OFFER TO
PURCHASE FOR CASH 2,000,000
SHARES OF
CLASS B-3, 30,000 SHARES OF CLASS B-2, AND 60,000 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON
STOCK
OF
PIEDMONT OFFICE REALTY TRUST, INC. AT $14.50
PER SHARE
BY: MPF
SENIOR NOTE PROGRAM II, LP, MPF REIT FUND 1, LLC, LAPIS INVESTMENT BUSINESS
TRUST, COASTAL REALTY BUSINESS TRUST; AND MACKENZIE PATTERSON FULLER,
LP
(collectively
the “Purchasers”)
THE
OFFER, WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS, AND PRORATION PERIOD WILL EXPIRE AT 11:59 P.M.,
PACIFIC TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
The
Purchasers hereby seek to acquire up to 2,000,000 shares of Class B-3, 30,000
Shares of Class B-2, and 60,000 Shares of Class A common stock (the “Shares”) in
PIEDMONT OFFICE REALTY TRUST, INC. (the “Corporation”). The
Purchasers are not affiliated with the Corporation or its management. The
Purchasers hereby offer to purchase 2,000,000 B-3 Shares, 30,000 B-2 Shares, and
60,000 Class A Shares at a purchase
price equal to $14.50 per Share, less the amount of any dividends
declared or made with respect to the Shares between August 6, 2010 and September
24, 2010, or such other date to which this offer may be extended (the
“Expiration Date”), in cash, without interest, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this offer to purchase (the “Offer to Purchase”) and in
the related Assignment Form, as each may be supplemented or amended from time to
time (which together constitute the “Offer”). As noted above, the
Offer price would be subject to reduction for dividends made or declared prior
to the Expiration Date. Recently, the outstanding common stock was
reverse split and converted into four separate classes of shares – Class A,
Class B-1, Class B-2, and Class B-3. Each share was converted into
1/12 share of each class. On August 9, 2010, the Class B-1 Shares
will convert to Class A Shares. Any dividends made or declared after
the Expiration Date would, by the terms of the Offer and as set forth in the
Assignment Form, be assigned by tendering Shareholders to the
Purchasers.
Tender of
Shares will include the tender of any and all securities into which the Shares
may be converted and any securities distributed with respect to the Shares from
and after the Offer Date. The Corporation had 74,615, 74,607, and 73,607 holders
of record owning an aggregate of 39,679,332 Class B-3 and B-2 Shares and
51,679,332 Class A Shares, as of March 15, 2010, according to its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. However, on August
9, 2010, the 39,679,332 Shares of Class B-1 Shares will convert to Class A
Shares, which should increase the total outstanding Class A Shares to 91,358,664
outstanding Class A Shares. For the purposes of this Offer, when
referring to the Class A Shares, the Purchasers will assume the conversion has
taken place and the total number of outstanding Shares includes the converted
Class B-1 Shares. The number of holders of record is not anticipated
to change. The Purchasers and their affiliates currently beneficially own
approximately 128,095 Class B-3 Shares, or approximately 0.3% of the outstanding
Class B-3 Shares, 127,809 of the Class B-2 Shares, or approximately 0.3%,
129,180 of the Class B-1 Shares, or approximately 0.3%, and 72,855 of the Class
A Shares, or less than 0.1%. The 2,000,000 Shares of Class B-3
subject to the Offer constitute 5.04% of the outstanding Class B-3 Shares, and
the 30,000 Shares of Class B-2 and 60,000 Shares of Class A constitute less than
0.1% of the outstanding Shares of those classes. Consummation of the
Offer, if all Shares sought are tendered, would require payment by the
Purchasers of up to $29,000,000 in aggregate purchase price, which the
Purchasers intend to fund out of their current working capital, unrestricted
lines of credit, and binding capital commitments.
Holders
of Shares (“Shareholders”) are urged to consider the following
factors:
·
|
This
Offer offers a premium
of $0.50 per Share to the offer by an affiliate of Brent Donaldson and
Arnold Brown, has no
financing contingencies as does the other offer, and will close
almost a month earlier than that offer (meaning you should receive
your payment almost a month earlier, unless the Offer is
extended).
|
·
|
The
Offer will provide Shareholders with an opportunity to liquidate
their entire investment without the usual transaction costs
associated with market sales and without having to wait for their Shares
to convert to Class A shares. The
other Offer is only for Class B-3 Shares, but we are offering to purchase
all classes. Shareholders may have a more immediate need to use the
cash now tied up in an investment in the Shares and may wish to sell them
to the Purchasers.
|
·
|
The
Corporation’s Class A Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”), but not the Class B Shares. Thus, Shareholders can
sell their Class A Shares on the NYSE after they transfer their Class A
shares into their brokerage account. However, in order to sell
all of their holdings, shareholders will have to go through the transfer
process and wait
until next year before the Shares can be sold, unless they sell
outside the NYSE to a buyer such as the Purchasers. Shareholders
may wish to sell their Shares in order to obtain liquidity
now. Shareholders who tender their Shares will give up
the opportunity to participate in any future benefits from the ownership
of Shares, including potential future dividends by the Corporation from
property operations or dispositions or the potential to sell the Shares on
the NYSE once all the Shares are converted, and the purchase price per
Share payable to a tendering Shareholder by the Purchaser may be less than
the total amount which might otherwise be received by the Shareholder with
respect to the Share from the Corporation or from the sale of such Shares
on a national securities exchange.
|
·
|
Shareholders
may wish to eliminate
the uncertainty regarding the trading price of the
shares. There is no guarantee that once the Class B Shares
convert to Class A Shares that they will trade at or near the current
prices for Class A shares, which as of the date hereof are higher than the
Offer Price; they may trade higher or lower. Given the fact
that shareholders have not had the ability to get liquidity for their
Shares before the listing of the Class A Shares, there may be large
selling pressure, which could drive down the trading
price. Public REIT share prices may continue to be pressured if
the broader market conditions worsen and/or conditions within the real
estate environment deteriorate
further.
|
·
|
The
Purchasers are making the Offer for investment purposes and with the
intention of making a profit from the ownership of the
Shares. In establishing the purchase price for the Shares, the
Purchasers are motivated to establish the lowest price which might be
acceptable to Shareholders consistent with the Purchasers’
objectives. There is currently only a market for the Class A
Shares, which have traded between $14.37 and $21.01 per Share since they
were listed; the closing price of the Class A Shares as of August 3, 2010,
was $17.33 per Share. The Class B-2 and B-3 Shares do not have
an established market and will not trade in one until they convert to
Class A Shares in January 2011. Neither the Shareholders nor
the Purchasers has any accurate means for determining the actual present
value of the Shares. Although there can be no certainty as to the actual
present value of the Shares, the Corporation has estimated that it could
have an estimated net asset value of approximately $22.20 per
Share. (See Form S-11/A filed January 28,
2010.) There can be no assurance as to the timing or amount of
any future Corporation dividends, and there cannot be any assurance that
the Corporation’s estimate accurately reflects an approximate value of the
Shares or that the actual amounts that may be realized by holders for the
Shares may not vary substantially from this
estimate.
|
·
|
The
Depositary, MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, is an affiliate of certain of
the Purchasers. No independent party will hold securities
tendered until the offer closes and payment is made. Because
there is no independent intermediary to hold the Purchasers’ funds and
tendered securities, the Purchasers may have access to the securities
before all conditions to the Offer have been satisfied and selling
Shareholders have been paid; however, neither the Depositary nor the
Purchasers has any rights with respect to the Shares prior to the
Expiration Date and acceptance by the Purchasers for payment. Further, by
tendering your Shares, you are agreeing to arbitrate any disputes that may
arise between you and the Purchasers or the Depositary, to subject
yourself to personal jurisdiction in California, and that the prevailing
party in any such action will be entitled to recover attorney fees and
costs.
|
·
|
The
Offer allows Shareholders the option to sell 'All or None' of their
Shares, thereby allowing Shareholders the option to avoid proration if
more than 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Class B-3, B-2, or A Shares,
respectively, are tendered. See Section 2—Acceptance for Payment and
Payment for Shares; Proration and Section 4—Withdrawal Rights; Automatic
Withdrawal Option. The Purchasers may accept only a portion of the Shares
tendered by a Shareholder if a total of more than 2,000,000, 30,000, or
60,000 Shares, respectively, are tendered and the Shareholder does not
select the 'All or None' option.
|
THE OFFER
TO PURCHASE IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON ANY MINIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES BEING
TENDERED. IF MORE THAN 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, RESPECTIVELY,
SHARES ARE VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN, THE PURCHASERS WILL ACCEPT FOR
PURCHASE 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 SHARES, RESPECTIVELY, FROM
TENDERING SHAREHOLDERS (WHO DO NOT ELECT THE 'ALL OR NONE' OPTION) ON A PRO RATA
BASIS, SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS HEREIN. A SHAREHOLDER MAY
TENDER ANY OR ALL SHARES OWNED BY SUCH SHAREHOLDER.
The
Purchasers expressly reserve the right, in their sole discretion, at any time
and from time to time, (i) to extend the period of time during which the Offer
is open and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and the payment for, any
Shares, subject to the restriction below, (ii) upon the occurrence of any of the
conditions specified in Section 13 of this Offer to Purchase and prior to the
Expiration Date, to terminate the Offer and not accept for payment any Shares,
and (iii) to amend the Offer in any respect prior to the expiration
date. Notice of any such extension, termination, or amendment will
promptly be disseminated to Shareholders in a manner reasonably designed to
inform Shareholders of such change in compliance with Rule 14d-4(c) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). In the case of
an extension of the Offer, such extension will be followed by a press release or
public announcement which will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time,
on the next business day after the scheduled Expiration Date, in accordance with
Rule 14e-1(d) under the Exchange Act.
IMPORTANT
Any
Shareholder desiring to tender any or all of such Shareholder’s Shares should
complete and sign the Assignment Form (a copy of which is enclosed with this
Offer to Purchase) in accordance with the instructions in the Assignment Form
and mail, deliver or telecopy the Assignment Form and any other required
documents to MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP (the “Depositary”), an affiliate of
certain of the Purchasers, at the address or facsimile number set forth
below.
MacKenzie
Patterson Fuller, LP
1640
School Street, Moraga, California 94556
Telephone:
800-854-8357 Facsimile:
925-631-9119
E-Mail
Address: offers@mpfi.com
Questions
or requests for assistance or additional copies of this Offer to Purchase or the
Assignment Form may be directed to the Purchasers at 1-800-854-8357.
___________________________
NO PERSON
HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATION OR ANY REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF
OF THE PURCHASERS OR TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN AS CONTAINED HEREIN
OR IN THE ASSIGNMENT FORM. NO SUCH RECOMMENDATION, INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION
MAY BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED.
___________________________
The
Corporation is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act and in accordance therewith is required to file reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) relating
to its business, financial condition and other matters. Such reports
and other information are available on the Commission’s electronic data
gathering and retrieval (EDGAR) system, at its internet web site at
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html may be inspected at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street, NE,
Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also
be obtained from the Public Reference Room of the Commission in Washington, D.C.
at prescribed rates.
The
Purchasers have filed with the Commission a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule
TO (including exhibits) pursuant to Rule 14d-3 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, furnishing certain additional information
with respect to the Offer. Such statement and any amendments thereto,
including exhibits, may be inspected and copies may be obtained from the offices
of the Commission in the manner specified above.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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SUMMARY
TERM SHEET
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4
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INTRODUCTION
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6
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TENDER
OFFER
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8
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Section
1. Terms of the Offer
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8
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Section
2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares;
Proration.
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8
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Section
3. Procedures for Tendering Shares.
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9
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Section
4. Withdrawal Rights.
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10
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Section
5. Extension of Tender Period; Termination; Amendment.
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10
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Section
6. Material Federal Income Tax Consequences.
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11
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Section
7. Effects of the Offer.
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11
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Section
8. Future Plans.
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12
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Section
9. The Business of the Corporation.
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12
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Section
10. Conflicts of Interest.
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12
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Section
11. Certain Information Concerning the Purchasers.
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12
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Section
12. Source of Funds.
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13
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Section
13. Conditions of the Offer.
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13
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Section
14. Certain Legal Matters.
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14
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Section
15. Fees and Expenses.
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14
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Section
16. Miscellaneous.
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15
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SCHEDULE
I
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15
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SUMMARY
TERM SHEET
The
Purchasers are offering to purchase up to 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares of
Class B-3, B-2, or A, respectively, for $14.50 per Share, in cash. The following
are some of the questions that you, as a Shareholder of the Corporation, may
have and answers to those questions. The information in this summary is not
complete, and we urge you to carefully read the remainder of this Offer to
Purchase and the accompanying Assignment Form.
WHO IS
OFFERING TO BUY MY SECURITIES?
The offer
to purchase your Shares is being made jointly by: MPF Senior Note
Program II, LP, MPF REIT Fund 1, LLC, Lapis Investment Business Trust, Coastal
Realty Business Trust; and Mackenzie Patterson Fuller, LP. Each of
the Purchasers is a real estate investment fund. MacKenzie Patterson
Fuller, LP is the manager of MPF REIT Fund 1, LLC, the trustee of Coastal Realty
Business Trust, and a subsidiary is the general partner of MPF Senior Note
Program II, LP. Lapis Advisers, LP, an affiliate of MacKenzie
Patterson Fuller, LP, is the trustee of Lapis Investment Business
Trust. None of the Purchasers is affiliated with the Corporation or
its management.
WHAT ARE
THE CLASSES AND AMOUNTS OF SECURITIES SOUGHT IN THE OFFER?
We are
seeking to purchase up to 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares of Class B-3,
Class B-2, or Class A common stock, respectively. Current
Shareholders have 1/12th of a
Share of each Class for each share they held prior to the recapitalization,
unless they have sold or purchased some Shares since the
recapitalization.
HOW MUCH
ARE YOU OFFERING TO PAY AND WHAT IS THE FORM OF PAYMENT?
We are
offering
to pay $14.50 per Share, net to you in cash, less the amount of any
dividends declared or made with respect to the Shares between August 6, 2010,
and the date the Offer expires. The Offer price would be reduced by
the amount of dividends made or declared prior to the Expiration
Date. Any dividends made or declared after the Expiration Date would,
by the terms of the Offer and as set forth in the Assignment Form, be assigned
by tendering Shareholders to the Purchasers. If you hold your Shares
directly as the registered owner and you tender your Shares in the Offer, you
will not have to pay brokerage fees or similar expenses. If you own
your Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee, and the holder of your Shares tenders them on your behalf, your broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may charge you a fee for
doing so. You should consult the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company
or other nominee that holds your Shares to determine whether any charges will
apply.
DO YOU
HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO MAKE PAYMENT?
Yes,
our
Offer is not contingent upon obtaining any financing. If the
total amount of Shares sought is purchased, the Purchasers’ capital commitment
will be approximately $29,000,000. The Purchasers have in excess of
$100 million in total assets at their disposal to fund payment to selling
Shareholders. The Purchasers currently have sufficient funded
capital, unrestricted lines of credit, and/or binding capital commitments to
fund all of their commitments under this Offer.
IS THE
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE BIDDERS RELEVANT TO MY DECISION ON WHETHER TO TENDER
IN THE OFFER?
Because
this is a cash offer that is not conditioned on financing being available, and
the Purchasers have more than adequate resources and no intention to take
control of the Corporation, other information concerning the Purchasers’
financial condition would seem to have little relevance to your
decision.
HOW LONG
DO I HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TENDER IN THE OFFER?
You will
have at least until 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time, on September 24, 2010, to decide
whether to tender your Shares.
WILL ALL
OF THE SHARES I TENDER BE ACCEPTED BY THE PURCHASERS?
The
Purchasers desire to purchase up to 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares of each
Class B-3, B-2, and A, respectively. If the number of Shares validly
tendered and not properly withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration Date is less
than or equal to 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively, we will purchase
all Shares so tendered and not withdrawn, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Offer. However, if more than 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000,
respectively, Shares are so tendered and not withdrawn, we will accept for
payment and pay for 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively, Shares so
tendered, pro rata according to the number of Shares so tendered, adjusted by
rounding down to the nearest whole number of Shares tendered by each Shareholder
to avoid purchases of fractional Shares, as appropriate. However, you have the
option to sell ‘All or None’ of your Shares by checking the appropriate box on
the Assignment Form. If you check that box, we will only purchase
your Shares if we can purchase all of your Shares; otherwise, you will be deemed
to automatically withdraw your tender. See Section 2. Acceptance for Payment and
Payment for Shares; Proration and Section 4. Withdrawal
Rights.
CAN THE
OFFER BE EXTENDED AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES?
The Offer
can be extended in our discretion.
HOW WILL
I BE NOTIFIED IF THE OFFER IS EXTENDED?
If we
extend the offer, we will make a public announcement of the extension, not later
than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the day after the day on which the Offer was
scheduled to expire. You can check our website at www.mpfi.com (click
on MPF Tenders) to see if it has been extended, check for press releases under
“PDM” (with Yahoo or Google Finance, for example), or check the SEC’s EDGAR
database.
WHAT ARE
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER?
There are
no conditions to the offer based on a minimum number of Shares tendered, the
availability of financing, or the success of the offer. However, we
may not be obligated to purchase any Shares if certain conditions occur, such as
legal or government actions which would prohibit the
purchase. Furthermore, we are not obligated to purchase any Shares
which are validly tendered if, among other things, there is a material adverse
change in the Corporation’s business. Please see the discussion in
Section 13, Conditions of the Offer, for a description of all
conditions. Further, by tendering your Shares, you are agreeing to
arbitrate any disputes that may arise between you and the Purchasers, to subject
yourself to personal jurisdiction in California, and that the prevailing party
in any such action will be entitled to recover attorney fees and
costs.
WHEN WILL
YOU PAY ME FOR THE SHARES I TENDER?
Upon the
Expiration of the Offer and our acceptance of the Shares you tender, we will pay
you upon confirmation from the Corporation that the Shares have been
transferred. If your Shares are held by Depository Trust Company
through your broker, this would take place no later than September 29, 2010,
unless this Offer is extended. Otherwise, it can take several weeks
depending upon the Company’s transfer agent, which the Purchasers do not
control.
HOW DO I
TENDER MY SHARES?
To tender
your Shares, you must deliver a completed Assignment Form, to the Depositary at:
MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, 1640 School Street, Moraga, California 94556
(Telephone: 800-854-8357; Facsimile Transmission: 925-631-9119), no later than
the time the Offer expires.
UNTIL
WHAT TIME CAN I WITHDRAW PREVIOUSLY TENDERED SHARES?
You can
withdraw previously tendered Shares at any time until the Offer has expired and,
if we have not agreed to accept your Shares for payment by October 5, 2010, you
can withdraw them at any time after such time until we do accept your
Shares.
HOW DO I
WITHDRAW PREVIOUSLY TENDERED SHARES?
To
withdraw Shares, you must deliver a written notice of withdrawal, or a facsimile
of one, with the required information to the Depositary while you still have the
right to withdraw the Shares.
WHAT DOES
THE CORPORATION THINK OF THE OFFER?
The
Purchasers have not sought the approval or disapproval of the
Corporation. The Corporation may be expected to respond with the
Corporation’s position on the offer in the next two weeks.
WILL THE
CORPORATION CONTINUE AS A PUBLIC COMPANY?
Yes. The
Corporation reported approximately 74,000 holders of its outstanding Shares as
of the date of its most recent annual report. This offer cannot cause
the Corporation to fall below 300 Shareholders.
IF I
DECIDE NOT TO TENDER, HOW WILL THE OFFER AFFECT MY SHARES?
The
Purchasers do not anticipate that Shares held by non-tendering Shareholders will
be affected by the Offer.
WHAT ARE
THE PURCHASERS’ FUTURE INTENTIONS CONCERNING THE CORPORATION?
The
Purchasers have no present intention to seek control of the Corporation or to
change the management or operations of the Corporation. The
Purchasers do not have any present intention to take action in connection with
the liquidation of the Corporation or with any extraordinary transaction
concerning the Corporation or its assets. Although the Purchasers do
not have any present intention to take any action with respect to management or
control of the Corporation, the Purchasers reserve the right, at an appropriate
time, to exercise their rights as shareholders to vote on matters subject to a
shareholder vote.
WHAT IS
THE MARKET VALUE OF MY SHARES?
The Class
A Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Since they were listed
on February 10, 2010, the Class A Shares have traded between $14.37 and $21.01
per Share. The closing price of the Class A Shares as of August 3, 2010, was
$17.33 per Share. The Class B-3 Shares do not have an established
market and will not trade in one until they convert to Class A Shares on January
30, 2011 (see Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2009). The Purchasers’ review of independent secondary market
reporting publications such as The Stanger Report
and The Direct
Investments Spectrum (formerly The Partnership
Spectrum), reported sales of Shares on secondary markets at $15.00 per
Share during the Summer 2010 and sales of Shares on secondary markets at
$15.00-$15.50 per Share in May/June 2010, respectively. Certain of
the Purchasers and/or their affiliates purchased 21,426 Class A Shares, 35,520
Class B-1 Shares, 34,764 Class B-2 Shares, and 33,346 Class B-3 Shares pursuant
to a tender offer that expired June 15, 2010 for $17, $14, $13, $12 per Share,
respectively. The information published by these independent sources
is believed to be the product of their private market research and does not
constitute the comprehensive transaction reporting of a securities
exchange. Accordingly, the Purchaser does not know whether the
foregoing information is accurate or complete. Although there can be no
certainty as to the actual present value of the Shares, the Corporation has
estimated that the Corporation could have an estimated net asset value of
approximately $22.20 per Share. It should be noted that the Purchaser
has not made an independent appraisal of the Shares or the Corporation’s
properties, and is not qualified to appraise real
estate. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Corporation’s
estimate accurately reflects an approximate value of the Shares or that the
actual amounts that may be realized by Shareholders for the may not vary
substantially from this estimate.
TO WHOM
CAN I TALK IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER?
You can
call MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, toll-free, at 800-854-8357.
To
the Shareholders of PIEDMONT OFFICE REALTY TRUST, INC.:
INTRODUCTION
The Purchasers hereby offer to purchase
2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares of Class B-3, B-2, or A, respectively, for
$14.50 per Share (“Offer Price”), less the amount of any dividends declared or
paid with respect to the Shares between August 6, 2010, and the Expiration Date,
in cash, without interest, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Offer. The Purchasers are unaware of any dividends
declared or paid since August 6, 2010. Shareholders who tender their
Shares will not be obligated to pay any Corporation transfer fees, or any other
fees, expenses or commissions in connection with the tender of Shares, unless
such a fee or commission is charged by the tendering Shareholder’s broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee. The
Purchasers will pay all such costs and all charges and expenses of the
Depositary, an affiliate of certain of the Purchasers, as depositary in
connection with the Offer. For further information concerning the
Purchasers, see Section 11 below and Schedule I. None of the
Purchasers or the Depositary is affiliated with the Corporation or the
Corporation’s management. The address of the Corporation’s principal
executive offices is 11695 Johns Creek Parkway, Ste. 350, Johns Creek, Georgia
30097, and its phone number is (770) 418-8800.
Establishment of the Offer
Price
The Purchasers have set the Offer Price
$14.50 per Share, less the amount of any dividends declared or made with respect
to the Shares between August 6, 2010, and the Expiration Date. In
determining the Offer Price, the Purchasers analyzed a number of quantitative
and qualitative factors, including: (i) the lack of a secondary market for
resales of the Class B Shares, and the resulting lack of liquidity; (ii) the
estimated value of the Corporation’s real estate assets; and (iii) the costs to
the Purchasers associated with acquiring the Shares.
The Corporation has listed the Class A
Shares on the NYSE. Since they were listed on February 10, 2010, the
Class A Shares have traded between $14.37 and $21.01 per Share. The closing
price of the Class A Shares as of August 3, 2010, was $17.33 per
Share. The lack of any public market for the sale of Class B Shares
means that Shareholders have limited alternatives if they seek to sell their
Shares. As a result of such limited alternatives for Shareholders,
the Purchasers may not need to offer as high a price for the Shares as they
would otherwise. On the other hand, the Purchasers take a greater
risk in establishing a purchase price as there is no prevailing market price to
be used for reference and the Purchasers themselves will have limited liquidity
for the Shares upon consummation of the purchase for the Class B
Shares. For the Class A Shares, the Purchasers run the risk that the
market price may decline below the Offer Price. The Purchasers’ review of
independent secondary market reporting publications such as The Stanger Report
and The Direct
Investments Spectrum (formerly The Partnership
Spectrum), reported sales of Shares on secondary markets at $15.00 per
Share during the Summer 2010 and sales of Shares on secondary markets at
$15.00-$15.50 per Share in May/June 2010, respectively. The
information published by these independent sources is believed to be the product
of their private market research and does not constitute the comprehensive
transaction reporting of a securities exchange. Accordingly, the
Purchaser does not know whether the foregoing information is accurate or
complete. Certain of the Purchasers and/or their affiliates purchased 21,426
Class A Shares, 35,520 Class B-1 Shares, 34,764 Class B-2 Shares, and 33,346
Class B-3 Shares pursuant to a tender offer that expired June 15, 2010 for $17,
$14, $13, $12 per Share, respectively. Although there can be no
certainty as to the actual present value of the Shares, the Corporation has
estimated that the Corporation could have an estimated net asset value of
approximately $22.20 per Share. It should be noted that the Purchaser
has not made an independent appraisal of the Shares or the Corporation’s
properties, and is not qualified to appraise real
estate. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Corporation’s
estimate accurately reflects an approximate value of the Shares or that the
actual amounts that may be realized by Shareholders for the may not vary
substantially from this estimate.
The Purchasers are offering to purchase
Shares and are not offering to purchase the Corporation’s underlying assets. The
underlying asset value of the Corporation is only one factor used by the
Purchaser in arriving at the Offer Price. However, in the absence of
significant trading price information for the Class B Shares, the Corporation’s
estimate of the net asset value of the Corporation may be relevant to
Shareholders’ review of the Offer Price. The Corporation
estimated that the Shares are worth approximately $22.20 (the “Estimated Net
Asset Value”) (See the Form S-11/A filing from January 28, 2010). The
Corporation has within the past few years disclosed several material events,
including: (i) Shareholder approval of the acquisition of the Corporation’s
advisor companies; (ii) that the Corporation’s Class B Shares will not be listed
at the same time as the Class A Shares; and (iii) that the Corporation has
redeemed all the Shares it can in 2009 and 2010 under its share redemption
program. The Purchaser believes that these events has caused a
decrease in liquidity for the Shares. The Offer Price represents the
price at which the Purchaser is willing to purchase Shares. The
Purchaser arrived at the Offer Price by applying an approximate a liquidity
discount to the Estimated Net Asset Value of the Corporation’s
assets. The Purchaser used such discounts because such a discount
would meet the return targets based on the estimated time frame to potentially
reach the Estimated Net Asset Value but nevertheless result in a significant
number of shareholders choosing to sell. The Purchaser applies such a
discount with the intention of making a profit by holding on to the Shares until
the Corporation is liquidated or sold, or until they can be sold on the NYSE, at
a per-share price that is hopefully at close to the full Estimated Net Asset
Value. No independent person has been retained to evaluate or render
any opinion with respect to the fairness of the Offer Price and no
representation is made by the Purchasers or any affiliate of the Purchasers as
to such fairness. Other measures of the value of the Shares may be
relevant to Shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consider
carefully all of the information contained herein and consult with their own
advisers, tax, financial or otherwise, in evaluating the terms of the Offer
before deciding whether to tender Shares.
The Offer is not made with any current
view toward or plan or purpose of acquiring Shares in a series of successive and
periodic offers. Nevertheless, the Purchasers reserve the right to
gauge the response to this solicitation, and, if not successful in purchasing
2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares, respectively, pursuant to this Offer, may
consider future offers. Factors affecting the Purchasers’ future
interest in acquiring additional Shares include, but are not limited to, the
relative success of the current Offer, any increase or decrease in the
availability of capital for investment by the Purchasers and their investment
fund affiliates, the current diversification and performance of each affiliated
fund’s portfolio of real estate interests, actions by unrelated parties to
tender for or purchase Shares, the status of and changes and trends in the
Corporation’s operations, announcement of pending property sales and the
proposed terms of sales, and local and national real estate and financial market
developments and trends.
General Background
Information
Certain information contained in this
Offer to Purchase which relates to, or represents, statements made by the
Corporation or its management, has been derived from information provided in
reports filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Tendering Shareholders will not be obligated to pay transfer fees, brokerage
fees, or commissions on the sale of the Shares to the Purchasers pursuant to the
Offer. The Purchasers will pay all charges and expenses incurred in
connection with the Offer. Tendering Shareholders should contact
their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominees to
determine if a fee or commission will be charged by such nominee for tendering
on behalf of the Shareholder. The Purchasers desire to purchase up to
2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares, respectively. If the number of
Shares validly tendered and not properly withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration
Date is less than or equal to 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively, we
will purchase all Shares so tendered and not withdrawn, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer. However, if more than 2,000,000, 30,000,
or 60,000, respectively, Shares are so tendered and not withdrawn, we will
accept for payment and pay for 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively,
Shares so tendered, pro rata according to the number of Shares so tendered,
adjusted by rounding down to the nearest whole number of Shares tendered by each
Shareholder to avoid purchases of fractional Shares, as
appropriate. However, you have the option to sell ‘All or None’ of
your Shares by checking the appropriate box on the Assignment
Form. If you check that box, we will only purchase your Shares if we
can purchase all of your Shares; otherwise, you will be deemed to automatically
withdraw your tender. See Section 2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment for
Shares; Proration and Section 4. Withdrawal Rights. If, prior to the Expiration Date, the
Purchasers increase the consideration offered to Shareholders pursuant to the
Offer, such increased consideration will be paid with respect to all Shares that
are purchased pursuant to the Offer, whether or not such Shares were tendered
prior to such increase in consideration. Shareholders are urged to
read this Offer to Purchase and the accompanying Assignment Form carefully
before deciding whether to tender their Shares.
TENDER
OFFER
Section 1. Terms of the
Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Offer, the Purchasers will accept for payment and pay for Shares validly
tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date and not withdrawn in accordance with
Section 4 of this Offer to Purchase. The term “Expiration Date” shall
mean 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time, on September 24, 2010, unless and until the
Purchasers shall have extended the period of time for which the Offer is open,
in which event the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the latest time and date on
which the Offer, as so extended by the Purchasers, shall expire.
The Offer is conditioned on
satisfaction of certain conditions. See Section 13, which sets forth
in full the conditions of the Offer. The Purchasers reserve the right
(but shall not be obligated), in their sole discretion and for any reason, to
waive any or all of such conditions. If, by the Expiration Date, any
or all of such conditions have not been satisfied or waived, the Purchasers
reserve the right (but shall not be obligated) to (i) decline to purchase any of
the Shares tendered, terminate the Offer and return all tendered Shares to
tendering Shareholders, (ii) waive all the unsatisfied conditions and, subject
to complying with applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, purchase
all Shares validly tendered, (iii) extend the Offer and, subject to the right of
Shareholders to withdraw Shares until the Expiration Date, retain the Shares
that have been tendered during the period or periods for which the Offer is
extended or (iv) to amend the Offer. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
upon the expiration of the Offer, if all conditions are either satisfied or
waived, the Purchasers will promptly pay for all validly tendered Shares upon
the confirmation from the Corporation that the Shares have been transferred to
us, and the Purchasers do not intend to imply that the foregoing rights of the
Purchasers would permit the Purchasers to delay payment for validly tendered
Shares following expiration.
The Purchasers do not anticipate and
have no reason to believe that any condition or event will occur that would
prevent the Purchasers from purchasing tendered Shares as offered
herein. Further, by tendering your Shares,
you are agreeing to arbitrate any disputes that may arise between you and the
Purchasers or the Depositary, to subject yourself to personal jurisdiction in
California, and that the prevailing party in any such action will be entitled to
recover attorney fees and costs. However, by so doing, you are not
waiving any of your rights under the federal securities laws or any rule or
regulation thereunder.
Section 2. Acceptance for Payment and
Payment for Shares; Proration. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the
terms and conditions of any extension or amendment), the Purchasers will accept
for payment, and will pay for, Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn in
accordance with Section 4, promptly following the Expiration Date and upon
confirmation from the Corporation that the Shares have been transferred to
us. In all cases, payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer
will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of a properly completed
and duly executed Assignment Form (or facsimile thereof) and any other documents
required by the Assignment Form. Based upon the Purchasers’
experience, confirmation will generally occur immediately upon the close of the
Offer in the case of Shares held by Depository Trust Company and, otherwise, 14
days after the transfer agent’s receipt of the documentation described in the
instructions provided with the Assignment Form.
The Purchasers desire to purchase up to
2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares, respectively. If the number of
Shares validly tendered and not properly withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration
Date is less than or equal to 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively, we
will purchase all Shares so tendered and not withdrawn, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Offer. However, if more than 2,000,000, 30,000,
or 60,000, respectively, Shares are so tendered and not withdrawn, we will
accept for payment and pay for 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively,
Shares so tendered, pro rata according to the number of Shares so tendered,
adjusted by rounding down to the nearest whole number of Shares tendered by each
Shareholder to avoid purchases of fractional Shares, as
appropriate. Pro-ration will occur based upon the aggregate
number of Shares tendered in each Class, and such pro-ration may occur in some
Classes and not others.
In the event that proration is
required, because of the difficulty of immediately determining the precise
number of Shares to be accepted, the Purchasers will announce the final results
of proration as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business
days following the Expiration Date. The Purchasers will not pay for
any Shares tendered until after the final proration factor has been
determined. For purposes of the Offer, the Purchasers shall be deemed
to have accepted for payment (and thereby purchased) tendered Shares when, as
and if the Purchasers give oral or written notice to the Depositary of the
Purchasers’ acceptance for payment of such Shares pursuant to the
Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer,
payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will in all cases be made by
deposit of the Offer Price with the Depositary, which will act as agent for the
tendering Shareholders for the purpose of receiving payment from the Purchasers
and transmitting payment to tendering Shareholders.
Under no circumstances will interest
be paid on the Offer Price by reason of any delay in making such
payment. If any tendered Shares are not purchased for any
reason (other than due to proration as described above), the Assignment Form
with respect to such Shares not purchased will be of no force or
effect. If, for any reason whatsoever, acceptance for payment of, or
payment for, any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer is delayed or the
Purchasers are unable to accept for payment, purchase or pay for Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer, then, without prejudice to the Purchasers’ rights under
Section 13, the Depositary may, nevertheless, on behalf of the Purchasers,
retain tendered Shares and such Shares may not be withdrawn (but subject to
compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which requires that the
Purchasers pay the consideration offered or return the Shares deposited by or on
behalf of the Shareholder promptly after the termination or withdrawal of a
tender offer), except to the extent that the tendering Shareholders are entitled
to withdrawal rights as described in Section 4. If, prior to the
Expiration Date, the Purchasers shall increase the consideration offered to
Shareholders pursuant to the Offer, such increased consideration shall be paid
for all Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, whether or not such
Shares were tendered prior to such increase.
Section
3. Procedures for Tendering Shares.
Valid Tender. For
Shares to be validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, a properly completed and
duly executed Assignment Form (a copy of which is enclosed with this Offer to
Purchase) with any other documents required by the Assignment Form must be
received by the Depositary at its address set forth on the back cover of this
Offer to Purchase on or prior to the Expiration Date. A Shareholder
may tender any or all Shares owned by such Shareholder. In order for a tendering Shareholder
to participate in the Offer, Shares must be validly tendered and not withdrawn
prior to the Expiration Date, which is 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time, on September
24, 2010, or such date to which the Offer may be extended. The method
of delivery of the Assignment Form and all other required documents is at the
option and risk of the tendering Shareholder and delivery will be deemed made
only when actually received by the Depositary.
Backup Federal Income Tax
Withholding. To prevent the possible application of 31% backup
federal income tax withholding with respect to payment of the Offer Price for
Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, a tendering Shareholder must provide the
Depositary with such Shareholder’s correct taxpayer identification number and
make certain certifications that such Shareholder is not subject to backup
federal income tax withholding. Each tendering Shareholder must
insert in the Assignment Form the Shareholder’s taxpayer identification number
or social security number in the space provided on the front of the Assignment
Form. The Assignment Form also includes a substitute Form W-9, which
contains the certifications referred to above. (See the Instructions
to the Assignment Form.)
Other
Requirements. By executing an Assignment Form as set forth
above, a tendering Shareholder irrevocably appoints the designees of the
Purchasers as such Shareholder’s proxies, in the manner set forth in the
Assignment Form, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of
such Shareholder’s rights with respect to the Shares tendered by such
Shareholder and accepted for payment by the Purchasers. Such
appointment will be effective when, and only to the extent that, the Purchasers
accept such Shares for payment. Upon such acceptance for payment, all
prior proxies given by such Shareholder with respect to such Shares will,
without further action, be revoked, and no subsequent proxies may be given (and
if given will not be effective). The designees of the Purchasers
will, with respect to such Shares, be empowered to exercise all voting and other
rights of such Shareholder as they in their sole discretion may deem proper at
any meeting of Shareholders, by written consent or otherwise. In
addition, by executing an Assignment Form, a Shareholder also assigns to the
Purchasers all of the Shareholder’s rights to receive dividends from the
Corporation with respect to Shares which are accepted for payment and purchased
pursuant to the Offer, other than those dividends declared or paid during the
period commencing on the Offer Date and terminating on the Expiration
Date.
Determination of Validity; Rejection
of Shares; Waiver of Defects; No Obligation to Give Notice of
Defects. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility
(including time of receipt), and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares
pursuant to the procedures described above will be determined by the Purchasers,
in their sole discretion, which determination shall be final and
binding. The Purchasers reserve the absolute right to reject any or
all tenders if not in proper form or if the acceptance of, or payment for, the
absolute right to reject any or all tenders if not in proper form or if the
acceptance of, or payment for, the Shares tendered may, in the opinion of the
Purchasers’ counsel, be unlawful. The Purchasers also reserve the right to waive
any defect or irregularity in any tender with respect to any particular Shares
of any particular Shareholder, and the Purchasers’ interpretation of the terms
and conditions of the Offer (including the Assignment Form and the Instructions
thereto) will be final and binding. Neither the Purchasers, the
Depositary, nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of
any defects or irregularities in the tender of any Shares or will incur any
liability for failure to give any such notification.
A tender of Shares pursuant to any of
the procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between the
tendering Shareholder and the Purchasers upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Offer, including the tendering Shareholder’s representation
and warranty that (i) such Shareholder owns the Shares being tendered within the
meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Exchange Act and (ii) the tender of such Share
complies with Rule 14e-4. Rule 14e-4 requires, in general, that a
tendering security holder actually be able to deliver the security subject to
the tender offer, and is of concern particularly to any Shareholders who have
granted options to sell or purchase the Shares, hold option rights to acquire
such securities, maintain “short” positions in the Shares (i.e., have borrowed
the Shares) or have loaned the Shares to a short seller. A Shareholder will be
deemed to tender Shares in compliance with Rule 14e-4 and the Offer if the
holder is the record owner of the Shares and the holder (i) delivers the Shares
pursuant to the terms of the Offer, (ii) causes such delivery to be made, (iii)
guarantees such delivery, (iv) causes a guaranty of such delivery, or (v) uses
any other method permitted in the Offer (such as facsimile delivery of the
Transmittal Letter).
Section 4. Withdrawal
Rights. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4, all
tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable, provided that Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the
Expiration Date and, unless theretofore accepted for payment as provided in this
Offer to Purchase, may also be withdrawn at any time on or after October 5,
2010.
For withdrawal to be effective a
written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received
by the Depositary at the address or the facsimile number set forth in the
attached Assignment Form. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify
the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn and must be
signed by the person(s) who signed the Assignment Form in the same manner as the
Assignment Form was signed. If purchase of, or payment for, Shares is
delayed for any reason or if the Purchasers are unable to purchase or pay for
Shares for any reason, then, without prejudice to the Purchasers’ rights under
the Offer, tendered Shares may be retained by the Depositary on behalf of the
Purchasers and may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering
Shareholders are entitled to withdrawal rights as set forth in this Section 4,
subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which provides that no person
who makes a tender offer shall fail to pay the consideration offered or return
the securities deposited by or on behalf of security holders promptly after the
termination or withdrawal of the tender offer. All questions as to
the form and validity (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will
be determined by the Purchasers, in their sole discretion, which determination
shall be final and binding. Neither the Purchasers, nor the
Depositary, nor any other person will be under any duty to give notification of
any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or will incur any
liability for failure to give any such notification. Any Shares
properly withdrawn will be deemed not to be validly tendered for purposes of the
Offer. Withdrawn Shares may be re-tendered, however, by following the
procedures described in Section 3 at any time prior to the Expiration
Date.
Automatic Withdrawal Option.
Shareholders may indicate, by checking a box on the Assignment Form (the ‘All or
None Box’), that they only wish to sell their Shares if they will be able to
sell all of their Shares, without any proration. If at any time during the day
of the Expiration Date more than 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares,
respectively, have been properly tendered, unless the Purchaser amends the Offer
to increase the number of Shares to be purchased, the Purchaser will deem all
Shares from Shareholders that checked the All or None Box to be withdrawn and
not validly tendered for purposes of the Offer. Neither the Purchaser nor any
other person will be under any duty to give any notice that such automatic
withdrawal will occur. Shareholders may change their election whether
or not to check the All or None Box at any time on or prior to the Expiration
Date by submitting a new Assignment Form with their preferred election, in the
manner described in Section 3 herein.
Section 5. Extension of Tender
Period; Termination; Amendment. The Purchasers expressly
reserve the right, in their sole discretion, at any time and from time to time,
(i) to extend the period of time during which the Offer is open and thereby
delay acceptance for payment of, and the payment for, any Shares by giving oral
or written notice of such extension to the Depositary, (ii) upon the occurrence
or failure to occur of any of the conditions specified in Section 13, to
terminate the Offer and not accept for payment any Shares by giving oral or
written notice of such termination to the Depositary, and (iii) to amend the
Offer in any respect (including, without limitation, by increasing or decreasing
the consideration offered or the number of Shares being sought in the Offer or
both or changing the type of consideration) by giving oral or written notice of
such amendment to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date. Any
extension, termination, or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable
by public announcement, the announcement in the case of an extension to be
issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day after the
previously scheduled Expiration Date, in accordance with the public announcement
requirement of Rule 14d-4(c) under the Exchange Act. Without limiting
the manner in which the Purchasers may choose to make any public announcement,
except as provided by applicable law (including Rule 14d-4(c) under the Exchange
Act), the Purchasers will have no obligation to publish, advertise, or otherwise
communicate any such public announcement, other than by issuing a press
release. The Purchasers may also be required by applicable law to
disseminate to Shareholders certain information concerning the extensions of the
Offer and any material changes in the terms of the Offer. The
Purchasers will not provide a subsequent offering period following the
Expiration Date.
If the Purchasers extend the Offer, or
if the Purchasers (whether before or after its acceptance for payment of Shares)
are delayed in their payment for Shares or are unable to pay for Shares pursuant
to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to the Purchasers’ rights
under the Offer, the Depositary may retain tendered Shares on behalf of the
Purchasers, and such Shares may be withdrawn to the extent tendering
Shareholders are entitled to withdrawal rights as described in Section 4
(generally, if notice of withdrawal is given to the Depositary prior to the
Expiration Date). However, the ability of the Purchasers to delay
payment for Shares that the Purchasers have accepted for payment is limited by
Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, which requires that the Purchasers pay the
consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or on behalf of
holders of securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer,
except that the Purchasers may delay payment until they receive confirmation
from the Corporation that the Shares have been transferred to us.
If the Purchasers make a material
change in the terms of the Offer or the information concerning the Offer or
waive a material condition of the Offer, the Purchasers will extend the Offer to
the extent required by Rules 14d-4(c), 14d-6(d) and 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act. The minimum period during which an offer must remain open
following a material change in the terms of the offer or information concerning
the offer, other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities
sought, will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the relative
materiality of the change in the terms or information. With respect
to a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought (other than
an increase of not more than 2% of the securities sought), however, a minimum
ten business day period is generally required to allow for adequate
dissemination to security holders and for investor response. As used
in this Offer to Purchase, “business day” means any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a federal holiday, and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m.
through midnight, Pacific Time. Any material change in the terms of
the Offer will be published, sent, or given to you in a manner reasonably
designed to inform you of such change; in most cases we will mail you
supplemental materials.
Section 6. Material Federal Income
Tax Consequences. THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH BELOW
DOES NOT PURPORT TO ADDRESS ALL ASPECTS OF TAXATION THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO A
PARTICULAR SHAREHOLDER. For example, this discussion does not
address the effect of any applicable foreign, state, local or other tax laws
other than federal income tax laws. Certain Shareholders (including
trusts, foreign persons, tax-exempt organizations or corporations subject to
special rules, such as life insurance companies or S corporations) may be
subject to special rules not discussed below. This discussion is
based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing
regulations, court decisions and Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) rulings and
other pronouncements. EACH SHAREHOLDER TENDERING SHARES
SHOULD CONSULT SUCH SHAREHOLDER’S OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH SHAREHOLDER OF ACCEPTING THE OFFER, INCLUDING THE
APPLICATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX AND FEDERAL, FOREIGN, STATE, LOCAL
AND OTHER TAX LAWS.
Gain or Loss. A
taxable Shareholder will recognize a gain or loss on the sale of such
Shareholder’s Shares in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount
realized by such Shareholder on the sale and (ii) such Shareholder’s tax basis
in the Shares sold. If the Shareholder reports a loss on the sale,
such loss generally could not be currently deducted by such Shareholder except
against such Shareholder’s capital gains from other investments. The
tax basis in the Shares of a Shareholder will depend upon individual
circumstances. Each Shareholder who plans to tender hereunder should
consult with the Shareholder’s own tax advisor as to the Shareholder’s tax basis
in the Shareholder’s Shares and the resulting tax consequences of a
sale. A tax-exempt Shareholder (other than an organization described
in Code Section 501(c)(7) (social club), 501(c)(9) (voluntary employee benefit
association), 501(c)(17) (supplementary unemployment benefit trust), or
501(c)(20) (qualified group legal services plan)) should not be required to
recognize unrelated trade or business income upon the sale of its Shares
pursuant to the Offer, assuming that such Shareholder does not hold its Shares
as a “dealer” and has not acquired such Shares with debt financed
proceeds.
Section
7. Effects of the Offer.
Limitations on
Resales. The Purchasers do not believe the provisions of the
Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation should restrict transfers of Shares
pursuant to the Offer.
Effect on Trading
Market. If a substantial number of Shares is purchased
pursuant to the Offer the result would be a reduction in the number of
Shareholders. Reducing the number of security holders in certain
kinds of equity securities might be expected to result in a reduction in the
liquidity and volume of activity in the trading market for the security.
However, because the Offer is for a limited number of Shares compared to the
total outstanding Shares, there is unlikely to be any significant effect on the
trading market. Therefore, the Purchasers do not believe a reduction
in the number of Shareholders will materially further restrict the Shareholders’
ability to find purchasers for their Shares through market transactions now or
in the future.
Voting Power of
Purchasers. The Purchaser is seeking a maximum of
approximately 5% of the Class B-3 Shares (and less than 0.1% of Class B-2 and
Class A) of the Corporation hereunder, so the Purchaser will not obtain a
controlling voting interest in matters subject to a shareholder vote (even
considering its current ownership). The Corporation holds annual meetings to
elect directors and conduct other business. Votes of Shareholders
might also be solicited for matters affecting the fundamental structure of the
Corporation. A Shareholder who tenders Shares to the Purchaser grants
a proxy to the Purchaser as of the date of acceptance of the tender, granting
the Purchaser the right to vote such Shares in its sole discretion as to any
matters for which the Corporation has established a record date prior to the
time such. Shares are transferred by the Corporation to the
Purchaser. The Purchaser reserves the right to exercise any and all
rights it might hold in the event that any vote is called by the Corporation, or
if, in the future, changes in circumstances would dictate that it or other
shareholders exercise their right to vote.
Section 8. Future
Plans. Following the completion of the Offer, the Purchasers,
or their affiliates, may acquire additional Shares. Any such
acquisitions may be made through private purchases, one or more future tender
offers or by any other means deemed advisable or appropriate. Any
such acquisitions may be at a consideration higher or lower than the
consideration to be paid for the Shares purchased pursuant to the
Offer. The Purchasers are seeking to purchase a total of 2,000,000,
30,000, or 60,000 Shares, respectively. If the Purchasers acquire
fewer than 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively, Shares pursuant to the
Offer, the Purchasers may seek to make further purchases on the open market at
prevailing prices, or solicit Shares pursuant to one or more future tender
offers at the same price, a higher price or, if the Corporation’s circumstances
change, at a lower price. Alternatively, the Purchasers may
discontinue any further purchases of Shares after termination of the Offer,
regardless of the number of Shares purchased. The Offer is not made
with any current view toward or plan or purpose of acquiring Shares in a series
of successive and periodic offers. Nevertheless, as noted above, the
Purchasers reserve the right to gauge the response to this solicitation, and, if
not successful in purchasing 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000, respectively, Shares
in this Offer, may consider future offers. Factors affecting the
Purchasers’ future interest in acquiring additional Shares include, but are not
limited to, the relative success of the current Offer, any increase or decrease
in the availability of capital for investment by the Purchasers and their
investment fund affiliates, the current diversification and performance of each
affiliated fund’s portfolio of real estate interests, or actions by unrelated
parties to tender for or purchase Shares, the status of and changes and trends
in the Corporation’s operations, announcement of pending property sales and the
proposed terms of sales, and local and national real estate and financial market
developments and trends.
The
Purchasers are acquiring the Shares pursuant to the Offer solely for investment
purposes. The Purchasers have no present intention to seek control of the
Corporation or to change the management or operations of the
Corporation. The Purchasers do not have any present intention to take
any action in connection with the liquidation of the Corporation. The
Purchasers nevertheless reserve the right, at an appropriate time, to exercise
their rights as shareholders to vote on matters subject to a shareholder
vote. Except as expressly set forth herein, the Purchasers have no
present intention to seek control of the Corporation, to cause the Corporation
to engage in any extraordinary transaction, to cause any purchase, sale or
transfer of a material amount of the assets of any Corporation, to make any
change in the dividend policies, indebtedness or capitalization of any
Corporation or to change the structure, management or operations of the
Corporation, the listing status of the Shares or the reporting requirements of
the Corporation.
Section 9. The Business of the
Corporation. For information about the Corporation, please
refer to the annual report prepared by the Corporation which was sent to you
earlier, particularly Item 2 of Form 10-K, the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
and any other materials sent to you by the Corporation. These
documents contain updated information concerning the Corporation, including
detailed information regarding the properties owned, including mortgages, rental
rates, operations, management, and taxes. In addition, the Corporation is
subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and
information about the Corporation can be obtained on the Commission’s EDGAR
system, at its internet web site at www.sec.gov, and are available for
inspection at the Commission’s principal office in Washington, D.C.
Section 10. Conflicts of
Interest. The Depositary is affiliated with certain
Purchasers. Therefore, by virtue of this affiliation, the Depositary may have
inherent conflicts of interest in acting as Depositary for the
Offer. The Depositary’s role is administrative only, however, and any
conflict of interest should not be deemed material to Shareholders.
Section 11. Certain Information
Concerning the Purchasers. The Purchasers are MPF Senior Note
Program II, LP, MPF REIT Fund 1, LLC, Lapis Investment Business Trust, Coastal
Realty Business Trust, and MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP. For
information concerning the Purchasers and their respective principals, please
refer to Schedule I attached hereto. The principal business of each of the
Purchasers is investment in securities, particularly real estate-based
securities. The principal business address of each of the Purchasers
is 1640 School Street, Moraga, California 94556. The Purchasers have made
binding commitments to contribute and have available sufficient amounts of
capital necessary to fund the acquisition of all Shares subject to the Offer,
the expenses to be incurred in connection with the Offer, and all other
anticipated costs of the Purchasers. The Purchasers are not public
companies and have not prepared audited financial statements or financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP and its affiliates have
been in the business of purchasing illiquid real estate securities, both in open
market transactions and by means of tender offers, since 1982 and have acquired
more than $170 million in such securities for affiliated portfolios during the
last ten years. The Purchasers have aggregate assets that are more
than sufficient to fund their collective obligation to purchase Shares in this
Offer and any other outstanding tender offers. The Purchasers or
their affiliates recently sold Class A Shares of the Corporation as
follows:
Sutter
Opportunity Fund 4, LLC sold 3,200 Class A Shares at an average price of $17.99
per Share on July 30, 2010 through E*Trade. SCM Special Fund 2, LP
sold 1,713 Class A Shares at an average price of $17.65 per Share on July 21,
2010 via E*Trade.
Except as otherwise set forth herein,
(i) neither the Purchasers nor, to the best knowledge of the Purchasers, the
persons listed on Schedule I nor any affiliate of the Purchasers beneficially
owns or has a right to acquire any Shares, (ii) neither the Purchasers nor, to
the best knowledge of the Purchasers, the persons listed on Schedule I nor any
affiliate of the Purchasers, or any director, executive officer or subsidiary of
any of the foregoing has effected any transaction in the Shares within the past
60 days, (iii) neither the Purchasers nor, to the best knowledge of the
Purchasers, the persons listed on Schedule I nor any affiliate of the Purchasers
has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other
person with respect to any securities of the Corporation, including but not
limited to, contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships concerning
the transfer or voting thereof, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements,
puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or the giving or
withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations, (iv) there have been no
transactions or business relationships which would be required to be disclosed
under the rules and regulations of the Commission between any of the Purchasers
or, to the best knowledge of the Purchasers, the persons listed on Schedule I,
or any affiliate of the Purchasers on the one hand, and the Corporation or its
affiliates, on the other hand, (v) there have been no contracts, negotiations or
transactions between the Purchasers, or to the best knowledge of the Purchasers
any affiliate of the Purchasers on the one hand, the persons listed on Schedule
I, and the Corporation or its affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a
merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of
securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material
amount of assets, (vi) no person listed on Schedule I has been convicted in a
criminal proceeding during the past five years (excluding traffic violations or
similar misdemeanors), and (vii) no person listed on Schedule I has been a party
to any judicial or administrative proceeding during the past five years (except
for matters dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a
judgment, decree, or final order enjoining the person from future violations of,
or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a
finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws.
The Purchasers reserve the right to
transfer or assign to one or more of the Purchasers’ affiliates, in whole or
from time to time in part, the right to purchase all or any portion of the
Shares tendered in the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not
relieve the Purchasers of their obligations under the Offer or prejudice the
rights of tendering stockholders to receive payment for Shares validly tendered
and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer.
Section 12. Source of
Funds. The Purchasers expect that approximately
$29,000,000 would be
required to purchase 2,000,000, 30,000, or 60,000 Shares, respectively, if
tendered, and an additional $100,000 may be required to pay related fees and
expenses. The Purchasers anticipate funding all of the purchase price
and related expenses through their existing capital, lines of credit, and
assets. The cash and liquid securities necessary to complete the
entire purchase are readily available and are committed to that
purpose. Accordingly, there are no financing arrangements to fall
through and no alternative financing plans.
Section 13. Conditions of the
Offer. Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer, the
Purchasers shall not be required to accept for payment or to pay for any Shares
tendered unless all authorizations or approvals of, or expirations of waiting
periods imposed by, any court, administrative agency or other governmental
authority necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Offer shall have been obtained or occurred on or before the Expiration
Date. As of the Offer Date, the Purchasers are unaware of any such
required authorizations, approvals, or waiting periods relating to this
Offer. The Purchasers shall not be required to accept for payment or
pay for any Shares and may terminate or amend the Offer as to such Shares if, at
any time on or after the date of the Offer and before the Expiration Date, any
of the following conditions exists:
(a) a preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order of any federal or state court, government or
governmental authority or agency shall have been issued and shall remain in
effect which (i) makes illegal, delays or otherwise directly or indirectly
restrains or prohibits the making of the Offer or the acceptance for payment of
or payment for any Shares by the Purchasers, (ii) imposes or confirms
limitations on the ability of the Purchasers effectively to exercise full rights
of ownership of any Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote any
Shares acquired by the Purchasers pursuant to the Offer or otherwise on all
matters properly presented to the Corporation’s Shareholders, (iii) requires
divestiture by the Purchasers of any Shares, (iv) causes any material diminution
of the benefits to be derived by the Purchasers as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the Offer (see the discussion of such benefits in the Summary
Term Sheet and Introduction sections of the Offer to Purchase) or (v) materially
adversely affect the business, properties, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, operations, results of operations or prospects of the Purchasers or
the Corporation, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchasers;
(b) there shall be any
action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation or order proposed, enacted,
enforced, promulgated, issued or deemed applicable to the Offer by any federal
or state court, government or governmental authority or agency, other than the
application of the waiting period provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, which will, directly or indirectly, result
in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph
(a) above;
(c) any change or
development shall have occurred or been threatened since the date hereof, in the
business, properties, assets, liabilities, financial condition, operations,
results of operations or prospects of the Corporation, which, in the reasonable
judgment of the Purchasers, is or will be materially adverse to the Corporation,
or the Purchasers shall have become aware of any fact that, in the reasonable
judgment of the Purchasers, does or will have a material adverse effect on the
value of the Shares;
(d) there shall have
occurred (i) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for,
securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market
in the United States, (ii) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any
suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States, (iii) any
limitation by any governmental authority on, or other event which might affect,
the extension of credit by lending institutions or result in any imposition of
currency controls in the United States, (iv) a commencement of a war or armed
hostilities or other national or international calamity directly or indirectly
involving the United States, (v) a material change in United States or other
currency exchange rates or a suspension of a limitation on the markets thereof,
or (vi) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the time of the
commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or worsening thereof;
or
(e) it shall have been
publicly disclosed or the Purchasers shall have otherwise learned that (i) more
than fifty percent of the outstanding Shares have been or are proposed to be
acquired by another person (including a “group” within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or (ii) any person or group that prior to such
date had filed a Statement with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(d) or (g)
of the Exchange Act has increased or proposes to increase the number of Shares
beneficially owned by such person or group as disclosed in such Statement by two
percent or more of the outstanding Shares.
The foregoing conditions are for the
sole benefit of the Purchasers and may be asserted by the Purchasers or may be
waived by the Purchasers in whole or in part at any time and from time to time
prior to the Expiration Date in their sole exercise of reasonable discretion,
and the Offer will remain open for a period of at least five business days
following any such waiver of a material condition. However, if we
waive a certain condition for one tendering Shareholder, we will waive that
condition for all Shareholders tendering Shares. Any determination by
the Purchasers concerning the events described above will be final and binding
upon all parties, subject, of course, to the parties’ ability to seek review of
any contested determination by an arbitrator pursuant to Section
16.
Section
14. Certain Legal Matters.
General. Except as
set forth in this Section 14, the Purchasers are not aware of any filings,
approvals or other actions by any domestic or foreign governmental or
administrative agency that would be required prior to the acquisition of Shares
by the Purchasers pursuant to the Offer. Should any such approval or
other action be required, it is the Purchasers’ present intention that such
additional approval or action would be sought. While there is no
present intent to delay the purchase of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer
pending receipt of any such additional approval or the taking of any such
action, there can be no assurance that any such additional approval or action,
if needed, would be obtained without substantial conditions or that adverse
consequences might not result to the Corporation’s business, or that certain
parts of the Corporation’s business might not have to be disposed of or held
separate or other substantial conditions complied with in order to obtain such
approval or action, any of which could cause the Purchasers to elect to
terminate the Offer without purchasing Shares thereunder. The
Purchasers’ obligation to purchase and pay for Shares is subject to certain
conditions, including conditions related to the legal matters discussed in this
Section 14.
Antitrust. The
Purchasers do not believe that the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended, is applicable to the acquisition of Shares pursuant to the
Offer.
Margin
Requirements. Regulations T, U and X (the “Margin
Regulations”) of the Federal Reserve Board restrict the extension or maintenance
of credit for the purpose of buying or carrying margin stock if the credit is
secured directly or indirectly by margin stock. We will ensure that
the financing of the acquisition of the Shares is in compliance with the Margin
Regulations.
State Takeover
Laws. A number of states have adopted anti-takeover laws which
purport, to varying degrees, to be applicable to attempts to acquire securities
of corporations which are incorporated in such states or which have substantial
assets, security holders, principal executive offices or principal places of
business therein. The Purchasers are not seeking a controlling block
of Shares or such a number of Shares as to fall within these state statutes and,
therefore, do not believe that any anti-takeover laws apply to the transactions
contemplated by the Offer. Although the Purchasers have not attempted
to comply with any state anti-takeover statutes in connection with the Offer,
the Purchasers reserve the right to challenge the validity or applicability of
any state law allegedly applicable to the Offer and nothing in this Offer or any
action taken in connection herewith is intended as a waiver of such
right. If any state anti-takeover statute is applicable to the Offer,
the Purchasers might be unable to accept for payment or purchase Shares tendered
pursuant to the Offer or be delayed in continuing or consummating the
Offer. In such case, the Purchasers may not be obligated to accept
for purchase or pay for any Shares tendered.
Section 15. Fees and
Expenses. The Purchasers have retained MacKenzie Patterson
Fuller, LP, an affiliate of certain Purchasers, to act as Depositary in
connection with the Offer. The Purchasers will pay the Depositary
reasonable and customary compensation for its services in connection with the
Offer, plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, and will indemnify the
Depositary against certain liabilities and expenses in connection therewith,
including liabilities under the federal securities laws. The
Purchasers will also pay all costs and expenses of printing, publication and
mailing of the Offer and all costs of transfer.
Section 16.
Miscellaneous. THE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO (NOR WILL
TENDERS BE ACCEPTED FROM OR ON BEHALF OF) SHAREHOLDERS IN ANY STATE IN WHICH THE
MAKING OF THE OFFER OR THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. THE PURCHASERS ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY
JURISDICTION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH THE MAKING OF THE OFFER OR THE
ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD BE ILLEGAL. No person has been authorized to
give any information or to make any representation on behalf of the Purchasers
not contained herein or in the Assignment Form and, if given or made, such
information or representation must not be relied upon as having been
authorized. Further, by tendering your Shares, you are agreeing to
arbitrate any disputes that may arise between you and the Purchasers or the
Depositary, to subject yourself to personal jurisdiction in California, and that
the prevailing party in any such action will be entitled to recover attorney
fees and costs.
SCHEDULE
I
THE
PURCHASERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE PRINCIPALS
The Purchasers are MPF Senior Note
Program II, LP, MPF REIT Fund 1, LLC, Lapis Investment Business Trust, Coastal
Realty Business Trust, and MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP. Each of
the entity Purchasers is organized as a limited liability company, limited
partnership, or Nevada business trust. MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP is the
manager, general partner, or trustee of MPF Senior Note Program II, LP, MPF REIT
Fund 1, LLC, and Coastal Realty Business Trust. Lapis Advisers, LP,
an affiliate of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, is the trustee of Lapis
Investment Business Trust. BC-GP, Inc. is the general partner
of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP. The names of the controlling
persons and executive officers of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP and Lapis
Advisers, LP are set forth below. The Purchasers have jointly made
the offer and are jointly and severally liable for satisfying its
terms. Other than the foregoing, the Purchasers’ relationship
consists of an informal agreement to share the costs associated with making the
offer and to allocate any resulting purchases of Shares among them in such
manner and proportions as they may determine in the future. Each of
the entities is organized in California except for the business trusts, which
are organized in Nevada.
MacKenzie Patterson Fuller,
LP
The names
of the controlling persons and executive officers of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller,
LP are set forth below. Each individual is a citizen of the United
States of America. The principal business address of MacKenzie
Patterson Fuller, LP, each Purchaser, and each individual is 1640 School Street,
Moraga, California 94556, and the business telephone number for each is
925-631-9100. The general partner is BC-GP, Inc., a California
corporation owned by the limited partners.
C.E. Patterson is
President and controlling person of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, which acts
as manager and general partner of a number of real estate investment vehicles,
and has served in those positions since January 1989. In 1981, Mr.
Patterson founded Patterson Financial Services, Inc. (now MPF Advisers, LP), a
registered investment adviser (“MPFA”), with Berniece A. Patterson, as a
financial planning firm, and he has served as its President since that
date. Mr. Patterson founded Patterson Real Estate Services, a
licensed California Real Estate Broker, in 1982. As President of
MPFA, Mr. Patterson is responsible for all investment counseling
activities. He supervises the analysis of investment opportunities
for the clients of the firm. Mr. Patterson previously served as
president of Host Funding, Inc., an owner of lodging properties, from December
1999 through 2003. Mr. Patterson is also an officer and controlling
shareholder of Cal-Kan, Inc., a closely held real estate investment
company. Mr. Patterson, through his affiliates, manages a number of
investment and real estate companies.
Berniece A. Patterson
is a controlling person of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP and has served in that
capacity since its formation in 1988. In 1981, Ms. Patterson and C.E.
Patterson established MPFA. She has served as controlling person and
Secretary of MPFA since that date. Her responsibilities with MPFA
include oversight of administrative matters and monitoring of past projects
underwritten by MPFA. Since October 1990, Ms. Patterson has been
responsible for the day-to-day operations of two nursing homes and over 200
employees.
Glen W. Fuller became
senior vice president and a controlling person of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP
in May 2000. Since 2004 he has been a controlling person and vice
president of MPFA, and is a senior vice president and controlling person of
Sutter Capital Management, LLC. Prior to becoming senior vice
president, from August 1998 to April 2000, he was with MacKenzie Patterson
Fuller, LP as a portfolio manager and research analyst. From December
1999 to 2003, Mr. Fuller served as an officer and director of Host Funding,
Inc. Prior to joining MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, from May 1996
to July 1998, Mr. Fuller ran the over-the-counter trading desk for North Coast
Securities Corp. (previously Morgan Fuller Capital Group) with responsibility
for both the proprietary and retail trading desks. Mr. Fuller was
also the registered options principal and registered municipal bond principal
for North Coast Securities, a registered broker dealer. Mr. Fuller
was formerly a NASD-registered options principal and registered bond principal,
and he held his NASD Series 7, general securities license (now
inactive). Mr. Fuller has also spent time working on the floor of the
New York Stock Exchange as a trading clerk and on the floor of the Pacific Stock
Exchange in San Francisco as an assistant specialist for LIT
America.
Chip Patterson is
senior vice president, general counsel, and a controlling person of the
MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, MPFA, and Sutter Capital Management,
LLC. Prior to joining MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP in July 2003, he
was a securities and corporate finance attorney with the national law firm of
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP from August 2000 to January 2003. From
August 1997 to May 2000 he attended the University of Michigan Law School, where
he graduated magna cum
laude with a Juris Doctor Degree. Prior to law school, Chip Patterson
taught physics, chemistry, and math at the high school level for three years,
from June 1994 to June 1997. He graduated with high distinction and Phi Beta Kappa from the
University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political
Science. He also has prior experience in sales, retail, and
banking.
Christine Simpson is
senior vice president of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP, MPFA, and Sutter
Capital Management, LLC, and is responsible for the day-to-day management of
research and securities purchases and sales on behalf of the entities managed by
MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP. Ms. Simpson has served in that
position since January 1997; from January 1994 until her promotion to vice
president, she was a research analyst with MacKenzie Patterson Fuller,
LP She joined MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, LP as an administrative
assistant in July 1990. Ms. Simpson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in
Management from Saint Mary’s College of California in May 2005, her Master of
Science in Financial Analysis and Investment Management from Saint Mary’s
College of California in October 2006, and her Master of Business Administration
degree from Saint Mary’s College of California in June 2008.
Robert E. Dixon is
senior vice president and a controlling person of MPFA and MacKenzie Patterson
Fuller, LP, is the president of Sutter Capital Management, LLC, and served as an
officer and director of Sutter Holding Company, Inc. from March 2002 to October
2006. Mr. Dixon received his Bachelor’s degree in economics from the
University of California at Los Angeles in 1992. He worked for Lehman
Brothers, Inc. in equity sales and trading during 1993 and 1994. From
October 1994 to June, 1996 he worked for MacKenzie Patterson, Inc. as a
securities research analyst. Mr. Dixon became a Chartered Financial
Analyst in 1996, and received his Master of Business Administration degree from
Cornell University in 1998. In July of 1998 he began buying and
selling securities for his own account and those of the entities he controlled,
and he was principally engaged in that activity until May 2005, when he rejoined
MPFA. Mr. Dixon was a registered representative of North Coast
Securities from 1994 through 1997.
Lapis Advisers,
LP
The
controlling person and executive officers of Lapis Advisers, LP is Kjerstin
Hatch, who is the manager of the general partner, Lapis-GP, LLC. Ms.
Hatch is a citizen of the United States of America. The principal
business address of Lapis Advisers, LP, Lapis-GP, LLC, Lapis Investment Business
Trust, and each individual is 1640 School Street, Moraga, California 94556, and
the business telephone number for each is 415-376-6280.
Kjerstin Hatch
received her Bachelor’s degree in the Political Economy of Industrial Societies
from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked for MacKenzie
Patterson, Inc. as a portfolio manager from 1995-1997. Ms. Hatch
worked for Madison Capital Management, LLC from 1998-2009 serving as a principal
and portfolio manager. In March, 2010 she began buying and selling
securities for her own account and those of the entities she controlled, and she
is principally engaged in that activity.