HEALTH & RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST
8-K, 1998-03-25
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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                       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): March 24, 1998





                     HEALTH AND RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)




      Maryland                          1-9317                   04-6558834
   (State or other                 (Commission file            (IRS employer
   jurisdiction of                     number)              identification no.)
   incorporation)


400 Centre Street, Newton, Massachusetts                     02158
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  617-332-3990


<PAGE>




Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.


(c)      Exhibits.

         1        Purchase  Agreement  dated March 24, 1998  between  Health and
                  Retirement Properties Trust and Wheat First Securities, Inc.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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

                               HEALTH AND RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST



                               By: /s/ Ajay Saini
                                   Ajay Saini
                                   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Date: March 24, 1998




                                                                       EXHIBIT 1
     
                     HEALTH AND RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST
                    (a Maryland real estate investment trust)



                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT



                                               March 24, 1998



Wheat First Securities, Inc.
Riverfront Plaza
901 East Byrd Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Health  and  Retirement   Properties  Trust,  a  Maryland  real  estate
investment trust (the  "Company"),  confirms its agreement with you with respect
to the sale by the Company and the  purchase by you of  1,481,799  shares of its
common shares of  beneficial  interest,  with par value of $.01 per share,  at a
price  per  share of  $19.415625  (the  "Securities").  You  intend  to sell the
Securities  to  Van  Kampen   American   Capital  for  an  aggregate   price  of
$29,072,896.37.  Van Kampen  American  Capital intends to deposit the Securities
together  with the common stock of other  entities  also acquired from you, into
the Wheat First  Union REIT Income & Growth  Trust,  Series 1 (the  "Trust"),  a
registered  unit investment  trust under the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as
amended, in exchange for units in the Trust.

         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"Commission")  a  registration  statement  on Form S-3 (No.  333-26887)  for the
registration  of debt  securities,  preferred  shares  of  beneficial  interest,
depositary shares,  common shares of beneficial  interest and warrants under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the  "1933  Act"),  and has  filed  such
amendments  thereto,  if any, as may have been required to the date hereof. Such
registration  statement  was  declared  effective  under the 1933 Act on May 30,
1997. Such registration statement (as amended, if applicable) and the prospectus
constituting  a part  thereof,  as  supplemented  by the  prospectus  supplement
relating to the


<PAGE>

Securities (including,  in each case, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein), as from time to time amended or supplemented
pursuant to the 1933 Act, the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act"),  or otherwise,  are  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Registration
Statement" and the "Prospectus",  respectively. All references in this Agreement
to  financial   statements  and  schedules  and  other   information   which  is
"contained",  "included"  or  "stated"  in  the  Registration  Statement  or the
Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial  statements and schedules and other information which
is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or
in the Prospectus, as the case may be.

Section 1. Representations and Warranties.

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

                  (i) At the time the Registration  Statement became  effective,
         the Registration  Statement  complied in all material respects with the
         requirements  of the 1933 Act and the rules and  regulations  under the
         1933 Act (the  "1933 Act  Regulations")  and did not  contain an untrue
         statement of a material  fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not
         misleading.  The  Prospectus,  at the  date  hereof  (unless  the  term
         "Prospectus"  refers to a prospectus  which has been provided to you 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 date
         of effectiveness of the  Registration  Statement,  in which case at the
         time it is first  provided to you 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 those  parts of the  Registration  Statement  or the
         Prospectus  made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with  information
         furnished  to the  Company in writing by you  expressly  for use in the
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

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

                                        2
<PAGE>

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

                  (iv)  The   financial   statements  of  the  Company  and  its
         subsidiaries and, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company (as defined in
         paragraph (xi) of this Section 1(a)), of Marriott  International,  Inc.
         (the "Operator") and Government Properties Investors,  Inc. ("GPI") and
         its consolidated subsidiaries,  together with the related schedules and
         notes   thereto,   included  or   incorporated   by  reference  in  the
         Registration Statement and in the Prospectus,  comply as to form in all
         material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act. Such financial
         statements of the Company and, to the Actual  Knowledge of the Company,
         of the Operator and GPI,  together with the related schedules and notes
         thereto, present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of
         operations,  shareholders'  equity and changes in financial position of
         the foregoing  entities at the  respective  dates or for the respective
         periods  therein  specified and have been  prepared in accordance  with
         generally accepted accounting  principles ("GAAP") consistently applied
         throughout the periods involved. The pro forma financial statements and
         other pro forma  financial  information  (including  the notes thereto)
         included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
         in the  Prospectus (i) present  fairly the  information  shown therein,
         (ii) have been prepared in accordance with the  Commission's  rules and
         guidelines  with respect to pro forma  financial  statements  and (iii)
         have been  properly  compiled  on the basis  described  therein and the
         assumptions  used  in the  preparation  of  such  pro  forma  financial
         statements  and other pro forma  financial  information  (including the
         notes  thereto) are  reasonable  and the  adjustments  used therein are
         appropriate  to  give  effect  to  the  transactions  or  circumstances
         referred to therein.  The adjusted pro forma  financial  statements and
         other  adjusted pro forma  financial  information  (including the notes
         thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the

                                        3

<PAGE>
         Registration  Statement and in the  Prospectus  (i) present  fairly the
         information  shown therein and (ii) have been properly  compiled on the
         basis described  therein and the assumptions used in the preparation of
         such adjusted pro forma  financial  statements  and other  adjusted pro
         forma   financial   information   (including  the  notes  thereto)  are
         reasonable  and the  adjustments  used therein are  appropriate to give
         effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to therein.

                  (v)  The   accountants   who  have   certified  the  financial
         statements  of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  and,  to the Actual
         Knowledge of the Company,  of the Operator and its  subsidiaries and of
         GPI and its subsidiaries,  included or incorporated by reference in the
         Registration  Statement and in the Prospectus are independent certified
         accountants as required by the 1933 Act. The statements  included in or
         incorporated  by reference  in the  Registration  Statement  and in the
         Prospectus  with  respect to such  accountants  pursuant to Rule 509 of
         Regulation  S-K under the 1933 Act are true and correct in all material
         respects.

                  (vi) All of the outstanding  shares of beneficial  interest of
         the Company have been duly  authorized  and are validly  issued,  fully
         paid, non-assessable (except as otherwise described in the Registration
         Statement)  and free of preemptive or similar rights or other rights to
         subscribe for or to purchase  securities  provided for by law or by its
         Declaration  of Trust  or  bylaws;  all of the  outstanding  shares  of
         beneficial  interest of the  Company and options to purchase  shares of
         beneficial  interest of the Company have been issued in accordance with
         applicable  federal and state  securities  laws;  all of the issued and
         outstanding  indebtedness of the Company is duly and validly authorized
         and  issued;  the  Securities  to be issued and sold  pursuant  to this
         Agreement have been duly  authorized  and, when issued and delivered to
         you against  payment  therefor as  provided  hereunder,  will have been
         validly  issued  and  will be fully  paid,  non-assessable  (except  as
         otherwise  described  in  the  Registration   Statement)  and  free  of
         preemptive  or  similar  rights;   all  outstanding  common  shares  of
         beneficial  interest  (the "Common  Shares"),  except for shares issued
         pursuant to the Company's Incentive Share Award Plan, are listed on the
         New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Company knows of no reason
         or set of facts  which is likely to  result  in the  delisting  of such
         Common Shares or the inability to list the Securities; and there are no
         rights of holders of securities of the Company to the  registration  of
         Common Shares or other securities that would require  inclusion of such
         Common Shares or other securities in the offering of the Securities.

                  (vii) The shares of beneficial interest of the Company and the
         Securities  conform to the  descriptions  thereof  in the  Registration
         Statement and in the Prospectus.

                  (viii) Since the respective  dates as of which  information is
         given in the Prospectus, and except as otherwise disclosed therein, (i)
         there has been no material adverse change in the business,  operations,
         earnings,  prospects,  properties or condition (financial or otherwise)
         of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or,  to the
         Actual Knowledge of the Company, of the Advisor (as defined in

                                        4
<PAGE>
         paragraph  (xi) of this  Section  1(a)),  in any  case  whether  or not
         arising in the  ordinary  course of  business,  (ii) there have been no
         material transactions entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries,
         on a consolidated basis, other than transactions in the ordinary course
         of  business,  (iii)  neither  the  Company  nor its  subsidiaries  has
         incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent,
         (iv) the Company and its  subsidiaries,  on a consolidated  basis, have
         not, (A) other than regular quarterly dividends, declared, paid or made
         a dividend  or  distribution  of any kind on any class of its shares of
         beneficial  interest (other than dividends or distributions from wholly
         owned subsidiaries to the Company), (B) issued any shares of beneficial
         interest  of the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or any  options,
         warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the shares
         of beneficial interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other
         than  the  issuance  of  Common  Shares  upon   conversion  of  certain
         convertible  debentures of the Company) or (C)  repurchased or redeemed
         shares  of  beneficial  interest,  and (v)  there  has not been (A) any
         material  decrease  in the  Company's  net  worth  or (B) any  material
         increase in the  short-term or long-term  debt  (including  capitalized
         lease obligations but excluding borrowings under existing bank lines of
         credit) of the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

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

                  (x) Except as otherwise  disclosed in the Prospectus,  neither
         the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Actual Knowledge of
         the Company,  the Advisor, is in violation of its respective charter or
         by-laws  or  other  organizational  documents  or  in  default  in  the
         performance of any obligation,  agreement or condition contained in any
         bond,  debenture,  note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any
         other agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of
         its  subsidiaries  or, to the  Actual  Knowledge  of the  Company,  the
         Advisor,  is a party or by which any of their respective  properties or
         assets may be bound or  affected,  except for any such  violation  that
         would not have a material adverse effect on the

                                        5
<PAGE>
         condition,  financial  or  otherwise  or in  the  respective  earnings,
         business  affairs  or  business   prospects  of  the  Company  and  its
         subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor, to the Actual
         Knowledge  of the  Company,  the  Advisor,  is in violation of any law,
         ordinance,  governmental rule or regulation or court decree to which it
         is subject, except for any such violations that would not, individually
         or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse effect on the business,
         operations,  earnings, prospects, properties or condition (financial or
         otherwise)  of any of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries,  taken  as a
         whole.

                  (xi) Except as disclosed in the  Registration  Statement or in
         the  Prospectus,  there is not now pending or, to the  knowledge of the
         Company,  threatened,  any  litigation,  action,  suit or proceeding to
         which the Company or, to the actual knowledge of the Company (including
         without  limitation,  for  purposes  of this  Agreement,  its  managing
         trustees)  without  independent  inquiry (the "Actual  Knowledge of the
         Company"), REIT Management & Research, Inc. (the "Advisor"), is or will
         be a party before or by any court or governmental agency or body, which
         (A)  might  result in any  material  adverse  change in the  condition,
         financial  or  otherwise,  or in  the  earnings,  business  affairs  or
         business prospects of the Company or (B) might materially and adversely
         affect  the  property  or assets of the  Company  or (C)  concerns  the
         Company or, to the Actual Knowledge of the Company, the Advisor, and is
         required to be  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  or (D) could  adversely
         affect the  consummation  of this Agreement and the issuance,  purchase
         and sale of the  Securities.  No contract or other document is required
         to be described in the  Registration  Statement or in the Prospectus or
         to be filed as an exhibit  to the  Registration  Statement  that is not
         described therein or filed as required.

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

                  (xiii)   No   consent,   approval,    authorization,    order,
         registration,  filing, qualification,  license or permit of or with any
         court or any public, governmental or

                                        6
<PAGE>
         regulatory  agency or body having  jurisdiction over the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries or any of their respective  properties or assets is
         required for the execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement
         and  the   consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated   hereby,
         including,  without limitation,  the issuance, sale and delivery of the
         Securities  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  except  such  as  have  been
         obtained and such as may be required under foreign and state securities
         or "Blue Sky" laws.

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

                  (xv)  The  Company  and  each  of its  subsidiaries  owns,  or
         possesses adequate rights to use, all patents, trademarks, trade names,
         service marks,

                                        7
<PAGE>

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

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

                  (xvii)  Except for those matters which in the aggregate do not
         have a material adverse effect on the business,  operations,  earnings,
         prospects,  properties  or condition  (financial  or  otherwise) of the
         Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and except for Hazardous
         Materials  (as defined  below) or substances  which are handled  and/or
         disposed of in compliance with all applicable federal,  state and local
         requirements, to the Company's knowledge, after due investigation,  the
         real property  owned,  leased or otherwise  operated by the Company and
         each of its  subsidiaries  in  connection  with the  operation of their
         respective businesses,  including,  without limitation,  any subsurface
         soils and ground water (the "Realty"),  is free of  contamination  from
         any  Hazardous  Materials.  To  the  Company's  knowledge,   after  due
         investigation,  the Realty does not contain any underground  storage or
         treatment  tanks,  active or abandoned  water, gas or oil wells, or any
         other   underground   improvements   or  structures,   other  than  the
         foundations,  footings,  or other supports for the improvements located
         thereon  which,  based on present  knowledge,  could,  in their present
         condition,  reasonably  be  expected  to  presently  cause  a  material
         detriment to or  materially  impair the  beneficial  use thereof by the
         Company or constitute or cause a  significant  health,  safety or other
         environmental  hazard to occupants or users thereof  without  regard to
         any  special  conditions  of  such  occupants  or  users.  The  Company
         represents  that, after due  investigation,  it has no knowledge of any
         material  violation,  with respect to the Realty,  of any Environmental
         Law,  or of any  material  liability  on the part of the  Company  with
         respect to the  Realty,  resulting  from the  presence,  use,  release,
         threatened release, emission, disposal, pumping, discharge,  generation
         or   processing   of  any   Hazardous   Materials.   As  used   herein,
         "Environmental  Law"  means  any  federal,   state  or  local  statute,
         regulation,  judgment,  order or  authorization  relating to emissions,
         discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials into
         ambient air,  surface  water,  ground water,  publicly-owned  treatment
         works, septic systems or land, or

                                        8
<PAGE>

         otherwise  relating to the  pollution or protection of public health or
         the  environment,   and  "Hazardous  Materials"  means  any  substance,
         material or waste which is  regulated  by any  federal,  state or local
         government or  quasi-government  authority,  which is defined,  used or
         listed  as  a  "hazardous   waste",   "hazardous   substance",   "toxic
         substance",  "medical waste", "infectious waste" or other similar terms
         as defined or used in any Environmental Law, or any petroleum products,
         asbestos,   lead-based  paint,  polychlorinated  biphenyls,   flammable
         explosives or radioactive materials.

                  (xviii)  Each of the  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and, to the
         Actual  Knowledge  of the  Company,  the  Advisor,  has  such  permits,
         licenses,  franchises and  authorizations of governmental or regulatory
         authorities (together, "permits"), including, without limitation, under
         any  applicable  Environmental  Law, as are necessary to own, lease and
         operate  its  properties  and  to  engage  in  the  business  currently
         conducted  by it,  except  such  licenses  and  permits as to which the
         failure to own or  possess  will not in the  aggregate  have a material
         adverse  effect  on  the  business,  operations,  earnings,  prospects,
         properties or condition  (financial  or otherwise) of the Company,  and
         neither the Company nor, to the Actual  Knowledge  of the Company,  the
         Advisor, has any reason to believe that any governmental body or agency
         is  considering  limiting,  suspending  or revoking  any such  license,
         certificate, permit, authorization,  approval, franchise or right; each
         of the Company,  its  subsidiaries  and, to the Actual Knowledge of the
         Company,   the  Advisor,   has  fulfilled  and  performed  all  of  its
         obligations  with  respect to such  permits  and no event has  occurred
         which allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow,  revocation
         or termination  thereof or results in any other material  impairment of
         the rights of the holder of any such permit;  and,  except as described
         in the  Registration  Statement  and in the  Prospectus,  such  permits
         contain no restrictions  that are materially  burdensome to the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries.

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

                  (xx) Neither the Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  nor, to
         the  knowledge  of  the  Company,  any  officer,  trustee  or  director
         purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any of its  subsidiaries,
         has at any time: (i) made any

                                        9
<PAGE>

         contributions  to any  candidate  for  political  office,  or failed to
         disclose fully any such  contributions,  in violation of law; (ii) made
         any payment of funds to, or received  or retained  any funds from,  any
         state, federal or foreign  governmental  officer or official,  or other
         person charged with similar public or quasi-public  duties,  other than
         payments required or allowed by applicable law; or (iii) engaged in any
         transactions,  maintained any bank accounts or used any corporate funds
         except for transactions,  bank accounts and funds,  which have been and
         are  reflected  in the  normally  maintained  books and  records of the
         Company and its subsidiaries.

                  (xxi) All of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of,
         or other  ownership  interests in, each of the  Company's  subsidiaries
         have been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued and are fully paid and
         nonassessable,  and, except as disclosed in the Registration  Statement
         and in the  Prospectus,  are or will be owned by the  Company  free and
         clear of any security  interest,  claim,  lien,  encumbrance or adverse
         interest of any nature.

                  (xxii) Except as referred to or described in the  Registration
         Statement  and in the  Prospectus,  none  of  the  subsidiaries  of the
         Company  owns  any  shares  of  stock or any  other  securities  of any
         corporation  or has  any  equity  interest  in any  firm,  partnership,
         association or other entity other than the issued capital shares of its
         subsidiaries, and the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any
         shares of stock or any other  securities of any corporation or have any
         equity interest in any firm,  partnership,  association or other entity
         other than the issued  capital  shares of its  subsidiaries,  except in
         each case for non-controlling positions acquired in the ordinary course
         of business.

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

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

                  (xxv)  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its  officers  and
         directors  (as defined in the 1933 Act  Regulations)  has taken or will
         take, directly or indirectly,

                                       10
<PAGE>
         prior  to  the  termination  of  the  offering   contemplated  by  this
         Agreement,  any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of
         any  security of the  Company,  or which has caused or resulted  in, or
         which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in,
         stabilization  or  manipulation  of the  price of any  security  of the
         Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

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

                  (xxvii)  The  Company  is  organized  in  conformity  with the
         requirements for qualification,  and, as of the date hereof the Company
         operates,  and as of Closing Time the Company will operate, in a manner
         that  qualifies the Company as a "real estate  investment  trust" under
         the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"),  and the
         rules and regulations  thereunder,  for 1997 and subsequent  years. The
         Company  qualified as a real estate investment trust under the Code for
         each of its taxable years from 1987 through 1997.

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

                  (xxix) The  Advisory  Agreement,  dated as of January 1, 1998,
         between the Company and the Advisor  (the  "Advisory  Agreement"),  has
         been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and
         constitutes the valid agreement of the parties thereto,  enforceable in
         accordance  with its  terms,  except as  limited  by (a) the  effect of
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer
         or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies

                                       11
<PAGE>

         of  creditors  or (b)  the  effect  of  general  principles  of  equity
         (regardless of whether  enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity
         or at law).

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


Section 2. Sale and Delivery to You; 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 you, and you agree to purchase from the Company,  the  Securities as set
forth on the first page of this Agreement.

         (b) Payment of the purchase  price for and  delivery of the  Securities
shall be made, subject to Section 9, on March 27, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., or at such
other  time not later  than ten (10)  business  days after such date as shall be
agreed upon by you and the Company,  at such place as may be mutually  agreeable
to you and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery  being herein
called  "Closing  Time").  Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the Company  against  delivery to you of the Securities to be
purchased by you. The Securities shall be in such authorized  denominations  and
registered  in such names as you may  request  in writing at least two  business
days before Closing Time. The Securities  will be made available for examination
by you not later than 10:00 a.m. on the last business day prior to Closing Time.


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

         (a) Immediately following the execution of this Agreement,  the Company
will  prepare a Prospectus  Supplement  setting  forth the number of  Securities
covered thereby and their terms not otherwise specified in the Prospectus,  your
name,  the price at which the  Securities  are to be  purchased  by you from the
Company,  and such other  information as you and the Company deem appropriate in
connection  with the offering of the  Securities;  and the Company will promptly
transmit  copies of the  Prospectus  Supplement  to the  Commission  for  filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations  and will furnish to you as
many copies of the  Prospectus  (including  such  Prospectus  Supplement) as you
shall reasonably request.

         (b) Until the  termination of the initial  offering of the  Securities,
the Company will notify you immediately,  and confirm the notice in writing, (i)
of the effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (ii) of the
transmittal  to the  Commission for filing of any supplement or amendment to the
Prospectus  or any document to be filed  pursuant to the 1934 Act,  (iii) of the
receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Securities, (iv)
of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus with respect to the Securities

                                       12
<PAGE>

or for  additional  information  relating  thereto,  (v) of the  issuance by the
Commission of any stop order  suspending the  effectiveness  of the Registration
Statement or the  initiation  of any  proceedings  for that purpose and (vi) the
happening  of any event as a result of which the  Prospectus  as then amended or
supplemented would include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the  circumstances  when  the  Prospectus  is  delivered  to  a  purchaser,  not
misleading.  The  Company  will make  every  reasonable  effort to  prevent  the
issuance of any such stop order and, if any stop order is issued,  to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

         (c) The  Company  will  give you  notice  of its  intention  to file or
prepare  any  post-effective  amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  or any
amendment or supplement (including any document to be filed pursuant to the 1934
Act prior to the  termination of the initial  offering of the Securities) to the
Prospectus  (including any revised prospectus which the Company proposes for use
by you in connection with the offering of the Securities  which differs from the
prospectus on file at the Commission at the time that the Registration Statement
becomes  effective,  whether or not such  revised  prospectus  is required to be
filed  pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act  Regulations),  will  furnish you
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 your counsel
shall reasonably object.

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

         (e) The  Company  will  furnish  to you,  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)
as you may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act, the
1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations.

         (f) If any event shall occur as a result of which it is  necessary,  in
the opinion of your counsel,  to amend or supplement  the Prospectus in order to
make the Prospectus not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at
the time it is  delivered,  the Company  will either (i)  forthwith  prepare and
furnish to you an amendment of or supplement to the


                                       13
<PAGE>

Prospectus or (ii) make an appropriate  filing  pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15
of the 1934 Act, in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to your counsel,
which will amend or  supplement  the  Prospectus  so that it will not include an
untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary
in order to make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light of the  circumstances
existing at the time it is delivered, not misleading.

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

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

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

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

         (k) The Company  currently intends to continue to elect to qualify as a
"real  estate  investment  trust"  under the Code,  and use its best  efforts to
continue  to meet the  requirements  to  qualify  as a "real  estate  investment
trust".

         (l) The Company will timely file any  document  which it is required to
file  pursuant to the 1934 Act prior to the  termination  of the offering of the
Securities.

Section 4.  Payment of Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses  incident to
the  performance  of its  obligations  under this  Agreement,  including (i) the
preparation and filing of the Registration  Statement as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation and filing of this Agreement, (iii)
the  preparation,  issuance and delivery of the Securities to you, (iv) the fees
and  disbursements  of counsel  for the  Company,  referred  to in Section  5(b)
hereof, and the Company's  accountants,  (v) the qualification of the Securities
under  securities laws and real estate  syndication  laws in accordance with the
provisions  of  Section  3(g)  hereof,  including  filing  fees  and the fee and
disbursements  of  counsel  for  the  Company  in  connection  therewith  and in
connection with the preparation of any Blue Sky

                                       14
<PAGE>

Survey,  (vi) the  printing  and  delivery to you of copies of the  Registration
Statement  as  originally  filed  and  of  each  amendment  thereto,  and of the
Prospectus  and any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  (vii)  the  fees and
expenses  incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the NYSE,
(viii) the cost of printing or  reproducing  and delivering to you copies of any
Blue Sky Survey,  (ix) the cost of providing  any CUSIP or other  identification
numbers for the  Securities,  and (x) any transfer  taxes imposed on the sale of
the Securities to you.

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

Section 5.  Conditions  of Your  Obligations.  Your  obligations  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) 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 price of the Securities
and any other  information  previously  omitted from the effective  Registration
Statement  pursuant  to Rule 415 of the 1933 Act  Regulations  shall  have  been
transmitted to the Commission for filing 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 you of such timely filing,
or a post-effective  amendment  providing such information shall have been filed
and  declared  effective in  accordance  with the  requirements  of the 1933 Act
Regulations.

         (b) At Closing  Time you shall have  received  the  favorable  opinion,
dated as of Closing Time, of Sullivan & Worcester LLP,  counsel for the Company,
in form and substance satisfactory to your counsel, to the effect that:

                  (i) The  Company is a Maryland  real estate  investment  trust
         duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
         the State of Maryland; each of its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined
         in Rule  1-02 of  Regulation  S-X  under  the 1933  Act) has been  duly
         organized,  is  validly  existing  as a  corporation  or  trust in good
         standing  under  the  laws  of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  or
         organization; each of the Company and its subsidiaries has the trust or
         corporate (as applicable)  power and authority to carry on its business
         as described in the


                                       15
<PAGE>

         Registration  Statement  and in the  Prospectus  and to own,  lease and
         operate its  properties;  each of the Company and its  subsidiaries  is
         duly  qualified  and is in good  standing as a foreign  corporation  or
         trust,  as  the  case  may  be,  authorized  to  do  business  in  each
         jurisdiction  in which its  ownership  or leasing of property  requires
         such  qualification,  except where the failure to be so qualified would
         not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole.

                  (ii) All of the issued and  outstanding  shares of  beneficial
         interest of, or other  ownership  interests  in, each of the  Company's
         subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
         paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company free and clear of
         any security  interest or other adverse interest (within the meaning of
         Article 8 of the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code).

                  (iii) The  Registration  Statement has become  effective under
         the 1933 Act,  and, to the  knowledge  of such  counsel,  no stop order
         suspending  the  effectiveness  of  the  Registration  Statement  is in
         effect,  and no  proceedings  for such  purpose are  pending  before or
         threatened by the Commission; and any required filing of the Prospectus
         pursuant  to Rule 424 under  the 1933 Act has been  made in  accordance
         with said Rule 424.

                  (iv) The Company has the  requisite  trust power and authority
         to enter into and perform this  Agreement  and to issue and deliver the
         Securities.

                  (v) To such  counsel's  knowledge,  except as disclosed in the
         Registration  Statement or in the Prospectus,  there is not now pending
         or threatened, any litigation,  action, suit or proceeding to which the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Advisor is or will be a party
         before or by any court or governmental  agency or body, which (A) might
         result in any material  adverse change in the  condition,  financial or
         otherwise,  or in the  business,  operations,  earnings,  prospects  or
         properties of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or
         (B) might materially and adversely affect the property or assets of the
         Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or (C)  concerns the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Advisor and is required to be
         disclosed  in  the  Prospectus,  or  (D)  could  adversely  affect  the
         consummation of this Agreement and the issuance of the  Securities;  to
         such counsel's knowledge,  no contract or other document is required to
         be described in the  Registration  Statement or in the Prospectus or to
         be  filed  as an  exhibit  to the  Registration  Statement  that is not
         described therein or filed as required.

                  (vi) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus,  to such
         counsel's  knowledge,  neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor
         the Advisor is in  violation  of its  respective  charter or by-laws or
         other organizational  documents or in default in the performance of any
         obligation,  agreement or condition  contained in any bond,  debenture,
         note or any other  evidence of  indebtedness  or in any other  material
         agreement,  indenture or  instrument  to which the Company,  any of its
         subsidiaries  or the  Advisor  is a  party  or by  which  any of  their
         respective properties

                                       16
<PAGE>

         or assets may be bound or affected,  except for any such violation that
         would not have a material  adverse effect on the business,  operations,
         earnings,  business  prospects,  properties or condition  (financial or
         otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (vii) To such counsel's  knowledge,  each of the Company,  its
         subsidiaries and the Advisor has such permits, licenses, franchises and
         authorizations  of  governmental or regulatory  authorities  (together,
         "permits"),   including,   without  limitation,  under  any  applicable
         Environmental  Law,  as are  necessary  to own,  lease and  operate its
         properties  and to engage in the  business  currently  conducted by it,
         except  such  licenses  and  permits as to which the  failure to own or
         possess will not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
         business,  operations,  earnings,  business  prospects,  properties  or
         condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole.

                  (viii)  The  execution,   delivery  and  performance  of  this
         Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated
         will not  conflict  with or  constitute a breach or violation of any of
         the terms or  provisions  of, or  constitute a default  under,  (A) the
         Declaration  of Trust or the  By-laws of the  Company or the charter or
         by-laws  or  other  organizational  documents  of  the  Advisor  or any
         Significant  Subsidiary  of the Company,  or (B) except as disclosed in
         the Prospectus,  any material agreement,  indenture or other instrument
         to  which  the  Company,  any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  or the
         Advisor or their respective  material properties or assets is bound, or
         (C) any laws, administrative regulations or rulings or decrees known to
         such counsel to which the Company, any of its Significant  Subsidiaries
         or the Advisor or their respective material properties or assets may be
         subject.

                  (ix) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration,
         filing,  qualification,  license  or  permit  of or with  any  federal,
         Massachusetts  or Maryland court or public,  governmental or regulatory
         agency  or body  having  jurisdiction  over the  Company  or any of its
         Significant  Subsidiaries  or the  Advisor  or any of their  respective
         material properties or assets is required for the Company's  execution,
         delivery and performance of this Agreement and the  consummation of the
         transactions  contemplated hereby, including,  without limitation,  the
         issuance,  sale  and  delivery  of  the  Securities  pursuant  to  this
         Agreement,  except  such  as  have  been  obtained  and  such as may be
         required under foreign and state securities or "Blue Sky" laws.


                                       17
<PAGE>
                  (x) The Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized,  executed
         and  delivered  by  the  parties  thereto  and  constitutes  the  valid
         agreement of the parties  thereto,  enforceable in accordance  with its
         terms,  except (a) as limited by the effect of bankruptcy,  insolvency,
         reorganization,  fraudulent transfer,  moratorium or other similar laws
         relating to or affecting  the rights or remedies of  creditors,  (b) as
         limited by the effect of general  principles of equity  (regardless  of
         whether  enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
         (c) insofar as the  enforceability  of the indemnity  and  contribution
         provisions  contained  in such  agreement  may be limited by federal or
         state securities laws and the public policy underlying such laws.

                  (xi) The Advisor (A) is a corporation duly organized,  validly
         existing and in good standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware,
         and (B) has the requisite  corporate power and authority to conduct its
         business  as  described  in the  Prospectus  and to own and operate its
         material properties.

                  (xii) The Company has  qualified  to be taxed as a real estate
         investment  trust pursuant to Sections  856-860 of the Code for each of
         the fiscal years ended December 31, 1987 through December 31, 1997, and
         the Company's current  anticipated  investments and its current plan of
         operation  will  enable it to  continue  to meet the  requirements  for
         qualification  and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the
         Code;  actual  qualification of the Company as a real estate investment
         trust,  however,  will depend upon the Company's  continued  ability to
         meet,  and its meeting,  through  actual annual  operating  results and
         distributions, the various qualification tests imposed under the Code.

                  (xiii) The  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus and any
         supplements or amendments thereto (except for the financial  statements
         and the  notes  thereto  and the  schedules  and  other  financial  and
         statistical  data  included  therein and the Excluded  Proceedings  (as
         defined in the last paragraph of this Section  5(b)),  as to which such
         counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form in all material
         respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act.

                  (xiv)  Each   document   incorporated   by  reference  in  the
         Registration  Statement and in the Prospectus (except for the financial
         statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other  financial
         and statistical data included therein and the Excluded  Proceedings (as
         defined in the last paragraph of this Section  5(b)),  as to which such
         counsel  need not express any  opinion)  complied as to form when filed
         with the Commission in all material  respects with the  requirements of
         the 1934 Act.

                  (xv) The statements  (a) in the Prospectus  under the captions
         "Description of Shares", "Redemption; Business Combinations and Control
         Share   Acquisitions"   and   "Limitation  of  Liability;   Shareholder
         Liability"  and (b) in Item 1 of the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form
         10-K under the caption  "Regulation  and  Reimbursement",  in each case
         insofar  as  they   purport  to   summarize   matters   arising   under
         Massachusetts  or Maryland law or the federal law of the United States,
         or

                                       18

<PAGE>

         provisions  of documents  to which the Company is a party  specifically
         referred to therein,  are accurate  summaries of such legal  matters or
         provisions.

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

                  (xvii) All of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of
         the Company have been duly  authorized  and are validly  issued,  fully
         paid  and  non-assessable   (except  as  otherwise   described  in  the
         Registration  Statement) and the Securities  have been duly  authorized
         and,  when  issued and  delivered  to you against  payment  therefor in
         accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  will be validly issued,
         fully paid and nonassessable, and will be free of any preemptive or, to
         such counsel's knowledge, similar rights that entitle any person (other
         than you, your  successors and assigns) to acquire any Securities  upon
         the issuance thereof by the Company.

                  (xviii)  The  Company  is  not  required  to  register  as  an
         "investment company" within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

                  (xix) To the extent  required  to be  described  therein,  the
         Securities  conform in all material respects to the descriptions in the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

                  (xx) Although counsel has not undertaken,  except as otherwise
         indicated in their opinion,  to determine  independently,  and does not
         assume any  responsibility  for,  the accuracy or  completeness  of the
         statements in the Registration Statement, such counsel has participated
         in the  preparation of the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,
         including  review and  discussion  of the contents  thereof  (including
         review and discussion of the contents of all documents  incorporated by
         reference  in the  Registration  Statement  and  the  Prospectus),  and
         nothing has come to the  attention of such counsel that has caused them
         to believe that the  Registration  Statement  (including  the documents
         incorporated  by  reference  therein)  at  the  time  the  Registration
         Statement became effective, or the Prospectus, as of its date and as of
         Closing  Time, as the case may be,  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  any  amendment  or  supplement  to  the  Prospectus,  as  of  its
         respective  date, and as of Closing Time, as the case may be, contained
         any untrue statement of a material fact

                                       19
<PAGE>

         or  omitted  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 need
         express no view with respect to (a) the  financial  statements  and the
         notes  thereto and the schedules  and other  financial and  statistical
         data  included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the   Registration
         Statement  or in the  Prospectus  or (b) the matters to be addressed in
         the opinion of Sherin & Lodgen  LLP,  special  counsel to the  Company,
         described below.)

         In rendering  their opinion as aforesaid,  Sullivan & Worcester LLP may
rely upon an opinion,  dated as of Closing Time, of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. as to
matters  governed by Maryland  law,  provided  that such  reliance is  expressly
authorized  by such  opinion and a copy of such  opinion is delivered to you and
is, in form and substance, satisfactory to you and your counsel. In addition, in
rendering such opinion,  such counsel may state that their opinion as to laws of
the State of Delaware is limited to the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law and
that their  opinion  with  respect to the  qualification  of the Company and its
subsidiaries  to do  business  in  jurisdictions  other  than  their  respective
jurisdictions  of organization is based solely upon  certificates to such effect
issued by an appropriate official of the applicable jurisdictions.

         The opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P.  described in the paragraph above
shall be  rendered  to you at the  request  of the  Company  and  shall so state
therein.

         In  addition,  you shall  have  received  at  Closing  Time an  opinion
(satisfactory  to you and your counsel) of Sherin & Lodgen LLP,  special counsel
for the Company,  dated as of Closing  Time,  to the effect that the  statements
describing the proceedings (the "Excluded Proceedings") in Part I, Item 3 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
under the caption  "Legal  Proceedings",  insofar as they  purport to  summarize
legal proceedings constitute a fair summary of such legal proceedings.

         (c) You shall have  received at Closing  Time an  opinion,  dated as of
Closing Time, of Hunton & Williams,  your counsel, as to the matters referred to
in clauses  (iii),  (xiii),  (xvi) and (xx) of the foregoing  paragraph  (b). In
giving such  opinion with  respect to the matters  covered by clause (xx),  such
counsel  may  state  that  their   opinion  and  belief  are  based  upon  their
participation  in  the  preparation  of  the  Registration   Statement  and  the
Prospectus and any  amendments or supplements  thereto and review and discussion
of the  contents  thereof,  but are without  independent  check or  verification
except as specified.

         In rendering  their  opinion as  aforesaid,  Hunton & Williams may rely
upon an  opinion,  dated as of  Closing  Time,  of Piper & Marbury  L.L P. as to
matters  governed by Maryland  law, and the opinion of Sullivan & Worcester  LLP
referred to above as to matters governed by Massachusetts  law. In addition,  in
rendering such opinion,  such counsel may state that their opinion as to laws of
the State of Delaware is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

                                       20
<PAGE>
         (d) At Closing Time (i) the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus
shall  contain  all  statements  which  are  required  to be stated  therein  in
accordance  with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act  Regulations  and in all material
respects  shall  conform  to the  requirements  of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations,  and neither the  Registration  Statement nor the Prospectus  shall
contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not  misleading  and no action,  suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be
pending or to the knowledge of the Company  threatened against the Company which
would be  required  to be set forth in the  Prospectus  other  than as set forth
therein,  (ii) there shall not have been, 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, of the Company
or in its  earnings,  business  affairs or  business  prospects,  whether or not
arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  from  that  set  forth  in the
Registration  Statement,  and (iii) no  proceedings  shall be pending or, to the
knowledge  of the  Company,  threatened  against  the  Company  before or by any
Federal,  state or other commission,  board or administrative  agency wherein an
unfavorable  decision,  ruling or finding would  materially and adversely affect
the business,  property, financial condition or income of the Company other than
as set forth in the Prospectus;  and you shall have received, at Closing Time, a
certificate of the President and Chief Operating Officer and the chief financial
officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, evidencing compliance with the
provisions  of this  subsection  (d) and stating  that the  representations  and
warranties  set forth in Section  1(a) hereof are  accurate as though  expressly
made at and as of Closing Time.

         (e) Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and
at Closing Time prior to payment and delivery of the  Securities,  Ernst & Young
LLP  shall  have  furnished  to you a letter,  dated  the date of its  delivery,
addressed to you and in form and substance  satisfactory to you, confirming that
they are independent  accountants with respect to the Company as required by the
1933 Act and the 1933 Act  Regulations  and with  respect to the  financial  and
other  statistical  and  numerical  information  contained  in the  Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or  incorporated  by reference  therein.  Each such
letter  shall  contain   information  of  the  type   customarily   included  in
accountants' comfort letters to underwriters.

         (f) At Closing Time your counsel  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 of
any of the  representations  or  warranties,  or the  fulfillment  of any of the
conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in

                                       21
<PAGE>

connection  with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein  contemplated
shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to you and your counsel.

         If any  condition  specified  in this  Section  5 shall  not have  been
fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated
by you by notice to the  Company  at any time at or prior to Closing  Time,  and
such  termination  shall be without  liability  of any party to any other  party
except as provided in Section 4 hereof.

Section 6. Indemnification.

         (a) The Company  hereby  agrees to indemnify  and hold harmless you and
each  person,  if any,  who controls you within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act as follows:

                  (1) 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 the 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 included in any preliminary  prospectus 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:

                  (2) 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

                  (3)  against  any  and all  expense  whatsoever,  as  incurred
         (including,  subject to Section 6(c) hereof, the fees and disbursements
         of your counsel),  reasonably  incurred in investigating,  preparing or
         defending  against any litigation,  or any investigation or proceedings
         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 paragraph (1) or (2) above;

provided,  however,  that 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 you
expressly for use in the  Registration  Statement (or any amendment  thereto) or
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided,  further,
that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any

                                       22
<PAGE>

preliminary  prospectus  shall not inure to your benefit,  or the benefit of any
person  controlling  you,  if a copy  of the  Prospectus  (as  then  amended  or
supplemented  if the Company shall have  furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto and excluding  documents  incorporated  or deemed to be  incorporated by
reference  therein)  was not sent or given by or on behalf of you to such person
asserting any such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  at or prior to the
written  confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, if required
by law so to have  been  delivered,  and if the  Prospectus  (as so  amended  or
supplemented)  would  have  cured the defect  giving  rise to such loss,  claim,
damage or expense.

         (b) You agree to indemnify and hold  harmless the Company,  each of the
Company's  trustees,  each of the Company's 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 6, 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 the  Prospectus  (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written  information  furnished
to the Company by you  expressly for use in the  Registration  Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

         (c) Each indemnified  party shall give 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
which it may have  otherwise  than on account of this  indemnity  agreement.  An
indemnifying  party may  participate  at its own  expense in the defense of such
action.  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.

Section 7. Contribution.

         (a) In  order  to  provide  for  just  and  equitable  contribution  in
circumstances in which the indemnity  agreement provided for in Section 6 hereof
is for any reason held to be unenforceable  by the indemnified  parties although
applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company and you shall contribute to
the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages


                                       23
<PAGE>

and expenses of the nature  contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by
the Company and you, as incurred,  (i) in such  proportion as is  appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and you 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 you 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 you
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
discount  received by you, bear to the aggregate  initial  offering price of the
Securities.

         The relative  fault of the Company on the one hand and you 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 fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or by you and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

         The  Company and you agree that it would not be just and  equitable  if
contribution  pursuant to this Section 7 were  determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other  method of  allocation  which  does not take  into  account  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.

         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.  Notwithstanding  the
provisions of this Section 7, you shall not be required to contribute any amount
in excess  of the  amount  by which  the  total  price at which  the  Securities
purchased  from the  Company by you were  contributed  to the Trust  exceeds the
amount of any damages which you have  otherwise  been required to pay in respect
of such losses, liabilities,  claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this
Section 7, each  person,  if any, who controls you within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same rights to  contribution  as you, and each
trustee of the Company,  each officer of the Company who signed the Registration
Statement, and each person, if any,

                                       24
<PAGE>

who controls the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

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

Section 9. Termination of Agreement.

         (a) You 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  respective
dates  as of which  information  is given  in the  Registration  Statement,  any
material  adverse  change in the  condition,  financial or otherwise,  or in the
earnings,  business affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or not
arising  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  which  would  make it, in your
reasonable  judgment,  impracticable  or inadvisable to (x) commence or continue
the offering of the units of the Trust to the public,  or (y) enforce  contracts
for the sale of units of the  Trust,  (ii) if there has  occurred  any  material
adverse change in the financial  markets in the United States or any outbreak of
hostilities  or escalation of existing  hostilities  or other calamity or crisis
the effect of which on the financial  markets of the United States is such as to
make it,  in your  reasonable  judgment,  impracticable  or  inadvisable  to (x)
commence or continue  the  offering of the units of the Trust to the public,  or
(y) enforce  contracts for the sale of units of the Trust or (iii) if trading in
the Company's Common Shares has been suspended by the Commission,  or if trading
generally on either the New York Stock  Exchange or the American  Stock Exchange
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 or any other governmental  authority, or
if a banking moratorium has been declared by Federal or New York authorities.

         (b) If this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to this Section 9, such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
provided in Section 4, and provided  further that  Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall
survive such termination.

Section 10. 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

                                       25
<PAGE>

of  telecommunication.  Notices to you shall be  directed  to you at Wheat First
Securities,  Inc., Attention:  Syndicate Department,  Riverfront Plaza, 901 East
Byrd  Street,  Richmond,  Virginia  23219;  and notices to the Company  shall be
directed to it at 400 Centre Street,  Newton,  Massachusetts  02158,  Attention:
David J. Hegarty, President.

Section 11. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon you and the Company and your respective  successors.  Nothing  expressed or
mentioned  in this  Agreement  is  intended  or shall be  construed  to give any
person,  firm or  corporation,  other than those referred to in Sections 6 and 7
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 parties  hereto and thereto and
their respective successors and said controlling persons and officers,  trustees
and directors and their heirs and legal representatives,  and for the benefit of
no other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from you shall
be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

Section 12.  Governing  Law and Time;  Miscellaneous.  This  Agreement  shall be
governed by and construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said State. Specified times
of day refer to New York City time.

         THE  DECLARATION OF TRUST  ESTABLISHING  THE COMPANY,  DATED OCTOBER 9,
1986, A COPY OF WHICH, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO (THE "DECLARATION"),
IS DULY ON FILE  IN THE  OFFICE  OF THE  STATE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ASSESSMENTS  AND
TAXATION OF MARYLAND,  PROVIDES THAT THE NAME "HEALTH AND RETIREMENT  PROPERTIES
TRUST" REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE  DECLARATION  COLLECTIVELY  AS TRUSTEES,
BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY,  AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER,  SHAREHOLDER,
EMPLOYEE  OR  AGENT OF THE  COMPANY  SHALL  BE HELD TO ANY  PERSONAL  LIABILITY,
JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY,  FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, THE COMPANY. ALL
PERSONS  DEALING WITH THE COMPANY,  IN ANY WAY, SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF
THE COMPANY FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.


                                       26
<PAGE>

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


                                  Very truly yours,

                                  HEALTH AND RETIREMENT PROPERTIES TRUST



                                  By /s/  Ajay Saini
                                     Name: Ajay Saini
                                     Title: Treasurer




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

WHEAT FIRST SECURITIES, INC.



By /s/ Carr L. Kinder III
   Name: Carr L. Kinder III
   Title: Vice President



                                       27


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