HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST
8-K, 1998-04-22
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): April 21, 1998




                          HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)




   Maryland                      1-11527                    04-3262075
(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:  617-964-8389

<PAGE>

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

(c)      Exhibits.

         1.1      Underwriting  Agreement between the Company and A.G. Edwards &
                  Sons, Inc.

         23.      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.


                                       -2-

<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.

                                          HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST



                                          By:  /s/ Thomas M. O'Brien
                                               Thomas M. O'Brien, Treasurer and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

Date: April 21, 1998



                                       -3-

<PAGE>


                                LIST OF EXHIBITS

1.1    Underwriting Agreement between the Company and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
23.    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.


                                       -4-


                                                                  EXHIBIT 1.1

                                1,361,059 Shares

                          Hospitality Properties Trust
                      Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                                                             April 21, 1998



A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
One North Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63103

Dear Sirs:

         Hospitality  Properties  Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust
(the  "Company"),  proposes to issue and sell  1,361,059 of its common shares of
beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), to A.G. Edwards &
Sons, Inc. (the "Underwriter").  The common shares of beneficial  interest,  par
value $0.01 per share,  of the Company to be outstanding  after giving effect to
the  sales  contemplated  hereby  are  hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Common
Shares."  All  references  herein to the "Shares" or the "Common  Shares"  shall
include  the Rights (as  defined in the  Company's  Current  Report on Form 8-K,
including  the  exhibits  thereto,  dated May 20, 1997 (filed on May 30,  1997))
attached thereto.  The Underwriter intends to sell the Shares to Nike Securities
L.P., which intends to deposit such shares, together with shares of common stock
of other entities also acquired from the Underwriter,  into a newly-formed  unit
investment trust (the "Trust")  registered  under the Investment  Company Act of
1940, as amended,  in exchange for units in the Trust. The Underwriter is not an
affiliate of Nike Securities L.P. or the Trust. The Underwriter  intends to sell
the shares of Common  Stock to Nike  Securities  L.P. at an  aggregate  purchase
price of $43,204,232.

         The 146 hotels  described in the Prospectus  referred to below as being
currently owned by the Company as of the date hereof are  collectively  referred
to herein as the  "Current  Hotels." The 4 Hotels  described  in the  Prospectus
referred to below as being proposed to be acquired by the Company as of the date
hereof are  collectively  referred to herein as the  "Additional  Hotels." It is
understood  that in connection  with the proposed  acquisition of the Additional
Hotels, the Company has entered into purchase and sale agreements and agreements
to lease (the "Acquisition


<PAGE>

Agreements") contemplating consummation of a series of related transactions (the
"Acquisition  Transactions")  generally  described in the Prospectus  Supplement
referred to below under the caption "Recent Developments," pursuant to which the
Company  shall (i)  acquire the  Additional  Hotels,  (ii) lease the  Additional
Hotels to hotel operating  companies  pursuant to operating  leases and (iii) to
the extent necessary to finance the pending acquisitions, borrow funds under the
Company's $250 million  aggregate  principal amount  unsecured  revolving credit
facility (the "1998 Credit Facility") or a successor credit facility.

         The Current Hotels and the Additional Hotels are collectively  referred
to  herein as the  "Hotels."  The  Acquisition  Agreements  and the 1998  Credit
Facility  and any  amendments  required  thereto  are  hereinafter  collectively
referred to as the  "Transaction  Documents"  and each singly as a  "Transaction
Document." Each  Transaction  Document  constituting an agreement is hereinafter
referred to as a "Transaction Agreement."

         1. Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company has prepared and
filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  in
accordance  with the provisions of the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder  (collectively called the
"Act"), a registration  statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-43573))  including a
preliminary prospectus relating to the registration of the Shares and such other
securities which may be offered from time to time by the Company,  in accordance
with  Rule 415  under the Act.  Such  registration  statement  (as  amended,  if
applicable)  was declared  effective by the Commission on January 15, 1998. Such
registration  statement (as amended as of the date hereof) on the one hand,  and
the  prospectus  constituting  a part  thereof  and  the  prospectus  supplement
relating  to the  offering  of the Shares  provided  to the  Underwriter  by the
Company  in the form  first used to  confirm  sales of Shares  (the  "Prospectus
Supplement"),  on the  other  hand,  including,  in  each  case,  all  documents
incorporated therein by reference pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act,
as  from  time to  time  amended  or  supplemented  pursuant  to the Act and the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the rules and  regulations of
the Commission thereunder (collectively called the "Exchange Act"), are referred
to herein as the "Registration  Statement" and the  "Prospectus,"  respectively.
Any  registration  statement  (including any amendment or supplement  thereto or
information  which is deemed a part  thereof)  filed by the  Company  under Rule
462(b) of the Act (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement") shall be deemed to be
part of the  "Registration  Statement"  as  defined  herein  and any  prospectus
delivered in connection therewith (including any amendment or supplement thereto
or  information  which is deemed part  thereof)  included  in such  registration
statement shall be deemed to be part of the "Prospectus," as defined herein. All
references  in this  Agreement to financial  statements  and schedules and other
information  which is  "contained,"  "included,"  "described" or "stated" in the
Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus  (and all other  similar  references)
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 the  Prospectus,  as the case  may be,  and all
references in this Agreement to amendments or  supplements  to the  Registration
Statement  or the  Prospectus  shall  be  deemed  to mean and  include,  without
limitation,  even though not specifically  stated,  any document filed under the
Exchange  Act which is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

Capitalized  terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
given to those terms in the Prospectus.

            2.   Agreements  to  Sell  and   Purchase.   On  the  basis  of  the
representations and warranties  contained in this Agreement,  and subject to its
terms and  conditions,  the Company agrees to issue and sell and the Underwriter
agrees to  purchase  from the  Company  at a price per  share of  $31.4125  (the
"Purchase Price"), 1,361,059 Shares.

            3. Terms of Public Offering.  The Company is advised by you that the
Underwriter  proposes to sell the Shares to Nike Securities  L.P., which intends
to  deposit  the  Shares  with the  trustee  of the  Trust,  a  registered  unit
investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,  to which
Nike  Securities  L.P. acts as sponsor,  in exchange for units in the Trust (the
"Offering")  as soon after the execution and delivery  hereof as in the judgment
of the Underwriter is advisable (and, if necessary, any post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement).

         4. Delivery and Payment. Delivery to the Underwriter of and payment for
the Shares  shall be made at 9:00 A.M.,  New York City time,  on April 24,  1998
(the "Closing  Date"),  at such place as the Underwriter  shall  designate.  The
Closing  Date and the  location  of  delivery of and the form of payment for the
Shares may be varied by agreement between the Underwriter and the Company.

         Certificates  for the  Shares  shall be  registered  in such  names and
issued in such  denominations  as the  Underwriter  shall request in writing not
later than two full business days prior to the Closing Date.  Such  certificates
shall be made  available to the  Underwriter  for inspection not later than 9:30
A.M.,  New York  City  time,  on the  business  day prior to the  Closing  Date.
Certificates  in definitive form evidencing the Shares shall be delivered to the
Underwriter  on the Closing Date,  with any transfer  taxes thereon duly paid by
the Company, for the account of the Underwriter,  against payment to the Company
of the  Purchase  Price  therefor  by wire  transfer  of Federal or other  funds
immediately available in New York City.

            5.   Agreements  of  the  Company.   The  Company  agrees  with  the
Underwriter:
                  (a) In respect  of the  offering  of the  Shares  contemplated
         hereby, to (i) prepare a Prospectus Supplement setting forth the number
         of Shares covered thereby, the name of the Underwriter participating in
         the  offering  of the  Shares  and  the  number  of  Shares  which  the
         Underwriter  has agreed to purchase,  the price at which the Shares are
         to be  purchased  by the  Underwriter  from  the  Company,  the  public
         offering price, the selling concession and reallowance if any, and such
         other  information as the Underwriter and the Company deem  appropriate
         in connection with the offering of the Shares, (ii) file the Prospectus
         (as defined  herein to include such  Prospectus  Supplement)  in a form
         approved by the Underwriter pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act no later
         than the  Commission's  close of  business on the second  business  day
         following the date hereof and (iii) furnish copies of the Prospectus to
         the Underwriter and to such dealers as the Underwriter shall specify as
         soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement in such quantities
         as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

                                       -3-
<PAGE>

                  (b)  At  any  time  when  the  Prospectus  is  required  to be
         delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act in connection with sales of
         Shares,  to advise the  Underwriter  promptly  and, if requested by the
         Underwater, to confirm such advice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness
         of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (ii) the transmittal to
         the Commission for filing of the Prospectus or any other  supplement or
         amendment to the  Prospectus  required to be filed pursuant to the Act,
         (iii) the receipt of any comments from the  Commission  relating to the
         Registration  Statement,  the Prospectus,  any  preliminary  prospectus
         supplement relating to the Shares, the Prospectus  Supplement or any of
         the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  (iv) any request by
         the  Commission  for  post-effective  amendments  to  the  Registration
         Statement  or  amendments  or  supplements  to  the  Prospectus  or for
         additional information,  (v) the issuance by the Commission of any stop
         order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration  Statement or of
         the suspension of  qualification  of the Shares for offering or sale in
         any  jurisdiction,  or  the  initiation  of  any  proceeding  for  such
         purposes,  and  (vi) the  happening  of any  event  during  the  period
         referred  to in  paragraph  (e) below which  makes any  statement  of a
         material  fact made in the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus
         untrue or which  requires the making of any  additions to or changes in
         the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  in  order to make the
         statements  therein  not  misleading.   The  Company  will  make  every
         reasonable  effort to prevent the  issuance of any stop order and if at
         any time the  Commission  shall  issue any stop  order  suspending  the
         effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement,  the Company  will make
         every  reasonable  effort to obtain the  withdrawal  or lifting of such
         order at the earliest possible time.

                   (c) To furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, one signed
         copy of the  Registration  Statement as first filed with the Commission
         and of each  amendment to it,  including  all  exhibits  and  documents
         incorporated  therein by reference,  and to furnish to the  Underwriter
         such number of  conformed  copies of the  Registration  Statement as so
         filed and of each  amendment  to it,  without  exhibits  but  including
         documents  incorporated  therein by reference,  as the  Underwriter may
         reasonably  request.  If  applicable,  the  copies of the  Registration
         Statement and each amendment  thereto furnished to the Underwriter will
         be identical to the  electronically  transmitted  copies  thereof filed
         with the Commission  pursuant to EDGAR,  except to the extent permitted
         by Regulation S-T, as promulgated by the Commission.

                  (d)  At  any  time  when  the  Prospectus  is  required  to be
         delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act in connection with sales of
         Shares, not to file any amendment to the Registration  Statement or any
         Rule  462(b)  Registration  Statement  or  to  make  any  amendment  or
         supplement  to the  Prospectus  of  which  the  Underwriter  shall  not
         previously have been advised or to which the Underwriter or Chapman and
         Cutler  shall  reasonably  object;  and to  prepare  and file  with the
         Commission,  promptly upon the Underwriter's  reasonable  request,  any
         amendment to the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
         Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
         which may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution
         of the Shares by the Underwriter,  and to use its best efforts to cause
         the same to become promptly  effective.  If applicable,  the Prospectus
         and any amendments or supplements  thereto furnished to the Underwriter
         will be  identical to the  electronically  transmitted  copies  thereof
         filed  with the  Commission  pursuant  to EDGAR,  except to the  extent
         permitted by Regulation S-T, as promulgated by the Commission.

                   (e) Prior to 10:00  A.M.,  New York City  time,  on the first
         business day after the date hereof and from time to time thereafter for
         such  period as in the opinion of Chapman  and Cutler a  prospectus  is
         required  by  law to be  delivered  in  connection  with  sales  by the
         Underwriter or a dealer,  to furnish to the  Underwriter  and dealer as
         many copies of the  Prospectus  (and of any  amendment or supplement to
         the Prospectus) and any documents  incorporated therein by reference as
         the Underwriter or such dealer may reasonably request.

                  (f) If,  during the period  specified  in  paragraph  (e), any
         event shall  occur as a result of which,  in the opinion of Chapman and
         Cutler,  it becomes  necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
         order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
         existing  when  the  Prospectus  is  delivered  to  a  purchaser,   not
         misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus
         to  comply  with any  law,  forthwith  to  prepare  and  file  with the
         Commission an appropriate  amendment or supplement to the Prospectus so
         that the statements in 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 applicable law,
         and  to  furnish  to  the  Underwriter  and  to  such  dealers  as  the
         Underwriter  shall  specify,  such  number  of  copies  thereof  as the
         Underwriter or such dealers may reasonably request.

                  (g)  Prior  to  any  public  offering  of the  Shares,  (i) to
         cooperate  with the  Underwriter  and Chapman and Cutler (or such other
         local counsel as may be designated  by the  Underwriter)  in connection
         with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale
         by the Underwriter and by dealers under the state securities,  Blue Sky
         or  real  estate   syndication  laws  of  such   jurisdictions  as  the
         Underwriter may request,  (ii) to continue such qualification in effect
         so long as required for distribution of the Shares,  (iii) to file such
         consents to service of process or other  documents  as may be necessary
         in order to  effect  such  registration  or  qualification  and (iv) to
         cooperate  with the  Underwriter  and Chapman and Cutler in  connection
         with the review of the  offering of the Shares  contemplated  hereby by
         the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").

                  (h) To make generally available to the Company's  shareholders
         as soon as  reasonably  practicable  but not later than sixty (60) days
         after the close of the period  covered  thereby (or ninety (90) days in
         the event the close of such period is the close of the Company's fiscal
         year), an earnings  statement (in form complying with the provisions of
         Rule 158  under the Act)  covering  a period  of at least  twelve  (12)
         months after the effective

                                       -5-
<PAGE>
         date of the  Registration  Statement (but in no event  commencing later
         than  ninety  (90) days  after  such  date)  which  shall  satisfy  the
         provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act, and, if required by Rule 158 of
         the Act,  to file such  statement  as an exhibit  to the next  periodic
         report  required  to be filed by the  Company  under the  Exchange  Act
         covering the period when such earnings statement is released.

                  (i) During  the  period of five  years  after the date of this
         Agreement,  (i) to mail as soon as reasonably practicable after the end
         of each  fiscal  year to the  record  holders  of its  Common  Shares a
         financial  report of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries,  if any, on a
         consolidated   basis   (and  a   similar   financial   report   of  all
         unconsolidated  subsidiaries,  if any), all such  financial  reports to
         include a  consolidated  balance  sheet,  a  consolidated  statement of
         operations,  a consolidated  statement of cash flows and a consolidated
         statement of shareholders'  equity as of the end of and for such fiscal
         year, together with comparable information as of the end of and for the
         preceding year, certified by independent  certified public accountants,
         and (ii) to make generally  available as soon as practicable  after the
         end of each quarterly  period (except for the last quarterly  period of
         each fiscal year) to such holders,  a  consolidated  balance  sheet,  a
         consolidated  statement of operations and a  consolidated  statement of
         cash  flows  (and  similar  financial  reports  of  all  unconsolidated
         subsidiaries, if any) as of the end of and for such period, and for the
         period from the  beginning of such year to the close of such  quarterly
         period,  together with  comparable  information  for the  corresponding
         periods of the preceding year.

                  (j) During the period referred to in paragraph (i), to furnish
         to the  Underwriter as soon as available a copy of each report or other
         publicly available  information of the Company mailed to the holders of
         Common  Shares or filed with the  Commission  and such  other  publicly
         available information  concerning the Company and its subsidiaries,  if
         any, as the Underwriter may reasonably request.

                  (k) During the period  when the  Prospectus  is required to be
         delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act in connection with sales of
         the Shares,  to file all documents  required to be filed by it with the
         Commission  pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act within
         the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

                  (l) To pay (i) all costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to
         the preparation, printing, filing and distribution under the Act of the
         Registration  Statement  (including financial statements and exhibits),
         the  Prospectus,  all documents  incorporated  or to be incorporated by
         reference  therein,  and all amendments and  supplements to any of them
         prior to or during the period  specified  in  paragraph  (e),  (ii) all
         costs and expenses in connection  with the printing and delivery of the
         Prospectus and all amendments or supplements  thereto during the period
         specified in paragraph (e), (iii) all costs and expenses related to the
         transfer and delivery of the Shares to the  Underwriter,  including any
         transfer  or  other  taxes  payable  thereon,   (iv)  all  expenses  in
         connection  with the  registration or  qualification  of the Shares for
         offer  and  sale  under  the  securities,   Blue  Sky  or  real  estate
         syndication laws of the several

                                       -6-
<PAGE>
         states  (including in each case the fees and  disbursements  of counsel
         for the  Company  or  counsel  for  the  Underwriter  relating  to such
         registration or qualification and memoranda relating thereto),  (v) all
         filing  fees  paid to the  NASD  in  connection  with  the  review  and
         clearance of the offering of the Shares  contemplated  hereby, (vi) all
         costs and expenses incidental to the listing of the Shares on the NYSE,
         (vii) the cost of furnishing such copies of the Registration Statement,
         the Prospectus and all  amendments  and  supplements  thereto as may be
         requested for use in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares
         by the  Underwriter or by dealers to whom Shares may be sold and (viii)
         the cost of the  preparation,  issuance  and  delivery of  certificates
         representing the Shares, including the charges of any transfer agent or
         registrar.

                  (m) To use its best efforts to list the Shares on the NYSE and
         to maintain  the listing of the Common  Shares on the NYSE for a period
         of five years after the Closing Date hereunder.

                  (n) To use its best  efforts  to  qualify  for the year  ended
         December 31, 1998 and to continue to meet the  requirements  to qualify
         as a real estate  investment  trust ("REIT") under the Internal Revenue
         Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

                  (o) To  apply  the net  proceeds  of the  offering  of  Shares
         contemplated  hereby  substantially  in accordance with the description
         set forth under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.

                  (p) To use its  best  efforts  to do and  perform  all  things
         required or necessary to be done and performed  under this Agreement by
         the Company  prior to the Closing Date,  and to satisfy all  conditions
         precedent to the delivery of the Shares.

            6.  Representations  and  Warranties.  The  Company  represents  and
warrants to the Underwriter that:

                  (a) The Company meets the  requirement for use of Form S-3 and
         the  Registration  Statement has been prepared by the Company under the
         provisions of the Act and has been filed with and declared effective by
         the Commission.

                  (b) The  Registration  Statement has become  effective  (other
         than any Rule 462(b) Registration  Statement to be filed by the Company
         after  the   effectiveness   of  this   Agreement);   any  Rule  462(b)
         Registration  Statement filed after the effectiveness of this Agreement
         will become  effective no later than 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on
         the  date  of  this  Agreement;   and  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.

                  (c) (i) Each  document,  if any, filed or to be filed pursuant
         to the Exchange Act

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

         and  incorporated  by  reference  in the  Prospectus,  complied or will
         comply when so filed in all material  respects  with the Exchange  Act,
         (ii)  the   Registration   Statement   (other   than  any  Rule  462(b)
         Registration   Statement   to  be  filed  by  the  Company   after  the
         effectiveness  of this  Agreement),  when it initially became effective
         and as of the date  hereof,  respectively,  did not  contain any untrue
         statement of a material  fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the  statement  therein not
         misleading,  (iii)  the  Registration  Statement  (other  than any Rule
         462(b)  Registration  Statement  to be filed by the  Company  after the
         effectiveness  of this  Agreement)  and the  Prospectus  comply and, as
         amended or  supplemented,  if  applicable,  will comply in all material
         respects  with the Act,  (iv) if the Company is required to file a Rule
         462(b)   Registration   Statement  after  the   effectiveness  of  this
         Agreement,  such Rule 462(b) Registration  Statement and any amendments
         thereto,  when they  become  effective  (A) will not contain any 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  and (B) will comply in all material  respects  with the Act
         and (v) the  Prospectus  does not  contain  any untrue  statement  of a
         material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  necessary to make the
         statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were  made,  not  misleading,   except  that  the  representations  and
         warranties  set forth in this  paragraph (c) do not apply to statements
         or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
         information  relating to the  Underwriter  furnished  to the Company in
         writing by the Underwriter expressly for use therein.

                  (d)  The  Company  has  been  duly  organized  and is  validly
         existing as a real estate  investment  trust in good standing under the
         laws of the State of Maryland  and has the power and  authority  to own
         the  Current  Hotels  owned by it and to lease such  Current  Hotels to
         others and to conduct its business, all as described in the Prospectus,
         and  is  duly  qualified  and  in  good  standing  as a  foreign  trust
         authorized  to do business in each  jurisdiction  in which such Current
         Hotels  are  located  and  such   qualification  and  authorization  is
         required.

                  (e)  Each  of  the  Company's   subsidiaries   has  been  duly
         incorporated,  is validly  existing as a  corporation  or a real estate
         investment  trust,  as the case may be, in good standing under the laws
         of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation,  as the case may be,
         and has the power and  authority to own the Current  Hotels owned by it
         and to lease such Current  Hotels to others and to conduct its business
         as it is currently being  conducted,  and each is duly qualified and is
         in good standing as a foreign  corporation or a real estate  investment
         trust,  as  the  case  may  be,  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  those such
         failures to be qualified,  singly or in the aggregate, would not have a
         material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole.  All of the  outstanding  shares of  capital  stock 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,  are  owned  by the  Company,  free  and  clear  of any
         security interest,  claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any
         nature.

                                       -8-
<PAGE>

                  (f)  Except for 500  Common  Shares,  250 of which are held by
         John A.  Mannix  and 250 of which  are held by David M.  Lepore  (as to
         which no  representation  or  warranty  is made),  all the  outstanding
         Common  Shares of the  Company  have been duly  authorized  and validly
         issued  and are  fully  paid,  non-assessable  and not  subject  to any
         preemptive or similar rights;  and the Shares have been duly authorized
         and,  when issued and  delivered  to the  Underwriter  against  payment
         therefor as provided by this Agreement,  will be validly issued,  fully
         paid and  non-assessable,  and the  issuance of such Shares will not be
         subject  to any  preemptive  or  similar  rights.  The  Company  has no
         outstanding  Preferred  Shares  of  Beneficial  Interest.  There are no
         outstanding   subscriptions,    nights,   warrants,   options,   calls,
         convertible  securities,  commitments  of sale or liens  related  to or
         entitling  any person to  purchase or  otherwise  to acquire any Common
         Shares  of, or other  ownership  interest  in,  the  Company  except as
         otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement.

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

                  (h)  The  Company  and  each  of  its  subsidiaries  is not in
         violation of its Declaration of Trust,  Certificate of Incorporation or
         Bylaws,  as the case may be, 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  material to the conduct of the business of the
         Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or
         any of its  subsidiaries  is a party or by  which  any of them or their
         respective property is bound.

                   (i) This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
         delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding  agreement
         of the Company,  enforceable  against it in accordance  with its terms,
         except as the  enforceability  thereof  may be  limited  by  applicable
         bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization,    fraudulent   conveyance,
         moratorium  and other laws affecting the  enforceability  of creditor's
         rights and general principles of equity.

                  (j) The execution by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of
         each  Transaction  Document to which it is a party and the  delivery by
         the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  of, and the performance by the
         Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  of its  obligations  under,  each
         Transaction  Document  to which it is a party,  as the case may be, and
         the  consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby
         will  not  contravene  any  provision  of  applicable  law or  (i)  the
         Declaration  of Trust,  Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of the
         Company  or  any of its  subsidiaries,  (ii)  any  agreement  or  other
         instrument  binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is
         material  to the  Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or
         (iii) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or
         court having  Jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
         except such as would not have a material  adverse effect on the Company
         and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                                       -9-

<PAGE>

                  (k) No  consent,  approval,  authorization  or  order  of,  or
         qualification  with,  any  governmental  body or agency and no consent,
         approval or  authorization  of any person other than the Company or any
         of  its  subsidiaries  is  required  for  the  execution,  delivery  or
         performance  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its   subsidiaries  of  its
         obligations  under each Transaction  Document to which it is a party or
         the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby,
         except such as may be required  and will be obtained on or prior to the
         Closing Date and such as may be required by the  securities or Blue Sky
         laws  or  real  estate  syndication  laws  of  the  various  states  in
         connection  with the offer and sale of the Shares  and,  in the case of
         the  performance  thereof,  except as are  contemplated  by the express
         terms of such Transaction  Document to occur after the Closing Date and
         except (x) such as are otherwise  described in the  Prospectus  and (y)
         such that the  failure  to obtain  would  not have a  material  adverse
         effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                   (l) There has not occurred any material  adverse  change,  or
         any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
         condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  or in the  earnings,  affairs or
         business  prospects  of the  Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a
         whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus.

                   (m) There are no legal or  governmental  proceedings  pending
         or, to the  knowledge of the Company  after due inquiry,  threatened to
         which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any
         of the Hotels is  subject  that are  required  to be  described  in the
         Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus  and are not so described or
         any  statutes,  regulations,  contracts  or  other  documents  that are
         required  to  be  described  in  the  Registration   Statement  or  the
         Prospectus  or to be filed as  exhibits to the  Registration  Statement
         that are not described or filed as required.

                   (n) The Company and each of its  subsidiaries  has, and as of
         the Closing Date will have,  all  necessary  consents,  authorizations,
         approvals,  orders, certificates,  licenses,  franchises and permits of
         and from,  and has made, or as of the Closing Date will have made,  all
         declarations  and  filings  with all  federal,  state,  local and other
         governmental  authorities,  all  self-regulatory  organizations and all
         courts and other tribunals having  jurisdiction over the Company or its
         properties, necessary to own, lease, license and use its properties and
         assets,  and to conduct  its  business in the manner  described  in the
         Prospectus,  except to the  extent  that the  failure to obtain or file
         would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  Company  and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                   (o) To the best knowledge of the Company,  each lessee of the
         Current  Hotels has, and as of the Closing Date will have, all permits,
         licenses,  approvals,  certificates,  franchises and  authorizations of
         governmental  or  regulatory   authorities   ("Approvals")  as  may  be
         necessary to lease,  operate or manage the Current Hotels in the manner
         described  in or  contemplated  by the  Prospectus,  except  for  those
         Approvals the absence of which would not

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
         have a material  adverse  effect on the Company  and its  subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole.

                  (p)  The   Company   has   received   and   reviewed   certain
         environmental  reports on each Current Hotel's  property,  has obtained
         certain   representations  and  warranties  relating  to  environmental
         matters  from the sellers of the  Current  Hotels set forth in purchase
         agreements  therefor and has  conducted  physical  inspections  of each
         Current Hotel's  property.  Except as described in the Prospectus,  (i)
         the Company, and, to its knowledge,  each Current Hotel's property, is,
         and as of the Closing Date will be, in compliance  with all  applicable
         federal,   state  and  local  laws  and  regulations  relating  to  the
         protection of human health and safety, the environment, hazardous toxic
         substances  and wastes,  pollutants  and  contaminants  ("Environmental
         Laws"),  (ii) the  Company,  or, to its  knowledge,  its  lessees  have
         received, or as of the Closing Date will receive, all permits, licenses
         or other  approvals  required under  applicable  Environmental  Laws to
         conduct the respective  hotel  businesses  presently  conducted at each
         Current  Hotel's  property and (iii) the Company or, to its  knowledge,
         its lessees are, or as of the Closing Date will be, in compliance  with
         all terms and  conditions  of any such  permit,  license  or  approval,
         except,  in respect  of  clauses  (i),  (ii) and  (iii),  as  otherwise
         disclosed  in  the  Prospectus  or as  would  not,  singly  or  in  the
         aggregate,  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  Company  and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                   (q) To the best knowledge of the Company, except as described
         in the  Prospectus,  there are no costs or liabilities  associated with
         Environmental  Laws  (including,  without  limitation,  any  capital or
         operating expenditures required for clean-up, remediation or closure of
         properties  or  compliance  with  Environmental  Laws and any potential
         liabilities to third parties) that, as of the date hereof, would, or as
         of the Closing Date will,  singly or in the aggregate,  have a material
         adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (r) The Company has received and reviewed  engineering reports
         on each Current Hotel's property, has obtained certain  representations
         and  warranties  from the  sellers of the  Current  Hotels set forth in
         purchase agreements therefor and has conducted physical  inspections of
         each Current Hotel's  property.  In respect of each Current Hotel,  (i)
         each Current Hotel is not in violation of any applicable building code,
         zoning  ordinance  or  other  law  or  regulation,  except  where  such
         violation of any applicable  building code,  zoning  ordinance or other
         law  or  regulation  would  not,  singly  or in the  aggregate,  have a
         material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole;  (ii)  the  Company  has not  received  notice  of any  proposed
         material special assessment or any proposed change in any property tax,
         zoning or land use laws or  availability of water affecting any Current
         Hotel that would have,  singly or in the aggregate,  a material adverse
         effect on the Company  and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole;  (iii)
         except  as  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  there  does not  exist  any
         material  violation of any  declaration  of covenants,  conditions  and
         restrictions  with respect to any Current Hotel that would have, singly
         or in the aggregate,  a material  adverse effect on the Company and its
         subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or any state of facts or circumstances
         or condition or event which could, with the giving of notice or passage
         of
                                      -11-
<PAGE>
         time, or both,  constitute such a violation;  and (iv) the improvements
         comprising any portion of each Current Hotel (the  "Improvements")  are
         free of any and all material physical,  mechanical,  structural, design
         and construction defects that would have, singly or in the aggregate, a
         material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole and the mechanical,  electrical and utility systems servicing the
         Improvements  (including,  without  limitation,  all  water,  electric,
         sewer, plumbing, heating, ventilation, gas and air conditioning) are in
         good  condition  and proper  working order and are free of defects that
         would have,  singly or in the aggregate,  a material  adverse effect on
         the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (s) Subsequent to the respective  dates as of which  financial
         information is given in the Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,
         (i) the Company and each subsidiary of the Company has not incurred any
         material  liability or obligation,  direct or  contingent,  nor entered
         into any material  transaction  not in the ordinary course of business;
         (ii)  the  Company  has not  purchased  any of its  outstanding  Common
         Shares,  nor has it declared,  paid or  otherwise  made any dividend or
         distribution of any kind on its Common Shares;  and (iii) there has not
         been any material  change in the capital,  short-term debt or long-term
         debt of the Company,  except,  in respect of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii)
         above, as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.

                  (t) (i) As of the  Closing  Date,  the Company and each of its
         subsidiaries  will have good and marketable  title in fee simple to all
         real property (or good and marketable  leasehold interests with respect
         to the real property ground leased by the Company or its  subsidiaries)
         and good and  marketable  title to all personal  property then owned by
         them,  in each  case  free and  clear of all  liens,  encumbrances  and
         defects,  except (x) leases  providing  for the lease by the Company of
         the Current Hotels to various  tenants as described in the  Prospectus,
         (y) such as would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and
         its  subsidiaries,  taken  as a whole  or (z) in the  case of  personal
         property  located at certain  Hotels,  such as are subject to equipment
         lease  financing  arrangements  which  have  been  entered  into in the
         ordinary course of business and have an aggregate  outstanding  balance
         not in excess of $1 million;  and (ii) real  property held under ground
         lease by the Company or any  subsidiary  is, and as of the Closing Date
         will be, held by it under  valid,  subsisting  and  enforceable  ground
         leases with such exceptions as would not have a material adverse effect
         on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                   (u) The  Company and its  Current  Hotels are,  and as of the
         Closing Date will be, insured in the manner described in the Prospectus
         by insurers of recognized financial  responsibility against such losses
         and risks and in such  amounts as are  customary in the  businesses  in
         which the Company is engaged and proposes to engage and the Company has
         no reason to believe  that it will not be able to renew such  insurance
         coverage  as and  when  such  coverage  expires  or to  obtain  similar
         coverage as may be necessary  to continue its business at  economically
         viable rates.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                   (v) The assets of the  Company do not  constitute,  and as of
         the Closing Date will not constitute,  "plan assets" under the Employee
         Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

                  (w) The  Company  is,  and as of the  Closing  Date  will  be,
         organized  to  operate  in a manner so as to  qualify  as a REIT  under
         Sections 856 through 860 of the Code,  and the Company will elect to be
         taxed as a REIT under the Code  effective for the year ending  December
         31, 1998.

                   (x)  Except  as  provided  by this  Agreement,  there  are no
         contracts,  agreements  or  understandings  between the Company and any
         person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the
         Underwriter  for a  brokerage  commission,  finders  fee or other  like
         payment  with  respect  to  the   consummation   of  the   transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (y)  The  financial  statements  of the  Company  and,  to the
         Company's   knowledge,   the  financial  statements  and  schedules  of
         portfolios,  consisting of separate  financial  statements  for HMH HPT
         Courtyard, Inc. ("HMH"), included in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus fairly present the financial position of the Company and HMH
         (as set forth in such separate financial statements), respectively, and
         their  results  of  operations  and  changes  in  financial  condition,
         respectively,  as of the  dates and  periods  therein  specified.  Such
         financial  statements of the Company and, to the  Company's  knowledge,
         such  financial  statements and schedules of HMH, have been prepared in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles  consistently
         applied  throughout  the periods  involved  (except as otherwise  noted
         therein).  The  selected  financial  and other data set forth under the
         caption  "Unaudited Pro Forma  Financial  Statements and Other Data" in
         the  Company's  Current  Reports on Form 8-K (the  "Forms  8-K")  dated
         December 9, 1997 and  February  13, 1998 fairly  present,  on the basis
         stated  in  the  Forms  8-K,  the  information  included  therein.  The
         unaudited pro forma financial  statements  included in the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus  comply in all material  respects with the
         applicable  accounting  requirements  of Rule 11-02 of  Regulation  S-X
         promulgated by the Commission and the pro farina  adjustments have been
         properly  applied to the historical  amounts in the compilation of that
         data.

                   (z) The Company and/or its subsidiaries,  as applicable,  has
         obtained an ALTA Extended Coverage Owner's Policy of Title Insurance or
         its local  equivalent  (or an  irrevocable  commitment  to issue such a
         policy)  on all of the  Current  Hotels  owned  by the  Company  or its
         subsidiaries and such title insurance is in full force and effect.

                  (aa)  On  the  Closing   Date,   the  Company   will  have  no
         indebtedness  for money borrowed  except (i) borrowings  under the 1998
         Credit Facility,  if any, and (ii) equipment financing  arrangements in
         respect of personal  property located at certain Hotels which have been
         entered into in the  ordinary  course of business and have an aggregate
         outstanding  balance not in excess of $1 million.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>        

                  (bb) The Company has submitted to the NYSE an  application  to
         approve the Shares for listing on the NYSE,  subject to official notice
         of issuance.

                  (cc)  Arthur  Andersen  LLP and  Ernst &  Young  LLP are  each
         independent  public accountants with respect to the Company as required
         by the Act.

                  (dd) 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, as amended.

                  (ee) No holder of any security of the Company has any right to
         require  registration  of Common  Shares or any other  security  of the
         Company.

                  (ff)  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  there are no
         business  relationships  or related party  transactions  required to be
         disclosed therein by Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated
         by the Commission.

                  (gg) The Acquisition  Agreements pursuant to which the Company
         expects to acquire the  Additional  Hotels  (including  any  Additional
         Hotels  which the Company may  determine  to acquire  after the Closing
         Date) are in full force and effect.  The Company intends and reasonably
         expects  to  consummate  the  acquisition  and lease of all  Additional
         Hotels  not  owned  or  acquired  by it  as  of  the  Closing  Date  as
         expeditiously as possible after the Closing Date, including as and when
         the construction of certain of such properties is completed.

         7.  Indemnification.  (a) The  Company  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold
harmless the Underwriter  and each person,  if any, who controls the Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the  Exchange  Act,
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,  liabilities and judgments
caused by any untrue  statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact
contained  in the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  (as  amended  or
supplemented  if the Company shall have  furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) or any  preliminary  prospectus,  or caused by any  omission or alleged
omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,  except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages,  liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue
statement  or  omission  or alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  based upon
information  relating to the Underwriter  furnished in writing to the Company by
or on behalf of the  Underwriter  expressly  for use therein;  provided that the
foregoing  indemnity with respect to any preliminary  prospectus shall not inure
to the benefit to the Underwriter  (or to the benefit of any person  controlling
the  Underwriter)  from  whom the  person  asserting  any such  losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities or judgments purchased the Shares if such untrue statement
or omission or alleged  untrue  Statement or omission  made in such  preliminary
prospectus  is  eliminated  or  remedied  in the  Prospectus  and a copy  of the
Prospectus

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

shall  not have  been  furnished  to such  person  at or  prior  to the  written
confirmation of the sale of such Shares to such person.

         (b) In case any action shall be brought  against the Underwriter or any
person controlling the Underwriter,  based upon any preliminary prospectus,  the
Registration  Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
and with  respect to which  indemnity  may be sought  against the  Company,  the
Underwriter  shall promptly  notify the Company in writing and the Company shall
assume the defense  thereof,  including  the  employment  of counsel  reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses. The
Underwriter  or any such  controlling  person  shall  have the  right to  employ
separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof,  but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Underwriter
or such controlling  person unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have
been specifically  authorized in writing by the Company,  (ii) the Company shall
have failed to assume the defense and employ  counsel or (iii) the named parties
to  any  such  action  (including  any  impleaded   parties)  include  both  the
Underwriter or such  controlling  person and the Company and the  Underwriter or
such  controlling  person shall have been advised by such counsel that there may
be one or more  legal  defenses  available  to it which  are  different  from or
additional  to those  available to the Company (in which case the Company  shall
not have the  right to  assume  the  defense  of such  action  on  behalf of the
Underwriter or such controlling person, it being understood,  however,  that the
Company  shall not,  in  connection  with any one such  action or  separate  but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same  general  allegations  or  circumstances,  be  liable  for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate  firm of attorneys  (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Underwriter and all such controlling persons,  which firm shall
be designated in writing by the  Underwriter and that all such fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are  incurred).  The Company shall not be liable for
any settlement of any such action  effected  without its written  consent but if
settled with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to indemnify
and hold  harmless  the  Underwriter  and any such  controlling  person from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement.  Notwithstanding the
immediately  preceding  sentence,  if in any case where the fees and expenses of
counsel are at the expense of the  indemnifying  party and an indemnified  party
shall have requested the indemnifying  party to reimburse the indemnified  party
for such fees and  expenses  of counsel as  incurred,  such  indemnifying  party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any action effected without
its  written  consent  if (i) such  settlement  is  entered  into  more than ten
business  days after the  receipt by such  indemnifying  party of the  aforesaid
request and (ii) such  indemnifying  party shall have  failed to  reimburse  the
indemnified party in accordance with such request for reimbursement prior to the
date of such settlement.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the  indemnified  party,  effect  any  settlement  of any  pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought  hereunder by such indemnified
party,  unless  such  settlement  includes  an  unconditional  release  of  such
indemnified  party from all  liability on claims that are the subject  matter of
such proceeding.

           (c) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and its trustees or officers who sign the Registration  Statement (or any person
named in the Registration Statement

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

as having agreed to become a trustee of the Company) and any person  controlling
the  Company  within  the  meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing  indemnity from the Company to
the  Underwriter  but  only  with  reference  to  information  relating  to  the
Underwriter  furnished in writing by or on behalf of the  Underwriter  expressly
for  use  in the  Registration  Statement,  the  Prospectus  or any  preliminary
prospectus.  In case any  action  shall be  brought  against  the  Company,  its
trustees (or a named proposed  trustee) or officers or persons  controlling  the
Company based on the Registration  Statement,  the Prospectus or any preliminary
prospectus  and in  respect  of  which  indemnity  may  be  sought  against  the
Underwriter,  the  Underwriter  shall have the  rights  and duties  given to the
Company (except that if the Company shall have assumed the defense thereof,  the
Underwriter  shall not be  required  to do so, but may employ  separate  counsel
therein and participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such
counsel  shall be at the  expense  of the  Underwriter),  and the  Company,  its
trustees (or a named proposed  trustee) or officers and persons  controlling the
Company  shall have the rights and duties given to the  Underwriter,  by Section
7(b) hereof

         (d)  If  the  indemnification   provided  for  in  this  Section  7  is
unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,  claims,  damages,
liabilities or judgments referred to therein,  then each indemnifying  party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid
or  payable  by such  indemnified  party as a  result  of such  losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities  and judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the  relative  benefits  received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriter  on the other  hand from the  offering  of the Shares or (ii) if the
allocation  provided by clause (i) above 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 and
the Underwriter in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or judgments,  as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
and the  Underwriter  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 total underwriting  discounts and commissions  received by the
Underwriter,  bear to the total price to the public of the Shares,  in each case
as set forth in the  table on the cover  page of the  Prospectus.  The  relative
fault of the Company and the  Underwriter  shall be  determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the Company or the  Underwriter  and the parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,
access to  information  and  opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

         The  Company  and the  Underwriter  agree that it would not be just and
equitable if  contribution  pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of  the  equitable  considerations  referred  to in  the  immediately  preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding  paragraph shall be deemed to include,  subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

Underwriter  shall not be  required  to  contribute  any amount in excess of the
amount by which  the total  price at which  the  Shares  underwritten  by it and
distributed  to the public were offered to the public  exceeds the amount of any
damages which the  Underwriter  has otherwise  been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged  untrue  statement  or omission or alleged  omission.  No
person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to  contribution  from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

            8. Conditions of  Underwriter's  Obligations.  The obligation of the
Underwriter  to  purchase  the  Shares  under this  Agreement  is subject to the
satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

                  (a)  All the  representations  and  warranties  set  forth  in
         Section 6 of this  Agreement  shall be true and  correct on the Closing
         Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing
         Date.

                   (b)  At  the  Closing  Date  no  stop  order  suspending  the
         effectiveness of the Registration  Statement shall have been issued and
         no  proceedings  for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be
         pending before or contemplated  by the  Commission;  and the Prospectus
         and any amendment or supplement  thereto shall have been filed with the
         Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
         424(b) under the Act.

                  (c) (i) Since the date of the latest balance sheet included or
         incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Registration  Statement  and  the
         Prospectus,  there shall not have been any material adverse change,  or
         any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
         condition,  financial  or  otherwise,  or in the  earnings,  affairs or
         business  prospects,  whether or not arising in the ordinary  course of
         business,  of the  Company;  (ii) since the date of the latest  balance
         sheet  included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Registration
         Statement  and  the   Prospectus   (exclusive  of  any   amendments  or
         supplements  thereto  subsequent to the date of this Agreement),  there
         shall  not  have  been  any  change,  or any  development  involving  a
         prospective material adverse change, in the capital or in the long-term
         debt of the Company from that set forth in the  Registration  Statement
         and Prospectus (other than in connection with Acquisition  Transactions
         described in and  contemplated  by the  Registration  Statement and the
         Prospectus);  (iii) the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  shall  have no
         liability or obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the
         Company  and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a  whole,  other  than  those
         reflected in the Registration  Statement and the Prospectus  (exclusive
         of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
         Agreement); (iv) since the date of the latest balance sheet included or
         incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Registration  Statement  and  the
         Prospectus,  none of the Hotels  owned by the Company as of the Closing
         Date shall have  sustained  any material  loss or casualty due to fire,
         flood,  earthquake,  hurricane,  tornado,  accident or other  calamity,
         whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court
         or governmental action, order or decree; (v) all Acquisition Agreements
         relating to Additional

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
         Hotels  which have been  executed  and  delivered  by the Company on or
         before  the  Closing  Date shall be in full force and effect as of such
         date and the Company  shall not be aware of any event,  development  or
         circumstance  which it  reasonably  expects  will  materially  delay or
         prevent  its  acquisition  of  the  Additional  Hotels  in  the  manner
         contemplated  in the  Prospectus;  and  (vi) on the  Closing  Date  the
         Underwriter  shall have received a certificate  dated the Closing Date,
         signed by the  President  and Chief  Financial  Officer of the Company,
         confirming the matters set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this
         Section 8 and that the Company has complied with all of the  agreements
         and satisfied all of the conditions herein contained and required to be
         complied  with or  satisfied  by the Company on or prior to the Closing
         Date.

                   (d) The  Underwriter  shall have received on the Closing Date
         an opinion (satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriter), dated
         the Closing Date, of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, counsel for the Company,
         to the effect that:

                            (i) the  Company is a real estate  investment  trust
                  duly  formed and validly  existing  under and by virtue of the
                  laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the
                  State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland, with
                  trust power to acquire  and own the Hotels  owned by it and to
                  lease such  Hotels to others and to conduct its  business,  in
                  all material respects as described in the Prospectus;

                           (ii) each of the Company's subsidiaries has been duly
                  organized  or  formed  and  is  validly   existing  (x)  as  a
                  corporation  in good  standing  under the laws of the State of
                  Delaware  or (y) as a real  estate  investment  trust  in good
                  standing  under  and by  virtue  of the  laws of the  State of
                  Maryland,  as the case may be, and has the corporate power and
                  authority  or trust  power,  as the  case  may be,  to own the
                  Hotels  owned by it and to lease such  Hotels to others and to
                  conduct its business, in all material respects as described in
                  the Prospectus;

                          (iii) all of the  outstanding  shares of capital stock
                  of each of the  Company's  subsidiaries  have  been  duly  and
                  validly   authorized   and  issued  and  are  fully  paid  and
                  non-assessable,  and are owned by the Company,  free and clear
                  of any security interest,  claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse
                  interest of any nature;

                           (iv) except for 500 Common  Shares,  250 of which are
                  held by John A.  Mannix  and 250 of which are held by David M.
                  Lepore  (as to which no opinion  is being  given),  all of the
                  outstanding  Common  Shares  have  been  duly  authorized  and
                  validly  issued  and are fully  paid,  non-assessable  and not
                  subject to any preemptive or similar rights;

                            (v) the Shares have been duly authorized,  and, when
                  issued  and  delivered  to  the  Underwriter  against  payment
                  therefor as provided by this Agreement, will

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

                  have  been   validly   issued  and  will  be  fully  paid  and
                  non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares is not subject
                  to any preemptive or similar rights;

                           (vi) the Company has no outstanding  Preferred Shares
                  of Beneficial Interest;

                          (vii) to the best of such counsel's  knowledge,  there
                  are no outstanding subscriptions,  rights, warrants,  options,
                  calls,  convertible  securities,  commitments of sale or liens
                  related to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise to
                  acquire any Common Shares of, or other ownership  interest in,
                  the Company except as otherwise  disclosed in the Registration
                  Statement;

                         (viii) the authorized shares of beneficial  interest of
                  the Company,  including the Common Shares, conform as to legal
                  matters in all material  respects to the  description  thereof
                  contained in the Prospectus;

                           (ix)  the   statements   under   the   captions   (i)
                  "Underwriting"   in  the   Prospectus   Supplement   and  (ii)
                  "Limitation of Liability; Shareholder Liability," "Redemption;
                  Trustees;    Business    Combinations    and   Control   Share
                  Acquisitions"  in  the  Prospectus,  as of  the  date  of  the
                  Prospectus;  "Certain  Relationships and Related Transactions"
                  in the Company's Proxy Statement  relating to the May 19, 1998
                  Annual Meeting of Shareholders  (incorporated  by reference in
                  the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  December  31,  1997 (the  "Form  10-K")); and "Items 1. and 2.
                  Business  and  Properties,"  "Item 5. Market For  Registrant's
                  Common  Equity  and  Related  Stockholder  Matters,"  "Item 7.
                  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
                  and Financial Condition  Overview,"  "--Recent  Developments,"
                  and "--Liquidity  and Capital  Resources" in the Form 10-K, in
                  each case as of the date of filing of such  document,  insofar
                  as such  statements  constitute  a summary  of legal  matters,
                  documents or proceedings  referred to therein,  fairly present
                  the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
                  documents and proceedings;

                           (x) the statements  under the captions  "Items 1. and
                  2.     Business     and     Properties--Taxation     of    the
                  Company--Generally,"   "--Taxation   of  U.S.   Shareholders,"
                  "--Taxation   of  Certain   Tax-Exempt   U.S.   Shareholders,"
                  "--Taxation of Non-U.S.  Shareholders,"  "--Backup Withholding
                  and   Information   Reporting   Requirements,"   "--Other  Tax
                  Considerations" and "--ERISA Plans, Keogh Plans and Individual
                  Retirement  Accounts"  in  the  Form  10-K,  insofar  as  such
                  statements  constitute a summary of legal matters or documents
                  referred to therein, fairly present the information called for
                  with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings;

                           (xi) the Registration  Statement has become effective
                  under the Act, the

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                  Prospectus was filed with the Commission  pursuant to Rule 424
                  within the applicable time period  prescribed by Rule 424 and,
                  to the  best  of  such  counsel's  knowledge,  no  stop  order
                  suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
                  been issued and no  proceedings  for that  purpose are, to the
                  knowledge of such counsel,  pending before or  contemplated by
                  the Commission;

                          (xii) the Company and each of its  subsidiaries is not
                  in violation of its  Declaration  of Trust or  Certificate  of
                  Incorporation,  as  applicable,  or its  Bylaws  and,  to such
                  counsel's knowledge,  the Company and each of its subsidiaries
                  is  not  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 material to the conduct of
                  the business of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a
                  whole,  to which the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is a
                  party or by which any of them or their respective  property is
                  bound;

                         (xiii)  this   Agreement  has  been  duly   authorized,
                  executed  and  delivered  by the  Company  and is a valid  and
                  binding  agreement of the Company,  enforceable  against it in
                  accordance  with its terms,  except as  enforceability  of any
                  indemnification or contribution  provisions  contained therein
                  may be  limited  under  federal  or state  securities  laws or
                  public policy;

                          (xiv)  each  Transaction   Document  executed  by  the
                  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  as of the  date  of such
                  opinion has been duly  authorized,  executed and  delivered by
                  it;

                           (xv) no consent, approval, authorization or order of,
                  or   qualification    with,   any   United   States   federal,
                  Massachusetts,  Delaware  or  Maryland  governmental  body  or
                  agency  (other  than any  Massachusetts,  Delaware or Maryland
                  body or agency dealing with securities  laws, as to which such
                  counsel  need not  express an  opinion)  is  required  for the
                  execution,  delivery or  performance  by the Company or any of
                  its subsidiaries of any Transaction  Document to which it is a
                  party or the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
                  thereby;

                          (xvi) to the best of such counsel's  knowledge,  there
                  are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
                  to which the Company or any of its  subsidiaries is a party or
                  to which any of the Hotels is subject  that are required to be
                  described in the Registration  Statement or the Prospectus and
                  are not so described, nor any statutes, regulations, contracts
                  or other  documents  that are  required to be described in the
                  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  or to be filed as
                  exhibits to the Registration  Statement that are not described
                  or filed as required;

                         (xvii) to such counsel's knowledge,  the Company or its
                  subsidiaries,  as  owners  of the  Current  Hotels,  have  all
                  Approvals as may be necessary to own the

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

                  Current Hotels in the manner  described in or  contemplated by
                  the  Prospectus,  except for any such Approvals the absence of
                  which would not,  singly or in the aggregate,  have a material
                  adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
                  whole;

                        (xviii) 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, as amended;

                           (xix) such  counsel  confirms as of the Closing  Date
                  its  opinions  filed  as  Exhibit  5.1  to  the   Registration
                  Statement and Exhibit 8.1 to the Form 10-K; and

                           (xx) (1) each document, if any, filed pursuant to the
                  Exchange Act and  incorporated  by reference in the Prospectus
                  (except  for  financial  statements  and other  financial  and
                  statistical  data and schedules as to which no opinion need be
                  expressed)  complied as to form in all material  respects with
                  the  Exchange Act when so filed with the  Commission,  (2) the
                  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus and any supplement
                  or amendment  thereto  (except for  financial  statements  and
                  other financial and statistical data and schedules as to which
                  no  opinion  need  be  expressed)  comply  as to  form  in all
                  material  respects with the Act, and (3) no facts have come to
                  such  counsel's  attention  that  would  lead such  counsel to
                  believe (i) that (except for  financial  statements  and other
                  financial and  statistical  data and schedules,  as aforesaid)
                  the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein
                  (x) at the time the  Registration  Statement  became effective
                  and (y) on the date hereof, respectively, contained any 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 (ii) that the Prospectus,
                  as  amended  or  supplemented,   if  applicable   (except  for
                  financial  statements and other financial and statistical data
                  and schedules, as aforesaid) at the time it was first provided
                  to the  Underwriter for use in connection with the offering of
                  the Shares and as of the Closing  Date  contained  or contains
                  any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
                  state  a  material  fact   necessary  in  order  to  make  the
                  statements  therein,  in the light of the circumstances  under
                  which they were made, not misleading.

         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 Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto and documents  incorporated therein by
reference,  and review and discussion of the contents  thereof,  but are without
independent check or verification except as specified.

         In rendering  their opinion,  such counsel may rely on an opinion dated
the  Closing  Date of  Ballard  Spahr  Andrews &  Ingersoll,  LLP as to  matters
governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.  In addition,  in rendering their
opinion,  such  counsel may state that their  opinion as to laws of the State of
Delaware is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

         The opinions of Sullivan & Worcester  LLP and Ballard  Spahr  Andrews &
Ingersoll, LLP, described in paragraph (d) above shall be rendered to you at the
request of the Company and shall so state therein.

                           (e) You shall have  received on the  Closing  Date an
                  opinion,  dated the  Closing  Date,  of  Chapman  and  Cutler,
                  counsel for the Underwriter,  as to the matters referred to in
                  clauses  (v),  (ix) (but only with  respect to the  statements
                  under   the   caption   "Underwriting"   in   the   Prospectus
                  Supplement),   (xiii)  (but  only  as  to  due  authorization,
                  execution  and  delivery)  and  clause  (xx) of the  foregoing
                  paragraph (d) (but only with respect to clauses (2), (3)(i)(y)
                  and (3)(ii) thereof).

         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 Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto (other than the documents incorporated
therein  by  reference)  and  review  and  discussion  of the  contents  thereof
(including the documents  incorporated  therein by  reference),  but are without
independent check or verification except as specified.

         In rendering  their opinion,  such counsel may rely on an opinion dated
the  Closing  Date of  Ballard  Spahr  Andrews &  Ingersoll,  LLP as to  matters
governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

                           (f) You shall have  received a letter dated on and as
                  of the Closing  Date, in form and  substance  satisfactory  to
                  you, from Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants,
                  with  respect  to certain  financial  statements  and  certain
                  financial   information   contained  in  or   incorporated  by
                  reference into the Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,
                  in  substantially   the  form  and  substance  of  the  letter
                  delivered  to you by Arthur  Andersen  LLP on the date of this
                  Agreement.

                           (g) The Shares shall have been duly  listed,  subject
                  to notice of issuance, on the NYSE.

                           (h) The Company  shall not have failed at or prior to
                  the  Closing  Date  to  perform  or  comply  with  any  of the
                  agreements  herein  contained  and required to be performed or
                  complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date.

         The obligation of the  Underwriter to purchase any Shares  hereunder is
subject to the delivery

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
to the  Underwriter on the Closing Date of such documents as the Underwriter may
reasonably  request with respect to the good  standing and  qualification  to do
business in applicable  jurisdictions of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  the
due  authorization  and issuance of the Shares and other matters  related to the
issuance of the Shares.

            9. Effective Date of Agreement and Termination. This Agreement shall
become effective upon the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto.

         This  Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date
by the  Underwriter by written notice to the Company if any of the following has
occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  any  material  adverse  change or
development  involving a prospective  material  adverse change in the condition,
financial or  otherwise,  of the Company or the earnings,  affairs,  or business
prospects  of the  Company,  whether or not  arising in the  ordinary  course of
business, which would, in the judgment of the Underwriter, make it 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 the units of the
Trust,  (ii) any outbreak or  escalation  of  hostilities  or other  national or
international  calamity  or crisis or change in  economic  conditions  or in the
financial markets of the United States or elsewhere that, in the judgment of the
Underwriter,  is  material  and  adverse and would,  in your  judgment,  make it
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 the
units of the Trust,  (iii) the  suspension or material  limitation of trading in
securities or other  instruments on the NYSE, the American Stock  Exchange,  The
Chicago Board of Options Exchange,  the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago
Board of Trade or the  Nasdaq  National  Market  or  limitation  on  prices  for
securities  on any  such  exchange  or the  Nasdaq  National  Market,  (iv)  the
suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the
over-the-counter  market,  (v)  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 the opinion of the Underwriter
materially and adversely  affects,  or will materially and adversely affect, the
business  or  operations  of the  Company,  (vi) the  declaration  of a  banking
moratorium by either  federal or New York State  authorities or (vii) the taking
of any action by any federal,  state or local government or agency in respect of
its monetary or fiscal  affairs  which in the opinion of the  Underwriter  has a
material adverse effect on the financial markets in the United States.

         10.  Miscellaneous.  Notices  given  pursuant to any  provision of this
Agreement shall be addressed as follows:  (a) if to the Company,  to Hospitality
Properties Trust, 400 Centre Street,  Newton,  Massachusetts  02158,  Attention:
President,  facsimile number: (617) 969-5730, and (b) if to the Underwriter,  to
you at A.G.  Edwards  & Sons,  Inc.,  One North  Jefferson  Avenue,  St.  Louis,
Missouri 63103, Attention: Syndicate, facsimile number (314) 289-7387, or in any
case to such other  address as the person to be notified  may have  requested in
writing.

         The parties hereto agree,  for purposes of Section 6(b),  Section 7 and
any other provision of this Agreement, that the only information relating to the
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter expressly for
use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

prospectus,  the  Prospectus  or any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto  is the
information  furnished by the Underwriter  included in the  Prospectus,  (i) the
second paragraph on the cover page of the Prospectus,  (ii) in the legend at the
top of page S-2 of the  Prospectus and (iii) the  "Underwriting"  section in the
Prospectus.

         The respective indemnities,  contribution agreements,  representations,
warranties and other statements of the Company, its officers and trustees and of
the  Underwriter  set forth in or made pursuant to this  Agreement  shall remain
operative and in full force and effect, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Shares,  regardless  of (i) any  investigation,  or  statement as to the
results  thereof,  made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or by or on behalf of
the Company, or its officers or trustees, (ii) acceptance of the Shares
and payment for them hereunder and (iii) termination of this Agreement.

         If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriter because of any
failure  or refusal  on the part of the  Company to comply  with the terms or to
fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse
the  Underwriter  for  all  out-of-pocket   expenses  (including  the  fees  and
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by it.

         Except  as  otherwise  provided,  this  Agreement  has been and is made
solely  for  the  benefit  of  and  shall  be  binding  upon  the  Company,  the
Underwriter,  any controlling  persons  referred to herein and their  respective
successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and
no other  person  shall  acquire  or have any  right  under or by virtue of this
Agreement.  The term  "successors  and assigns" shall not include a purchaser of
any of the Shares from the Underwriter merely because of such purchase.

         This Agreement  shall be governed and construed in accordance  with the
laws of the State of New York.


                                      -24-
<PAGE>
         This  Agreement may be signed in various  counterparts  which  together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         Please  confirm that the foregoing  correctly  sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the Underwriter.
                                                 Very truly yours,
                                                 HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES TRUST
                                                 By /s/ Thomas M. O'Brien
                                                 Name: Thomas M. O'Brien
                                                 Title:  Treasurer
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
By: /s/ Richard H. Giles
Name:  Richard H. Giles
Title:  Managing Director





                                      -25-



                                                                  EXHIBIT 23

                         Consent of Independent Auditors


         We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption  "Experts" in
the Prospectus Supplement to the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-43573)
of Hospitality  Properties Trust for the registration of 1,361,059 shares of its
common  shares of  beneficial  interest  and to the  incorporation  by reference
therein of our report  dated  February  3, 1998,  with  respect to the  combined
financial  statements  of  SC  Suites  Summerfield   Partnerships   included  in
Hospitality  Properties Trust's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 15, 1998,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Wichita, Kansas
April 15, 1998                                   /s/ Ernst & Young LLP




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