
such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine
in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any
action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter
from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this
Agreement.

         10. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and,
except as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed
and confirmed as follows: if to you, as Representatives of the several
Underwriters, to BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, One South Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202, Attention: Thomas J. DeRosa; if to the Company, to Health Care
REIT, Inc., One SeaGate, Suite 1500, Toledo, Ohio 43603-1475, Attention: George
L. Chapman, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President.

         11. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to
the Company as follows:

                  (i) at any time prior to the earlier of (a) the time the
         Shares are released by you for sale by notice to the Underwriters, or
         (b) 11:30 A.M. on the first business day following the date of this
         Agreement;

                  (ii) at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the
         following has occurred: (a) since the respective dates as of which
         information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
         any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
         material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or
         otherwise, of the Company or the earnings, business affairs, management
         or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the
         ordinary course of business, (b) any outbreak or escalation of
         hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency after the date
         hereof or other national or international calamity or crisis or change
         in economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak,
         escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the
         financial markets of the United States would, in your reasonable
         judgment, make the offering or delivery of the Shares impracticable or
         inadvisable, (c) trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange
         or the American Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially
         limited (other than 


                                       18
<PAGE>   19

         limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) or minimum prices
         shall have been established for securities on either such Exchange, (d)
         the enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any federal
         or state statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other
         governmental authority which in your reasonable opinion materially and
         adversely affects or will materially or adversely affect the business
         or operations of the Company, (e) declaration of a banking moratorium
         by either federal or New York State authorities, (f) the taking of any
         action by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect
         of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has
         a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United
         States, or (g) any litigation or proceeding is pending or threatened
         against the Underwriters which seeks to enjoin or otherwise restrain,
         or seeks damages in connection with, or questions the legality or
         validity of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; or

                  (iii) as provided in Section 6 of this Agreement.

                  This Agreement also may be terminated by you, by notice to the
Company, as to any obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Shares,
upon the occurrence at any time prior to the Option Closing Date of any of the
events described in subparagraph (ii) above or as provided in Section 6 of this
Agreement. 

         12. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement has been and is made solely for the
benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors,
executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and
controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right
or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any purchaser
of the Shares merely because of such purchase.

         13. MISCELLANEOUS. The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution
agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and
covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
(i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of
the Company or its directors or officers and (iii) delivery of and payment for
the Shares under this Agreement.

                  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

                  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland.


                                       19
<PAGE>   20

                  If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your
understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed
duplicates hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the
Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  HEALTH CARE REIT, INC.




                                  By: /s/ Edward F. Lange, Jr.
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Edward F. Lange, Jr., Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


The foregoing Underwriting Agreement 
is hereby confirmed and accepted as 
of the date first above written.

BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
SMITH BARNEY INC.
EVEREN SECURITIES, INC.
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
 listed in Schedule I


         By:      BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED


                  By: /s/ Thomas J. DeRosa
                      -------------------------------------

                  Its: Managing Director
                      -------------------------------------






                                       20
<PAGE>   21

                                   SCHEDULE I
                                   ----------

                                                             SHARES
                                                             ------

BT Alex. Brown Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000,000

Smith Barney Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1,000,000

EVEREN Securities, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    500,000

Raymond James & Associates,Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    500,000



<PAGE>   1
  

                                                                 EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectus Supplement dated May 7, 1998 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3
No. 333-43177) and related Prospectus of Health Care REIT, Inc. for the
registration of 3,000,000 shares of 8 7/8% Series B Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report
dated January 30, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial statements
and schedules of Health Care REIT, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form
10-K), as amended, for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Toledo, Ohio
May 5, 1998





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