EOP Operating Limited Partnership Commences Cash Tender Offers and Related Consent Solicitations for $8.4 Billion of its Outstanding Debt Securities.CHICAGO -- Equity Office Properties Trust Equity Office Properties Trust, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is the largest owner of office buildings in the United States. It was formed in 1976 by Samuel Zell [1] and in February 2007, was acquired by the Blackstone Group for $23 billion plus the assumption of (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :EOP EOP Educational Opportunity Program (California State University) EOP Executive Office of the President EOP Equity Office Properties Trust (ticker) EOP Emergency Operations Plan EOP Earth Orientation Parameters ) announced today that its subsidiary, EOP Operating Limited Partnership, has commenced cash tender offers in respect of an aggregate of approximately $8.4 billion of its outstanding unsecured debt Unsecured debt Debt that does not identify specific assets that the debtholder is entitled to in case of default. securities, which we refer to as the "Notes." The Notes comprise the fixed rate notes and debentures that are identified in the table below (the "Fixed Rate Notes"), the Floating Rate Notes due 2010, the Floating Rate Notes due 2014 and the Internotes identified in the Offer to Purchase referred to below, in each case issued by EOP Operating Limited Partnership. The tender offer for each series of Notes is being conducted concurrently with a related consent solicitation Consent Solicitation A solicitation by one party to the stakeholders of a particular security for the consent of a material change. Notes: Should the majority of stakeholders provide valid consent prior to the consent expiry date, the issuer may then follow through with to amend the terms of such Notes and the applicable indentures pursuant to which they were issued. The tender offers and consent solicitations are being conducted in connection with the previously announced agreement of Equity Office Properties Trust ("Equity Office") and EOP Operating Limited Partnership to be merged with affiliates of The Blackstone Group Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX) is a prominent private equity and investment management firm founded in 1985 by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman. The company is based in New York City, in River House on Park Avenue at Fifty-first Street, with offices in Atlanta, . The completion of the tender offers and consent solicitations is not a condition to completion of such mergers. The offer for each issue of Notes will expire at 8:00 a.m., New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. time, on February 8, 2007, unless extended or earlier terminated by EOP Operating Limited Partnership (the "Offer Expiration Date Expiration Date The day on which an options or futures contract is no longer valid and, therefore, ceases to exist. Notes: The expiration date for all listed stock options in the U.S. "). Holders who wish to receive the total consideration referred to below must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 9, 2007, unless extended or earlier terminated (the "Consent Payment Deadline"). Holders tendering their Notes will be required to consent to proposed amendments to the Notes and to the indentures governing the Notes, which would eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants Restrictive covenants Provisions that place constraints on the operations of borrowers, such as restrictions on working capital, fixed assets, future borrowing, and payment of dividends. contained in the indentures and the Notes, eliminate certain events of default, modify covenants regarding mergers and consolidations, and modify or eliminate certain other provisions, including certain provisions relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc defeasance defeasance n. an antiquated word for a document which terminates the effect of an existing writing such as a deed, bond, or contract if some event occurs. DEFEASANCE, contracts, conveyancing. , contained in the indentures and the Notes. Holders may not tender their Notes without also delivering consents and may not deliver consents without also tendering their Notes. The total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Fixed Rate Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer therefor there·for adv. For that: ordering goods and enclosing payment therefor. Adv. 1. therefor is the price (calculated as described in the Offer to Purchase referred to below) equal to (i) the sum of (a) the present value, determined in accordance with standard market practice, on the payment date for purchased Fixed Rate Notes of $1,000 principal amount payable on the applicable maturity date for the Fixed Rate Notes plus (b) the present value of the interest that would be payable on, or accrue To increase; to augment; to come to by way of increase; to be added as an increase, profit, or damage. Acquired; falling due; made or executed; matured; occurred; received; vested; was created; was incurred. from, the last interest payment date prior to such payment date until the applicable maturity date for the Fixed Rate Notes, in each case determined on the basis of a yield to such maturity date equal to the sum of (A) the yield to maturity on the applicable U.S. Treasury U.S. Treasury Created in 1798, the United States Department of the Treasury is the government (Cabinet) department responsible for issuing all Treasury bonds, notes and bills. Some of the government branches operating under the U.S. Treasury umbrella include the IRS, U.S. Security specified in the table below, as calculated by Goldman, Sachs & Co. in accordance with standard market practice, based on the bid-side price of such reference security as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the tenth business day immediately preceding the originally scheduled Offer Expiration Date, as displayed on the page of the Bloomberg Government Pricing Monitor specified in the table below plus (B) the Applicable Spread (as shown in the table below), minus (ii) accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the payment date. The total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes due 2010 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer for such Notes is $1,040 and the total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Floating Rate Notes due 2014 validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the tender offer for such Notes is $1,083. The total consideration for each $1,000 principal amount of Internotes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to each tender offer for such Notes is $1,000. The total consideration described above includes a consent payment of $50.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Fixed Rate Notes, Floating Rate Notes due 2010 and Floating Rate Notes due 2014, and $10.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Internotes, payable in respect of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and as to which consents to the proposed amendments are delivered on or prior to the Consent Payment Deadline, subject to the terms and conditions of the tender offers and consent solicitations. Holders of the Notes must validly tender and not validly withdraw Notes on or prior to the Consent Payment Deadline in order to be eligible to receive the applicable total consideration (which includes the applicable consent payment described in the foregoing sentence) for such Notes purchased in the tender offers. Holders who validly tender their Notes after the Consent Payment Deadline and on or prior to the Offer Expiration Date will be eligible to receive the tender offer consideration which is an amount, paid in cash, equal to the applicable total consideration less the applicable consent payment. In each case, holders whose Notes are accepted for payment in the tender offers will receive accrued and unpaid interest in respect of such purchased Notes from the last interest payment date to, but not including, the payment date for Notes purchased in the tender offers. The following table summarizes the material terms of the tender offers for the Fixed Rate Notes: [TABLE OMITTED] Each tender offer and consent solicitation is being made independently of the other tender offers and consent solicitations and EOP Operating Limited Partnership reserves the right to terminate, withdraw or amend each tender offer and consent solicitation independently of the other tender offers and consent solicitations at any time from time to time. Concurrently with the tender offers and consent solicitations, EOP Operating Limited Partnership is separately soliciting consents of holders of its 4.00% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 to proposed amendments to the indenture An agreement declaring the benefits and obligations of two or more parties, often applicable in the context of Bankruptcy and bond trading. The term indenture primarily describes secured contracts and has several applications in U.S. law. for the Exchangeable Notes (as it relates to such Exchangeable Notes), to the Exchangeable Notes themselves and to the registration rights agreement relating to the Exchangeable Notes. The consent solicitation relating to the Exchangeable Notes and the tender offers and consent solicitations for the Notes are not conditioned upon each other. The terms of the consent solicitation for the Exchangeable Notes are described in more detail in the press release issued by Equity Office today relating to such transaction. The tender offers and consent solicitations relating to the Notes are made upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated December 26, 2006 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related Consent and Letter of Transmittal Letter of Transmittal A document used by security holder to accompany certificates surrendered in an exchange or other corporate action. . The tender offers and consent solicitations are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including receipt of consents sufficient to approve the proposed amendments and the mergers of Equity Office and EOP Operating Limited Partnership with affiliates of The Blackstone Group pursuant to the previously announced merger agreement having occurred, or such mergers occurring substantially concurrent with the Offer Expiration Date. Further details about the terms and conditions of the tender offers and the consent solicitations are set forth in the Offer to Purchase. EOP Operating Limited Partnership has retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MER TYO: 8675 ), through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides capital markets services, investment banking and advisory services, wealth management, asset management, insurance, banking and related products and services on a global basis. , Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated to act as the lead Dealer Managers for the tender offers and Solicitation solicitation In criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. The term also refers to the act of obtaining bribes, as well as to the crime of a prostitute who offers sexual Agents for the consent solicitations, and they can be contacted at (877) 686-5059 (toll-free) ((212) 357-0775 (collect)) and (888) 654-8637 (toll-free) ((212) 449-4914 (collect)), respectively. Banc of America Securities LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Deutsche Bank AG (IPA: /'dɔɪ.tʃə/[1]) (ISIN: DE0005140008, NYSE: DB) (English: German Bank Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley A firm often has stockholders and bondholders. In a liquidation, the bondholders have first priority. bondholder An individual or institution that owns bonds in a corporation or other organization. Services Corporation, the Information Agent, which can be contacted at (212) 430-3774 (for banks and brokers only) or (866) 924-2200 (for all others toll-free). This release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The offer to buy the Notes is only being made pursuant to the tender offer and consent solicitation documents, including the Offer to Purchase that EOP Operating Limited Partnership is distributing to holders of Notes. The tender offers and consent solicitations are not being made to holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws blue sky laws n. laws intended to protect the public from purchasing stock in fraudulent companies that lack substance, such as those selling swamp land, non-existent gold strikes and dry oil wells, or who have no assets besides a post office box. require the tender offers and consent solicitations to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the tender offers and consent solicitations will be deemed to be made on behalf of EOP Operating Limited Partnership by the Dealer Managers, or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. About Equity Office Properties Trust Equity Office, operating through its various subsidiaries and affiliates, is the largest publicly traded owner and manager of office properties in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. by square footage. At September 30, 2006, Equity Office had a national office portfolio comprised of whole or partial interests in 585 office buildings located in 16 states and the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). . As of that date, Equity Office had an ownership presence in 24 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and in 100 submarkets, enabling it to provide a wide range of office solutions for local, regional and national customers. EOP Operating Limited Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership through which Equity Office conducts substantially all of its business. EOP Operating Limited Partnership owns, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, substantially all of the assets of Equity Office. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. based on current Equity Office management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all statements other than those made solely with respect to historical fact. Numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results, performance or transactions of Equity Office and its subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the failure to satisfy the conditions to completion of the proposed mergers with affiliates of The Blackstone Group, including the receipt of the required shareholder approval; (2) the failure to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received by Blackhawk Parent LLC (an affiliate of The Blackstone Group) in connection with the proposed mergers and the actual terms of such financings; (3) the failure of the proposed mergers to close for any other reason; (4) the occurrence of any effect, event, development or change that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (5) the outcome of the legal proceedings All actions that are authorized or sanctioned by law and instituted in a court or a tribunal for the acquisition of rights or the enforcement of remedies. that have been, or may be, instituted against Equity Office and others following the announcement of the proposed mergers; (6) the risks that the proposed transactions disrupt current plans and operations including potential difficulties in employee retention; (7) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the proposed mergers; and (8) the substantial indebtedness that will need to be incurred to finance consummation CONSUMMATION. The completion of a thing; as the consummation of marriage; (q.v.) the consummation of a contract, and the like. 2. A contract is said to be consummated, when everything to be done in relation to it, has been accomplished. of the proposed mergers and related transactions, including the tender offers and consent solicitations and other refinancings of Equity Office and its subsidiaries; and other risks that are set forth in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" sections of Equity Office's and EOP Operating Limited Partnership's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this press release are beyond Equity Office's ability to control or predict. Equity Office undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional Information About the Mergers and Where to Find It In connection with proposed merger transactions involving Equity Office and EOP Operating Limited Partnership and affiliates of The Blackstone Group, Equity Office filed a preliminary proxy statement Proxy Statement A document containing the information that a company is required by the SEC to provide to shareholders so they can make informed decisions about matters that will be brought up at an annual stockholder meeting. with the SEC on December 14, 2006. Equity Office will also file a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger transactions, and will furnish fur·nish tr.v. fur·nished, fur·nish·ing, fur·nish·es 1. To equip with what is needed, especially to provide furniture for. 2. the definitive proxy statement to Equity Office's shareholders. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT IS FINALIZED See finalization. AND DISTRIBUTED TO SHAREHOLDERS BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTIONS. Shareholders will be able to obtain the proxy statement and all other relevant documents filed by Equity Office with the SEC free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from Equity Office Properties Trust, Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. at Two North Riverside Plaza Riverside Plaza is a modernist and brutalist apartment complex designed by Ralph Rapson that opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1973. On the edge of downtown Minneapolis in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, and next to the University of Minnesota's West Bank, the site contains , Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, (800) 692-5304 or at www.equityoffice.com. The contents of the Equity Office website are not made part of this press release. Equity Office and its trustees and officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect to the proposed transactions. Information about the Company and its trustees and executive officers, and their ownership of the Company's securities, is set forth in the proxy statement relating to the proposed mergers described above. |
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