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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2006

Registration No. 333-



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

MARYLAND
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  6798
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  95-6881527
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, New York 10036
(212) 930-9400
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)


Jay Sugarman
Chief Executive Officer
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, New York 10036
(212) 930-9400
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:

Kathleen L. Werner, Esq.
Clifford Chance US LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
(212) 878-8000

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective and all other conditions to the exchange offer pursuant to the registration rights agreement described in the enclosed prospectus have been satisfied or waived.

        If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.    o

        If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Securities To Title Of
Each Class Of Be Registered

  Be Amount To Registered
  Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Note(1)
  Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)
  Amount Of Registration Fee(2)

5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013   $889,669,000   100%   $889,669,000   $95,195

Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009   $500,000,000   100%   $500,000,000   $53,500

(1)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2)
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(f)(2).

        The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the SEC, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.




The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not offer these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to completion, dated December 15, 2006

PROSPECTUS
OFFER TO EXCHANGE

5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013 which have been registered under the Securities Act for any and all outstanding 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013
and
Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 which have been registered under the Securities Act for any and all outstanding Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009

($889,669,000 and $500,000,000 principal amount outstanding at maturity, respectively)

GRAPHIC

The exchange offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on                    2006
(unless we extend the exchange offer).

        We are offering to exchange (i) our 5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013, referred to herein as the "Series B Fixed Rate Notes," for the identical principal amount of our 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013, referred to herein as the "Series A Fixed Rate Notes" and (ii) our Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009, referred to herein as the "Series B Floating Rate Notes," for the identical principal amount of our Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009, referred to herein as the "Series A Floating Rate Notes." The Series A Fixed Rate Notes, together with the Series A Floating Rate Notes, will be referred to as the "Series A Rate Notes." The Series B Floating Rate Notes, together with the Series B Floating Rate Notes, will be referred to collectively as the Series B Notes. The aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Series A Fixed Rate Notes, and therefore the principal amount at maturity of Series B Fixed Rate Notes which would be issued if all the Series A Fixed Rate Notes were exchanged, is $889,669,000. The aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Series A Floating Rate Notes, and therefore the principal amount at maturity of the Series B Floating Rate Notes which would be issued if all Series A Floating Rate Notes were exchanged is $500,000,000. The terms of the Series B Notes will be identical with the terms of the Series A Notes, except that the issuance of the Series B Notes is being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and therefore the Series B Notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer which apply to the Series A Notes.

        The Series A Notes were issued in transactions which were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act solely to qualified institutional buyers, as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The exchange offer is being made in accordance with registration rights agreements dated September 18, 2006 and September 22, 2006 among us, Barclays Capital, Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Based on interpretations by the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we believe a holder (other than a broker-dealer who acquired Series A Notes directly from us for resale or an affiliate of ours) may offer and sell Series B Notes issued in exchange for Series A Notes without registration under the Securities Act and without the need to deliver a prospectus, if the holder acquired the Series B Notes in the ordinary course of its business and the holder has no arrangement to participate, and is not otherwise engaged, in a distribution of the Series B Notes.

        Prior to the exchange offer, there has been no public market for the Series B Notes. We do not currently intend to list the Series B Notes on a securities exchange or seek approval for quotation of the Series B Notes on an automated quotation system. Therefore, it is unlikely that an active trading market for the Series B Notes will develop.

        The exchange agent for the exchange offer is U.S. Bank Trust National Association.

        See "Risk Factors," which begin on page 5 of this prospectus and page 15 of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, for a discussion of certain factors that should be considered in evaluating the exchange offer.

        THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this prospectus is            , 2006.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page
Forward-Looking Statements   ii
Prospectus Summary   1
Risk Factors   5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges   6
Use of Proceeds   6
Absence of Public Market   7
Description of Other Indebtedness   8
Description of the Series B Notes   10
Exchange Offer, Registration Rights   29
Book Entry, Delivery and Form   36
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences   38
Sales of Series B Notes Received By Broker-Dealers   52
Legal Matters   53
Experts   53
Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference   53

        You should only rely on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the initial purchasers have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the initial purchasers are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

        Unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, references to "iStar," "the Company," "we," "us" and "our" are to iStar Financial Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

i



Return on Ideas and the iStar Financial logo are
registered trade marks of iStar Financial Inc.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        We make statements in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference that are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are usually identified by the use of words such as "will," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "intends," "should" or similar expressions. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. We have discussed in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference some important risks, uncertainties and contingencies which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the forward-looking statements we make in these documents.

        We assume no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider these risks and uncertainties, together with the other risks described from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC, and you should not place undue reliance on those statements.

ii



PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

        This summary may not contain all the information that may be important to you. You should read the entire prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in it, before making an investment decision. All references to "we" or "us" in this prospectus refer to iStar Financial Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.


iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.

        We are the leading publicly-traded finance company focused on the commercial real estate industry. We provide custom-tailored financing to high-end private and corporate owners of real estate, including senior and junior mortgage debt, senior and mezzanine corporate capital, and corporate net lease financing and equity. Our objective is to generate consistent and attractive returns on our invested capital by providing innovative and value-added financing solutions to our customers. We are taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        Our principal executive offices are located at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, and our telephone number is (212) 930-9400. Our website is www.istarfinancial.com. The information on our website is not considered part of this prospectus. Our six primary regional offices are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hartford and San Francisco. iStar Asset Services, our loan servicing subsidiary, is located in Hartford, and iStar Real Estate Services, our corporate facilities management division, is headquartered in Atlanta. We also have a subsidiary, iStar Europe Ltd., with an office located in London.


The Exchange Offer

The Exchange Offer   We are offering to exchange our Series B Fixed Rate Notes for an identical principal amount of our Series A Fixed Rate Notes. At the date of this prospectus, $889,669,000 principal amount at maturity of Series A Fixed Rate Notes are outstanding. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Terms of the Exchange Offer."

 

 

We are also offering to exchange our Series B Floating Rate Notes for an identical principal amount of our Series A Floating Rate Notes. At the date of this prospectus, $500,000,000 principal amount at maturity of Series A Floating Rate Notes are outstanding.

Expiration of Exchange Offer

 

5:00 p.m., New York time, on                  , 2006, unless the exchange offer is extended (the day on which the exchange offer expires being the expiration date). See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Expiration Date; Extension; Termination; Amendments."

Conditions of the Exchange

 

The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of Series A Notes being tendered for exchange. However, the exchange offer is subject to certain customary conditions, which we may waive. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering."

Accrued Interest on the Series A Notes

 

The Series B Fixed Rate Notes will bear interest at the rate of 5.95% per annum from and including their date of issuance (calculated using a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months).

 

 

The Series B Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate per year equal to three-month LIBOR plus 0.34% (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year using the actual number of days elapsed from and including an interest payment date to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date). Interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes will be reset quarterly.
     

1



 

 

When the first interest payment is made with regard to the Series B Notes, we will also pay interest on the Series A Notes which are exchanged, from the date they were issued or the most recent interest date on which interest had been paid (if applicable) to, but not including, the day the Series B Notes are issued. Interest on the Series A Notes which are exchanged will cease to accrue on the day prior to the day on which the Series B Notes are issued. The interest rate on the Series A Fixed Rate Notes may increase under certain circumstances if we are not in compliance with our obligations under the registration rights agreement. See "Description of the Series B Notes."

Procedures for Tendering Series A Notes

 

A holder of Series A Notes who wishes to accept the exchange offer must complete, sign and date a letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of one, in accordance with the instructions contained under "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering" and in the letter of transmittal, and deliver the letter of transmittal, or facsimile, together with the Series A Notes and any other required documentation to the exchange agent at the address set forth in "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Exchange Agent." Series A Notes may be delivered physically or by confirmation of book-entry delivery of the Series A Notes to the exchange agent's account at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). If delivery of the Series A Notes is being made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Exchange Agent at DTC, a letter of transmittal is not required to be signed and delivered to the Exchange Agent. By executing a letter of transmittal, or delivering the Series A Notes by book-entry transfer, a holder will represent to us (or be deemed to have represented to us with respect to book-entry transfers) that, among other things, the person acquiring the Series B Notes will be doing so in the ordinary course of the person's business, whether or not the person is the holder, that neither the holder nor any other person is engaged in, or intends to engage in, or has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, the distribution of the Series B Notes and that neither the holder nor any such other person is an "affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of ours. Each broker or dealer that receives Series B Notes for its own account in exchange for Series A Notes which were acquired by the broker or dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Series B Notes. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering" and "Sales of Series B Notes Received by Broker-Dealers."

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

 

Eligible holders of Series A Notes who wish to tender their Series A Notes and (1) whose Series A Notes are not immediately available or (2) who cannot deliver their Series A Notes or any other documents required by the letter of transmittal to the exchange agent prior to the expiration date (or complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis), may tender their Series A Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the letter of transmittal. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."
     

2



Acceptance of Series A Notes and Delivery of Series B Notes

 

Upon satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the exchange offer, we will accept any and all Series A Notes that are properly tendered in response to the exchange offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. The Series B Notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer will be delivered promptly after acceptance of the Series A Notes. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering."

Withdrawal Rights

 

Tenders of Series A Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. See "The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders."

Exchange Agent

 

U.S. Bank Trust National Association is the exchange agent. The address and telephone number of the exchange agent are set forth in "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Exchange Agent."

Fees and Expenses

 

We will bear all expenses incident to our consummation of the exchange offer and compliance with the registration rights agreement. We will also pay any transfer taxes which are applicable to the exchange offer (but not transfer taxes due to transfers of Series A Notes or Series B Notes by the holder). See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Fees and Expenses."

Resales of the Series B Notes.

 

Based on interpretations by the Staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe Series B Notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for Series A Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by the holder (other than (1) a broker-dealer who purchased the Series A Notes directly from us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or another exemption under the Securities Act or (2) a person that is an affiliate of ours, as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without registration or the need to deliver a prospectus under the Securities Act, provided that the holder is acquiring the Series B Notes in the ordinary course of business and is not participating, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in a distribution of the Series B Notes. Each broker-dealer that receives Series B Notes for its own account in exchange for Series A Notes that were acquired by the broker as a result of market-making or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Series B Notes. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Purpose and Effects" and "Sales of Series B Notes Received By Broker-Dealers."


The Series B Notes

        The exchange offer applies to $889,669,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of Series A Fixed Rate Notes and to the $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of Series A Floating Rate Notes. The terms of the Series B Notes are identical in all material respects with those of the Series A Notes, except for certain transfer restrictions and rights relating to the exchange of the Series A Notes for Series B Notes. The Series B Notes will evidence the same debt as the Series A Notes and will be entitled to the benefits of the indenture under which both the Series A Notes were, and the Series B Notes will be, issued. See "Description of the Series B Notes."

Issuer   iStar Financial Inc.
     

3



Securities Offered

 

$889,669,000 principal amount of Series B Fixed Rate Notes and $500,000,000 principal amount of Series B Floating Rate Notes.

Maturity

 

Unless redeemed earlier, the Series B Fixed Rate Notes will mature on October 15, 2013. The Series B Floating Rate Notes will mature on September 15, 2009.

Interest Rate

 

The Series B Fixed Rate Notes will bear interest at 5.95% per year (calculated using a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months). The Series B Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate per year equal to three-month LIBOR plus 0.34% (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year using the actual number of days elapsed from and including an interest payment date to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date). Interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes will be reset quarterly.

Interest Payment Dates

 

Interest on the Series B Fixed Rate Notes will be paid on each April 15 and October 15, commencing April 15, 2007. Interest on the Series B Fixed Rate Notes will accrue from the date of issuance. Interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes will be paid quarterly on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing on December 15, 2006. Interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes will accrue from the date of issuance.

Ranking

 

The Series B Notes are our unsecured senior obligations and rank equally with our existing and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness and, to the extent we incur subordinated indebtedness in the future, senior to such indebtedness. The Series B Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of our secured indebtedness and all indebtedness of our subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2006, the aggregate amount of our outstanding consolidated indebtedness was approximately $7.5 billion, of which approximately $565.4 million was debt of our subsidiaries.

Optional Redemption

 

We may redeem the Series B Fixed Rate Notes in whole or in part prior to their maturity at any time at the redemption price described in "Description of the Notes—Redemption." We may not redeem the Series B Floating Rate Notes prior to their maturity.

Certain Indenture Provisions

 

The indenture governing the Series B Notes contains covenants limiting our and our subsidiaries' ability to:
      incur indebtedness;
      maintain unencumbered assets; or
      merge or consolidate with another person.
    These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. Based on the Company's current credit ratings by Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, the covenants described under "Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" and "Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets" do not currently apply to the Series B Notes. See "Description of the Notes—Certain Covenants."
Risk Factors   Investing in the Series B Notes involves substantial risks. See "Risk Factors" in this prospectus and the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 for a description of certain risks you should consider before investing in the Series B Notes.

4



RISK FACTORS

        This section describes some, but not all, of the risks of exchanging Series A Notes for the Series B Notes in the offering. The Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 also contains "Risk Factors." You should carefully consider these risks, in addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this document, before exchanging for the Series B Notes. You should carefully review the factors discussed below and the cautionary statements referred to in "Forward-Looking Statements."

If You Fail to Exchange Your Series A Notes, They Will Continue to be Restricted Securities and You May Experience Difficulty Selling Them Following the Exchange Offer

        Series A Notes which you do not tender in the exchange offer will continue to be restricted securities. After the completion of the exchange offer, we will not have any further obligation to issue Series B Notes to you in exchange for your Series A Notes. You may not offer or sell Series A Notes except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Because we anticipate that most holders of Series A Notes will elect to exchange those notes for Series B Notes, and that most potential investors in the Notes will prefer to purchase registered Series B Notes rather than purchase unregistered Series A Notes, you may experience difficulty selling your Series A Notes following the exchange offer.

The Notes Will Be Structurally Subordinated to Subsidiary Debt

        The Series B Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries had approximately $565.4 million of indebtedness outstanding at September 30, 2006. Creditors of a subsidiary are entitled to be paid what is due to them before assets of the subsidiary become available for creditors of its parent.

5



RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 
   
  Years Ended December 31,
 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2006

 
  2005
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(1)   1.7x   1.7x(2)   1.5x(3)   2.0x   1.7x   1.8x
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)   1.8x   1.9x(2)   1.8x(3)   2.3x   2.0x   2.1x

(1)
For the purposes of calculating these ratios, "earnings" consist of income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries, or income or loss from equity investees, income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus "fixed charges" and certain other adjustments. "Fixed charges" consist of interest incurred on all indebtedness related to continuing and discontinued operations (including amortization of original issue discount) and a reasonable approximation of the interest factor from our rent obligations in the periods presented.

(2)
Includes the effect of STARs asset-backed notes redemption charge of $44.3 million. Excluding this charge, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 1.8x and 2.0x respectively.

(3)
Includes the effect of chief executive officer, chief financial officer and ACRE Partners compensation charges of $106.9 million, 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 redemption charge of $11.5 million and, for the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends, preferred stock redemption charge of $9.0 million. Excluding these charges, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 2.0x and 2.3x, respectively.


USE OF PROCEEDS

        We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange of Series B Notes for Series A Notes pursuant to the exchange offer. We used the net proceeds from the sale of the Series A Notes to repay outstanding indebtedness under our unsecured revolving credit facility. As of September 30, 2006, the interest rate of the borrowings we repaid was 5.85%, and the maturity was 4.7 years. We use our unsecured revolving credit facility to fund our business on an ongoing basis and we intend to continue to do so in the future. Amounts repaid under our unsecured revolving credit facility will be available for future borrowings.

6



ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET

        The Series B Notes will be new securities for which there is no established trading market. We currently do not intend to list the Series B Notes on any securities exchange or to arrange for the Series B Notes to be quoted on any quotation system. Although the initial purchasers involved in the initial issuance of the Series A Notes have informed us that they currently intend to make a market in the Series B Notes, they are not obligated to do so and they may discontinue market-making activity at any time without notice. In addition, market-making activities may be limited during the exchange offer or the pendency of a shelf registration statement required by the registration rights agreement, if it is filed. Accordingly, it is not likely that an active trading market for the Series B Notes will develop or, if such a market develops, that it will provide significant liquidity to holders of Notes.

7



DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS

        The table below reflects our debt obligations under various arrangements as of September 30, 2006. Substantially all of the unsecured indebtedness shown below is recourse to iStar Financial, the parent company. In addition, iStar Financial is a guarantor of a $130.7 million secured subsidiary financing due August 2007 and a guarantor of up to $30 million under the $500 million secured facility due January 2009. In addition, iStar Financial provides guarantees under non-recourse subsidiary borrowings for customary carve-out matters such as fraud, misappropriation and voluntary bankruptcy proceedings.

        We are subject to a number of covenants in our borrowing arrangements. These covenants are both financial and non-financial in nature. Significant financial covenants include limitations on our ability to incur indebtedness beyond specified levels. Significant non-financial covenants include a requirement in some of our publicly-held debt securities that we offer to repurchase those securities at a premium if we undergo a change of control.

8


        As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 we had debt obligations under various arrangements with financial institutions as follows (in thousands):

 
   
  Carrying Value as of
   
   
 
  Maximum
Amount
Available

  September 30,
2006

  December 31,
2005

  Stated
Interest Rates(1)

  Scheduled
Maturity Date(1)

Secured revolving credit facility:                          
  Line of credit(2)   $ 500,000   $   $   LIBOR + 1.00%—2.00%   January 2009
Unsecured revolving credit facilities:                          
  Line of credit(3)     2,200,000     696,414     1,242,000   LIBOR + 0.525%   June 2011
   
 
 
       
  Total revolving credit facilities   $ 2,700,000     696,414     1,242,000        
   
                   
Secured term loans:                          
  Secured by CTL asset           128,836     132,246   7.44%   April 2009
  Secured by CTL assets           142,786     145,586   6.80%—8.80%   Various through 2026
  Secured by investments in corporate bonds and commerical mortgage backed securities           130,742     67,224   LIBOR + 0.22%—0.65%   August 2007
  Secured by CTL asset           58,829     59,430   6.41%   January 2013
         
 
       
  Total secured term loans           461,193     404,486        
  Debt (discount)/premium           6,229     6,658        
         
 
       
  Total secured term loans           467,422     411,144        
Unsecured notes:                          
  LIBOR + 0.34% Senior Notes(3)           500,000       LIBOR + 0.34%   September 2009
  LIBOR + 0.39% Senior Notes           400,000     400,000   LIBOR + 0.39%   March 2008
  LIBOR + 0.55% Senior Notes           225,000     225,000   LIBOR + 0.55%   March 2009
  LIBOR + 1.25% Senior Notes           200,000     200,000   LIBOR + 1.25%   March 2007
  4.875% Senior Notes           350,000     350,000   4.875%   January 2009
  5.125% Senior Notes           250,000     250,000   5.125%   April 2011
  5.15% Senior Notes           700,000     700,000   5.15%   March 2012
  5.375% Senior Notes           250,000     250,000   5.375%   April 2010
  5.65% Senior Notes           500,000       5.65%   September 2011
  5.70% Senior Notes           367,022     367,022   5.70%   March 2014
  5.80% Senior Notes           250,000     250,000   5.80%   March 2011
  5.875% Senior Notes           500,000       5.875%   March 2016
  5.95% Senior Notes(4)           700,000       5.95%   October 2013
  6.00% Senior Notes           350,000     350,000   6.00%   December 2010
  6.05% Senior Notes           250,000     250,000   6.05%   April 2015
  6.50% Senior Notes           150,000     150,000   6.50%   December 2013
  7.00% Senior Notes           185,000     185,000   7.00%   March 2008
  7.95% Notes               50,000   7.95%   May 2006
  8.75% Notes(4)           240,000     240,000   8.75%   August 2008
         
 
       
  Total unsecured notes           6,367,022     4,217,022        
  Debt discount           (83,998 )   (78,151 )      
  Impact of pay-floating swap agreements           (27,604 )   (30,394 )      
         
 
       
  Total unsecured notes           6,255,420     4,108,477        
Other debt obligations           100,000     100,000   LIBOR + 1.50%   October 2035
  Debt discount           (2,005 )   (2,029 )      
         
 
       
  Total other debt obligations           97,995     97,971        
         
 
       
Total debt obligations         $ 7,517,251   $ 5,859,592        
         
 
       

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
All interest rates and maturity dates are for debt outstanding as of September 30, 2006. Some variable-rate debt obligations are based on 30-day LIBOR and reprice monthly. The 30-day LIBOR rate on September 30, 2006 was 5.32%. Other variable-rate debt obligations are based on 90-day LIBOR and reprice every three months. The 90-day LIBOR rate on September 30, 2006 was 5.37%.

(2)
Maturity date reflects one-year "term-out" extension at the our option.

(3)
On September 13, 2006, we issued $700.0 million of 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013 and $500.0 million of three-month LIBOR + 0.34% Senior Notes due 2009. The proceeds from this offering were used to repay outstandings under our unsecured credit facility.

(4)
On October 4, 2006 and October 18, 2006, we issued an additional $189,669,000 aggregate principal amount of our 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013 in exchange for $189,669,000 aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008. $50,331,000 principal amount of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 remain outstanding.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES B NOTES

        We issued the Series A Notes and will issue the Series B Notes under indentures (the "Indentures") between us and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The form and terms of the Series B Notes will be identical in all material respects with the form and terms of the Series A Notes, except that (1) the Series B Notes will have been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, will not bear legends describing restrictions on transfering them, and (2) holders of Series B Notes will not be, and upon the consummation of the exchange offer, holders of the Series A Notes will no longer be entitled to certain rights under the registration rights agreement intended for the holders of unregistered securities. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Indentures. It does not include all of the provisions of the Indentures. We urge you to read the Indentures because they defines your rights. You may request a copy of the Indentures at our address shown under the caption "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference." The Indentures are subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"). Any Series A Notes that remain outstanding after completion of the Exchange Offer, together with the Exchange Notes, will be treated as a single class of securities under the Indentures. You can find definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this description under "—Certain Definitions." For purposes of this section, references to the "Company" or "our" include only iStar Financial Inc. and not any of its Subsidiaries.

        The Series B Notes will be unsecured obligations of the Company, ranking equally in right of payment with all other senior unsecured obligations of the Company from time to time outstanding.

        The Company will issue the Series B Notes in fully registered form in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The Trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for the Series B Notes. The Series A Notes may be delivered physically or by confirmation of book-entry delivery of the Series A Notes to the exchange agent's account at DTC. The Company may change any paying agent and registrar without notice to holders of the Series B Notes (the "Holders"). The Company will pay principal (and premium, if any) on the Series B Notes at the Trustee's corporate office in New York, New York. At the Company's option, interest may be paid at the Trustee's corporate trust office or by check mailed to the registered address of Holders.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

        The Series B Notes are a series of securities issued under the Indentures. The Indentures permit the Company to "re-open" each series without the consent of the Holders, and issue additional Series B Notes of the same series at any time on the same terms (other than issuance date, initial interest accrual date and in some cases, the first interest payment dates) and conditions and with the same CUSIP number as the Notes being issued in this offering. The Series B Fixed Rate Notes will mature on October 15, 2013 and the Series B Floating Rate Notes will mature on September 15, 2009.

        Interest on the Series B Fixed Rate Notes will be payable semiannually in cash on each April 15 and October 15 commencing on April 15, 2007, to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on each April 1 and October 1. Interest on the Series B Notes is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes will be payable quarterly in cash on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing on December 15, 2006 to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. Interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year using the actual days elapsed from and including an interest payement date to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date.

        If any interest payment date on a Series B Note, other than the maturity date, is not a Business Day, such interest payment date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that (in the case of the Series B Floating Rate Notes) if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar

10



month, such interest payment date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the maturity date of a Series B Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after the maturity date or such interest payment date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Interest on the Series B Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including the date of issuance.

        The Series B Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate per year, reset quarterly (the "interest reset period" and the first date in such period, the "interest reset date"), equal to three-month LIBOR plus 0.34%, to be determined by the calculation agent. The interest rate on the Series B Floating Rate Notes applicable to each interest reset period commencing on the related interest reset date, or the original issue date in the case of the initial interest period, will be the rate determined as of the applicable interest determination date. The "interest determination date" will be the second London business day immediately preceding the original issue date, in the case of the initial interest reset period, or thereafter the applicable interest reset date.

        US Bank Trust National Association, or its successor appointed by us, will act as the initial calculation agent with respect to the Floating Rate Notes. Three-month LIBOR will be determined by the initial calculation agent as of the applicable interest determination date in accordance with the following provisions:

            (i)    LIBOR is the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for the three-month period which appears on Moneyline Telerate Page 3750 (as defined below) at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable interest determination date. "Moneyline Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated on page "3750" on Moneyline Telerate (or such other page as may replace the 3750 page on that service, any successor service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits). If no rate appears on Moneyline Telerate Page 3750, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (ii) below.

            (ii)   With respect to an interest determination date on which no rate appears on Moneyline Telerate Page 3750 at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such interest determination date, the calculation agent shall request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks (which may include affiliates of the initial purchasers) in the London interbank market selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with us) to provide the calculation agent with a quotation of the rate at which deposits of U.S. dollars having a three-month maturity, commencing on the second London business day immediately following such interest determination date, are offered by it to prime banks in the London interbank market as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such interest determination date in a principal amount equal to an amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000 that is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations as calculated by the calculation agent. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such interest determination date by three major banks (which may include affiliates of the initial purchasers) selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with us) for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having a three-month maturity commencing on the second London business day immediately following such interest determination date and in a principal amount equal to an amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000 that is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks selected as aforesaid by the calculation agent are not quoting such rates as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR for such

11



    interest determination date will be LIBOR determined with respect to the immediately preceding interest determination date.

        All percentages resulting from any calculation of any interest rate for the Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward and all dollar amounts will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.

        Promptly upon such determination, the calculation agent will notify us and the Trustee (if the calculation agent is not the Trustee) of the interest rate for the new interest reset period. Upon request of a holder of the Series B Floating Rate Notes, the calculation agent will provide to such holder the interest rate in effect on the date of such request and, if determined, the interest rate for the next interest reset period.

        All calculations made by the calculation agent for the purposes of calculating interest on the Series B Floating Rate Notes shall be conclusive and binding on the holders and us, absent manifest error.

Redemption

Series B Floating Rate Notes

        The Series B Floating Rate Notes may not be redeemed prior to their maturity.

Optional Redemption of Series B Fixed Rate Notes

        The Series B Fixed Rate Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company's option at any time prior to the maturity of the Series B Fixed Rate Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to the date of the redemption or purchase (the "Redemption Date") (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

        "Applicable Premium" means, with respect to the Series B Fixed Rate Notes at any Redemption Date, the greater of: (1) 1.0% of the principal amount of such Series B Fixed Rate Note; and (2) the excess of (a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the principal amount of such Series B Fixed Rate Note on the redemption date plus (ii) all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through the maturity date of such Series B Note, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points in the case of the Series B Fixed Rate Notes; over (b) the principal amount of such note on such Redemption Date. Calculation of the Applicable Premium will be made by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such Person as the Company shall designate; provided, however, that such calculation shall not be a duty or obligation of the Trustee.

        "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to a Redemption Date, the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) that has become publicly available on the third Business Day prior to our providing notice of redemption (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to the maturity date of the Series B Fixed Rate Notes; provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to the maturity date is not equal to the constant maturity of the United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from such Redemption Date to the maturity date is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.

12


        The Series B Notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund.

Selection and Notice of Redemption

        In the event that the Company chooses to redeem less than all of the Series B Fixed Rate Notes, selection of the Series B Fixed Rate Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee either:

    (1)
    in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Series B Fixed Rate Notes are listed; or

    (2)
    on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

        No Series B Fixed Rate Notes of a principal amount of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Series B Fixed Rate Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. On and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on Series B Fixed Rate Notes or portions thereof called for redemption as long as the Company has deposited with the paying agent funds in satisfaction of the applicable redemption price.

Certain Covenants

        The following covenants in the Indentures apply to the Series B Notes (referred to herein as "the Notes"); provided, however, that the covenants described under "Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" and "Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets" will not apply if, and only for so long as, (1) the Notes are rated BBB or Baa2, or higher, by at least two of the following three rating agencies: Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, Moody's Investors Services, Inc. and Fitch Ratings and (2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Based on the Company's current credit ratings by Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Services, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, the covenants described under "Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" and "Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets" do not currently apply to the Notes.

        Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness.    The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, guarantee, become liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to, or otherwise become responsible for payment of (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Acquired Indebtedness) other than Permitted Indebtedness.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or as a consequence of the incurrence of any such Indebtedness, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Acquired Indebtedness), in each case if on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is greater than 1.5 to 1.0.

        Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets.    The Company and its Subsidiaries will maintain Total Unencumbered Assets of not less than 120% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Unsecured Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case on a consolidated basis.

        Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.    The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of (or cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of) all or substantially all of the Company's assets (determined on a

13



consolidated basis for the Company and the Company's Subsidiaries) whether as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless:

    (1)
    either:

    (a)
    the Company shall be the surviving or continuing corporation; or

    (b)
    the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition the properties and assets of the Company and of the Company's Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety (the "Surviving Entity"):

    (i)
    shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia; and

    (ii)
    shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture (in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Notes and the performance of every covenant of the Notes and the Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

    (2)
    immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(ii) above (including giving effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred in connection with or in respect of such transaction), the Company or such Surviving Entity, as the case may be: (a) shall have a Consolidated Net Worth equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; and (b) shall be able to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the "—Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" covenant, if such covenant is then in effect;

    (3)
    immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(ii) above (including, without limitation, giving effect to any Indebtedness and Acquired Indebtedness incurred or anticipated to be incurred and any Lien granted in connection with or in respect of the transaction), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing; and

    (4)
    the Company or the Surviving Entity shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with the applicable provisions of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent in the Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied.

        For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

        The Indenture will provide that upon any consolidation or merger or any transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with the foregoing, in which the Company is not the continuing corporation, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such surviving entity had been named as such.

14



        Reports to Holders.    Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish the Holders of Notes:

    (1)
    all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" that describes the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (showing in reasonable detail, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries) and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm; and

    (2)
    all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports, in each case within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and regulations.

        In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Company will file a copy of all such information and reports with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and regulations (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company has agreed that, for so long as any Notes remain outstanding, it will furnish to the Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Events of Default

        The following events are defined in the Indenture as "Events of Default" with respect to the Notes of each particular series:

    (1)
    the failure to pay interest on any Notes of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

    (2)
    the failure to pay the principal on any Notes of such series, when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity or otherwise;

    (3)
    a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture and such default continues for a period of 30 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes of such series (except in the case of a default with respect to the "Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets" covenant, which will constitute an Event of Default with such notice requirement but without such passage of time requirement);

    (4)
    the failure to pay at final maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 20 days of receipt by the Company or such Subsidiary of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more at any time; or

    (5)
    certain events of bankruptcy affecting the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries.

15


        If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (5) above with respect to the Company) shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes of the applicable series of Notes, may declare the principal of and accrued interest on all the Notes of such series to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a "notice of acceleration" (the "Acceleration Notice"), and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

        If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) above with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, then all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Notes of the applicable series of Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

        The Indenture will provide that, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Notes as described in the preceding paragraph, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of the applicable series of Notes may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences:

    (1)
    if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;

    (2)
    if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration;

    (3)
    to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;

    (4)
    if the Company has paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances; and

    (5)
    in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (5) of the description above of Events of Default, the Trustee shall have received an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

        The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of a series may waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to this series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Notes.

        Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture and under the TIA. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to all provisions of the Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.

        Under the Indenture, the Company is required to provide an officers' certificate to the Trustee promptly upon any such officer obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (provided that such officers shall provide such certification at least annually whether or not they know of any Default or Event of Default) that has occurred and, if applicable, describe such Default or Event of Default and the status thereof.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes of a particular series ("Legal Defeasance"). Such Legal Defeasance

16



means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes of such series, except for:

    (1)
    the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due;

    (2)
    the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payments;

    (3)
    the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Company's obligations in connection therewith; and

    (4)
    the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.

        In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture ("Covenant Defeasance") and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization and insolvency events) described under "Events of Default" will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the applicable series of Notes.

        In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

    (1)
    the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the applicable series of Notes on the stated date for payment thereof;

    (2)
    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:

    (a)
    the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

    (b)
    since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

    (3)
    in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

    (4)
    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;

    (5)
    such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

17


    (6)
    the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others;

    (7)
    the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with;

    (8)
    the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that, assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company between the date of deposit and the 91st day following the date of deposit and that no Holder is an insider of the Company, after the 91st day following the date of deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally; and

    (9)
    certain other customary conditions precedent are satisfied.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the opinion of counsel required by clause (2) above with respect to a Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all Notes of the applicable series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (1) have become due and payable or (2) will become due and payable on the maturity date within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

Satisfaction and Discharge

        The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes of a particular series when:

    (1)
    either:

    (a)
    all Notes of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

    (b)
    all Notes of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption;

    (2)
    the Company has paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Company; and

    (3)
    the Company has delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.

Modification of the Indenture

        From time to time, the Company and the Trustee, without the consent of the Holders, may amend the Indenture for certain specified purposes, including curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies, so long as such change does not, in the opinion of the Trustee, adversely affect the rights of any of the

18



Holders in any material respect. In formulating its opinion on such matters, the Trustee will be entitled to rely on such evidence as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, solely on an opinion of counsel. Other modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Fixed Rate Notes or Floating Rate Notes, as the case may be voting as separate classes, issued under the Indenture, except that, without the consent of each Holder affected thereby, no amendment may:

    (1)
    reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

    (2)
    reduce the rate of or change or have the effect of changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Notes;

    (3)
    reduce the principal of or change or have the effect of changing the fixed maturity of any Notes or change the date on which any Notes may be subject to redemption or reduce the redemption price therefor;

    (4)
    make any Notes payable in money other than that stated in the Notes;

    (5)
    make any change in provisions of the Indenture protecting the right of each Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Note on or after the due date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, or permitting Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes to waive Defaults or Events of Default; or

    (6)
    modify or change any provision of the Indenture or the related definitions affecting the subordination or ranking of the Notes in a manner which adversely affects the Holders.

Governing Law

        The Indenture will provide that it and the Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

The Trustee

        The Indentures provide that, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the existence of an Event of Default, the Trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

        The Indentures and the provisions of the TIA contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payments of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. Subject to the TIA, the Trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; provided that if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the TIA, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

Certain Definitions

        Set forth below is a summary of certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for the full definition of all such terms, as well as any other terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

        "Acquired Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or at the time it merges or consolidates with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person and in each case whether or not incurred by such Person in connection with, or in

19



anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Company or such acquisition, merger or consolidation.

        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The term "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative of the foregoing.

        "Asset Acquisition" means: (1) an Investment by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in any other Person pursuant to which such Person shall become a Subsidiary of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or shall be merged with or into the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; or (2) the acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of the assets of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) that constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of business of such Person or any other properties or assets of such Person other than in the ordinary course of business.

        "Asset Sale" means any direct or indirect sale, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease (other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business), assignment or other transfer for value by us or any of our Subsidiaries (including any sale and leaseback transaction) to any Person other than us or our Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of:

    (1)
    any Capital Stock of any of our Subsidiaries; or

    (2)
    any of our or our Subsidiaries' other property or assets other than sales of loan-related assets made in the ordinary course of the Company's real estate lending business and other asset sales made in the ordinary course of the Company's business.

        "Board of Directors" means, as to any Person, the board of directors of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.

        "Board Resolution" means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

        "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at any date shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.

        "Capital Stock" means:

    (1)
    with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of such Person; and

    (2)
    with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person.

        "Common Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person's common stock, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

        "Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of:

    (1)
    Consolidated Net Income; and

20


    (2)
    to the extent Consolidated Net Income has been reduced thereby:

    (a)
    all income taxes of such Person and its Subsidiaries paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP for such period (other than income taxes attributable to extraordinary gains or losses and direct impairment charges or the reversal of such charges on the Company's assets);

    (b)
    Consolidated Interest Expense; and

    (c)
    depreciation, depletion and amortization;

all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to any Person, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of such Person during the four full fiscal quarters (the "Four Quarter Period") ending prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for which financial statements are available (the "Transaction Date") to Consolidated Fixed Charges of such Person for the Four Quarter Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, "Consolidated EBITDA" and "Consolidated Fixed Charges" shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of such calculation to:

    (1)
    the incurrence or repayment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the need to make such calculation and any incurrence or repayment of other Indebtedness (and the application of the proceeds thereof), other than the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes pursuant to working capital facilities, occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period; and

    (2)
    any asset sales or other dispositions or any asset originations, asset purchases, Investments and Asset Acquisitions (including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving rise to the need to make such calculation as a result of such Person or one of its Subsidiaries (including any Person who becomes a Subsidiary as a result of the Asset Acquisition) incurring, assuming or otherwise being liable for Acquired Indebtedness and also including any Consolidated EBITDA (including any pro forma expense and cost reductions calculated on a basis consistent with Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) attributable to the assets which are originated or purchased, the Investments that are made and the assets that are the subject of the Asset Acquisition or asset sale or other disposition during the Four Quarter Period) occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period and on or prior to the Transaction Date, as if such asset sale or other disposition or asset origination, asset purchase, Investment or Asset Acquisition (including the incurrence, assumption or liability for any such Acquired Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of the Four Quarter Period. If such Person or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly guarantees Indebtedness of a third Person, the preceding sentence shall give effect to the incurrence of such guaranteed Indebtedness as if such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person had directly incurred or otherwise assumed such guaranteed Indebtedness.

        "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

    (1)
    Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

21


    (2)
    the amount of all dividend payments on any series of Preferred Stock of such Person and, its Subsidiaries (other than dividends paid in Qualified Capital Stock) paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued during such period.

        "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication:

    (1)
    the aggregate of the interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, including without limitation: (a) any amortization of debt discount; (b) the net costs under Interest Swap Obligations; (c) all capitalized interest; and (d) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation; and

    (2)
    to the extent not already included in clause (1), the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries before the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock for such period on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded therefrom:

    (1)
    after-tax gains and losses from Asset Sales or abandonments or reserves relating thereto (including gains and losses from the sale of corporate tenant lease assets);

    (2)
    after-tax items classified as extraordinary gains or losses and direct impairment charges or the reversal of such charges on the Company's assets;

    (3)
    the net income (but not loss) of any Subsidiary of the referent Person to the extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that income is restricted by a contract, operation of law or otherwise;

    (4)
    the net income or loss of any other Person, other than a Consolidated Subsidiary of the referent Person, except:

    (a)
    to the extent (in the case of net income) of cash dividends or distributions paid to the referent Person, or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the referent Person (other than a Subsidiary described in clause (3) above), by such other Person; or

    (b)
    that the referent Person's share of any net income or loss of such other Person under the equity method of accounting for Affiliates shall not be excluded;

    (5)
    any restoration to income of any contingency reserve of an extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual nature;

    (6)
    income or loss attributable to discontinued operations (including, without limitation, operations disposed of during such period whether or not such operations were classified as discontinued, but not including revenues, expenses, gains and losses relating to real estate properties sold or held for sale, even if they were classified as attributable to discontinued operations under the provisions of SFAS No. 144); and

    (7)
    in the case of a successor to the referent Person by consolidation or merger or as a transferee of the referent Person's assets, any earnings of the successor corporation prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets.

        "Consolidated Net Worth" of any Person means the consolidated stockholders' equity of such Person, as of the end of the last completed fiscal quarter ending on or prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate Consolidated Net Worth determined on a consolidated

22



basis in accordance with GAAP, less (without duplication) amounts attributable to Disqualified Capital Stock of such Person and interests in such Person's Consolidated Subsidiaries not owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

        "Consolidated Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person, the financial statements of which are consolidated with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

        "Currency Agreement" means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company against fluctuations in currency values.

        "Default" means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

        "Disqualified Capital Stock" means that portion of any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof on or prior to the final maturity date of the Notes.

        "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.

        "Existing Credit Agreements" mean: (1) Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2004 and as amended as of December 17, 2004, September 16, 2005 and June 28, 2006 among the Company, the lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent; and (2) the amended and restated credit facility between Deutsche Bank AG, Cayman Islands Branch, and iStar DB Seller LLC, dated as of January 9, 2006, in each case together with the related documents thereto (including, without limitation, any security documents), in each case as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and restatement thereof), supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement extending the maturity of, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring (including increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder (provided that such increase in borrowings is permitted by the "Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" covenant above) or adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or guarantors thereunder) all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or any successor or replacement agreement and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

        "Fair market value" means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm's-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction. Fair market value shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith and shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee.

        "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States. For the avoidance of doubt, revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are included in results of discontinued operations because of the application of SFAS No. 144 will be treated as revenues, expenses, gains and losses from continuing operations.

        "Guarantor" means each of the Company's Subsidiaries that in the future executes a supplemental indenture in which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms of The Identure as a guarantor

23



provided that any person constituting a guanrantor as described above shall cease to constitute a guarantor when its respective guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

        "Indebtedness" means with respect to any Person, without duplication:

    (1)
    all Obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

    (2)
    all Obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;

    (3)
    all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

    (4)
    all Obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all Obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by 90 days or more or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted);

    (5)
    all Obligations for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit transaction;

    (6)
    guarantees and other contingent obligations in respect of Indebtedness referred to in clauses (1) through (5) above and clause (8) below;

    (7)
    all Obligations of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above which are secured by any lien on any property or asset of such Person, the amount of such Obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the fair market value of such property or asset and the amount of the Obligation so secured;

    (8)
    all Obligations under Currency Agreements and Interest Swap Obligations of such Person; and

    (9)
    all Disqualified Capital Stock issued by such Person with the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Disqualified Capital Stock being equal to the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed repurchase price, but excluding accrued dividends, if any.

        For purposes hereof, the "maximum fixed repurchase price" of any Disqualified Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Capital Stock as if such Disqualified Capital Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Capital Stock, such fair market value shall be determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Capital Stock.

        "Interest Swap Obligations" means the obligations of any Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements.

        "Investment" means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect loan or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, a guarantee), or corporate tenant lease to or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition by such Person of any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or evidences or Indebtedness issued by, any Person. "Investment" shall exclude extensions of trade credit by us and our Subsidiaries on commercially

24



reasonable terms in accordance with our or our Subsidiaries' normal trade practices, as the case may be.

        "Lien" means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest).

        "Non-Recourse Indebtedness" means any of our or any of our Subsidiaries' Indebtedness that is:

    (1)
    specifically advanced to finance the acquisition of investment assets and secured only by the assets to which such Indebtedness relates without recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than subject to such customary carve-out matters for which the Company or its Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of the Company for GAAP purposes);

    (2)
    advanced to any of our Subsidiaries or group of our Subsidiaries formed for the sole purpose of acquiring or holding investment assets against, which a loan is obtained that is made without recourse to, and with no cross-collateralization against our or any of the Company's Subsidiaries' other assets (other than subject to such customary carve-out matters for which the Company or its Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of the Company for GAAP purposes) and upon complete or partial liquidation of which the loan must be correspondingly completely or partially repaid, as the case may be; or

    (3)
    specifically advanced to finance the acquisition of real property and secured by only the real property to which such Indebtedness relates without recourse to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than subject to such customary carve-out matters for which the Company or its Subsidiaries acts as a guarantor in connection with such Indebtedness, such as fraud, misappropriation and misapplication, unless, until and for so long as a claim for payment or performance has been made thereunder (which has not been satisfied) at which time the obligations with respect to any such customary carve-out shall not be considered Non-Recourse Indebtedness, to the extent that such claim is a liability of the Company for GAAP purposes).

        "Obligations" means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnification, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

        "Permitted Indebtedness" means, without duplication, each of the following:

    (1)
    Indebtedness under: (a) the Company's $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 that were issued on September 18, 2006 (b) the Company's $889.7 million aggregate principal amount of 5.95% Senior Fixed Rate Notes due 2013 that were issued on September 22, 2006, October 4, 2006 and October 18, 2006; (c) the Company's $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 and the $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.650% Senior Notes due 2011 that were issued on February 21, 2006; (d) the Company's $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.80% Senior Notes due 2011 and the $225.0 million Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 that were

25


      issued on December 14, 2005; (e) the Company's $100.0 million in unsecured floating rate trust preferred securities that were issued on September 14, 2005; (f) the Company's $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2010 and the $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due 2015 that were issued on April 21, 2005; (g) the Company's $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.15% Senior Notes due 2012 and the $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of floating rate notes due 2008 that were issued on March 1, 2005; (h) the Company's $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.70% Notes due 2014 issued on March 9, 2004, and an additional $117.0 million aggregate amount of 5.70% Notes due 2014 issued on March 1, 2005 in connection with the Company's exchange offer for TriNet Corporate Realty Trust, Inc.'s 7.70% Notes due 2017; (i) the Company's $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of floating rate notes due 2007 that were issued on March 12, 2004 and May 10, 2004; (j) the Company's $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Notes due 2011 that were issued on March 30, 2004; (k) the Company's $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2009 that were issued on January 23, 2004; (l) the Company's $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Notes due 2010 that were issued on December 12, 2003; (m) the Company's $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Senior Notes due 2013 that were issued on December 12, 2003; (n) the Company's $185.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% Senior Notes due 2008 that were issued in March and April of 2003; and (o) the Company's $240.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 that were issued on August 16, 2001;

    (2)
    Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreements in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the maximum aggregate amount available under the Existing Credit Agreements as in effect on the issue date reduced by any required permanent repayments (which are accompanied by a corresponding permanent commitment reduction) thereunder;

    (3)
    other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding on the issue date reduced by the amount of any scheduled amortization payments or mandatory prepayments when actually paid or permanent reductions thereon;

    (4)
    Interest Swap Obligations of the Company covering Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Interest Swap Obligations of any Subsidiary of the Company covering Indebtedness of such Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Interest Swap Obligations are entered into to protect the Company and its Subsidiaries from fluctuations in interest rates on Indebtedness incurred in accordance with the Indenture to the extent the notional principal amount of such Interest Swap Obligation does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Interest Swap Obligation relates;

    (5)
    Indebtedness under Currency Agreements; provided that in the case of Currency Agreements which relate to Indebtedness, such Currency Agreements do not increase the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder;

    (6)
    Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company for so long as such Indebtedness is held by the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company;

    (7)
    Indebtedness of the Company to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company for so long as such Indebtedness is held by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, in each case subject to no Lien; provided that: (a) any Indebtedness of the Company to any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company is unsecured and subordinated, pursuant to a written agreement,

26


      to the Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Notes; and (b) if as of any date any Person other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company owns or holds any such Indebtedness or any Person holds a Lien in respect of such Indebtedness, such date shall be deemed the incurrence of Indebtedness not constituting Permitted Indebtedness by the Company;

    (8)
    Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within two business days of incurrence;

    (9)
    Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, in order to provide security for workers' compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar requirements in the ordinary course of business;

    (10)
    Refinancing Indebtedness; and

    (11)
    additional Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15.0 million at any one time outstanding (which amount may, but need not, be incurred in whole or in part under the Existing Credit Agreements).

        For purposes of determining compliance with the "Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (11) above or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the second paragraph of such covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant. Accrual of interest, accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Capital Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Capital Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock for purposes of the "Limitations on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" covenant.

        "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

        "Preferred Stock" of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation.

        "Qualified Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.

        "Refinance" means, in respect of any security or Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue a security or Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such security or Indebtedness in whole or in part. "Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

        "Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Refinancing by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with the "Limitation on Incurrence of Additional Indebtedness" covenant (other than pursuant to clauses (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) or (11) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness), in each case that does not:

    (1)
    result in an increase in the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of such Person as of the date of such proposed Refinancing (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing such Indebtedness and plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such Refinancing); or

27


    (2)
    create Indebtedness with: (a) a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; or (b) a final maturity earlier than the final maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided that (i) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness of the Company, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness solely of the Company, and (ii) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinate or junior to the Notes, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be subordinate to the Notes at least to the same extent and in the same manner as the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

        "REIT" means Real Estate Investment Trust.

        "Secured Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien upon the property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

        "Significant Subsidiary," with respect to any Person, means any Subsidiary of such Person that satisfies the criteria for a "significant subsidiary" set forth in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

        "Subsidiary," with respect to any Person, means:

    (1)
    any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person; or

    (2)
    any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person.

        "Total Unencumbered Assets" as of any date means the sum of:

    (1)
    those Undepreciated Real Estate Assets not securing any portion of Secured Indebtedness; and

    (2)
    all other assets (but excluding intangibles and accounts receivable) of the Company and its Subsidiaries not securing any portion of Secured Indebtedness determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Undepreciated Real Estate Assets" means, as of any date, the cost (being the original cost to the Company or any of Subsidiaries plus capital improvements) of real estate assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization of such real estate assets, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

        "Unsecured Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is not Secured Indebtedness.

        "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (1) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness into; (2) the sum of the total of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

        "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person of which all the outstanding voting securities (other than in the case of a foreign Subsidiary, directors' qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of shares required to be owned by other Persons pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person.

28



EXCHANGE OFFER; REGISTRATION RIGHTS

        We issued the Series A Fixed Rate Notes on September 22, 2006, October 4, 2006 and October 18, 2006 and the Series A Floating Rate Notes on September 18, 2006, to the initial purchasers who resold the Series A Notes to "qualified institutional buyers," (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) and certain non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S of the Exchange Act. In connection with the sale of the Series A Notes, we and the initial purchasers entered into a Registration Rights Agreement on the respective issue dates of the Series A Notes (the "Issue Dates") pursuant to which we agreed that we would, at our expense, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, (1) within 90 days from the date that the Series A Notes were issued, file a registration statement on an appropriate registration form (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") with respect to a registered offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange the Series A Notes for new notes of iStar Financial Inc., the Series B Notes, which will have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Series A Notes as they are originally issued (except that the Series B Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions) and (2) use our reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 180 days from the date that the Series A Notes were issued. Upon the Exchange Offer Registration Statement being declared effective, we will offer Series B Notes in exchange for surrender of unregistered Series A Notes. We will keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date on which notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the holders. For each of the Series A Notes surrendered to us pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the holder who surrendered that Series A Note will receive a Series B Note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Series A Note. Interest on each Series B Note will accrue: (A) from the later of (1) the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Series A Note surrendered, or (2) if the Series A Note is surrendered for exchange on a date between the record date for an interest payment and that interest payment date, the interest payment date; or (B) if no interest has been paid on that Series A Note, from the Issue Dates.

        Under existing interpretations by the SEC staff contained in several no-action letters to third parties, the Series B Notes will be freely transferable by the holders of the Series B Notes (other than our affiliates) after the Exchange Offer without further registration under the Securities Act; provided, however, that each holder that wishes to exchange its Series A Notes for Series B Notes will be required to represent (1) that any Series B Notes to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) that at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer, it had no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Series B Notes in violation of the Securities Act, (3) that it is not an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) of iStar Financial, (4) if the holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of Exchange Notes and (5) if the holder is a broker-dealer (a "participating broker-dealer") that it will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Series B Notes. We will agree to make available, during the period required by the Securities Act, a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act for use by participating broker-dealers and other persons, if any, with similar prospectus delivery requirements for use in connection with any resale of Series B Notes.

        If (1) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing interpretations by the SEC staff, we are not permitted to effect an Exchange Offer, (2) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days from the date that the Series A Notes are issued, (3) in certain circumstances, certain holders of unregistered Exchange Notes so request in writing or (4) in the case of any holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, that holder does not receive Series B Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of such holder as an affiliate of iStar Financial or within the meaning of the Securities Act), then

29



in each case, we will (a) promptly deliver to the holders and the Trustee written notice thereof and (b) at our sole expense, (x) as promptly as practicable, file a shelf registration statement covering resales of the Series A Notes, and (y) use our reasonable best efforts to keep the shelf registration statement effective until the earlier of two years after the Issue Date or the time that all of the applicable Series A Notes have been sold under it. We will, in the event that a shelf registration statement is filed, provide to each holder copies of the prospectus that is a part of the shelf registration statement, notify each holder when the shelf registration statement for the Series A Notes has become effective and take certain other actions to permit unrestricted resales of the Series A Notes. A holder that sells Series A Notes pursuant to the shelf registration statement will be required to be named as a selling security holder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to purchasers, will be subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under the Securities Act in connection with those sales and will be bound by the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement that are applicable to such a holder (including certain indemnification rights and obligations).

        If we fail to meet the targets listed above, then additional interest (the "Additional Interest") shall become payable in respect of the Series A Notes as follows:

    (1)
    if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the shelf registration statement is filed with the SEC on or prior to the date 90 days from the Issue Dates, or (B) notwithstanding that we have consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, we are required to file a shelf registration statement and that shelf registration statement is not filed on or prior to the date required by the Registration Rights Agreement, then commencing on the day after either such required filing date, Additional Interest will accrue on the principal amount of the Series A Notes at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following each filing date, the Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; or

    (2)
    if (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor the shelf registration statement is declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date 180 days after the date that the Series A Notes are issued, or (B) notwithstanding that we have consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, we are required to file a shelf registration statement and that shelf registration statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date required by the Registration Rights Agreement, then, commencing on the date after either required effective date, Additional Interest will accrue on the principal amount of the Series A Notes at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90 days immediately following such date, the Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; or

    (3)
    if (A) we have not exchanged Series B Notes for all Series A Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the date 210 days after the date the Series A Notes are issued, or (B) applicable, the shelf registration statement has been declared effective but the shelf registration statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the second anniversary of the Issue Date (other than after such time as all Series B Notes have been disposed of under the shelf registration statement), then Additional Interest will accrue on the principal amount of the Series A Notes that are the subject of the default at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the[nc_cad,136]first 90 days commencing on (x) the date 210 days after the date the Series A Notes are issued, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day the shelf registration statement ceases to be effective, in the case of (B) above, the Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period;

provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Series A Notes may not under any circumstance accrue under more than one of the foregoing clauses (1)-(3) at any one time and at no time shall the aggregate amount of Additional Interest accruing pursuant to the foregoing clauses

30



(1)-(3) exceed in the aggregate 1.0% per annum; and provided, further, however, that (a) upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a shelf registration statement (in the case of clause (1) above), (b) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a shelf registration statement (in the case of clause (2) above), or (c) upon the exchange of Series B Notes for all Series A Notes tendered (in the case of clause (3)(A) above), or upon the effectiveness of the shelf registration statement which had ceased to remain effective (in the case of clause (3)(B) above), Additional Interest on the Series A Notes as a result of that clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, will cease to accrue. Additional Interest will be payable when, and to the person to whom, stated interest is due (including, if applicable, upon redemption of Series A Notes or when Series A Notes are tendered following a change in control).

Terms of the exchange offer

        Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we will issue Series B Notes in exchange for all Series A Notes which are validly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date (as defined below) and not withdrawn. The principal amount of the Series B Notes issued in the exchange will be the same as the principal amount of the Series A Notes for which they are exchanged. Holders may tender some or all of their Series A Notes in response to the exchange offer.

        However, Series A Notes may be tendered only in multiples of $1,000. See "Description of the Series B Notes."

        The form and terms of the Series B Notes will be the same in all material respects as the form and terms of the Series A Notes, except that (1) the Series B Notes will be registered under the Securities Act and hence will not bear legends regarding restrictions on transfer and (2) because the Series B Notes will be registered, holders of Series B Notes will not be, and upon the consummation of the exchange offer, except under limited circumstances, holders of Series A Notes will no longer be, entitled to rights under the registration rights agreement intended for holders of unregistered securities.

        Series A Notes which are not tendered for exchange or are tendered but not accepted in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, but will not be entitled to any registration rights under the registration rights agreement.

        We will be deemed to accept all the Series A Notes which are validly tendered and not withdrawn when we give oral or written notice to that effect to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of receiving Series B Notes from us.

        If any tendered Series A Notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender or otherwise, certificates for those Series A Notes will be returned, without expense, to the tendering holder as promptly as practicable after the expiration date.

        Holders who tender Series A Notes in response to the exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, except as described in the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain taxes described below, in connection with the exchange offer. See "—Fees and Expenses."

Expiration date; extension; termination; amendments

        The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                        , 2006, unless we extend it by notice to the exchange agent. We reserve the right to extend the exchange offer at its discretion. If we extend the exchange offer, the term "expiration date" will mean the time and date on which the exchange offer as extended will expire. We will notify the exchange agent of any extension by oral or written notice and will make a public announcement of any extension, not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

31



Procedures for tendering

        Only a holder of Series A Notes may tender Series A Notes in response to the exchange offer. To tender Series A Notes, the holder must complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of one, have the signatures guaranteed if required by the letter of transmittal, and mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal or facsimile of one, together with the Series A Notes (unless the tender is being effected using the procedure for book-entry transfer described below) and any other required documents, to the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

        Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC's Book-Entry Transfer Facility System may make book-entry delivery of Series A Notes by causing DTC to transfer the Series A Notes into the exchange agent's account in accordance with DTC's transfer procedure. If delivery of Series A Notes is effected through book-entry transfer into the exchange agent's account at DTC, a letter of transmittal (or a facsimile of one), is not required to be signed and delivered to the exchange agent. However, book-entry confirmation of transfer of the Series A Notes to be exchanged must be received by the exchange agent's account prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

        DELIVERY OF A PHYSICAL DOCUMENT TO DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. ONLY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATIONS ARE TO BE MADE THROUGH DTC.

        A tender of Series A Notes by a holder will constitute an agreement by the holder to transfer the Series A Notes to us in exchange for Series B Notes on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

        The method of delivering Series A Notes and the letter of transmittal and any other required documents to the exchange agent is at the election and risk of the holder. It is recommended that holders use overnight or hand delivery services. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to the exchange agent before the expiration time. No letter of transmittal or Series A Notes should be sent to us. Holders may ask their brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees to assist them in effecting tenders.

        Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed by an eligible institution unless the Series A Notes are being tendered for the account of an eligible institution. An eligible institution is a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program.

        If the letter of transmittal or any Series A Notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, they should so indicate when signing, and we may require that evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to sign be submitted with the letter of transmittal.

        All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Series A Notes will be determined by us in our sole discretion, and that determination will be final and binding. We reserve the right to reject any Series A Notes which are not properly tendered or the acceptance of which we believe might be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Series A Notes, without being required to waive the same defects, irregularities or conditions as to other Series A Notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer (including the instructions in the letter of transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Series A Notes must be cured by the expiration date, or by such later time as we may determine. Although we intend to request the exchange agent to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Series A Notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Series A Notes will not be deemed to have been made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Series A Notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or

32



irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the exchange agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, as soon as practicable following the expiration date.

        We have the right (subject to limitations contained in the indenture) (1) to purchase or make offers for any Series A Notes that remain outstanding after the expiration date and (2) to the extent permitted by applicable law, to purchase Series A Notes in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or offers could differ from the terms of the exchange offer.

        By tendering, a holder will be representing to us that the person who will acquire the Series B Notes being issued as a result of the exchange offer (whether or not that is the holder) will be acquiring them in the ordinary course of that person's business and that neither the holder nor any such other person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the Series B Notes or is an "affiliate" of ours (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). If the holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Series B Notes for its own account in exchange for Series A Notes that were acquired as result of market-making activities or other trading activities, the holder will, by tendering, acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those Series B Notes.

Guaranteed delivery procedures

        Holders who wish to tender their Series A Notes and (1) whose Series A Notes are not immediately available, or (2) who cannot deliver their Series A Notes or any other required documents to the exchange agent or cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer prior to the expiration date, may effect a tender if:

    (a)
    The tender is made through an eligible institution;

    (b)
    Prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent receives from the eligible institution a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand) setting forth the name and address of the eligible holder, the certificate number(s) of the Series A Notes (if available) and the principal amount of Series A Notes tendered, together with a duly executed letter of transmittal (or a facsimile of one), stating that the tender is being made by that notice of guaranteed delivery and guaranteeing that, within five business days after the expiration date, the certificate(s) representing the Series A Notes (or confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the exchange agent's account at DTC) and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal will be delivered to the exchange agent; and

    (c)
    The certificate(s) representing all the tendered Series A Notes (or confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the exchange agent's account at DTC) and all other documents required by the letter of transmittal are received by the exchange agent within five business days after the expiration date.

Upon request to the exchange agent, a form of notice of guaranteed delivery will be sent to holders who wish to use the guaranteed delivery procedures described above.

Withdrawal of tenders

        Except as otherwise described below, tenders of Series A Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, unless the Series A Notes have already been accepted for exchange.

        To withdraw a tender of Series A Notes, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, and before the Series A Notes have been accepted for exchange by us. Any notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the person who deposited the Series A Notes to be withdrawn, (ii) identify the

33



Series A Notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the Series A Notes), (iii) be signed by the depositor in the same manner as the signature on the letter of transmittal by which the Series A Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to have the trustee register the transfer of the Series A Notes into the name of the person who withdraws the tender, and (iv) specify the name in which the withdrawn Series A Notes are to be registered, if different from that of the depositor. All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of withdrawal notices will be determined by us in our sole discretion, and that determination will be final and binding on all parties.

        Any Series A Notes which are withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the exchange offer, and no Series B Notes will be issued with respect to those Series A Notes unless they are validly re-tendered. Any Series A Notes which have been tendered but which are not accepted for exchange or which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder without cost to the holder as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn Series A Notes may be re-tendered at any time prior to the expiration date.

Fees and expenses

        We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders pursuant to the exchange offer. The principal solicitation of tenders is being made by mail. However, solicitations also may be made by telecopy, telephone or in person by officers and regular employees of ours and our affiliates.

        We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others for soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the exchange offer. We may also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses they incur in forwarding copies of this prospectus, letters of transmittal and related documents to the beneficial owners of the Series A Notes and in handling or forwarding tenders for exchange. We will pay the other expenses incurred in connection with the exchange offer, including fees and expenses of the trustee, accounting and legal fees and printing costs.

        We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Series A Notes for Series B Notes pursuant to the exchange offer. If, however, certificates representing Series B Notes or Series A Notes for principal amounts which are not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder of the Series A Notes tendered, or if tendered Series A Notes are registered in the name of a person other than the person who signs the letter of transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any other reason, other than the exchange of Series A Notes for Series B Notes pursuant to the exchange offer, the tendering holder must pay the transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person). Unless satisfactory evidence of payment of transfer taxes or exemption from the need to pay them is submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of the transfer taxes will be billed directly to the tendering holder. We may refuse to issue Series B Notes in exchange for Series A Notes, or to return certificates evidencing Series A Notes which are not exchanged, until we receive evidence satisfactory to us that any transfer taxes payable by the holder have been paid.

Certain U.S. federal income tax consequences

        The exchange of the Series A Notes for the Series B Notes in the exchange offer should not constitute an exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) no gain or loss should be recognized by a U.S. Holder upon receipt of a Series B Note in exchange for a Series A Note; (2) the holding period of a Series B Note should include the holding period of the Series A Note for which it is exchanged; and (3) the adjusted tax basis of a Series B note should be the same as the adjusted tax basis of the Series A Note for which it is exchanged. Even if the

34



exchange of a Series A Note for a Series B Note were treated as an exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such exchange should constitute a non-taxable recapitalization for federal income tax purposes. In such a case, a Series B Note would have the same issue price as a Series A Note and a U.S. Holder would have the same adjusted tax basis and holding period in the Series B Note as it had in the Series A Note immediately before the exchange. A "U.S. Holder" means a person who is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (1) a citizen or resident of the United States; (2) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision of the United States; or (3) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

Consequences of failure to exchange Series A Notes

        If a holder does not exchange Series A Notes for Series B Notes in response to the exchange offer, the Series A Notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer described in the legend on the certificate evidencing the Series A Notes, and will not have the benefit of any agreement by us to register Series A Notes under the Securities Act. In general, notes may not be offered or sold, unless the sale is registered under the Securities Act, or unless the offer and sale are exempt from, or not subject to, the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws.

        Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary and holders should carefully consider whether to accept the exchange offer and tender their Series A Notes. Holders of Series A Notes are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making their own decisions on what action to take.

Accounting treatment

        The Series B Notes will be recorded in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the Series A Notes on the date of the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes as a result of the exchange offer. We will amortize the expenses of the exchange offer over the term of the Series B Notes.

Exchange agent

        U.S. Bank Trust National Association has been appointed as exchange agent for the exchange offer. All correspondence in connection with the exchange offer and the letter of transmittal should be addressed to the exchange agent, as follows:

BY FACSIMILE:   BY OVERNIGHT COURIER:   BY REGISTERED OR
CERTIFIED MAIL:
U.S. Bank Trust National
Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
(651) 495-8158
To Confirm Receipt:
(800) 934-6802
  U.S. Bank Trust National
Association
Corporate Trust Services
EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance
  U.S. Bank Trust National
Association
Corporate Trust Services
EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance

        Requests for additional copies of this prospectus or the letter of transmittal should be directed to the exchange agent.

35



BOOK ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM

        The certificates representing the Series B Notes will be issued in fully registered form without interest coupons.

        Series B Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A will initially be represented by one or more permanent global Series B Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons (each a "Restricted Global Note") and will be deposited with the Trustee as a custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of a nominee of such depositary.

        Series B Notes sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act will be represented by permanent global Series B Notes (each a "Regulation S Global Note"). Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Regulation S Global Note only upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Regulation S.

        Any beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note or a Restricted Global Note (each a "Global Note") that is transferred to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in a Restricted Global Note or a Regulation S Global Note, respectively, will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in the type of Global Note previously held and become an interest in the other type of Global Note and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other type of Global Note for as long as it remains such an interest.

        The Global Notes (and any Notes issued in exchange therefor) will be subject to certain restrictions on transfer set forth therein and in the Indenture and will bear the legend regarding such restrictions set forth under the heading "Notice to Investors" herein. Subject to such restrictions, QIBs or non-U.S. purchasers may elect to take physical delivery of their certificates (each a "Certificated Security") instead of holding their interests through the Global Notes (and which are then ineligible to trade through DTC) (collectively referred to herein as the "Non-Global Purchasers"). Upon the transfer to a QIB of any Certificated Security initially issued to a Non-Global Purchaser, such Certificated Security will, unless the transferee requests otherwise or the Global Notes have previously been exchanged in whole for Certificated Securities, be exchanged for an interest in the Global Notes. For a description of the restrictions on transfer of Certificated Securities and any interest in the Global Notes, see "Notice to Investors."

The Global Notes

        We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC (i) upon the issuance of the Global Notes, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount at maturity of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Notes to the respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and (ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). Such accounts initially will be designated by or on behalf of the initial purchaser and ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC ("participants") or persons who hold interests through participants. Holders may hold their interests in the Global Notes directly through DTC if they are participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such system.

        So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of the Notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture. No beneficial owner of an interest in the Global Notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC's procedures, in addition to those provided for under the Indenture with respect to the Notes.

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        Payments of the principal of, premium (if any), interest (including Additional Interest) on, the Global Notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. None of the Company, the Trustee or any Paying Agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest.

        We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, interest (including Additional Interest) on the Global Notes, will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the Global Notes as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.

        Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way through DTC's same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same day funds. If a holder requires physical delivery of a Certificated Security for any reason, including to sell Notes to persons in states which require physical delivery of the Notes, or to pledge such securities, such holder must transfer its interest in a Global Note, in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

        DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of Notes (including the presentation of Notes for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the Indenture, DTC will exchange the Global Notes for Certificated Securities, which it will distribute to its participants and which will be legended as set forth under the heading "Transfer Restrictions."

        DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a "Clearing Agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly ("indirect participants").

        Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Note among participants of DTC, it is under no obligation to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Certificated Securities

        Certificated Securities shall be issued in exchange for beneficial interests in the Global Notes (i) if requested by a holder of such interests or (ii) if DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days.

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        U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE CIRCULAR 230, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT (I) ANY DISCUSSION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS CONTAINED OR REFERRED TO IN THIS OFFERING MEMORANDUM OR ANY DOCUMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN IS NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY ANY PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED AND (II) SUCH DISCUSSION IS WRITTEN FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROMOTION OR MARKETING OF THE TRANSACTIONS OR MATTERS ADDRESSED HEREIN. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD SEEK ADVICE BASED ON THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES FROM AN INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR.


CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

        The following discussion is a summary of (i) the anticipated material U.S. federal income tax consequences expected to result from the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Series B Notes by holders who acquired the Series A Notes exchanged therefor at original issuance for the issue price (the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes is sold to purchasers other than bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity as underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) and who hold the Series B Notes as "capital assets" (generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and (ii) the material U.S. federal income tax consequences related to our election to be treated as a REIT under the Code.

        This discussion is based on the Code, current, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), and court decisions, all as of the date of this offering memorandum. The administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS upon which this summary is based include its practices and policies as expressed in private letter rulings which are not binding on the IRS, except with respect to the taxpayers who requested and received such rulings. Future legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations and practices and court decisions may affect the tax consequences contained in this summary, possibly on a retroactive basis. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, any rulings from the IRS concerning our tax treatment or the tax consequences contained in this summary, and the statements in this offering memorandum are not binding on the IRS or a court. Thus, we can provide no assurance that the tax consequences contained in this summary will not be challenged by the IRS or sustained by a court if so challenged.

        The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a holder of Notes may vary depending upon such holder's particular situation. Certain holders (including, but not limited to, banks, certain financial institutions, persons who mark-to-market the Series B Notes, partnerships or other passthrough entities, insurance companies, broker-dealers, expatriates and persons holding the Series B Notes as part of a "straddle," "hedge" or "conversion transaction") may be subject to special rules not discussed below.

        INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO OUR ELECTION TO BE TREATED AS A REIT AND THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE SERIES B NOTES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS OR TAX TREATIES.

        As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of Series B Notes that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

    a individual citizen or resident of the United States,

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    a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof,

    an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source,

    a trust, if both: (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust; and (2) one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or

    one of certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons prior to such date, that elect to continue to be treated as United States persons.

        As used herein, the term "Non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of Notes that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a nonresident alien or a corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

        Payments of Interest.    Interest payments on the Series B Notes will constitute "qualified stated interest." Accordingly, interest on the Series B Notes will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time it accrues or is received, in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        Sale, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition.    In general, a U.S. Holder of a Series B Note will recognize gain or loss upon the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of such Series B Note in an amount equal to the difference between:

    the amount of cash and the fair market value of property received in exchange therefor (except to the extent attributable to the payment of accrued interest not previously taken into income, which generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income), and

    the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in such Series B Note.

        A U.S. Holder's tax basis in a Series B Note generally will be equal to the adjusted basis of the Series A Note exchanged therefor (immediately prior to the exchange). Capital gain recognized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder through the year 2010 from the sale of a capital asset that has been held for more than one year generally will be subject to tax at a rate not to exceed 15%, whereas capital gain recognized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder from the sale of a capital asset held for one year or less generally will be subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates. Capital gain recognized by a corporate U.S. Holder will be subject to tax at the ordinary income tax rates applicable to corporations regardless of the corporation's holding period. The deductibility of capital loss is subject to limitations.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

        A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on a Series B Note (the "portfolio interest exemption") if such payments are not effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, unless such Non-U.S. Holder (i) owns directly, or by attribution, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, (ii) is a controlled foreign corporation related to us, or (iii) is a bank as to which the interest represents interest received on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, in which case such interest will be subject to a 30% withholding tax (unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable treaty). To qualify for the exemption from taxation (or the elimination or reduction of the applicable withholding tax under a treaty), the last

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United States payor in the chain of payment prior to payment to a Non-U.S. Holder (the "Withholding Agent") must have received, before payment, a statement that

    is signed by the Non-U.S. Holder under penalties of perjury,

    certifies that the Non-U.S. Holder is not a U.S. Holder, and

    provides the name and address of the Non-U.S. Holder.

        The statement may be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or a substantially similar form), and the Non-U.S. Holder must inform the Withholding Agent of any change in the information on the statement within 30 days of such change. If a Series B Note is held through a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions, the beneficial owner of the Series B Note must provide the above statement to such organization or institution and the organization or institution must provide to the Withholding Agent a certificate stating that such organization or institution has been provided with a valid IRS Form W-8BEN (or substantially similar form).

        In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any amount which constitutes gain upon sale, retirement or other disposition of a Series B Note, unless the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the Non-U.S. Holder or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder who is an individual, the Non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met. Certain other exceptions may be applicable, and a Non-U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor in this regard.

        If interest and other payments received by a Non-U.S. Holder with respect to the Series B Notes (including proceeds from a sale, retirement or other disposition of the Series B Notes) are effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States (or the Non-U.S. Holder is otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net basis with respect to such holder's ownership of the Series B Notes), such Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to the rules described above for a U.S. Holder (subject to any modification provided under an applicable income tax treaty). Such Non-U.S. Holder may also be subject to the "branch profits tax" if such holder is a corporation.

Backup Withholding

        Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be subject to backup withholding on payments of principal and interest on, and the proceeds of the disposition of, the Series B Notes, if the U.S. Holder:

    fails to furnish on a properly completed IRS Form W-9 (or substantially similar form) its taxpayer identification number ("TIN"), which, for an individual, would be his or her Social Security number,

    furnishes an incorrect TIN,

    is notified by the IRS that it has failed to report payments of interest or dividends, or

    under certain circumstances, fails to certify, under penalty of perjury, that it has furnished a correct TIN and has not been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding tax for failure to report interest or dividend payments.

        In addition, such payments of principal, interest and disposition proceeds to U.S. Holders will generally be subject to information reporting. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

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        We must report annually to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder any interest on the Series B Notes that is subject to withholding or that is exempt from U.S. withholding tax pursuant to a tax treaty or the portfolio interest exemption. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides.

        Backup withholding and other information reporting generally will not apply to payments of interest made to a Non-U.S. Holder of a Series B Note who provides a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or substantially similar form) or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Payments of principal or the proceeds of a disposition of the Series B Notes by or through a United States office of a broker generally will be subject to backup withholding and information reporting unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies its status as a Non-U.S. Holder under penalties of perjury (and certain other conditions are met) or otherwise establishes an exemption. Payments of principal or the proceeds of a disposition of the Series B Notes by or through a foreign office of a United States broker or foreign broker with certain relationships to the United States generally will be subject to information reporting, but not backup withholding.

        Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a credit against such beneficial owner's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

Taxation of iStar Financial—General

        We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1998. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in a manner which allows us to to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code and we intend to continue to be organized and operate in this manner. Our qualification and taxation as a REIT, however, depend upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, asset requirements, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, and the various other REIT qualification tests imposed under the Code. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we have operated or will continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT. See "—Failure to Qualify." Moreover, as discussed below, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the various qualification tests imposed under the Code. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operation for any one taxable year will satisfy the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code. See "—Failure to Qualify." No assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification as a REIT.

        The sections of the Code that relate to the qualification and taxation of REITs are highly technical and complex. The following describes the material aspects of the sections of the Internal Revenue Code that govern the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a REIT. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions, rules and regulations promulgated under the Code, and administrative and judicial interpretations of the Code.

        Provided we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our net taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the "double taxation" that generally results from an investment in a corporation. Double taxation means taxation once at the corporate level when income is earned and once again at the stockholder level when such income is distributed.

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        Even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, however, we will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation as follows:

    We will be required to pay tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed REIT taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.

    We may be subject to the "alternative minimum tax" on items of tax preference, if any.

    If we have: (1) net income from the sale or other disposition of "foreclosure property" which is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business; or (2) other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be required to pay tax at the highest corporate rate on this income. In general, foreclosure property is property acquired through foreclosure after a default on a loan secured by the property or on a lease of the property.

    We will be required to pay a 100% tax on any net income from prohibited transactions. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other taxable dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, held for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

    If we fail to satisfy the 75% or 95% gross income tests, as described below, but have, nevertheless, maintained our qualification as a REIT, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount equal to (1) the greater of either (a) the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or (b) the amount by which we fail the 95% gross income test multiplied by (2) a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

    If we fail to satisfy any of the REIT asset tests, as described below, by larger than a de minimis amount, but our failure is due to reasonable cause and we nonetheless maintain our REIT qualification because of specified cure provisions, we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or 35% of the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests.

    If we fail to satisfy any provision of the Internal Revenue Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT (other than a gross income or asset test requirement) and that violation is due to reasonable cause, we may retain our REIT qualification, but we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.

    We will generally be subject to tax on the portion of any excess inclusion income derived from an investment in residual interests in REMICs to the extent our shares are held by specified tax-exempt organizations not subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income. Although the law is unclear, similar rules may apply if we own an equity interest in a taxable mortgage pool. To the extent that we own a REMIC residual interest or a taxable mortgage pool through a TRS, we will not be subject to this tax. For a discussion of "excess inclusion income," see "Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Effect of Subsidiary Entities—Taxable Mortgage Pools" and "—Excess Inclusion Income."

    We will be required to pay a 4% excise tax on the amount by which our annual distributions to our stockholders is less than the sum of: (1) 85% of our ordinary income for the year; (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year; and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods.

    If we acquire an asset from a corporation which is or has been a C corporation in a transaction in which the basis of the asset in our hands is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of the C corporation, and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of the asset within the ten-year period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then we would be required to pay tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on this gain to the extent: (1) the fair market value of the asset; exceeds (2) our adjusted tax basis in the asset, in each case, determined as of the date on which we acquired the asset. The results described in this

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      paragraph assume that no election will be made under Treasury regulation Section 1.337(d)-7 for the C corporation to be subject to an immediate tax when the asset is acquired.

    We will be subject to a 100% tax on any "redetermined rents," "redetermined deductions" or "excess interest." In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of services furnished by a "taxable REIT subsidiary" of our company to any of our tenants. Redetermined deductions and excess interest represent amounts that are deducted by our taxable REIT subsidiary for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm's length negotiations.

        In addition, our subsidiaries and we may be subject to a variety of taxes other than U.S. federal income tax, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, franchise property and other taxes. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

General

        The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

    (1)
    that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

    (2)
    that issues transferable shares or transferable certificates to its owners;

    (3)
    that would be taxable as a regular corporation, but for its election to be taxed as a REIT;

    (4)
    that is not a financial institution or an insurance company under the Code;

    (5)
    that is owned by 100 or more persons;

    (6)
    not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock of which is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include certain entities, during the last half of each year; and

    (7)
    that meets other tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets, and the amount of its distributions.

        The Code provides that conditions (1) to (4) must be met during the entire year and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a year of twelve months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Conditions (5) and (6) do not apply to the first taxable year for which an election is made to be taxed as a REIT.

        We believe that we currently satisfy conditions (1) through (7) above. In addition, our charter provides for restrictions regarding ownership and transfer of our stock. These restrictions are intended to assist us in satisfying the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will, in all cases, be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in (5) and (6) above. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, our qualification as a REIT would terminate. If, however, we comply with the rules contained in applicable Treasury regulations that require us to determine the actual ownership of our shares and we do not know, or would not have known through the exercise of reasonable diligence, that we failed to meet the requirement described in condition (6) above, we would not be disqualified as a REIT.

        In addition, a corporation may not qualify as a REIT unless its taxable year is the calendar year. We have and will continue to have a calendar taxable year.

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Effect of Subsidiary Entities

Ownership of a Partnership Interest

        In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, Treasury regulations provide that the REIT is deemed to own its proportionate share of the partnership's assets and to earn its proportionate share of the partnership's gross income based on its pro rata share of capital interests in the partnership for purposes of the REIT asset and gross income tests described below. In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership generally are deemed to retain the same character in the hands of the REIT. For purposes of the 10% value test only, however, the determination of a REIT's interest in partnership assets will be based on the REIT's proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, excluding certain securities described in the Code. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and income of partnerships in which we own an equity interest are treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT asset and gross income requirements described below. Consequently, to the extent that we directly or indirectly hold a preferred or other equity interest in a partnership, the partnership's assets and operations may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT, even though we may have no control, or only limited influence, over the partnership. A summary of certain rules governing the U.S. federal income taxation of partnerships and their partners is provided below in "—Tax Aspects of Investments in Partnerships."

Qualified REIT Subsidiaries

        A "qualified REIT subsidiary" is a corporation, all of the stock of which is owned by a REIT. Under the Code, a qualified REIT subsidiary is not treated as a separate corporation from the REIT. Rather, all of the assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as the assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests described below.

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

        A "taxable REIT subsidiary" is a corporation which, together with a REIT that owns an interest in such corporation, makes an election to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary may earn income that would be nonqualifying income if earned directly by a REIT and is generally subject to full corporate level tax. A REIT may own up to 100% of the stock of a taxable REIT subsidiary.

        Certain restrictions imposed on taxable REIT subsidiaries are intended to ensure that such entities will be subject to appropriate levels of U.S. federal income taxation. First, if a taxable REIT subsidiary has a debt to equity ratio as of the close of the taxable year exceeding 1.5 to 1, it may not deduct interest payments made in any year to an affiliated REIT to the extent that such payments exceed, generally, 50% of the taxable REIT subsidiary's adjusted taxable income for that year (although the taxable REIT subsidiary may carry forward to, and deduct in, a succeeding year the disallowed interest amount if the 50% test is satisfied in that year). In addition, if a taxable REIT subsidiary pays interest, rent or another amount to a REIT that exceeds the amount that would be paid to an unrelated party in an arm's length transaction, the REIT generally will be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of such excess.

Taxable Mortgage Pools

        An entity, or a portion of an entity, may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool under the Internal Revenue Code if:

    substantially all of its assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt obligations;

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    more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgage loans or interests in real estate mortgage loans as of specified testing dates;

    the entity has issued debt obligations that have two or more maturities; and

    the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations "bear a relationship" to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that it holds as assets.

        Under Treasury regulations, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or a portion of an entity) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise "substantially all" of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a taxable mortgage pool.

        A taxable mortgage pool generally is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, special rules apply to a REIT, a portion of a REIT, or a qualified REIT subsidiary that is a taxable mortgage pool. If a REIT owns directly, or indirectly through one or more qualified REIT subsidiaries or other entities that are disregarded as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 100% of the equity interests in the taxable mortgage pool, the taxable mortgage pool will be a qualified REIT subsidiary and, therefore, ignored as an entity separate from the REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and would not generally affect the tax qualification of the REIT. Rather, the consequences of the taxable mortgage pool classification would generally, except as described below, be limited to the REIT's stockholders. See "—Excess Inclusion Income."

        If we own less than 100% of the ownership interests in a subsidiary that is a taxable mortgage pool, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the subsidiary would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and would potentially be subject to corporate income tax. In addition, this characterization would alter our REIT income and asset test calculations and could adversely affect our compliance with those requirements. We do not expect that we would form any subsidiary in which we own some, but less than all, of the ownership interests that would become a taxable mortgage pool, and we intend to monitor the structure of any taxable mortgage pools in which we have an interest to ensure that they will not adversely affect our qualification as a REIT.

Income Tests

        We must meet two annual gross income requirements to qualify as a REIT. First, each year we must derive at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including "rents from real property" and mortgage interest, or from specified temporary investments. Second, each year we must derive at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, from investments meeting the 75% test described above, or from dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities. For these purposes, the term "interest" generally does not include any interest of which the amount received depends on the income or profits of any person. An amount will generally not be excluded from the term "interest," however, if such amount is based on a fixed percentage of gross receipts or sales.

        Any amount includable in gross income by us with respect to a regular or residual interest in a REMIC is generally treated as interest on an obligation secured by a mortgage on real property for purposes of the 75% gross income test. If, however, less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC consist of real estate assets, we will be treated as receiving directly our proportionate share of the income of the REMIC, which would generally include non-qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In addition, if we receive interest income with respect to a mortgage loan that is secured by both real property and other property and the principal amount of the loan exceeds the fair market value of the real property on the date we made the mortgage loan, interest income on the loan will be apportioned between the real property and the other property, which apportionment would cause us to recognize income that is not qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

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        We may make loans that have shared appreciation provisions. To the extent interest on a loan is based on the cash proceeds from the sale or value of property, income attributable to such provision would be treated as gain from the sale of the secured property, which generally should qualify for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

        Lease income we receive will qualify as "rents from real property" only if the following conditions are met:

    The amount of lease income may not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. "Rents from real property" may, however, include lease income based on a fixed percentage of receipts or sales. Some of the leases we have entered into provide for participation or similar rights in the net cash flow of the leasee in the excess of a threshold amount. Any amount received or accrued that is attributable to any such participation or similar rights would cause all rents received or accrued by us with respect to such lease to fail to qualify as "rents from real property." We have not received or accrued and do not expect to receive or accrue any amount attributable to any participation or similar rights with respect to these leases which, together with other nonqualifying income (for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income tests) received or accrued during the same taxable year, would have caused or would cause us to violate the 75% or 95% gross income test for that taxable year.

    Lease income received from a tenant will not qualify as "rents from real property" if iStar Financial, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of iStar Financial, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of such tenant.

    Lease income attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property does not exceed 15% of the total lease income received under the lease.

    We generally may not render services to tenants of the property, other than through an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue. We may, however, provide services that are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant" of the property. In addition, we may provide a de minimis amount of non-customary services. Finally, we may provide certain non-customary services to tenants through a taxable REIT subsidiary.

        We intend to maintain our REIT qualification by monitoring any potential nonqualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests discussed above. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any year, we may still qualify as a REIT if we are entitled to relief under the Code. Generally, we should be entitled to relief if: our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and, following the identification of such failure, we set forth a description of each item of our gross income that satisfies the gross income tests in a schedule for the taxable year filed in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Treasury.

        It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to rely on these relief provisions. If these relief provisions do not apply to a particular set of circumstances, we would not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above in "—Taxation of iStar Financial—General," even if these relief provisions apply, and we retain our qualification as a REIT, a tax would be imposed with respect to our income that does not meet the gross income tests. We may not always be able to maintain compliance with the gross income tests for REIT qualification despite periodically monitoring our income.

Foreclosure Property

        Net income realized by us from foreclosure property would generally be subject to tax at the maximum U.S. federal corporate tax rate (currently 35%). Foreclosure property means real property and related personal property that: (1) is acquired by us through foreclosure following a default on a

46



lease of such property or a default on indebtedness owed to us that is secured by the property; and (2) for which we make an election to treat the property as foreclosure property.

Prohibited Transaction Income

        Any gain realized by us on the sale of any property, other than foreclosure property, held as inventory or otherwise held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be prohibited transaction income, and subject to a 100% penalty tax. Prohibited transaction income may also adversely affect our ability to satisfy the gross income tests for qualification as a REIT. Whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the particular transaction. While the Code provides standards which, if met, would not result in prohibited transaction income, we may not be able to meet these standards in all circumstances.

Hedging Transactions

        We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our assets or liabilities. Our hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including interest rate swaps or cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements, or similar financial instruments. Except to the extent provided by Treasury regulations, any income from a hedging transaction to manage risk of interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred by us to acquire or own real estate assets, which is clearly identified as such before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated or entered into, including gain from the disposition of such a transaction, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test (but generally will constitute non-qualifying gross income for purposes of the 75% income test). To the extent we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our ability to qualify as a REIT.

Excess Inclusion Income

        If we are deemed to have issued debt obligations having two or more maturities, the payments on which correspond to payments on mortgage loans owned by us, such arrangement may be treated as a taxable mortgage pool for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If all or a portion of our company is considered a taxable mortgage pool, our qualification as a REIT generally should not be impaired; however, a portion of our taxable income may be characterized as "excess inclusion income" and allocated to our stockholders. In addition, if we acquire any residual interest in a REMIC, a portion of our income derived from such residual interest may also be characterized as excess inclusion income. Any excess inclusion income:

    could not be offset by net operating losses of a stockholder;

    would be subject to tax as "unrelated business taxable income" to a tax-exempt stockholder;

    would be subject to the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding (without reduction pursuant to any otherwise applicable income tax treaty) with respect to amounts allocable to Non-U.S. stockholders (as defined below); and

    would be taxable (at the highest corporate tax rate) to us, rather than our stockholders, to the extent allocable to our stock held in record name by disqualified organizations (generally, tax-exempt entities not subject to unrelated business income tax, including governmental organizations).

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Asset Tests

        At the close of each quarter of each of our taxable years, we must satisfy four tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be real estate assets, cash, cash items and government securities. For purposes of this test, real estate assets include real estate mortgages, real property, interests in other REITs and stock or debt instruments held for one year or less that are purchased with the proceeds of a stock offering or a long-term public debt offering. In addition, any regular or residual interests we hold in a REMIC are generally treated as a real estate asset for purposes of the asset tests described above. If, however, less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC consist of real estate assets, we will be treated as holding our proportionate share of the assets of the REMIC, which generally would include assets both qualifying and not qualifying as real estate assets. Second, not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities, other than those securities includable in the 75% asset class. Third, of the investments included in the 25% asset class and, except for investments in REITs, qualified REIT subsidiaries and taxable REIT subsidiaries, the value of any one issuer's securities that we hold may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets, and we may not own more than 10% of the total vote or value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. Fourth, not more than 20% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities in one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries.

        The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries, qualified REIT subsidiaries or securities that are "real estate assets" for purposes of the 75% gross asset test described above. The 10% value test does not apply to certain "straight debt" and other excluded securities, as described in the Code including, but not limited to, any loan to an individual or estate, any obligation to pay rents from real property and any security issued by a REIT. In addition, (a) a REIT's interest as a partner in a partnership is not considered a security for purposes of applying the 10% value test to securities issued by the partnership, (b) any debt instrument issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or another excluded security) will not be considered a security issued by the partnership if at least 75% of the partnership's gross income is derived from sources that would qualify for the 75% REIT gross income test, and (c) any debt instrument issued by a partnership (other than straight debt or another excluded security) will not be considered a security issued by the partnership to the extent of the REIT's interest as a partner in the partnership.

        For purposes of the 10% value test, "straight debt" means a written unconditional promise to pay on demand on a specified date a sum certain in money if (i) the debt is not convertible, directly or indirectly, into stock, (ii) the interest rate and interest payment dates are not contingent on profits, the borrower's discretion, or similar factors other than certain contingencies relating to the timing and amount of principal and interest payments, as described in the Code and (iii) in the case of an issuer which is a corporation or a partnership, securities that otherwise would be considered straight debt will not be so considered if we, and any of our "controlled taxable REIT subsidiaries" as defined in the Code, hold any securities of the corporate or partnership issuer which: (a) are not straight debt or other excluded securities (prior to the application of this rule), and (b) have an aggregate value greater than 1% of the issuer's outstanding securities (including, for the purposes of a partnership issuer, our interest as a partner in the partnership).

        We expect that any real property and temporary investments that we acquire will generally be qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test, except to the extent that less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC in which we own an interest consists of "real estate assets." Mortgage loans will generally be qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test to the extent that the principal balance of each mortgage loan does not exceed the value of the associated real property.

        The asset tests must be satisfied not only on the last day of the calendar quarter in which we acquire securities in the applicable issuer, but also on the last day of the calendar quarter in which we increase our ownership of securities of such issuer. After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of

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any quarter, we will not lose our qualification a REIT for failure to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in asset values. If we fail to satisfy an asset test because we acquire securities or other property during a quarter, we can cure this failure by disposing of sufficient non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of the quarter. If we fail the 5% asset test or the 10% asset test at the end of any quarter, and the such failure is not cured within 30 days thereafter, we may dispose of sufficient assets (generally, within six months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure to satisfy those asset tests occurred) to cure the violation, provided that the non-permitted assets do not exceed the lesser of 1% of our assets at the end of the relevant quarter or $10,000,000. If we fail any of the other asset tests, or our failure of the 5% and 10% asset tests is in excess of this amount, as long as the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, we are permitted to avoid disqualification as a REIT, after the thirty day cure period, by taking steps, including the disposition of sufficient assets to meet the asset tests (generally within six months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure to satisfy the REIT asset test occurred), and paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or 35% of the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the relevant asset test.

        We believe that our holdings of securities and other assets will comply with the foregoing REIT asset test requirements, and we intend to monitor our compliance with such tests on an ongoing basis. However, the values of some of our assets may not be precisely valued, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset tests. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our assets do not meet the requirements of the REIT asset tests.

Annual Distribution Requirements

        To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to the sum of: (1) 90% of our "REIT taxable income"; and (2) 90% of our after tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property; minus (3) the excess of the sum of certain items of non-cash income over 5% of our "REIT taxable income." In general, "REIT taxable income" means taxable ordinary net income without regard to the dividends paid deduction.

        We are required to distribute income in the taxable year in which it is earned, or in the following taxable year if such dividend distributions are declared in October, November or December of the taxable year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified date during such period and paid during January of the following year. Such distributions are treated as paid by us and received by our stockholders on December 31 of the year in which they are declared. In addition, at our election, a distribution for a taxable year may be declared before we timely file our tax return and paid on or before our first regular dividend payment following such declaration, provided such payment is made during the twelve-month period following the close of our taxable year. These distributions are taxable to holders of common stock in the year in which paid, even though these distributions relate to our prior year for purposes of our 90% distribution requirement. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100% of our "REIT taxable income," we will be subject to tax at regular corporate tax rates.

        From time to time we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet the above distribution requirements due to timing differences between the actual receipt of cash and payment of expenses, and the inclusion of income and deduction of expenses in arriving at our taxable income. If these timing differences occur, in order to meet the REIT distribution requirements, we may need to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings, or to pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends.

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        Under certain circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure to meet a distribution requirement for a year by paying "deficiency dividends" to our stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Thus, we may be able to avoid being subject to tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required, however, to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction claimed for deficiency dividends. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed if we should fail to distribute each year at least the sum of 85% of our ordinary income for the year, 95% of our capital gain income for the year, and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods.

Recordkeeping Requirements

        We are required to maintain records and request on an annual basis information from specified stockholders. These requirements are designed to assist us in determining the actual ownership of our outstanding stock and maintaining our qualifications as a REIT.

Failure to Qualify

        In the event we violate a provision of the Code that would result in our failure to qualify as a REIT, specified relief provisions will be available to us to avoid such disqualification if (1) the violation is due to reasonable cause, (2) we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each failure to satisfy the provision and (3) the violation does not include a violation of the gross income or asset tests described above (for which other specified relief provisions are available). This cure provision reduces the instances that could lead to our disqualification as a REIT for violations due to reasonable cause.

        If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions of the Code do not apply, we will be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, and possibly increased state and local taxes, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. Unless entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost our qualification. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to statutory relief.

Tax Aspects of Investments in Partnerships

General

        We may hold investments through entities that are classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, partnerships are "pass-through" entities that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Rather, partners are allocated their proportionate shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a partnership, and are subject to tax on such items without regard to whether the partners receive a distribution from the partnership. We will include in our income our proportionate share of these partnership items for purposes of the various REIT gross income tests, based on our capital interest in such partnership, and we will include our share of partnership items in our computation of our taxable income. Moreover, for purposes of the REIT asset tests, we will include our proportionate share of assets held by subsidiary partnerships (other than for purposes of the 10% value test, for which the determination of our interest in partnership assets will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership, excluding for these purposes, certain excluded securities as described in the Code). See "—Effect of Subsidiary Entities—Ownership of a Partnership Interest" above. Consequently, to the extent that we hold an equity interest in a partnership, the partnership's assets and operations may affect our ability to qualify as a REIT, even though we may have no control, or only limited influence, over the partnership.

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Entity Classification

        The investment by us in partnerships involves special tax considerations, including the possibility of a challenge by the IRS of the status of any of our subsidiary partnerships as a partnership, as opposed to an association taxable as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If any of these entities were treated as an association for U.S. federal income tax purposes, it would be taxable as a corporation and, therefore, would be subject to an entity-level tax on its net income. In such a situation, the character of our assets and items of our gross income would change and could preclude us from satisfying the REIT asset tests (particularly the tests generally preventing a REIT from owning more than 10% of the voting securities, or more than 10% of the value of the securities, of a corporation) or the gross income tests as discussed in "—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Asset Tests" and "—Income Tests" above, and in turn could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT. See "—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT—Failure to Qualify," above, for a discussion of the effect of our failure to meet these tests for a taxable year. In addition, any change in the status of any of our subsidiary partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we could have taxable income that is subject to the REIT distribution requirements without receiving any cash.

Allocations with Respect to Partnership Properties

        Under the Code and the Treasury regulations, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for tax purposes in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with, or benefits from, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property and the adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of the contribution (a "book-tax difference"). Such allocations are solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes and do not affect the partnership's capital accounts or the other economic or legal arrangements among the partners.

        To the extent that any of our subsidiary partnerships acquire appreciated (or depreciated) properties by way of capital contributions, allocations would need to be made in a manner consistent with these requirements. As a result, we could be allocated greater or lesser amounts of depreciation and taxable income in respect of such contributed properties than would have been the case if all of the partnership's assets had been acquired in exchange for cash at their agreed upon fair market value.

State, Local and Foreign Taxation

        We may be required to pay state, local and foreign taxes in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions, including those in which we transact business or make investments, and our stockholders may be required to pay state, local and foreign taxes in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions, including those in which they reside. Our state, local and foreign tax treatment may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax consequences summarized above. In addition, your state, local and foreign tax treatment may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax consequences summarized above. Consequently, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the effect of state, local and foreign tax laws on an investment in our securities.

Possible Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

        The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to the tax law, which may have retroactive application, could adversely affect us and our investors. It cannot be predicted whether, when, in what forms, or with what effective dates, the tax law applicable to us or our investors will be changed.

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SALES OF SERIES B NOTES RECEIVED BY BROKER-DEALERS

        Each broker-dealer that receives Series B Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Series B Notes. The prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with sales of Series B Notes received in exchange for Series A Notes which were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the expiration date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. Any broker-dealers required to use this prospectus and any amendments or supplements to this prospectus for resales of the Series B Notes must notify us of this fact by checking the box on the letter of transmittal requesting additional copies of these documents.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are entitled under the registration rights agreements to suspend the use of this prospectus by broker-dealers under specified circumstances. For example, we may suspend the use of this prospectus if:

    the SEC or any state securities authority requests an amendment or supplement to this prospectus or the related registration statement or additional information;

    the SEC or any state securities authority issues any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or initiates proceedings for that purpose;

    we receive notification of the suspension of the qualification of the Series B Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose;

    the suspension is required by law; or

    an event occurs which makes any statement in this prospectus untrue in any material respect or which constitutes an omission to state a material fact in this prospectus.

        If we suspend the use of this prospectus, the 90-day period referred to above will be extended by a number of days equal to the period of the suspension.

        We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Series B Notes by broker-dealers. Series B Notes received by broker-dealers for their own account under the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on those notes or a combination of those methods, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any resales may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from the selling broker-dealer or the purchasers of the Series B Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells Series B Notes received by it for its own account under the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of the Series B Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any resale of Series B Notes and any commissions or concessions received by these persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker- dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

        We have agreed to pay all expenses incidental to the exchange offer other than commissions and concessions of any broker or dealer and will indemnify holders of the notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        The legality of the Notes will be passed upon for us by Clifford Chance US LLP, New York, New York. Clifford Chance US LLP will rely upon the opinion of Venable LLP with respect to certain matters of Maryland law.


EXPERTS

        The financial statements, financial statement schedules and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2005, incorporated in this offering memorandum by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 13, 2006 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.


INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public on the SEC's Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov.

        We are "incorporating by reference" into this offering memorandum certain information that we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this offering memorandum, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this offering memorandum. This offering memorandum incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our finances. The documents are:

    (1)
    Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

    (2)
    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006.

    (3)
    Definitive Proxy Statement dated April 30, 2006.

    (4)
    iStar Financial Inc.'s Current Reports on Form 8-K dated June 28, 2006, July 27, 2006, September 13, 2006, September 13, 2006, September 20, 2006 and November 9, 2006.

    (5)
    The description of the shares of common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A on October 5, 1999.

        Whenever after the date of this prospectus we file reports or documents under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, those reports and documents will be deemed to be part of this offering memorandum from the time they are filed. If anything in a report or document we file after the date of this prospectus changes anything in it, this prospectus will be deemed to be changed by that subsequently filed report or document beginning on the date the report or document is filed.

        We will provide to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, but not delivered with this prospectus. We will provide this information at no cost to the requestor upon written or oral request addressed to iStar Financial Inc., 1114 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036, attention: Investor Relations Department (Telephone: (212) 930-9400).

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GRAPHIC

$889,669,000 5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013
and
$500,000,000 Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009

Offer to exchange 5.95% Series B Senior Notes
due 2013 which have been registered under
the Securities Act for any and all outstanding
5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013
and to exchange Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes
due 2009 which have been registered under
the Securities Act for any and all outstanding
Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009


PROSPECTUS


                        , 2006





PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 20. Indemnification Of Directors And Officers.

        As permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland ("MGCL"), our Amended and Restated Charter ("Charter") provides that an officer, director, employee or agent of our company is entitled to be indemnified for the expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him by reason of any action, suit or proceeding brought against him by virtue of his acting as such officer, director, employee or agent, provided he acted in good faith or in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of our company and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that in any action or suit by or in the right of our company that person shall be indemnified only for the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him and, if that person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct, he shall not be indemnified unless and only to the extent that a court of appropriate jurisdiction shall determine that such indemnification is fair and reasonable.

Item 21. Exhibits And Financial Statement Schedules.

1.1   Purchase Agreement, dated September 13, 2006, by and among iStar Financial Inc. (the "Company"), Barclays Capital, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., (the "Initial Purchasers").
4.1   Indenture, dated as of September 22, 2006, by and among the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (the "Trustee"), including Form of 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013 (Incorporated by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006).
4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2006, by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
4.3   Indenture dated as of September 18, 2006, by and among the Company and the Trustee, including Form of Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2013 (Incorporated by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006).
4.4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2006, by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
5.1   Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP.
8.1   Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP as to tax matters.
12.1   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to fixed charges and Earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends.
21.1   List of subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.)
23.1   Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP (Contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
24.1   Power of Attorney (Included on signature page).
25.1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification, under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, of U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee.(1)
99.5   Form of Letter of Transmittal.
99.6   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
99.7   Form of Exchange Agent Agreement.

(1)
To be filed by amendment.

Item 22. Undertaking.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

    (1)
    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

    (a)
    To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

    (b)
    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;

    (c)
    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

    (2)
    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offering therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (3)
    To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

    (4)
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

    (5)
    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), (11) or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

    (6)
    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of an included in the registration statement when it becomes effective.


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the undersigned registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on December 15, 2006.

    ISTAR FINANCIAL INC.

 

 

By:

/s/  
JAY SUGARMAN      
Name:  Jay Sugarman
Title:    Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
             Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jay Sugarman and Catherine D. Rice, and each of them, with full power to act without the other, such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement, and any and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Name
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  JAY SUGARMAN      
Jay Sugarman
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)   December 15, 2006

/s/  
CATHERINE D. RICE      
Catherine D. Rice

 

Chief Financial Officer and Director (principal financial and accounting officer)

 

December 15, 2006

/s/  
WILLIS ANDERSEN, JR.      
Willis Andersen, Jr.

 

Director

 

December 15, 2006

/s/  
GLENN R. AUGUST      
Glenn R. August

 

Director

 

December 15, 2006

Name
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  ROBERT W. HOLMAN, JR.      
Robert W. Holman, Jr.
  Director   December 15, 2006

/s/  
ROBIN JOSEPHS      
Robin Josephs

 

Director

 

December 15, 2006

/s/  
JOHN G. MCDONALD      
John G. McDonald

 

Director

 

December 15, 2006

/s/  
GEORGE R. PUSKAR      
George R. Puskar

 

Director

 

December 15, 2006

/s/  
JEFFREY A. WEBER      
Jeffrey A. Weber

 

Director

 

December 15, 2006


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number

  Description
1.1   Purchase Agreement, dated September 13, 2006, by and among iStar Financial Inc. (the "Company"), Barclays Capital, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., (the "Initial Purchasers").

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of September 22, 2006, by and among the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (the "Trustee"), including Form of 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013 (Incorporated by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006).

4.2

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2006, by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

4.3

 

Indenture dated as of September 18, 2006, by and among the Company and the Trustee, including Form of Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2013 (Incorporated by reference to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006).

4.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2006, by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

5.1

 

Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP.

8.1

 

Opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP regarding tax matters.

12.1

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to fixed charges and Earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends.

21.1

 

List of subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.)

23.1

 

Consent of Clifford Chance US LLP (Contained in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (Included on signature page).

25.1

 

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification, under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, of U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee.(1)

99.5

 

Form of Letter of Transmittal.

99.6

 

Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

99.7

 

Form of Exchange Agent Agreement.

(1)
To be filed by amendment.



QuickLinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Return on Ideas and the iStar Financial logo are registered trade marks of iStar Financial Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.
The Exchange Offer
The Series B Notes
RISK FACTORS
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
USE OF PROCEEDS
ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
DESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES B NOTES
EXCHANGE OFFER; REGISTRATION RIGHTS
BOOK ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
SALES OF SERIES B NOTES RECEIVED BY BROKER-DEALERS
LEGAL MATTERS
EXPERTS
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 1.1

 

iStar Financial Inc.

 

$750,000,000 5.95% Senior Notes Due 2013
$250,000,000 Senior Floating Rate Notes Due 2009

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

September 13, 2006

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
And the other parties referred to in Schedule 1 hereto
c/o Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
                 60 Wall Street
                 New York, New York  10005

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

iStar Financial Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with Barclays Capital Inc., Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and the other parties referred to in Schedule 1 hereto, as initial purchasers (the “Initial Purchasers”), as set forth below.

 

Section 1.                                            The Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained, the Company proposes to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013, (the “Fixed Rate Notes”) and $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (the “Floating Rate Notes” and, collectively with the Fixed Rate Notes, the “Securities”). The Fixed Rate Notes are to be issued under an indenture (the “Fixed Rate Indenture”) to be dated as of September 22, 2006 by and between the Company and US Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The Floating Rate Notes are to be issued under an indenture, to be dated as of September 18, 2006 by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Floating Rate Indenture” and, collectively with the Fixed Rate Indenture, the “Indentures”).

 

The Securities will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), in reliance on exemptions therefrom.

 

In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum dated September 13, 2006 (the “Preliminary Memorandum”)

 



 

and has prepared a term sheet for the Fixed Rate Notes (the “Fixed Rate Term Sheet”) dated September 13, 2006 and a term sheet for the Floating Rate Notes dated September 13, 2006 (the “Floating Rate Term Sheet” and, together with the Fixed Rate Term Sheet, the “Term Sheets”), which have attached thereto a copy of the final offering memorandum dated September 13, 2006 (the “Final Memorandum”) setting forth or including a description of the terms of the Securities, the terms of the offering of the Securities, a description of the Company and any material developments relating to the Company occurring after the date of the most recent historical financial statements included therein. As used herein, “Offering Memorandum” shall mean, with respect to any date or time referred to in this Agreement, the Preliminary Memorandum, as supplemented by the Term Sheets, in the most recent form that has been prepared and delivered by the Company to the Initial Purchasers in connection with their solicitation of offers to purchase Securities prior to the time this Agreement is executed by the parties hereto. As used herein, “Applicable Time” shall mean 4:00 p.m, September 13, 2006.)

 

The Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees of the Securities will be entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed, among other things, to file a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) registering the Securities or the Exchange Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Act.

 

Section 2.                                            Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Initial Purchasers as follows:

 

(a)                                  As of the Applicable Time, the Offering Memorandum does not, and at all times subsequent thereto up to the Fixed Rate Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below) with respect to the Fixed Rate Notes and the Floating Rate Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below) with respect to the Floating Rate Notes, each a Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below), will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2(a) do not apply to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any of the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Company in writing by the Initial Purchasers expressly for use in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(b)                                 The Company has the authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Offering Memorandum. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(c)                                  The execution and delivery of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, on and as of each

 

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respective Closing Date, the Securities will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authentication by the Trustee, will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. No holder of securities of the Company has any right which has not been fully exercised or waived to require the Company to register the offer or sale of any securities owned by such holder under the Securities Act in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)                                 The execution and delivery of the Indentures have been duly authorized by the Company, and, on and as of each respective Closing Date, the Indentures will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, will be legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

(e)                                  The execution and delivery of the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company, and, on and as of each respective Closing Date, the Registration Rights Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will be a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

(f)                                    The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indentures, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, the issuance, offering and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by the Company with the other provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the other transactions herein contemplated do not (x) require the consent, approval, authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental authority, except such as have been obtained or made or such as may be required by the state securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states of the United States of America or other U.S. jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, or (y) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties are bound, or the charter documents or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(g)                                 The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery, by the other parties hereto will be the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

3



 

(h)                                 The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the law of its jurisdiction of incorporation with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum, is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified does not amount to a material liability or disability to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and has full power and authority to execute and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indentures, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities; each subsidiary of the Company is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified does not amount to a material liability or disability to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and each has full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum; all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly authorized and are fully paid and nonassessable and, except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum, are owned beneficially by the Company free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

 

(i)                                     Except for the shares of capital stock of each of the subsidiaries owned by the Company and such subsidiaries, neither the Company nor any such subsidiary owns any shares of stock or any other equity securities of any corporation or has any equity interest in any firm, partnership, association or other entity, except in connection with an investment in its ordinary course of business, or as otherwise described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(j)                                     Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any term or provision of its charter documents or by-laws, or in breach of or in default under any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the consequence of which violation, breach or default would have a materially adverse effect on or constitute a materially adverse change in, or constitute a development involving a prospective materially adverse effect on or change in, the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, properties, business affairs or business prospects, stockholders’ equity, net worth or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(k)                                  No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company

 

4



 

or any other subsidiary of the Company, and the Company is not currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends or making any other distribution on its capital stock, in each case except for restrictions upon the occurrence of a default or failure to meet financial covenants or conditions under existing agreements or restrictions that require a subsidiary to service its debt obligations before making dividends, distributions or advancements in respect of its capital stock.

 

(l)                                     PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included or incorporated in the Offering Memorandum, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(m)                               The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated in the Offering Memorandum were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein) and they present fairly the financial condition of the Company as at the dates at which they were prepared and the results of operations of the Company in respect of the periods for which they were prepared.

 

(n)                                 The Company and its subsidiaries possess all consents, licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a materially adverse effect on or constitute a materially adverse change in, or constitute a development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(o)                                 The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, licenses, know-how, copyrights, trade secrets and proprietary or other confidential information necessary to operate the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of any third party with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(p)                                 Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum (A) the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business; (B) the Company has not purchased any of

 

5



 

its outstanding capital stock; and (C) there has not been any material change in the capital stock of the Company, or in the short-term or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except in each case as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum or indebtedness incurred under the Company’s revolving credit facility to fund ordinary course investment activity.

 

(q)                                 The Company has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a materially adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it (except in any case in which the failure  to so pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect), to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(r)                                    The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all items of real property and marketable title to all personal property owned by each of them, in each case free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary, and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company or any such subsidiary are held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or such subsidiary, in each case except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(s)                                  No legal or governmental proceedings are pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Offering Memorandum and are not described therein; and no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described or incorporated in the Offering Memorandum or to be filed as exhibits to the Offering Memorandum that are not described or incorporated therein or filed as required.

 

(t)                                    Except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum, and except as would not otherwise reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance with and not subject to any known liability under applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) the Company and each of its subsidiaries has made all filings and provided all notices required under any applicable Environmental Law, (C) there is no civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for information pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, (D) no lien, charge, encumbrance or restriction has been recorded under any Environmental Law with respect

 

6



 

to any assets, facility or property owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (E) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), or any comparable law, (F) no property owned or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (i) listed or, to the best knowledge of the Company, proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under CERCLA or (ii) listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA, or on any comparable list maintained by any governmental authority, (G) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any order, decree or agreement requiring, or otherwise obligated or required to perform any response or corrective action under any Environmental Law, (H) there are no past or present actions, occurrences or operations which could reasonable be expected to prevent or interfere with compliance by the Company with any applicable Environmental Law or to result in liability under any applicable Environmental Law. For purposes of this Agreement, “Environmental Laws” means the common law and all applicable foreign, federal, provincial, state and local laws or regulations, codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to pollution or protection of public or employee health and safety or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials into the environment, (ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials and (iii) underground and aboveground storage tanks and related piping, and emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases therefrom. “Hazardous Material” means any pollutant, contaminant, waste, chemical, substance or constituent, including, without limitation, petroleum or petroleum products subject to regulation or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Laws.

 

(u)                                 Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Memorandum, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with their respective businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, and there has been no materially adverse change (including, without limitation, a change in management or control), or development involving a prospective materially adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), management, earnings, property, business affairs or business prospects, stockholders’ equity, net worth or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto).

 

(v)                                 The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither

 

7



 

the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

(w)                               The Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would reasonably be expected to have any liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (x) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (y) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the plan to not be adversely affected by such determination.

 

(x)                                   No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent that could have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum.

 

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

 

(z)                                   The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) that are adequate and effective and designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to its chief executive officer and chief financial officer by others within those entities.

 

(aa)                            Since the date of the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company has not advised its auditors, and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company have not been advised, of (i) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation  of internal controls which could adversely

 

8



 

affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data nor any material weaknesses in internal controls; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.

 

(bb)                          Since the date of the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

(cc)                            The Company is not an “investment company” and, after giving effect to the offering of the Securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

(dd)                          The Company is organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and its proposed method of operation as described in the Offering Memorandum will enable it to continue to meet the requirements for taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Code.

 

(ee)                            The Securities, the Indentures and the Registration Rights Agreement will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(ff)                                No holder of securities of the Company or any subsidiary will be entitled to have such securities registered under the registration statements required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement other than as expressly permitted thereby.

 

(gg)                          None of the Company, the subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Act) has directly, or through any agent, (i) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any “security” (as defined in the Act) that is or could be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Act of the Securities or (ii) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) in connection with the offering of the Securities or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers in Section 8 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement to register any of the Securities under the Act or to qualify the Indentures under the TIA.

 

(hh)                          No securities of the Company or any subsidiary are of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act) as the Securities and listed on a national securities

 

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exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act, or quoted in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system.

 

(ii)                                  Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on behalf of any of them has, directly or indirectly, (x) taken any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, or (y) since the filing of the Preliminary Memorandum (I) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Securities other than as contemplated by this Agreement or (II) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

 

(jj)                                  None of the Company, the subsidiaries, any of their respective Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers) has engaged in any directed selling efforts (as that term is defined in Regulation S under the Act (“Regulation S”)) with respect to the Securities; the Company, the subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers) have complied with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.

 

(kk)                            The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later of (x) each respective Closing Date and (y) the completion of the distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering of the Securities other than the Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(ll)                                  No receiver or liquidator (or similar person) has been appointed in respect of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or in respect of any part of the assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; no resolution, order of any court, regulatory body, governmental body or otherwise, or petition or application for an order, has been passed, made or presented for the winding up of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or for the protection of the Company or any such subsidiary from its creditors; and the Company has not, and no subsidiary of the Company has, stopped or suspended payments of its debts, become unable to pay its debts or otherwise become insolvent.

 

(mm)                      Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, there are no outstanding guarantees or other contingent obligations of the Company or any subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(nn)                          No event or circumstance has occurred or arisen that is reasonably likely to give rise to a requirement that the Company make additional disclosure on Form 8-K and has not been so disclosed.

 

The above representations and warranties shall be deemed to be repeated at each Closing Date. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any subsidiary and delivered to any Initial Purchaser or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed

 

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a joint and several representation and warranty by the Company and each of the subsidiaries to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby.

 

Section 3.                                            Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities. On the basis of the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers, acting severally and not jointly, agree to purchase, the Securities in the respective amounts set forth on Schedule 2 hereto from the Company at     % of their principal amount and the Securities as set forth on Schedule 3 hereto at      % of their principal amount. Two or more certificates in definitive form for the Securities that the Initial Purchasers have agreed to purchase hereunder, and in such denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as the Initial Purchasers request upon notice to the  Company at least 36 hours prior to each respective Closing Date (as defined below), shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Initial Purchasers, against payment by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer (same day funds), to such account or accounts as the Company shall specify prior to each respective Closing Date (as defined below), or by such means as the parties hereto shall agree prior to each respective Closing Date (as defined below). Such delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher& Flom LLP, 4 Times Square New York, NY 10036 at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on September 18, 2006, with respect to the Floating Rate Securities (the “Floating Rate Closing Date”) and on September 22, 2006 with respect to the Fixed Rate Securities (the “Fixed Rate Closing Date”, and each of the Fixed Rate Closing Date and the Floating Rate Closing Date a “Closing Date”) or at such other place, time or date as the Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may agree upon. The Company will make such certificates for the Securities available for checking and packaging by the Initial Purchasers at the offices of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. in New York, New York, or at such other place as Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. may designate, at least 24 hours prior to each respective Closing Date.

 

Section 4.                                            Offering by the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities at the price and upon the terms set forth in the Offering Memorandum as soon as practicable after this Agreement is entered into and as in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers is advisable.

 

Section 5.                                            Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Initial Purchasers as follows:

 

(a)                                  Until the later of (i) the completion of the distribution of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers and (ii) each respective Closing Date, the Company will not amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum or file any report with the Commission under the Exchange Act unless the Initial Purchasers shall previously have been advised and furnished a copy for a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed amendment, supplement or report and as to which the Initial Purchasers shall have given their consent. The Company will promptly, upon the reasonable request of the Initial Purchasers or counsel for the Initial

 

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Purchasers, make any amendments or supplements to the Offering Memorandum that may be necessary or advisable in connection with the resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers.

 

(b)                                 The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers in arranging for the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of which jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may designate and  will continue such qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the resale of the Securities; provided, however, that in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(c)                                  If, at any time prior to the completion of the distribution by the Initial Purchasers of the Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, any event occurs or information becomes known as a result of which the Offering Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if for any other reason it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum to comply with applicable law, the Company will promptly notify the Initial Purchasers thereof and will prepare, at the expense of the Company, an amendment or supplement to the Offering Memorandum that corrects such statement or omission or effects such compliance.

 

(d)                                 The Company will, without charge, provide to the Initial Purchasers and to counsel for the Initial Purchasers as many copies of the Offering Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

(e)                                  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as set forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(f)                                    For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Initial Purchasers copies of all reports and other communications (financial or otherwise) furnished by the Company to the Trustee or to the holders of the Securities and, as soon as available, copies of any reports or financial statements furnished to or filed by the Company with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company may be listed.

 

(g)                                 Prior to each respective Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the Initial Purchasers, as soon as they have been prepared, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(h)                                 None of the Company or any of its Affiliates will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any “security” (as defined in the Act)

 

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that could be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner which would require the registration under the Act of the Securities.

 

(i)                                     The Company will not, and will not permit any of the subsidiaries to, engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) in connection with the offering of the Securities or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

(j)                                     For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will make available at its expense, upon request, to any holder of such Securities and any prospective purchasers thereof the information specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act, unless the Company is then subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(k)                                  The Company will use its best efforts to (i) permit the Securities to be designated as PORTAL-eligible securities in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the NASD relating to trading in the NASD’s Portal Market (the “Portal Market”) and (ii) permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

 

(l)                                     In connection with Securities offered and sold in an off shore transaction (as defined in Regulation S) the Company will not register any transfer of such Securities not made in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S and will not, except in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S, if applicable, issue any such Securities in the form of definitive securities.

 

(m)                               None of the Company or any of its Affiliates will engage in any directed selling efforts (as that term is defined in Regulation S) with respect to the Securities.

 

(n)                                 For a period of two years (calculated in accordance with paragraphs (d) of Rule 144 under the Act) following the date any Securities are acquired from the Company or any of its Affiliates, none of the Company or any of its Affiliates will sell any such Securities.

 

Section 6.                                            Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i) the printing, word processing or other production of documents with respect to the transactions  contemplated hereby, including any costs of printing the Preliminary Memorandum and any Offering Memorandum and any amendment or supplement thereto, and any “Blue Sky” memoranda, (ii) all arrangements relating to the delivery to the Initial Purchasers of copies of the foregoing documents, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, the accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by the Company, (iv) preparation (including printing), issuance and delivery to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities, (v) the qualification of the Securities under state securities

 

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and “Blue Sky” laws, including filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Initial Purchasers relating thereto, (vi) expenses in connection with the “roadshow” and any other meetings with prospective investors in the Securities, (vii) fees and expenses of the Trustee including fees and expenses of counsel, (viii) all expenses and listing fees incurred in connection with the application for quotation of the Securities on the PORTAL Market and (ix) any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Securities. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 7 hereof is not satisfied, because this Agreement is terminated or because of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder (other than solely by reason of a default by the Initial Purchasers of their obligations hereunder after all conditions hereunder have been satisfied in accordance herewith), the Company agrees to promptly reimburse the Initial Purchasers upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees, disbursements and charges of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers) that shall have been incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

 

Section 7.                                            Conditions of the Initial Purchasers’ Obligations. The obligation of the Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities shall, in their sole discretion, be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions on or prior to the each respective Closing Date:

 

(a)                                  On each respective Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the opinion, dated as of each respective Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, of Clifford Chance US LLP, New York, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to the effect that:

 

(i)                                     the Company and each of its “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) have been duly organized and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation and are duly qualified to transact business as foreign corporations and are in good standing under the laws of all other jurisdictions where such counsel has been advised that the failure to be so qualified would amount to a material liability or disability to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; the Company and each of its significant subsidiaries have full power and authority to own, lease and operate their respective properties and assets and conduct their respective businesses as described in the Offering Memorandum, and the Company has corporate power to enter into this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indentures and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof and thereof and of the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities to be carried out by it; all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries, except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Memorandum, are owned beneficially

 

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by the Company free and clear of any perfected security interests or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any other security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for pledges of subsidiary stock under debt instruments;

 

(ii)                                  the statements set forth under the heading “Description of the Notes” in the Offering Memorandum, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the Securities and the Indentures, provide a fair summary of such provisions; and the statements set forth under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” in the Offering Memorandum or, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, have been reviewed by such counsel and fairly present the information called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings in all material respects;

 

(iii)                               the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company;

 

(iv)                              the execution and delivery of the Indentures have been duly authorized by the Company, and, on and as of each respective Closing Date, the Indentures will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, will be a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect);

 

(v)                                 the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and, on and as of each respective Closing Date, the Securities will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authentication by the Trustee, will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect) and entitled to the benefits of the Indentures; no holder of securities of the Company has any right which has not been fully exercised or waived to require the Company to register the offer or sale of any securities owned by such holder under the Securities Act in the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement;

 

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(vi)                              the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indentures, the Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, the issuance, offering and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by the Company with the other provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the other transactions herein contemplated do not (x) require the consent, approval, authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental authority, except such as have been obtained or made (and specified in such opinion) or such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states of the United States of America and other U.S. jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, or (y) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other material agreement or instrument, known to such counsel, to which the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries or any of their respective properties are bound, or the charter documents or by-laws of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, or any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator known to such counsel and applicable to the Company or its significant subsidiaries;

 

(vii)                           the Company is not an “investment company” and, after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds therefrom, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act; and

 

(viii)                        such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described or incorporated in the Offering Memorandum and are not described or incorporated therein or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described or incorporated in the Offering Memorandum or to be filed as exhibits to the Offering Memorandum that are not described or incorporated therein or filed as required.

 

(ix)                                commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1998, the Company was organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Code, and its method of operation, as represented by the Company will permit it to continue to so qualify.

 

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(x)                                   No registration under the Act of the Securities is required in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers as contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum or in connection with the initial resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement, and prior to the commencement of the Exchange Offer (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the Indentures is not required to be qualified under the TIA, in each case assuming (i) (A) that the purchasers who buy such Securities in the initial resale thereof are qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A promulgated under the Act (“QIBs”) or (B) that the offer or sale of the Securities is made in an offshore transaction as defined in Regulation S, (ii) the accuracy of the Initial Purchasers’ representations in Section 8 and those of the Company contained in this Agreement regarding the absence of a general solicitation in connection with the sale of such Securities to the Initial Purchasers and the initial resale thereof and (iii) the due performance by the Initial Purchasers of the agreements set forth in Section 8 hereof.

 

At the time the foregoing opinion is delivered, Clifford Chance US LLP shall additionally state that it has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, representatives of the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, at which conferences the contents of the Preliminary Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum and related matters were discussed, and, although it has not independently verified and is not passing upon and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Preliminary Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum, no facts have come to its attention which lead it to believe that the Offering Memorandum, as of the Applicable Time or at each respective Closing Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such firm need express no opinion with respect to the financial statements and related notes thereto and the other financial and accounting data derived from the Company’s books and records included in the Offering Memorandum). The opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP described in this Section shall be rendered to the Initial Purchasers at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.

 

In rendering any such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials and, as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York or the United States or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, to the extent satisfactory in form and scope to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, upon the opinion of Venable LLP. An opinion of

 

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Venable LLP shall be delivered to the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers covering matters reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers.

 

(b)                                 On each respective Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, dated as of each respective Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to certain legal matters relating to this Agreement and such other related matters as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably require. In rendering such opinion, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP shall have received and may rely upon such certificates and other documents and information as it may reasonably request to pass upon such matters.

 

(c)                                  On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from the Independent Accountants a comfort letter dated the date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers with respect to the audited and any unaudited or pro forma financial information in the Preliminary Memorandum. On each respective Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from the Independent Accountants a comfort letter dated the date of each respective Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, which shall extend to the financial information, if any, contained in the Final Memorandum and not contained in the Preliminary Memorandum.

 

(d)                                 The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Applicable Time and on and as of each respective Closing Date as if made on and as of each respective Closing Date; the statements of the Company’s officers made pursuant to any certificate delivered in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be true and correct on and as of the date made and on and as of each respective Closing Date; the Company shall have performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to each respective Closing Date; and, except as described in the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in such Offering Memorandum, there shall have been no event or development, and no information shall have become known, that, individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)                                  The sale of the Securities hereunder shall not be enjoined (temporarily or permanently) on each respective Closing Date.

 

(f)                                    Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the date hereof), none of the Company or any of the subsidiaries shall have sustained any loss or interference with respect to its business or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute, slow down or work stoppage or from any legal or governmental proceeding, order or decree, which loss or

 

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interference, individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(g)                                 The Initial Purchasers shall have received a certificate of the Company, dated as of each respective Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or any Senior Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer, to the effect that

 

(i)                                     the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Applicable Time and on and as of each respective Closing Date, and the Company has performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to each respective Closing Date;

 

(ii)                                  at each respective Closing Date, since the date hereof or since the date of the most recent financial statements in the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or  supplement thereto after the date hereof), no event or development has occurred, and no information has become known, that, individually or in the aggregate, has or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iii)                               the sale of the Securities hereunder has not been enjoined (temporarily or permanently).

 

(h)                                 On each respective Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers shall have received the Registration Rights Agreement executed by the Company and such agreement shall be in full force and effect at all times from and after each respective Closing Date.

 

On or before each respective Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have received such further documents, opinions, certificates, letters and schedules or instruments relating to the business, corporate, legal and financial affairs of the Company and the subsidiaries as they shall have heretofore reasonably requested from the Company.

 

All such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules or instruments delivered pursuant to this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers. The Company shall furnish to the Initial Purchasers such conformed copies of such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules and instruments in such quantities as the Initial Purchasers shall reasonably request.

 

Section 8.                                            Offering of Securities; Restrictions on Transfer. (a)  Each of the Initial Purchasers agrees with the Company (as to itself only) that (i) it has not and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general

 

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advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act; and (ii) it has and will solicit offers for the Securities only from, and will offer the Securities only to (A) in the case of offers inside the United States, persons whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably believe to be QIBs or, if any such person is buying for one or more institutional accounts for which such person is acting as fiduciary or agent, only when such person has represented to the Initial Purchasers that each such account is a QIB, to whom notice has been given that such sale or delivery is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, and, in each case, in transactions under Rule 144A and (B) in the case of offers outside the United States, to persons other than U.S. persons (“non-U.S. purchasers,” which term shall include dealers or other professional fiduciaries in the United States acting on a discretionary basis for non-U.S. beneficial owners (other than an estate or trust)); provided, however, that, in the case of this clause (B), in purchasing such Securities such persons are deemed to have represented and agreed as provided under the caption “Transfer Restrictions” contained in the Offering Memorandum.

 

(b)                                 Each of the Initial Purchasers represents and warrants (as to itself only) with respect to offers and sales outside the United States that (i) it has and will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which it acquires, offers, sells or delivers Securities or has in its possession or distributes any Memorandum or any such other material, in all cases at its own expense; (ii) the Securities have not been and will not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S under the Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act; and (iii) it has offered the Securities and will offer and sell the Securities (A) as part of its distribution at any time and (B) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and each respective Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S and, accordingly, neither it nor any persons acting on its behalf have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Securities, and any such persons have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.

 

Terms used in this Section 8 and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them in Regulation S.

 

Section 9.                                            Indemnification and Contribution. (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any Initial Purchaser or such controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon the following:

 

(i)                                     any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement made by the Company in Section 2 hereof;

 

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(ii)                                  any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto; or

 

(iii)                               the omission or alleged omission to state, in the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

and will reimburse, as incurred, the Initial Purchasers and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses  incurred by the Initial Purchasers or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the Initial Purchasers furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchasers through Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. specifically for use therein. The indemnity provided for in this Section 9 will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Company shall not be liable under this Section 9 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without its prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

(b)                                 Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated in the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Initial Purchaser, furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchasers through Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. specifically for use therein; and subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any legal or other expenses incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. The indemnity provided for in this Section 9 will be in addition to any liability that the Initial Purchasers may otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Initial Purchasers shall not be liable under this Section 9 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without their consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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(c)                                  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action for which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification under this Section 9, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof in writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory  to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after receipt by the indemnifying party of notice of the institution of such action, then, in each such case, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with such action the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, designated by the Initial Purchasers in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 9 or the Company in the case of paragraph (b) of this Section 9, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions) or (ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. All fees and expenses reimbursed pursuant to this paragraph (c) shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified

 

22



 

party without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless such indemnified party waived in writing its rights under this Section 9, in which case the indemnified party may effect such a settlement without such consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by any indemnified party, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of the indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)              In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 is unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and equitable  contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and any Initial Purchaser on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by such Initial Purchaser. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand, or such Initial Purchaser on the other, the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), no Initial Purchaser shall be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate exceed the total discounts, commissions and other compensation received by such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages that such Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the untrue or alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation

 

23



 

(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraphs (d), each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Initial Purchasers, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

 

Section 10.                                      Default by an Initial Purchaser. If any one or more Initial Purchasers shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Initial Purchasers hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Initial Purchasers shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Initial Purchasers) the Securities which the defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the amount of Securities which the defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the total aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Initial Purchasers shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Initial Purchasers do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Initial Purchaser or the Company. In the event of a default by any Initial Purchaser as set forth in this Section 10, each respective Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five business days, as the nondefaulting Initial Purchasers shall determine in order that the required changes in the Offering Memorandum or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser of its liability, if any, to the Company or any nondefaulting Initial Purchaser for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

Section 11.                                      Survival Clause. The respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, its officers and the Initial Purchasers set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, any of its officers or directors, the Initial Purchasers or any controlling person referred to in Section 9 hereof and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities. The respective agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 6, 9, 10, 11 and 15 hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.                                      Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the sole discretion of the Initial Purchasers by notice to the Company given prior to each Closing Date in the event that the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform all obligations

 

24



 

and satisfy all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior thereto or, if at or prior to each respective Closing Date, (a) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market shall have been suspended or materially limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been established by or on, as the case may be, the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market; (b) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (c) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred; (d) there shall have occurred (i) an outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, (ii) an outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed conflict involving the United States, or (iii) any other national or international calamity, crisis or emergency or materially adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions having an effect on the U.S. financial markets that, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Offering Memorandum, as amended as of the date hereof; or (e) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have, in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchasers, sustained any material loss or interference with their respective businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding, or there shall have been any materially adverse change (including, without limitation, a change in management or control), or constitute a development involving a prospective materially adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), management, earnings, properties, business affairs or business prospects, stockholders’ equity, net worth or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in each case as described in or contemplated by the Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). the indemnity and contribution provisions provided in Section 6 hereof and any liability arising before or in relation to such termination.

 

(a)                                  Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 10 hereof, the indemnity and contribution provisions provided in Section 9 hereof and any liability arising before or in relation to such termination..

 

Section 13.                                      Information Supplied by the Initial Purchasers. The statements set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page (as such paragraph is supplemented by the Pricing Supplement) and in the first sentence of the third paragraph, the third sentence of the fifth paragraph, the sixth paragraph and the last paragraph under the heading “Private Placement” in the Offering Memorandum (to the extent such statements relate to the Initial Purchasers) constitute the only information furnished by the Initial Purchasers to the Company for the purposes of Sections 2(a) and 9 hereof.

 

Section 14.                                      Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers, shall be mailed or delivered to (i) Deutsche Bank Securities

 

25



 

Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention:  Corporate Finance Department; (ii) if sent to the Company, shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10036,  Attention:  Chief Executive Officer; with a copy to Chief Financial Officer.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:  when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier.

 

Section 15.                                      Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Initial Purchasers, the Company and their respective successors and legal representatives, and nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained; this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Company contained in Section 9 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons who control the Initial Purchasers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Initial Purchasers contained in Section 9 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, its officers and any person or persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No purchaser of Securities from the Initial Purchasers will be deemed a successor because of such purchase.

 

Section 16.                                      APPLICABLE LAW. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY THEREIN, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

Section 17.                                      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Initial Purchaser is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Initial Purchaser has not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees

 

26



 

that it will not claim that any Initial Purchaser has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

Section 18.                                      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

iSTAR FINANCIAL INC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Catherine D. Rice

 

 

 

Name:  Catherine D. Rice

 

 

Title:     Chief Financial Officer

 

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

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

By:

/s/ Pamela Kendall

 

 

Name:  Pamela Kendall

 

Title:    Director

 

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

 

By:

/s/ Chris O’ Connor

 

 

Name:  Chris O’ Connor

 

Title:    Senior Managing Director

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By:

/s/ Nigel Cree

 

 

Name:  Nigel Cree

 

Title:    Managing Director/Debt Syndicate

 

By:

/s/ Eric Dobi

 

 

Name:  Eric Dobi

 

Title:    Director

 

 




Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of September 22, 2006

 

between

 

ISTAR FINANCIAL INC.

 

and

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

AND

 

THE OTHER INITIAL PURCHASERS
REFERRED TO HEREIN

 

as the Initial Purchasers

 

 



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of September 22, 2006 between iStar Financial Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Barclays Capital Inc., Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and the other parties referred to in Annex A hereto (each, an “Initial Purchaser” and collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated September 13, 2006, by and between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”) and other securities. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligations thereunder, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their respective direct and indirect transferees and assigns the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.

 

Closing Time” shall mean September 22, 2006.

 

Depositary” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the Company, including any agent thereof; provided, however, that any such depositary must at all times have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) covering the Registrable Securities, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 



 

Exchange Securities” shall mean the $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013 issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Notes (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid or duly provided for, from the Interest Accrual Date, (ii) provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of interest thereon upon the occurrence of a Registration Default shall be eliminated, (iii) the transfer restrictions, minimum purchase requirements and legends relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer thereof as a result of the issuance of the Securities without registration under the 1933 Act shall be eliminated and (iv) such securities will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) to be offered to Holders of Registrable Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Holders” shall mean (i) the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their respective successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture and (ii) each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of September 22, 2006, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Interest Accrual Date” means September 22, 2006.

 

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities outstanding, excluding Exchange Securities referred to in clause (ii) of the definition of “Holders” above; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities and Exchange Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) shall also be disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

NASD” shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

Notifying Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f).

 

Participating Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f).

 

Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 



 

Private Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that any Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities shall have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, (iv) such Securities have been exchanged for Exchange Securities which have been registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement upon consummation of the Exchange Offer unless, in the case of any Exchange Securities referred to in this clause (iv), such Exchange Securities are held by Participating Broker-Dealers or otherwise are not freely tradable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act (in which case such Exchange Securities will be deemed to be Registrable Securities until such time as such Exchange Securities are sold to a purchaser in whose hands such Exchange Securities are freely tradeable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act) or (v) such Securities have been exchanged for Private Exchange Securities under this Agreement (in which case such Private Exchange Securities will be deemed to be Registrable Securities until such time as such Private Exchange Securities are sold to a purchaser in whose hands such Private Exchange Securities are freely tradeable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act).

 

Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e).

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation:  (i) all SEC, stock exchange or NASD registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state or other securities or blue sky laws and compliance with the rules of the NASD (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities under state or other securities or blue sky laws and any filing with and review by the NASD), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, certificates representing the Securities, Private Exchange Securities (if any) or

 



 

Exchange Securities and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of any of the Securities or Exchange Securities on any securities exchange or exchanges or on any quotation system, (vi) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the fees and expenses of independent public accountants for the Company or for any other Person, business or assets whose financial statements are included in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (viii) the fees and expenses of a “qualified independent underwriter” as defined by Conduct Rule 2720 of the NASD (if required by the NASD rules) and the fees and disbursements of its counsel, (ix) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, any registrar, any depositary, any paying agent, any escrow agent or any custodian, in each case including fees and disbursements of their respective counsel, (x) the reasonable fees and expenses of the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Exchange Offer, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection therewith, (xi) the reasonable fees and disbursements, if any, of special counsel representing the Holders of Registrable Securities and (xii) in the case of an underwritten offering, any fees and disbursements of the underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities and the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with any Registration Statement but excluding (except as otherwise provided herein) fees of counsel to the underwriters or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company relating to any offering of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement), and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

 

Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities or Private Exchange Securities (if any), as the case may be, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained

 



 

therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

TIA” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities, the Private Exchange Securities (if any) and the Exchange Securities under the Indentures.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, (i) all references in this Agreement to any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the SEC pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”); (ii) all references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained”, “included” or “stated” in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; (iii) all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; (iv) all references in this Agreement to Rule 144, Rule 144A or Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, and all references to any sections or subsections thereof or terms defined therein, shall in each case include any successor provisions thereto; and (v) all references in this Agreement to days (but not to business days) shall mean calendar days.

 

2.                                       Registration Under the 1933 Act.

 

(a)                                  Exchange Offer Registration. The Company shall (A) file with the SEC on or prior to the 90th day after the Closing Time an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities, (B) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC no later than the 180th day after the Closing Time, (C) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer and (D) use its reasonable best efforts to consummate the Exchange Offer no later than 210 days after the Closing Time. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing such Exchange Securities) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act or under the securities or blue sky laws of the States of the United States.

 



 

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i)                     promptly mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

(ii)                  keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders and, during the Exchange Offer, offer to all Holders who are legally eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer the opportunity to exchange their Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities;

 

(iii)               use the services of a depositary with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the Exchange Offer;

 

(iv)              permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open, by sending to the institution specified in the Prospectus or the related letter of transmittal or related documents a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged;

 

(v)                 notify each Holder that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and

 

(vi)              otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.

 

If, at or prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, any of the Initial Purchasers holds any Securities acquired by it and having the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Company shall, upon the request of any such Initial Purchaser, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange for such Securities a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical (except that such debt securities shall be subject to transfer restrictions, minimum purchase requirements and shall bear a legend relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer identical to those applicable to the Securities as a result of the issuance thereof without registration under the 1933 Act and shall provide for the payment of Additional Interest) to the Exchange Securities (the “Private Exchange Securities”). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Private Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities and, if unable to do so, the Company will, at such time as any Private Exchange Security ceases to be a “restricted security” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, permit any such Private Exchange Security to be exchanged for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities. The Company shall not have any liability under this Agreement solely as a result of any such Private Exchange Securities not bearing the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.

 



 

The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities (if any) shall be issued under the Indenture, which shall be qualified under the TIA. The Indenture shall provide that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities (if any) and the Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as a single class and shall constitute a single series of debt securities issued under the Indenture.

 

As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i)                                     accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which is an exhibit thereto;

 

(ii)                                  deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange by the Company; and

 

(iii)                               cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange Securities to each Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

Interest on each Exchange Security and such Private Exchange Security (if any) will accrue from the last date on which interest was paid or duly provided for on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for on such Securities, from the Interest Accrual Date. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer, or the making of any exchange by a Holder, does not violate any applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer which, in the Company’s judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer, and (iii) that the Holders tender the Registrable Securities to the Company in accordance with the Exchange Offer. Each Holder of Registrable Securities (other than Participating Broker-Dealers) who wishes to exchange such Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent that (i) it is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) of the Company, (ii) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of business and (iii) it has no arrangement with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) of the Exchange Securities, and shall be required to make such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or another appropriate form under the 1933 Act available. To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall inform, upon the Initial Purchasers’ request, the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to whom the Exchange Offer is made and, to the extent such information is available to the Company, the names and addresses of the beneficial owners of such Securities, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and beneficial owners and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.

 

(b)                                 Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as

 



 

contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or (ii) if for any other reason (A) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 176 days following the  Closing Time or (B) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 206 days after the Closing Time (provided that if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be declared effective after such 176-day period or if the Exchange Offer shall be consummated after such 206-day period, then the Company’s obligations under this clause (ii) arising from the failure of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective within such 176-day period or the failure of the Exchange Offer to be consummated within such 206-day period, respectively, shall terminate), or (iii) if any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser holding Securities acquired directly from the Company) elects to participate in the Exchange Offer but does not receive Exchange Securities which are freely tradeable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act or (iv) upon the request of any of the Initial Purchasers within 30 days following the consummation of the Exchange Offer (provided that, in the case of this clause (iv), such Initial Purchaser shall hold Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, Private Exchange Securities) that it acquired directly from the Company), the Company shall, at its cost:

 

(A)                              as promptly as practicable, but no later than (a) the 266th day after the Closing Time or (b) the 30th day after any such filing obligation arises, whichever is later, file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement;
 
(B)                                use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than the 361th day after the Closing Time (or, in the case of a request by any of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to clause (iv) above, within 120 days after such request). In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) above, the Company shall file and use its reasonable best efforts to have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by such Holder or such Initial Purchaser, as applicable;
 
(C)                                use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years after the latest date on which any Securities are originally issued by the Company (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3) or, if earlier, when all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereunder, (ii) become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act or (iii) cease to be Registrable Securities; and
 
(D)                               notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any

 



 

Prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplements thereto comply in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
 

The Company shall not permit any securities other than Registrable Securities or other securities issued and sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or pursuant to an offer by the Company to issue its 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013 for its 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. The Company further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if reasonably requested by the Majority Holders with respect to information relating to the Holders and otherwise as required by Section 3(b) below, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as practicable thereafter and to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

 

(c)                                  Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and 2(b) and, in the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders or the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) designated in writing by the Majority Holders (or, if a Shelf Registration Statement is filed solely pursuant to clause (iv) of the first paragraph of Section 2(b), designated by the Initial Purchasers) to act as counsel for the Holders of the Registrable Securities in connection therewith. Each Holder shall pay all fees and disbursements of its counsel other than as set forth in the preceding sentence or in the definition of Registration Expenses and all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(d)                                 Effective Registration Statement.

 

(i)                     The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite periods set forth herein if the Company voluntarily takes any action that could reasonably be expected to result in any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or remaining effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities (including, under the circumstances contemplated by Section 3(f) hereof, Exchange Securities) covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that period unless (A) such action is required by applicable law or (B) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (but not including avoidance of the Company’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets or a material

 



 

corporate transaction or event so long as the Company promptly complies with the notification requirements of Section 3(k) hereof, if applicable. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the accrual of Additional Interest on any Securities or Exchange Securities.

 

(ii)                  An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof shall not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement shall be deemed not to have been effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume.

 

(e)                                  Increase in Interest Rate. In the event that:

 

(i)                     the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the 86th day following the Closing Time, or

 

(ii)                  the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 176th day following the Closing Time, or

 

(iii)               the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 206th day following the Closing Time, or

 

(iv)              if required, a Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to (A) the 266th day following the Closing Time or (B) the 30th day after the filing obligation arises, whichever is later, or

 

(v)                 if required, a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 361th day following the Closing Time (or, if a Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed upon the request of any Initial Purchaser, within 120 days after such request), or

 

(vi)              a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC but such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or such Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Registrable Securities for any reason and (A) the aggregate number of days in any consecutive 365-day period for which the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable exceeds 120 days, (B) the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for more than two periods (regardless of duration) in any consecutive 365-day period or (C) the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for a period of more than 90 consecutive days, or

 

(vii)           the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC but, if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is being used in connection with the resale of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 3(f)(B) of this Agreement, the

 



 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for any reason during the 90-day period referred to in Section 3(f)(B) of this Agreement (as such period may be extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and (A) the aggregate number of days in any consecutive 365-day period for which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable exceeds 120 days, (B) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for more than two periods (regardless of duration) in any consecutive 365-day period or (C) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for a period of more than 90 consecutive days,

 

(each of the events referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) above being hereinafter called a “Registration Default”), the per annum interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities shall be increased (“Additional Interest”) by one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum immediately following such 86-day period in the case of clause (i) above, immediately following such 176-day period in the case of clause (ii) above, immediately following such 206-day period in the case of clause (iii) above, immediately following any such 266-day period or 30-day period, whichever ends later, in the case of clause (iv) above, immediately following any such 361-day period or 120-day period, whichever ends first, in the case of clause (v) above, immediately following the 120th day in any consecutive 365-day period, as of the first day of the third period in any consecutive 365-day period or immediately following the 90th consecutive day, whichever occurs first, that a Shelf Registration Statement shall not be effective or a Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein shall not be usable as contemplated by clause (vi) above, or immediately following the 120th day in any consecutive 365-day period, as of the first day of the third period in any consecutive 365-day period or immediately following the 90th consecutive day, whichever occurs first, that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall not be effective or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein shall not be usable as contemplated by clause (vii) above, which rate will be increased by an additional one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum immediately following each 90-day period that any Additional Interest continues to accrue under any circumstances; provided that the aggregate increase in such annual interest rate may in no event exceed one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum. Upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement after the 86-day period described in clause (i) above, the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement after the 176-day period described in clause (ii) above, the consummation of the Exchange Offer after the 206-day period described in clause (iii) above, the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement after the 266-day period or 30-day period day, as the case may be, described in clause (iv) above, the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement after the 361-day period or 120-day period, as the case may be, described in clause (v) above, or the Shelf Registration Statement once again being effective or the Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein becoming usable in connection with resales of Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in the case of clause (vi) above, or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement once again becoming effective or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein becoming usable in connection with resales of Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in the case of clause (vii) thereof, the interest rate borne by the Securities from the date of such filing, effectiveness, consummation or resumption of effectiveness or usability, as the case may be, shall be reduced to the original interest rate so long as no other Registration Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing at

 



 

such time and the Company is otherwise in compliance with this paragraph; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, one or more Registration Defaults shall again occur, the interest rate shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

 

The Company shall notify the Trustee within three business days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Additional Interest shall be paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Registrable Securities, on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date to the record Holder of Securities entitled to receive the interest payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indentures. Each obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event Date.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any Holder who was, at the time the Exchange Offer was pending and consummated, eligible to exchange, and did not validly tender, its Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will not be entitled to receive any Additional Interest. For purposes of clarity, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that, under current interpretations of law by the SEC, Initial Purchasers holding unsold allotments of Securities acquired from the Company are not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer.

 

(f)                                    Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 2(a) through 2(d) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders or the Participating Broker-Dealers for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers, any Holder and any Participating Broker-Dealer may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Sections 2(a) through 2(d) hereof.

 

3.                                       Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:

 

(a)                                  prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or, if required, Registration Statements, within the time periods specified in Section 2, on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

 

(b)                                 prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period; cause each Prospectus to be

 



 

supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the disposition of all Securities covered by each Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof;

 

(c)                                  in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, at least ten business days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holders that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with the method elected by the Majority Holders; (ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder, counsel or underwriter may reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if such Holder, counsel or underwriter so requests, all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section 3, the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Holders and underwriters of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by any Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(d)                                 use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities shall reasonably request, to cooperate with the Holders and the underwriters of any Registrable Securities in connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD, to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be effective and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d) or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;

 

(e)                                  in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities and counsel for such Holders promptly and, if requested by such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing promptly (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for post-effective amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after a Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a

 



 

Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to such offering cease to be true and correct, (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (vi) of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which is contemplated in Section 2(d)(i)(A) or 2(d)(i)(B) or which makes any statement made in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which constitutes an omission to state a material fact in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus and (vii) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate. Without limitation to any other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that this Section 3(e) shall also be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein to the extent that such Prospectus is being used by Participating Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(f);

 

(f)                                    (A)  in the case of an Exchange Offer, (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (x) a “Plan of Distribution” section substantially in the form set forth in Annex B hereto or other such form as is reasonably acceptable to Barclays Capital Inc., Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. covering the use of the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by broker-dealers who have exchanged their Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities for the resale of such Exchange Securities and (y) a statement to the effect that any such broker-dealers who wish to use the related Prospectus in connection with the resale of Exchange Securities acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities will be required to notify the Company to that effect, together with instructions for giving such notice (which instructions shall include a provision for giving such notice by checking a box or making another appropriate notation on the related letter of transmittal) (each such broker-dealer who gives notice to the Company as aforesaid being hereinafter called a “Notifying Broker-Dealer”), (ii) furnish to each Notifying Broker-Dealer who desires to participate in the Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such broker-dealer may reasonably request, (iii) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a statement that any broker-dealer who holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), and who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer, may be a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (iv) subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section 3, the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Notifying Broker-Dealer in connection with the sale or transfer of Exchange Securities, and (v) include in the transmittal letter or similar

 



 

documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange Offer the following provision:

 

“If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities, it represents that the Registrable Securities to be exchanged for Exchange Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the 1933 Act;”

 

(B)                                to the extent any Notifying Broker-Dealer participates in the Exchange Offer, (i) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of 90 days (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of this Section 3) following the last date on which exchanges are accepted pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and (ii) the Company will comply, insofar as relates to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities pursuant thereto, with its obligations under Section 2(b)(D), the last paragraph of Section 2(b), Section 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(i), 3(j), 3(k), 3(o) and 3(p), and the last two paragraphs of this Section 3 as if all references therein to a Shelf Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein and the Holders of Registrable Securities referred, mutatis mutandis, to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein and the applicable Notifying Broker-Dealers and, for purposes of this Section 3(f), all references in any such paragraphs or sections to the “Majority Holders” shall be deemed to mean, solely insofar as relates to this Section 3(f), the Notifying Broker-Dealers who are the Holders of the majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Securities which are Registrable Securities; and

 

(C)                                the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(b) or 3(k) hereof, or take any other action as a result of this Section 3(f), for a period exceeding 90 days (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of this Section 3) after the last date on which exchanges are accepted pursuant to the Exchange Offer and Notifying Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to, and shall not, deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with resales contemplated by this Section 3;

 

(g)                                 (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for the Initial Purchasers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities and counsel for any underwriters of Registrable Securities copies of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;

 



 

(h)                                 use its reasonable best effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;

 

(i)                                     in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto (without documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested), if such documents are not available via the SEC EDGAR database;

 

(j)                                     in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and cause such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indentures) and in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request in writing at least one business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

 

(k)                                  in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any facts as contemplated by Section 3(e)(vi) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain at the time of such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company agrees to notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission. At such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made or the Company determines that such disclosure is not necessary, in each case to correct any misstatement of a material fact or to include any omitted material fact, the Company agrees promptly to notify each Holder of such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies of the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably request;

 

(l)                                     obtain CUSIP numbers for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed or word-processed certificates for the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;

 

(m)                               cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes, if any, to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the

 



 

TIA and (iii) execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, if any, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

 

(n)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement shall have the right to direct the Company to effect not more than one underwritten registration and, in connection with such underwritten registration, the Company shall enter into agreements (including underwriting agreements or similar agreements) and take all other customary and appropriate actions (including those reasonably requested by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in such connection, in a manner that is reasonable and customary:

 

(i)                     make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
 
(ii)                  obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
 
(iii)               obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein from the Company’s independent certified public accountants and from the independent certified public accountants for any other Person or any business or assets whose financial statements are included or incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement, each addressed to the underwriters, and use reasonable best efforts to have such letters addressed to the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with similar underwritten offerings and such letters to be delivered at the time of the pricing of such underwritten registration with an update to such letter to be delivered at the time of closing of such underwritten registration;
 
(iv)              if an underwriting agreement or other similar agreement is entered into, cause the same to set forth indemnification and contributions provisions and procedures substantially equivalent to the indemnification and contributions provisions and procedures set forth in Section 5 hereof with respect to the

 



 

underwriters and all other parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 5 hereof or such other indemnification and contributions as shall be satisfactory to the Company, the applicable underwriters and the Holders of the majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold; and
 
(v)                 deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested and as are customarily delivered in similar offerings.
 

The documents referred to in Sections 3(n)(ii) and 3(n)(v) shall be delivered at the closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder. In the case of any such underwritten offering, the Company shall provide written notice to the Holders of all Registrable Securities of such underwritten offering at least 30 days prior to the filing of a prospectus supplement for such underwritten offering. Such notice shall (x) offer each such Holder the right to participate in such underwritten offering, (y) specify a date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days following the date of such notice, by which such Holder must inform the Company of its intent to participate in such underwritten offering and (z) include the instructions such Holder must follow in order to participate in such underwritten offering;

 

(o)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by representatives of the Holders of the Registrable Securities and any underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and any counsel or accountant retained by such Holders or underwriters, all financial statements and other records, documents and properties of the Company reasonably requested by any such Persons, and cause the respective officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Persons in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(p)                                 (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such documents to the Initial Purchasers, and make such changes in any such documents prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers or their counsel may reasonably request; (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to the Initial Purchasers, to the underwriter or underwriters, of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, and to counsel for any such Holders, Initial Purchasers or underwriters, and make such changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers, any such underwriter or underwriters or any of their respective counsel may reasonably request; and (iii) cause the representatives of the Company to be available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders or any underwriter, and shall not at any time make any filing of any such document of which such Holders, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, their counsel or any underwriter shall not have previously been advised and furnished a

 



 

copy or to which such Holders, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, their counsel or any underwriter shall reasonably object within a reasonable time period;

 

(q)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Majority Holders of Registrable Securities or by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering, unless the Registrable Securities are already so rated;

 

(r)                                    otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and, with respect to each Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment, if any, thereto and each filing by the Company of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least twelve months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

(s)                                  cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel;

 

(t)                                    in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders; and make representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, or the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, available for discussion of such document; and

 

(u)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange on which similar debt securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders or by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any.

 

In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may (as a condition to such Holder’s participation in the Shelf Registration) require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing and require such Holder to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

 

In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees and, in the event that any Participating Broker-Dealer is using the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in connection with the sale of Exchange Securities pursuant to Section 3(f), each such Participating Broker-Dealer agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts of the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) through 3(e)(vii) hereof, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration

 



 

Statement until receipt by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, of (i) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof or (ii) written notice from the Company that the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, respectively, are once again effective or that no supplement or amendment is required. If so directed by the Company, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in its possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the accrual of Additional Interest on any Securities or Exchange Securities.

 

If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company shall be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement or, in the case of Section 3(f), the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, effective during such period of suspension; provided that (i) such period of suspension shall not exceed the time periods provided in Section 2(e)(vii) hereof and (ii) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable thereafter an amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or both, as the case may be, or the Prospectus included therein and shall extend the period during which the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or both, as the case may be, shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement (and, if applicable, the period during which Participating Broker-Dealers may use the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(f) hereof) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the earlier of the date when the Holders or Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions and the effective date of written notice from the Company to the Holders or Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, that the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, respectively, are once again effective or that no supplement or amendment is required.

 

4.                                       Underwritten Registrations. In the event that the Company fails to effect the Exchange Offer or file any Shelf Registration Statement and maintain the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement as provided herein, the Company shall not file any Registration Statement with respect to any securities (within the meaning of Section 2(l) of the 1933 Act) of the Company other than Registrable Securities.

 

If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney,

 



 

indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

5.                                       Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)                                  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each underwriter who participates in an offering of Registrable Securities (each, an “Underwriter”) and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, as follows:

 

(i)                     against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or any omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii)                  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 5(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

 

(iii)               against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by any indemnified party), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter with respect to such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or made in reliance upon the Statements of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustees (Form T-1) under the 1939 Act filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

 



 

(b)                                 Each Holder, each Initial Purchaser, each Participating Broker-Dealer and each Underwriter, severally but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company, each other Initial Purchaser, each other Participating Broker-Dealer, each other Underwriter and each other selling Holder and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser, any Underwriter, any Participating Broker-Dealer or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 5(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer furnished to the Company by such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer respectively, expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however, that no such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(c)                                  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 5 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)                                 If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 5(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 



 

(e)                                  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in this Section 5 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or parties or such indemnified party or parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(f)                                    The Company, the Holders, and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 5 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Initial Purchaser or Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities sold by it were offered exceeds the amount of any damages that such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

For purposes of this Section 5, each Person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, as the case may be, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The respective obligations of the Initial Purchasers, Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers and

 



 

Underwriters to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities purchased by them and not joint.

 

The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

6.                                       Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                  Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Company covenants that it will file all reports required to be filed by it under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder, that if it ceases to be so required to file such reports, it will upon the request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (i) make publicly available such information (including, without limitation, the information specified in Rule 144(c)(2) under the 1933 Act) as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, (ii) deliver or cause to be delivered, promptly following a request by any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities or any prospective purchaser or transferee designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, such information (including, without limitation, the information specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the 1933 Act) as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and (iii) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (x) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, (y) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (z) any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

(b)                                 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into nor will the Company on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not and will not in any way conflict with and are not and will not be inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any of the Company’s other issued and outstanding securities under any other agreements entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(c)                               Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure.

 



 

(d)                                 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer (other than an Initial Purchaser), at the most current address set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indentures, (ii) if to an Initial Purchaser, at the most current address given by such Initial Purchaser to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (iii) if to the Company, initially at the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d) and (iv) if to any Underwriter, at the most current address given by such Underwriter to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address initially shall be the address set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; 7 business days after being deposited in the mail, first class, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the first business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indentures.

 

(e)                                  Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indentures. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

 

(f)                                    Third Party Beneficiary. Each Holder and Participating Broker-Dealer shall be a third party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder. Each Holder, by its acquisition of Securities, shall be deemed to have agreed to the provisions of Section 5(b) hereof.

 

(g)                                 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)                                 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 



 

(i)                                     Restriction on Resales. If the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the 1933 Act) shall redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any Registrable Security or any Exchange Security which is a “restricted security” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered such Registrable Security or Exchange Security, as the case may be, to the Trustee for cancellation and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates will hold or resell such Registrable Security or Exchange Security or issue any new Security or Exchange Security to replace the same.

 

(j)                                     GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(k)                                  Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 



 

Confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written:

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

For itself and on behalf of the other Initial Purchasers

 



 

ANNEX A

 

INITIAL PURCHASERS

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

 

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

 



 

ANNEX B

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account under the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer for resales of new notes received in exchange for original notes that had been acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the expiration date of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. Any broker-dealers required to use this prospectus and any amendments or supplements to this prospectus for resales of the new notes must notify us of this fact by checking the box on the letter of transmittal requesting additional copies of these documents.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are entitled under the registration rights agreements to suspend the use of this prospectus by broker-dealers under specified circumstances. For example, we may suspend the use of this prospectus if:

 

                  the SEC or any state securities authority requests an amendment or supplement to this prospectus or the related registration statement or additional information;

 

                  the SEC or any state securities authority issues any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or initiates proceedings for that purpose;

 

                  we receive notification of the suspension of the qualification of the new notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose;

 

                  the suspension is required by law; or

 

                  an event occurs which makes any statement in this prospectus untrue in any material respect or which constitutes an omission to state a material fact in this prospectus.

 

If we suspend the use of this prospectus, the 90-day period referred to above will be extended by a number of days equal to the period of the suspension.

 

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account under the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on those notes or a combination of those methods, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any resales may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from the selling broker-dealer or the purchasers of the new notes. Any broker-dealer that resells new notes received by it for its own account under the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of the new notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any

 



 

profit on any resale of new notes and any commissions or concessions received by these persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker- dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

We have agreed to pay all expenses incidental to the exchange offer other than commissions and concessions of any broker or dealer and will indemnify holders of the notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 




Exhibit 4.4

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of September 18, 2006

 

between

 

ISTAR FINANCIAL INC.

 

and

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

AND

 

THE OTHER INITIAL PURCHASERS
REFERRED TO HEREIN

 

as the Initial Purchasers

 

 



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of September 18, 2006 between iStar Financial Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Barclays Capital Inc., Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and the other parties referred to in Annex A hereto (each, an “Initial Purchaser” and collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated September 13, 2006, by and between the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (the “Securities”) and other securities. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the Initial Purchasers’ obligations thereunder, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their respective direct and indirect transferees and assigns the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.

 

Closing Time” shall mean September 18, 2006.

 

Depositary” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the Company, including any agent thereof; provided, however, that any such depositary must at all times have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) covering the Registrable Securities, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all

 



 

exhibits thereto and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

Exchange Securities” shall mean the $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Notes (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid or duly provided for, from the Interest Accrual Date, (ii) provisions relating to an increase in the stated rate of interest thereon upon the occurrence of a Registration Default shall be eliminated, (iii) the transfer restrictions, minimum purchase requirements and legends relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer thereof as a result of the issuance of the Securities without registration under the 1933 Act shall be eliminated and (iv) such securities will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) to be offered to Holders of Registrable Securities in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

 “Holders” shall mean (i) the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their respective successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture and (ii) each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2006, by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Interest Accrual Date” means September 18, 2006.

 

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities outstanding, excluding Exchange Securities referred to in clause (ii) of the definition of “Holders” above; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities and Exchange Securities held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) shall also be disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

NASD” shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

Notifying Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f).

 

Participating Broker-Dealer” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f).

 

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Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Private Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

 

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that any Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities shall have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act, (iii) such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, (iv) such Securities have been exchanged for Exchange Securities which have been registered pursuant to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement upon consummation of the Exchange Offer unless, in the case of any Exchange Securities referred to in this clause (iv), such Exchange Securities are held by Participating Broker-Dealers or otherwise are not freely tradable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act (in which case such Exchange Securities will be deemed to be Registrable Securities until such time as such Exchange Securities are sold to a purchaser in whose hands such Exchange Securities are freely tradeable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act) or (v) such Securities have been exchanged for Private Exchange Securities under this Agreement (in which case such Private Exchange Securities will be deemed to be Registrable Securities until such time as such Private Exchange Securities are sold to a purchaser in whose hands such Private Exchange Securities are freely tradeable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act).

 

Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e).

 

Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation:  (i) all SEC, stock exchange or NASD registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state or other securities or blue sky laws and compliance with the rules of the NASD (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with qualification of any of the

 

3



 

Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities under state or other securities or blue sky laws and any filing with and review by the NASD), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, certificates representing the Securities, Private Exchange Securities (if any) or Exchange Securities and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of any of the Securities or Exchange Securities on any securities exchange or exchanges or on any quotation system, (vi) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the fees and expenses of independent public accountants for the Company or for any other Person, business or assets whose financial statements are included in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (viii) the fees and expenses of a “qualified independent underwriter” as defined by Conduct Rule 2720 of the NASD (if required by the NASD rules) and the fees and disbursements of its counsel, (ix) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, any registrar, any depositary, any paying agent, any escrow agent or any custodian, in each case including fees and disbursements of their respective counsel, (x) the reasonable fees and expenses of the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Exchange Offer, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection therewith, (xi) the reasonable fees and disbursements, if any, of special counsel representing the Holders of Registrable Securities and (xii) in the case of an underwritten offering, any fees and disbursements of the underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities and the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with any Registration Statement but excluding (except as otherwise provided herein) fees of counsel to the underwriters or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

 

Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company relating to any offering of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement), and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

 

4



 

Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities or Private Exchange Securities (if any), as the case may be, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

TIA” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities, the Private Exchange Securities (if any) and the Exchange Securities under the Indentures.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, (i) all references in this Agreement to any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the SEC pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”); (ii) all references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained”, “included” or “stated” in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; (iii) all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; (iv) all references in this Agreement to Rule 144, Rule 144A or Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, and all references to any sections or subsections thereof or terms defined therein, shall in each case include any successor provisions thereto; and (v) all references in this Agreement to days (but not to business days) shall mean calendar days.

 

2.                                       Registration Under the 1933 Act.

 

(a)                                  Exchange Offer Registration. The Company shall (A) file with the SEC on or prior to the 90th day after the Closing Time an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer by the Company to the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities, (B) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC no later than the 180th day after the Closing Time, (C) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to remain effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer and (D) use its reasonable best efforts to consummate the Exchange Offer no later than 210 days after the Closing Time. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405

 

5



 

under the 1933 Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing such Exchange Securities) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act or under the securities or blue sky laws of the States of the United States.

 

In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i)                     promptly mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

(ii)                  keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders and, during the Exchange Offer, offer to all Holders who are legally eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer the opportunity to exchange their Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities;

 

(iii)               use the services of a depositary with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the Exchange Offer;

 

(iv)              permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York City time, on the last business day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open, by sending to the institution specified in the Prospectus or the related letter of transmittal or related documents a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged;

 

(v)                 notify each Holder that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and

 

(vi)              otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.

 

If, at or prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, any of the Initial Purchasers holds any Securities acquired by it and having the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Company shall, upon the request of any such Initial Purchaser, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange for such Securities a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company that are identical (except that such debt securities shall be subject to transfer restrictions, minimum purchase requirements and shall bear a legend relating to restrictions on ownership and transfer identical to those applicable to the Securities as a result of the issuance thereof without registration under the 1933 Act and shall provide for the payment of Additional Interest) to the Exchange Securities (the “Private Exchange Securities”). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Private Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number

 

6



 

as the Exchange Securities and, if unable to do so, the Company will, at such time as any Private Exchange Security ceases to be a “restricted security” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, permit any such Private Exchange Security to be exchanged for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities. The Company shall not have any liability under this Agreement solely as a result of any such Private Exchange Securities not bearing the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.

 

The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities (if any) shall be issued under the Indenture, which shall be qualified under the TIA. The Indenture shall provide that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities (if any) and the Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as a single class and shall constitute a single series of debt securities issued under the Indenture.

 

As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i)                                     accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which is an exhibit thereto;

 

(ii)                                  deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange by the Company; and

 

(iii)                               cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange Securities to each Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

Interest on each Exchange Security and such Private Exchange Security (if any) will accrue from the last date on which interest was paid or duly provided for on the Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for on such Securities, from the Interest Accrual Date. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer, or the making of any exchange by a Holder, does not violate any applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer which, in the Company’s judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer, and (iii) that the Holders tender the Registrable Securities to the Company in accordance with the Exchange Offer. Each Holder of Registrable Securities (other than Participating Broker-Dealers) who wishes to exchange such Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to represent that (i) it is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) of the Company, (ii) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of business and (iii) it has no arrangement with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) of the Exchange Securities, and shall be required to make such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or another appropriate form under the 1933 Act available. To the extent permitted

 

7



 

by law, the Company shall inform, upon the Initial Purchasers’ request, the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to whom the Exchange Offer is made and, to the extent such information is available to the Company, the names and addresses of the beneficial owners of such Securities, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and beneficial owners and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.

 

(b)                                 Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, or (ii) if for any other reason (A) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days following the  Closing Time or (B) the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 210 days after the Closing Time (provided that if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall be declared effective after such 180-day period or if the Exchange Offer shall be consummated after such 210-day period, then the Company’s obligations under this clause (ii) arising from the failure of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective within such 180-day period or the failure of the Exchange Offer to be consummated within such 210-day period, respectively, shall terminate), or (iii) if any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser holding Securities acquired directly from the Company) elects to participate in the Exchange Offer but does not receive Exchange Securities which are freely tradeable without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act or (iv) upon the request of any of the Initial Purchasers within 30 days following the consummation of the Exchange Offer (provided that, in the case of this clause (iv), such Initial Purchaser shall hold Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, Private Exchange Securities) that it acquired directly from the Company), the Company shall, at its cost:

 

(A)                              as promptly as practicable, but no later than (a) the 270th day after the Closing Time or (b) the 30th day after any such filing obligation arises, whichever is later, file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement;
 
(B)                                use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than the 365th day after the Closing Time (or, in the case of a request by any of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to clause (iv) above, within 120 days after such request). In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) above, the Company shall file and use its reasonable best efforts to have declared effective by the SEC both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by such Holder or such Initial Purchaser, as applicable;
 
(C)                                use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years after

 

8



 

the latest date on which any Securities are originally issued by the Company (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3) or, if earlier, when all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereunder, (ii) become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act or (iii) cease to be Registrable Securities; and
 
(D)                               notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming a part thereof and any supplements thereto comply in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
 

The Company shall not permit any securities other than Registrable Securities or other securities issued and sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or pursuant to an offer by the Company to issue its 5.95% Senior Notes due 2013 for its 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008. to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. The Company further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement if reasonably requested by the Majority Holders with respect to information relating to the Holders and otherwise as required by Section 3(b) below, to use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf Registration Statement to become usable as soon as practicable thereafter and to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

 

(c)                                  Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) and 2(b) and, in the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders or the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) designated in writing by the Majority Holders (or, if a Shelf Registration Statement is filed solely pursuant to clause (iv) of the first paragraph of Section 2(b), designated by the Initial Purchasers) to act as counsel for the Holders of the Registrable Securities in connection therewith. Each Holder shall pay all fees and disbursements of its counsel other than as set forth in the preceding sentence or in the definition of Registration Expenses and all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(d)                                 Effective Registration Statement.

 

(i)                     The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any Shelf Registration Statement,

 

9



 

as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite periods set forth herein if the Company voluntarily takes any action that could reasonably be expected to result in any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or remaining effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities (including, under the circumstances contemplated by Section 3(f) hereof, Exchange Securities) covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that period unless (A) such action is required by applicable law or (B) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (but not including avoidance of the Company’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets or a material corporate transaction or event so long as the Company promptly complies with the notification requirements of Section 3(k) hereof, if applicable. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the accrual of Additional Interest on any Securities or Exchange Securities.

 

(ii)                  An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof shall not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement shall be deemed not to have been effective during the period of such interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume.

 

(e)                                  Increase in Interest Rate. In the event that:

 

(i)                     the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the 90th day following the Closing Time, or

 

(ii)                  the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the 180th day following the Closing Time, or

 

(iii)               the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 210th day following the Closing Time, or

 

(iv)              if required, a Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to (A) the 270th day following the Closing Time or (B) the 30th day after the filing obligation arises, whichever is later, or

 

(v)                 if required, a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the 365th day following the Closing Time (or, if a Shelf Registration Statement is required to be filed upon the request of any Initial Purchaser, within 120 days after such request), or

 

(vi)              a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC but such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or such Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Registrable Securities for any reason and (A) the aggregate number of days in any

 

10



 

consecutive 365-day period for which the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable exceeds 120 days, (B) the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for more than two periods (regardless of duration) in any consecutive 365-day period or (C) the Shelf Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for a period of more than 90 consecutive days, or

 

(vii)           the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC but, if the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is being used in connection with the resale of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 3(f)(B) of this Agreement, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein ceases to be usable in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for any reason during the 90-day period referred to in Section 3(f)(B) of this Agreement (as such period may be extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and (A) the aggregate number of days in any consecutive 365-day period for which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable exceeds 120 days, (B) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or such Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for more than two periods (regardless of duration) in any consecutive 365-day period or (C) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall not be effective or usable for a period of more than 90 consecutive days,

 

(each of the events referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) above being hereinafter called a “Registration Default”), the per annum interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities shall be increased (“Additional Interest”) by one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum immediately following such 90-day period in the case of clause (i) above, immediately following such 180-day period in the case of clause (ii) above, immediately following such 210-day period in the case of clause (iii) above, immediately following any such 270-day period or 30-day period, whichever ends later, in the case of clause (iv) above, immediately following any such 365-day period or 120-day period, whichever ends first, in the case of clause (v) above, immediately following the 120th day in any consecutive 365-day period, as of the first day of the third period in any consecutive 365-day period or immediately following the 90th consecutive day, whichever occurs first, that a Shelf Registration Statement shall not be effective or a Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein shall not be usable as contemplated by clause (vi) above, or immediately following the 120th day in any consecutive 365-day period, as of the first day of the third period in any consecutive 365-day period or immediately following the 90th consecutive day, whichever occurs first, that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement shall not be effective or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein shall not be usable as contemplated by clause (vii) above, which rate will be increased by an additional one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum immediately following each 90-day period that any Additional Interest continues to accrue under any circumstances; provided that the aggregate increase in such annual interest rate may in no event exceed one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum. Upon the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement after the 90-day period described in clause (i) above, the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement after the 180-day period described in clause (ii) above, the consummation of the Exchange Offer after the 210-day period described in clause (iii) above, the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement after the 270-day period or 30-day period day, as the case may be,

 

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described in clause (iv) above, the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement after the 365-day period or 120-day period, as the case may be, described in clause (v) above, or the Shelf Registration Statement once again being effective or the Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein becoming usable in connection with resales of Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in the case of clause (vi) above, or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement once again becoming effective or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein becoming usable in connection with resales of Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in the case of clause (vii) thereof, the interest rate borne by the Securities from the date of such filing, effectiveness, consummation or resumption of effectiveness or usability, as the case may be, shall be reduced to the original interest rate so long as no other Registration Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing at such time and the Company is otherwise in compliance with this paragraph; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, one or more Registration Defaults shall again occur, the interest rate shall again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

 

The Company shall notify the Trustee within three business days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Additional Interest shall be paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Registrable Securities, on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date to the record Holder of Securities entitled to receive the interest payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indentures. Each obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event Date.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any Holder who was, at the time the Exchange Offer was pending and consummated, eligible to exchange, and did not validly tender, its Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will not be entitled to receive any Additional Interest. For purposes of clarity, it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that, under current interpretations of law by the SEC, Initial Purchasers holding unsold allotments of Securities acquired from the Company are not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer.

 

(f)                                    Specific Enforcement. Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Sections 2(a) through 2(d) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers, the Holders or the Participating Broker-Dealers for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers, any Holder and any Participating Broker-Dealer may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Sections 2(a) through 2(d) hereof.

 

3.                                       Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:

 

(a)                                  prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or, if required, Registration Statements, within the time periods specified in Section 2, on the appropriate

 

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form under the 1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

 

(b)                                 prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period; cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; and comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the disposition of all Securities covered by each Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof;

 

(c)                                  in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities, at least ten business days prior to filing, that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is being filed and advising such Holders that the distribution of Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with the method elected by the Majority Holders; (ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for the Holders and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder, counsel or underwriter may reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if such Holder, counsel or underwriter so requests, all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section 3, the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Holders and underwriters of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by any Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

 

(d)                                 use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities shall reasonably request, to cooperate with the Holders and the underwriters of any Registrable Securities in connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD, to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be effective and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in

 

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securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d) or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not then so subject;

 

(e)                                  in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of Registrable Securities and counsel for such Holders promptly and, if requested by such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing promptly (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for post-effective amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after a Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if between the effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to such offering cease to be true and correct, (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (vi) of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which is contemplated in Section 2(d)(i)(A) or 2(d)(i)(B) or which makes any statement made in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which constitutes an omission to state a material fact in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus and (vii) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate. Without limitation to any other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees that this Section 3(e) shall also be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein to the extent that such Prospectus is being used by Participating Broker-Dealers as contemplated by Section 3(f);

 

(f)                                    (A)  in the case of an Exchange Offer, (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (x) a “Plan of Distribution” section substantially in the form set forth in Annex B hereto or other such form as is reasonably acceptable to Barclays Capital Inc., Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. covering the use of the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement by broker-dealers who have exchanged their Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities for the resale of such Exchange Securities and (y) a statement to the effect that any such broker-dealers who wish to use the related Prospectus in connection with the resale of Exchange Securities acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities will be required to notify the Company to that effect, together with instructions for giving such notice (which instructions shall include a provision for giving such notice by checking a box or making another appropriate notation on the related letter of transmittal) (each such broker-dealer who gives notice to the Company as aforesaid being hereinafter called a “Notifying Broker-Dealer”), (ii) furnish to each Notifying Broker-Dealer who desires to participate in the Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus

 

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included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such broker-dealer may reasonably request, (iii) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a statement that any broker-dealer who holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”), and who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer, may be a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (iv) subject to the penultimate paragraph of this Section 3, the Company hereby consents to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Notifying Broker-Dealer in connection with the sale or transfer of Exchange Securities, and (v) include in the transmittal letter or similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange Offer the following provision:

 

“If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities, it represents that the Registrable Securities to be exchanged for Exchange Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the 1933 Act;”

 

(B)                                to the extent any Notifying Broker-Dealer participates in the Exchange Offer, (i) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of 90 days (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of this Section 3) following the last date on which exchanges are accepted pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and (ii) the Company will comply, insofar as relates to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities pursuant thereto, with its obligations under Section 2(b)(D), the last paragraph of Section 2(b), Section 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(i), 3(j), 3(k), 3(o) and 3(p), and the last two paragraphs of this Section 3 as if all references therein to a Shelf Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein and the Holders of Registrable Securities referred, mutatis mutandis, to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Prospectus included therein and the applicable Notifying Broker-Dealers and, for purposes of this Section 3(f), all references in any such paragraphs or sections to the “Majority Holders” shall be deemed to mean, solely insofar as relates to this Section 3(f), the Notifying Broker-Dealers who are the Holders of the majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Securities which are Registrable Securities; and

 

(C)                                the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as would otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(b) or 3(k) hereof, or take any other action as a result of this

 

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Section 3(f), for a period exceeding 90 days (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of this Section 3) after the last date on which exchanges are accepted pursuant to the Exchange Offer and Notifying Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to, and shall not, deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with resales contemplated by this Section 3;

 

(g)                                 (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, furnish counsel for the Initial Purchasers and (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities and counsel for any underwriters of Registrable Securities copies of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(h)                                 use its reasonable best effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order;

 

(i)                                     in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto (without documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested), if such documents are not available via the SEC EDGAR database;

 

(j)                                     in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and cause such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indentures) and in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary and registered in such names as the selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, may reasonably request in writing at least one business day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

 

(k)                                  in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any facts as contemplated by Section 3(e)(vi) hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain at the time of such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company agrees to notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and each Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission. At such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made or the Company determines that such disclosure is not necessary, in each case to correct any misstatement of a material fact or to include any omitted material fact, the Company agrees promptly to notify each

 

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Holder of such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies of the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably request;

 

(l)                                     obtain CUSIP numbers for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed or word-processed certificates for the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;

 

(m)                               cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes, if any, to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and (iii) execute, and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, if any, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

 

(n)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement shall have the right to direct the Company to effect not more than one underwritten registration and, in connection with such underwritten registration, the Company shall enter into agreements (including underwriting agreements or similar agreements) and take all other customary and appropriate actions (including those reasonably requested by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in such connection, in a manner that is reasonable and customary:

 

(i)                     make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
 
(ii)                  obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters, and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;
 
(iii)               obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement and the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein from the Company’s independent certified public accountants and from the independent certified public accountants for any other Person or any business or assets whose financial statements are included or

 

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incorporated by reference in the Shelf Registration Statement, each addressed to the underwriters, and use reasonable best efforts to have such letters addressed to the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with similar underwritten offerings and such letters to be delivered at the time of the pricing of such underwritten registration with an update to such letter to be delivered at the time of closing of such underwritten registration;
 
(iv)              if an underwriting agreement or other similar agreement is entered into, cause the same to set forth indemnification and contributions provisions and procedures substantially equivalent to the indemnification and contributions provisions and procedures set forth in Section 5 hereof with respect to the underwriters and all other parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 5 hereof or such other indemnification and contributions as shall be satisfactory to the Company, the applicable underwriters and the Holders of the majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold; and
 
(v)                 deliver such other documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested and as are customarily delivered in similar offerings.
 

The documents referred to in Sections 3(n)(ii) and 3(n)(v) shall be delivered at the closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder. In the case of any such underwritten offering, the Company shall provide written notice to the Holders of all Registrable Securities of such underwritten offering at least 30 days prior to the filing of a prospectus supplement for such underwritten offering. Such notice shall (x) offer each such Holder the right to participate in such underwritten offering, (y) specify a date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days following the date of such notice, by which such Holder must inform the Company of its intent to participate in such underwritten offering and (z) include the instructions such Holder must follow in order to participate in such underwritten offering;

 

(o)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by representatives of the Holders of the Registrable Securities and any underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and any counsel or accountant retained by such Holders or underwriters, all financial statements and other records, documents and properties of the Company reasonably requested by any such Persons, and cause the respective officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Persons in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;

 

(p)                                 (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such documents to the Initial Purchasers, and make such changes in any such documents prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers or their counsel may reasonably request; (ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable

 

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time prior to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to the Initial Purchasers, to the underwriter or underwriters, of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, and to counsel for any such Holders, Initial Purchasers or underwriters, and make such changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers, any such underwriter or underwriters or any of their respective counsel may reasonably request; and (iii) cause the representatives of the Company to be available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders or any underwriter, and shall not at any time make any filing of any such document of which such Holders, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, their counsel or any underwriter shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which such Holders, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, their counsel or any underwriter shall reasonably object within a reasonable time period;

 

(q)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by the Majority Holders of Registrable Securities or by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering, unless the Registrable Securities are already so rated;

 

(r)                                    otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and, with respect to each Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment, if any, thereto and each filing by the Company of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least twelve months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

(s)                                  cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the NASD and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter and its counsel;

 

(t)                                    in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders; and make representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, or the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, available for discussion of such document; and

 

(u)                                 in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange on which similar debt securities issued by the Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders or by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any.

 

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In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may (as a condition to such Holder’s participation in the Shelf Registration) require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing and require such Holder to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

 

In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees and, in the event that any Participating Broker-Dealer is using the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in connection with the sale of Exchange Securities pursuant to Section 3(f), each such Participating Broker-Dealer agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts of the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) through 3(e)(vii) hereof, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until receipt by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, of (i) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof or (ii) written notice from the Company that the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, respectively, are once again effective or that no supplement or amendment is required. If so directed by the Company, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in its possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the accrual of Additional Interest on any Securities or Exchange Securities.

 

If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company shall be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement or, in the case of Section 3(f), the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as the case may be, effective during such period of suspension; provided that (i) such period of suspension shall not exceed the time periods provided in Section 2(e)(vii) hereof and (ii) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file and have declared effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable thereafter an amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or both, as the case may be, or the Prospectus included therein and shall extend the period during which the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or both, as the case may be, shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement (and, if applicable, the period during which Participating Broker-Dealers may use the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(f) hereof) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the earlier of the date when the Holders or Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions and the effective date of written notice from the Company to the Holders or Participating Broker-Dealers, respectively, that the Shelf Registration Statement or the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, respectively, are once again effective or that no supplement or amendment is required.

 

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4.                                       Underwritten Registrations. In the event that the Company fails to effect the Exchange Offer or file any Shelf Registration Statement and maintain the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement as provided herein, the Company shall not file any Registration Statement with respect to any securities (within the meaning of Section 2(l) of the 1933 Act) of the Company other than Registrable Securities.

 

If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of such Registrable Securities included in such offering, subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

5.                                       Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)                                  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each underwriter who participates in an offering of Registrable Securities (each, an “Underwriter”) and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, as follows:

 

(i)                     against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or any omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii)                  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 5(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

 

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(iii)               against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by any indemnified party), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter with respect to such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or made in reliance upon the Statements of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustees (Form T-1) under the 1939 Act filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

 

(b)                                 Each Holder, each Initial Purchaser, each Participating Broker-Dealer and each Underwriter, severally but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company, each other Initial Purchaser, each other Participating Broker-Dealer, each other Underwriter and each other selling Holder and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser, any Underwriter, any Participating Broker-Dealer or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 5(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer furnished to the Company by such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer respectively, expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided, however, that no such Holder, Initial Purchaser, Underwriter or Participating Broker-Dealer shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(c)                                  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out

 

22



 

of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 5 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)                                 If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 5(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

(e)                                  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in this Section 5 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or parties or such indemnified party or parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(f)                                    The Company, the Holders, and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 5 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

23



 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Initial Purchaser or Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities sold by it were offered exceeds the amount of any damages that such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

For purposes of this Section 5, each Person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, as the case may be, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The respective obligations of the Initial Purchasers, Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers and Underwriters to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities purchased by them and not joint.

 

The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser, Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

6.                                       Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                  Rule 144 and Rule 144A. For so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the 1934 Act, the Company covenants that it will file all reports required to be filed by it under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder, that if it ceases to be so required to file such reports, it will upon the request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (i) make publicly available such information (including, without limitation, the information specified in Rule 144(c)(2) under the 1933 Act) as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, (ii) deliver or cause to be delivered, promptly following a request by any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities or any prospective purchaser or transferee designated by such Holder or beneficial owner, such information (including, without limitation, the information specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the 1933 Act) as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and (iii) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (x) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from

 

24



 

time to time, (y) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (z) any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

(b)                                 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into nor will the Company on or after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not and will not in any way conflict with and are not and will not be inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any of the Company’s other issued and outstanding securities under any other agreements entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                  Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure.

 

(d)                                 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer (other than an Initial Purchaser), at the most current address set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indentures, (ii) if to an Initial Purchaser, at the most current address given by such Initial Purchaser to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (iii) if to the Company, initially at the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d) and (iv) if to any Underwriter, at the most current address given by such Underwriter to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address initially shall be the address set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; 7 business days after being deposited in the mail, first class, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the first business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

 

Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indentures.

 

(e)                                  Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indentures. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by

 

25



 

operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

 

(f)                                    Third Party Beneficiary. Each Holder and Participating Broker-Dealer shall be a third party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder. Each Holder, by its acquisition of Securities, shall be deemed to have agreed to the provisions of Section 5(b) hereof.

 

(g)                                 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(h)                                 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i)                                     Restriction on Resales. If the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the 1933 Act) shall redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any Registrable Security or any Exchange Security which is a “restricted security” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered such Registrable Security or Exchange Security, as the case may be, to the Trustee for cancellation and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates will hold or resell such Registrable Security or Exchange Security or issue any new Security or Exchange Security to replace the same.

 

(j)                                     GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(k)                                  Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

26



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 



 

Confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above written:

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

BEAR STEARNS & CO. INC.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

For itself and on behalf of the other Initial Purchasers

 



 

ANNEX A

 

INITIAL PURCHASERS

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

 

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

 

RBC Capital Markets Corporation

 

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

 



 

ANNEX B

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account under the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer for resales of new notes received in exchange for original notes that had been acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the expiration date of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. Any broker-dealers required to use this prospectus and any amendments or supplements to this prospectus for resales of the new notes must notify us of this fact by checking the box on the letter of transmittal requesting additional copies of these documents.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are entitled under the registration rights agreements to suspend the use of this prospectus by broker-dealers under specified circumstances. For example, we may suspend the use of this prospectus if:

 

                  the SEC or any state securities authority requests an amendment or supplement to this prospectus or the related registration statement or additional information;

 

                  the SEC or any state securities authority issues any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or initiates proceedings for that purpose;

 

                  we receive notification of the suspension of the qualification of the new notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose;

 

                  the suspension is required by law; or

 

                  an event occurs which makes any statement in this prospectus untrue in any material respect or which constitutes an omission to state a material fact in this prospectus.

 

If we suspend the use of this prospectus, the 90-day period referred to above will be extended by a number of days equal to the period of the suspension.

 

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account under the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on those notes or a combination of those methods, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any resales may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from the selling broker-dealer or the purchasers of the new notes. Any broker-dealer that resells new notes received by it for its own account under the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that

 



 

participates in a distribution of the new notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any resale of new notes and any commissions or concessions received by these persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker- dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

We have agreed to pay all expenses incidental to the exchange offer other than commissions and concessions of any broker or dealer and will indemnify holders of the notes, including any broker-dealers, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 




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EXHIBIT 5.1


[LETTERHEAD OF CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP]

December 15, 2006

iStar Financial Inc.
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, New York 10036

Dear Sirs:

        We have acted as counsel to iStar Financial Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the Company's offer to exchange $889,669,000 principal amount of its 5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013 (the "2013 Series B Notes") for a like principal amount of the Company's 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013 (the "2013 Series A Notes"), and $500,000,000 principal amount of its Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (the "2009 Series B Notes", together with the 2013 Series B Notes, the "Series B Notes") for a like principal amount of the Company's Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (the "2009 Series A Notes," together with the 2013 Series A Notes, the "Series A Notes.") The exchange offer is being made pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In that capacity, we are familiar with the proceedings, corporate and other, relating to the authorization and issuance of the Series B Notes and the Series A Notes.

        Based upon the foregoing, and such other examination of law and fact as we have deemed necessary, we are of the opinion that when issued in exchange for a like principal amount of Series A Notes in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Series B Notes will have been legally issued and will be binding obligations of the Company.

        We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption "Legal Opinions" in the prospectus that is a part of the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Clifford Chance US LLP




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[LETTERHEAD OF CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP]

EXHIBIT 8.1

 

 

 

[LETTERHEAD OF CLIFFORD CHANCE US LLP]

 

 

December 15, 2006

 

 

iStar Financial Inc.
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, New York 10036

 

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to iStar Financial Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s offer to exchange $889,669,000 principal amount of its 5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013 for a like principal amount of the Company’s 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013, and $500,000,000 principal amount of its Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 fore a like principal amount of the Company’s Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009. The exchange offer is being made pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  In connection with the Registration Statement, we have requested your opinion with respect to certain U.S. federal income tax matters.  Except as otherwise indicated, terms used in this letter have the meanings ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.

 

In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have examined and relied upon such documents, records and instruments as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us to render the opinion referred to in this letter.  In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed, with your consent, that (i) all documents reviewed by us are original documents, or true and accurate copies of original documents, and have not been subsequently amended, (ii) the signatures on each document are genuine, (iii) each party who executed such document had proper authority and capacity, (iv) all representations and statements set forth in such documents are true and correct, (v) all obligations imposed by any such documents on the parties thereto have been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms and (vi) the Company at all times has been and will continue to be organized and operated in accordance with the terms of such documents.

 

For purposes of rendering the opinions stated below, we have also assumed, with your consent, the accuracy of the representations contained in the certificate of representations, dated as of the date hereof, provided to us by the Company (the “Certificate”).  These representations generally relate to the operation and classification of the Company as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

 



 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the descriptions of the law and legal conclusions contained in the Registration Statement under the captions “Certain U.S. federal income tax consequences” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” to the extent they describe applicable U.S. federal income tax laws, are correct in all material respects.

 

The opinion set forth in this letter is based on relevant provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, legislative history, and existing administrative rulings and practices of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) (including its practices and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling), all as of the date hereof.  These provisions and interpretations are subject to change, which may or may not be retroactive in effect, and which may result in modifications of our opinion.  Our opinion does not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by the IRS or a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary determination by the IRS or the Treasury Department in regulations or rulings issued in the future.  In this regard, an opinion of counsel with respect to an issue represents counsel’s best professional judgment with respect to the outcome on the merits with respect to such issue, if such issue were to be litigated, but an opinion is not binding on the IRS or the courts and is not a guarantee that the IRS will not assert a contrary position with respect to such issue or that a court will not sustain such a position asserted by the IRS.

Further, the opinion set forth above represents our conclusions based upon the documents, facts and representations referred to above.  Any material amendments to such documents, changes in any significant facts or inaccuracy of such representations could affect the opinion set forth herein.  As described in the Registration Statement, the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon the Company’s ability to meet, through actual operating results, requirements under the Code regarding income, assets, distributions and diversity of stock ownership.  Because the Company’s satisfaction of these requirements will depend on future events, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy the tests necessary to qualify as or be taxed as a REIT under the Code.  We have not undertaken to review the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis.  Although we have made such inquiries and performed such investigations as we have deemed necessary to fulfill our professional responsibilities as counsel, we have not undertaken an independent investigation of all of the facts referred to in this letter and the Certificate.

The opinion set forth in this letter is (i) limited to those matters expressly covered; no opinion is to be implied in respect of any other matter, (ii) as of the date hereof and (iii) rendered by us at the request of the Company in connection with the Registration Statement.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references therein to us.  In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

/s/ Clifford Chance US LLP

 

 

2




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EXHIBIT 12.1


iStar Financial
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

 
  Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2006

  2005
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Earnings:                                      
Net income before equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries, minority interest and other items   $ 258,473   $ 273,783   $ 189,341   $ 260,832   $ 183,118   $ 191,686  
Add: Fixed Charges     312,967     314,865     233,877     195,823     186,109     171,703  
Add: Distributions of earnings of joint ventures     9,639     6,672     5,840     2,839     5,802     4,802  
Subtract: Capitalized interest     (1,317 )   (788 )           (70 )   (1,010 )
Subtract: Minority interest (expense) in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges     (1,275 )   (691 )   (225 )            
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total earnings   $ 578,487   $ 593,841   $ 428,833   $ 459,494   $ 374,959   $ 367,181  

Fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest expense   $ 310,146   $ 313,053   $ 232,918   $ 194,999   $ 185,361   $ 170,121  
    Plus: Capitalized interest     1,317     788             70     1,010  
  Implied interest component on the Company's rent obligations     1,504     1,024     959     824     678     572  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges   $ 312,967   $ 314,865   $ 233,877   $ 195,823   $ 186,109   $ 171,703  
  Preferred dividend requirements     31,740     42,320     51,340     36,908     36,908     36,908  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges and preferred stock dividends   $ 344,707   $ 357,185   $ 285,217   $ 232,731   $ 223,017   $ 208,611  
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends(1)

 

 

1.7x

 

 

1.7x

(2)

 

1.5x

(3)

 

2.0x

 

 

1.7x

 

 

1.8x

 
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)

 

 

1.8x

 

 

1.9x

(2)

 

1.8x

(3)

 

2.3x

 

 

2.0x

 

 

2.1x

 

(1)
For the purposes of calculating these ratios, "earnings" consist of income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries, or income or loss from equity investees, income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus "fixed charges" and certain other adjustments. "Fixed charges" consist of interest incurred on all indebtedness related to continuing and discontinued operations (including amortization of original issue discount) and a reasonable approximation of the interest factor from our rent obligations in the periods presented.

(2)
Includes the effect of STARs asset-backed notes redemption charge of $44.3 million. Excluding this charge, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 1.8x and 2.0x respectively.

(3)
Includes the effect of chief executive officer, chief financial officer and ACRE Partners compensation charges of $106.9 million, 8.75% Senior Notes due 2008 redemption charge of $11.5 million and, for the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends, preferred stock redemption charge of $9.0 million. Excluding these charges, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends and the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 2.0x and 2.3x, respectively.



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iStar Financial Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

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Exhibit 23.2


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACOUNTING FIRM

        We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of iStar Financial Inc. of our report dated March 15, 2006, except with respect to our opinion on the consolidated financial statements insofar as they relate to the effects of the discontinued operations as discussed in Notes 5, 13, 17 and 18, as to which the date is September 13, 2006, relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedules, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 13, 2006. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

/s/  PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP      

New York, NY
December 13, 2006




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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACOUNTING FIRM

Exhibit 99.5

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
TO EXCHANGE 5.95% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
(CUSIP/CINS 4503IU AY7 AND U4500VAE5)
FOR
5.95% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
(REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933)

AND

TO EXCHANGE SERIES A SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009
(CUSIP/CINS 4503IU BA8 AND U4500V AF2)
FOR
SERIES B SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009
(REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933)
OF
iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.

(THE 5.95% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 AND THE SERIES A SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009, COLLECTIVELY, THE "SERIES A NOTES" AND THE 5.95% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 AND THE SERIES B SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009, COLLECTIVELY, THE "SERIES B NOTES")

THE RIGHT TO EXCHANGE SERIES A NOTES FOR
SERIES B NOTES WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME,
ON                         , 2006, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE")

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, EXCHANGE AGENT

By Facsimile:   By Mail:   By Overnight Courier or Hand:

U.S. Bank Trust National Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
(651) 495-8158
To Confirm Receipt:
(800) 934-6802

 

U.S. Bank Trust National Association
Corporate Trust Services
EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance

 

U.S. Bank Trust National Association
Corporate Trust Services
EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance

Delivery of this instrument to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used to submit Series A Notes for Series B Notes of iStar. It must be used if certificates representing the Series A Notes are being delivered to U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent"). However, this Letter of Transmittal is NOT required to be signed and delivered to the Exchange Agent if delivery of the Series A Notes is being made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Exchange Agent at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC").

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CHECK HERE IF THE SERIES A NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT'S ACCOUNT AT DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

Account Number at DTC:    
   
     
Transaction Code Number:    
   


DESCRIPTION OF SERIES A NOTES SUBMITTED



Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)
(Please fill in, if blank)


 

Certificate(s) Submitted
(Attach additional list if necessary)



 

 

Certificate Number(s)*

 

Principal Amount of Series A Notes

 

Principal Amount of Series A Notes Submitted
(If less than all)**
   
             
   
             
   
             
   
             
   

 

 

Total Amount of Series A Notes:

 

 

 

 

*  Need not be completed by holders submitting by book-entry transfer.
** Series A Notes may be tendered in whole or in part in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Unless otherwise indicated it will be assumed that all Series A Notes described above are being submitted. See Instruction 4.

NOTE: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE SIGNED.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

        By this document, the undersigned submits the Series A Notes listed above (the "Series A Notes to be Exchanged") to be exchanged for Series B Notes as described in the Prospectus dated                        , 2006 (the "Prospectus") under the caption "The Exchange Offer" and in the instructions in this Letter of Transmittal.

        Subject to, and effective upon, the issuance of Series B Notes in exchange for the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, the undersigned sells, assigns and transfers all the Series A Notes to be exchanged to iStar and irrevocably appoints the Exchange Agent the agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to deliver the certificates representing the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, or transfer ownership of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged on the records of DTC, to iStar upon receipt by the Exchange Agent, as the undersigned's agent, of the Series B Notes to be issued in exchange for the Series A Notes to be Exchanged.

        The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to exchange the Series A Notes to be Exchanged for Series B Notes and that, when Series B Notes are issued in exchange for the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, iStar will acquire title to the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, free and clear of any liens, restrictions, charges, encumbrances or adverse claims. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or by iStar to be necessary or desirable to complete the transfer of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged to iStar.

        The authority conferred in this Letter of Transmittal will not be affected by, and will survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. The obligations of the undersigned under this Letter of Transmittal or otherwise resulting from the submission of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged for exchange will be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives of the undersigned. The submission of Series A Notes to be Exchanged for exchange is irrevocable.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the box below captioned "Special Issuance Instructions" or the box below captioned "Special Delivery Instructions," please issue and deliver the certificates representing the Series B Notes being issued in exchange for the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, and deliver certificates representing any Series A Notes which are not being exchanged or are not accepted for

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exchange, to the undersigned at the address shown below the undersigned's signature. If one or both of the boxes captioned "Special Issuance Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" are completed, please issue and deliver the notes as indicated. The undersigned is aware that iStar has no obligation because of Special Issuance Instructions or otherwise to transfer any Series A Notes which are not accepted for exchange from the name of the registered holder of those Series A Notes to the name of another person.


 

SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 5, 6 AND 7)

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 5, 6 AND 7)

        To be completed ONLY if Series B Notes or Series A Notes which are not exchanged are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.

 

        To be completed ONLY if Series B Notes or Series A Notes which are not exchanged are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to undersigned at an address other than that shown after the undersigned's signature below.

Issue:    o  Series B Notes
              o  Series A Notes not exchanged
to:

 

Mail:    o  Series B Notes
             o  Series A Notes not exchanged
to:

Name

 

 

 

Name

 

 
   
(PLEASE PRINT)
     
(PLEASE PRINT)

Address

 

 

 

Address

 

 
   
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
(INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
     
(INCLUDE ZIP CODE)


(TAX IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.)

 

 

 

 

 

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SIGN HERE

X

 

 
   

X

 

 
   
SIGNATURE(S) OF OWNER(S)
     
Dated:       , 2006
   
   

(Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on note(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted with this Letter of Transmittal. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, agents, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the information described in Instruction 5.)
         
Name(s):    
   

 

 

 
   
(PLEASE PRINT)

 

 

 
   
(CAPACITY (FULL TITLE))
     
Address:    
   

 

 

 
   
(INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
     
Area Code and Telephone Number:    
   
     
Tax Identification or Social Security No.:    
   

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INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

        1.    GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES.    No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Transmittal if (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged unless the holder has completed either the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" or (ii) the Series A Notes to be Exchanged are submitted for the account of a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a commercial bank or trust company which has an office or correspondent in the United States (collectively, "Eligible Institutions"). In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.

        2.    DELIVERY OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTIFICATES.    This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by noteholders if certificates are being forwarded with it. This Letter of Transmittal is NOT required to be signed and delivered to the Exchange Agent if delivery of the Series A Notes is being made by book-entry transfer described in the Exchange Instructions. The Exchange Agent must receive, at or before the Expiration Date, certificates for the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, together with a properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal. If delivery of the Series A Notes is being made by book-entry transfer, a DTC confirmation of transfer of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged must be received by the Exchange Agents account by the Expiration Date. Each holder who delivers Series A Notes by book-entry transfer shall be deemed to have read and be bound by the terms of the Exchange Offer and this Letter of Transmittal, and to have made each of the representations set forth herein.

        Submission of Series A Notes to be Exchanged will be irrevocable. Submission may not be conditional or contingent. The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and the certificates for Series A Notes to be Exchanged, is at the option and risk of the exchanging noteholder. Delivery will not be deemed made until items are actually received by the Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended.

        3.    WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERED SERIES A NOTES.    Tendered Series A Notes may be withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on,                            , 2006, but not after that unless the offer is extended. If the exchange offer is extended, tendered Notes must be withdrawn by 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the day in which the exchange offer, as extended, expires. To withdraw tendered Notes, a written notice of the withdrawal must be delivered to the Depositary by mail, hand delivery, telegraphic or facsimile transmission, at the address or number shown above. To be effective, the notice of withdrawal must (1) be received by the Depositary prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on                        ,                         , 2006, or, if the exchange offer is extended, on the later date to which it is extended (2) specify the name of the DTC participant whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Series A Notes, (3) state the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes to be withdrawn, and (4) be signed by the holder(s) of the Series A Notes in the same manner as the original signature on this Letter of Transmittal (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer.

        4.    INADEQUATE SPACE.    If the space provided in this Letter of Transmittal is inadequate, the certificate numbers and numbers of Series A Notes being submitted for exchange should be listed on a separate signed schedule, which should be attached to this Letter of Transmittal.

        5.    PARTIAL SUBMISSIONS.    (Not applicable to noteholders who submit by book-entry transfer). If fewer than all the Series A Notes evidenced by a certificate are to be exchanged, fill in the number of notes which are to be exchanged in the box entitled "Principal Amount of Series A Notes Submitted." If you do that, new certificate(s) for the remainder of the notes that were represented by your old certificate(s) will be sent to you, or as you instruct in the appropriate box on this Letter of

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Transmittal, as soon as practicable. All Series A Notes represented by certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been submitted for exchange unless otherwise indicated.

        6.    SIGNATURES ON LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, STOCK POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS.    If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, the signature(s) must correspond exactly with the name(s) written on the face of the certificate(s).

        If the Series A Notes to be Exchanged are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all the owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

        IF SERIES A NOTES TO BE EXCHANGED ARE REGISTERED IN DIFFERENT NAMES ON DIFFERENT CERTIFICATES, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND SUBMIT AS MANY SEPARATE LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AS THERE ARE DIFFERENT REGISTRATIONS ON CERTIFICATES.

        If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or written instruments of transfer are signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, that person should so indicate when signing, and submit evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser of the person's authority so to act.

        If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, no endorsements of certificates or separate written instruments of transfer are required, unless certificates for Series B Notes or for Series A Notes which are not exchanged are to be issued to a person other than the registered owner, in which case, endorsements of certificates or separate written instruments of transfer are required and signatures on those certificates or written instruments of transfer must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

        If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered owner of the Series A Notes to be Exchanged, the certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate written instruments of transfer, in either case signed exactly as the name of the registered owner appears on the certificates. Signatures on the certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

        7.    TRANSFER TAXES.    Except as set forth in this Instruction 6, iStar will pay any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer to it of Series A Notes to be Exchanged. If certificates for Series B Notes or for Series A Notes which are not exchanged are to be registered in the name of any person other than the registered holder, or if tendered certificates are registered in the name of anyone other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, certificates representing Series B Notes will not be issued until iStar or the Exchange Agent receives satisfactory evidence of the payment of, or an exemption from the need to pay, transfer taxes.

        Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the certificates submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

        8.    SPECIAL ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS.    If certificates for Series B Notes or for Series A Notes which are not exchanged are to be issued in the name of a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal, or are to be sent to someone other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than the signer's address shown above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal must be completed.

        9.    REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.    Requests for assistance may be directed to, or additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from, iStar Financial Inc. at 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Investor Relations Department, or from your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company.

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        10.    WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS.    The requirements described above may be waived by iStar, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, in iStar's sole discretion, and may be waived as to Series A Notes submitted by particular noteholders, even if similar requirements are not waived as to other noteholders.

    Important: This Letter of Transmittal, together with certificates or confirmation of book-entry transfer, must be received by the Exchange Agent before 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on                        ,    2006, unless the offer is extended.

(DO NOT WRITE IN THE SPACES BELOW)

Date received       Accepted by       Checked by    
   
     
     

Date received

 

 

 

Accepted by

 

 

 

Checked by

 

 
   
     
     
                     


CERTIFICATES
SURRENDERED


 

SERIES A NOTES
SUBMITTED


 

SERIES A NOTES
ACCEPTED


 

SERIES B NOTES
ISSUED


 

SERIES B NOTES
CERTIFICATE


 

SERIES A NOTES
RETURNED


 

SERIES A NOTES CERTIFICATE NO.


 

BLOCK
NO.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                             
Delivery Prepared by       Checked by       Date    
   
     
     

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Exhibit 99.6


FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
FOR
THE EXCHANGE OF 5.95% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
(CUSIP/CINS 4503IU AY 7 and U4500V AE5)
FOR
5.95% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
(REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933)

AND

THE EXCHANGE OF SERIES A SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009
(CUSIP/CINS 4503IU BA 8 and U45OOV AF2)
FOR
SERIES B SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009
(REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933)
OF
iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.

(THE 5.95% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 AND THE SERIES A SENIOR FLOATING RATE
NOTES DUE 2009, COLLECTIVELY, THE "SERIES A NOTES" AND THE 5.95% SERIES B SENIOR
NOTES DUE 2013 AND THE SERIES B SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009,
COLLECTIVELY, THE "SERIES B NOTES")

        Registered holders of outstanding Series A Senior Notes who wish to tender their Series A Notes in exchange for a like principal amount of new Series B Notes and whose Series A Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their Series A Notes and Letter of Transmittal (and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal) to U.S. Bank Trust National Association (the "Exchange Agent") prior to the Expiration Date, may use this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or one substantially equivalent hereto. This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed by telephone and an original delivered by guaranteed overnight courier) or mail to the Exchange Agent. See "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering" in the Prospectus. If tender is made through the Depository Trust Company's automated tender offer program, this process is achieved through that program and no hand or facsimile transmission is required.


THE EXCHANGE AGENT OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS:

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By Hand: U.S.
Bank Trust National Association
Corporate Trust Services
EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance
  By Mail:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association
Corporate Trust Services
EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenuee
St. Paul, MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance

By Overnight Express:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association
Corporate Trust Services EP-MN-WS-2N
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul MN 55107
Attn: Specialized Finance

 

By Facsimile:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association
Attn: Specialized Finance
(651) 495-8158

To Confirm Receipt:
(800) 934-6802

 

 

DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION VIA A FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION TO A NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

        This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined in the Prospectus), such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space provided on the Letter of Transmittal for Guarantee of Signatures.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        The undersigned hereby tenders the principal amount of Series A Notes indicated below, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Prospectus dated                         , 2006 of iStar Financial Inc. (the "Prospectus"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.


DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TENDERED

NAME OF
TENDERING
HOLDER

  NAME AND ADDRESS OF
REGISTERED HOLDER AS
IT APPEARS ON THE
SERIES A NOTES
(PLEASE PRINT)

  CERTIFICATE
NUMBER(S) OF
SERIES A NOTES
TENDERED

  PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
SERIES A NOTES TENDERED


 

 

 

 

 

 

 











THE FOLLOWING GUARANTEE MUST BE COMPLETED
GUARANTEE OF DELIVERY
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)

        The undersigned, a member of a recognized signature guarantee medallion program within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, hereby guarantees to deliver to the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth above, the certificates representing the Series A Notes (or a confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Series A Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the book-entry transfer facility), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, and any other



documents required by the Letter of Transmittal within three business days after the Expiration Date (as defined in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal).

Name of Firm:    



 

 
Address:    



 

 



 

 
ZIP CODE  
Area Code and Telephone No.:    



 

 



 

 


(AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE)

 

 


Title:

 

 



 

 
Name:    


(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT)

 

 


Date:

 

 

NOTE: DO NOT SEND SERIES A NOTES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. SERIES A NOTES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.




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FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF 5.95% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 (CUSIP/CINS 4503IU AY 7 and U4500V AE5) FOR 5.95% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 (REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933) AND THE EXCHANGE OF SERIES A SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009 (CUSIP/CINS 4503IU BA 8 and U45OOV AF2) FOR SERIES B SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009 (REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933) OF iSTAR FINANCIAL INC. (THE 5.95% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 AND THE SERIES A SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009, COLLECTIVELY, THE "SERIES A NOTES" AND THE 5.95% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013 AND THE SERIES B SENIOR FLOATING RATE NOTES DUE 2009, COLLECTIVELY, THE "SERIES B NOTES")
THE EXCHANGE AGENT OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS: US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TENDERED
THE FOLLOWING GUARANTEE MUST BE COMPLETED GUARANTEE OF DELIVERY (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)

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Exhibit 99.7


FORM OF EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT

                        , 2006
EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT
U.S. Bank Trust National Association

Dear

        iStar Financial Inc, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), proposes to make an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange up to $889,669,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.95% Series B Senior Notes due 2013 (the "Series B 2013 Notes"), for a like principal amount of its outstanding 5.95% Series A Senior Notes due 2013 (the "Series A 2013 Notes") and up to $500,000,000 Series B Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (the "Series B 2009 Notes", together with the Series B 2013 Notes, the "Exchange Notes") for a like principal amount of its outstanding Series A Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2009 (the "Series A 2009 Notes" together with the "Series A 2013 Notes" the "Private Notes"). The terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are set forth in a prospectus (the "Prospectus") included in the Company's registration statement on form S-4 (File No. 333-            ) (the "Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), proposed to be distributed to all record holders of the Private Notes. The Private Notes and the Exchange Notes are collectively referred to herein as the "Notes." Capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

        The Company hereby appoints U.S. Bank Trust National Association to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in connection with the Exchange Offer. References hereinafter to "you" shall refer to US Bank Trust National Association.

        The Exchange Offer is expected to be commenced by the Company on or about                        , 2006. The Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus is to be used by the holders of the Private Notes to accept the Exchange Offer and contains instructions with respect to the delivery of certificates for Private Notes tendered.

        The Exchange Offer shall expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on            , 2006, or on such later date or time to which the Company may extend the Exchange Offer (the "Expiration Date"). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus, the Company expressly reserves the right to extend the Exchange Offer from time to time and may extend the Exchange Offer by giving oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice to you before 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

        The Company expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Private Notes not theretofore accepted for exchange. The Company will give oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice of any amendment, termination or non-acceptance to you as promptly as practicable.

        In carrying out your duties as Exchange Agent, you are to act in accordance with the following instructions:

        1.     You will perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the section of the Prospectus captioned "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights," in the Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus or as specifically set forth herein; provided, however, that in no way will your general duty to act in good faith and without gross negligence or willful misconduct be limited by the foregoing.

        2.     You will establish an account with respect to the Private Notes at The Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") for purposes of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of the Prospectus, and any financial institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's systems may make book-entry delivery of the Private Notes by causing



the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Private Notes into your account in accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures for such transfer.

        3.     You are to examine each of the Letters of Transmittal and certificates for Private Notes (and confirmation of book-entry transfers of Private Notes into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) and any other documents delivered or mailed to you by or for holders of the Private Notes, to ascertain whether: (i) the Letters of Transmittal, certificates and any such other documents are duly executed and properly completed in accordance with instructions set forth therein and that such book-entry confirmations are in due and proper form and contain the information required to be set forth therein, and (ii) the Private Notes have otherwise been properly tendered. In each case where the Letter of Transmittal or any other document has been improperly completed or executed, or where book-entry confirmations are not in due and proper form or omit certain information, or any of the certificates for Private Notes are not in proper form for transfer or some other irregularity in connection with the acceptance of the Exchange Offer exists, you will endeavor to inform the presenters of the need for fulfillment of all requirements and to take any other action as may be necessary or advisable to cause such irregularity to be corrected.

        4.     With the approval of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any of the Executive Vice Presidents or the General Counsel (such approval, if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) or any other person designated by such an officer in writing, you are authorized to waive any irregularities in connection with any tendency of Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

        5.     Tenders of Private Notes may be made only as set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and in the section of the Prospectus captioned "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering," and Private Notes shall be considered properly tendered to you only when tendered in accordance with the procedures set forth therein. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph 5, Private Notes which the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any of the Executive Vice Presidents or the General Counsel or any other officer of the Company designated by any such person shall approve as having been properly tendered shall be considered to be properly tendered (such approval, if given orally, shall be confirmed in writing).

        6.     You shall advise the Company with respect to any Private Notes received subsequent to the Expiration Date and accept its instructions with respect to disposition of such Private Notes.

        7.     You shall accept tenders:

            (a)   in cases where the Private Notes are registered in two or more names only if signed by all named holders;

            (b)   in cases where the signing person (as indicated on the Letter of Transmittal) is acting in a fiduciary or a representative capacity only when proper evidence of his or her authority so to act is submitted; and

            (c)   from persons other than the registered holder of Private Notes provided that customary transfer requirements, including those regarding any applicable transfer taxes, are fulfilled.

        You shall accept partial tenders of Private Notes when so indicated and as permitted in the Letter of Transmittal and deliver certificates for Private Notes to the transfer agent for split-up and return any untendered Private Notes to the holder (or such other person as may be designated in the Letter of Transmittal) as promptly as practicable after expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

        8.     Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the Exchange Offer, the Company will notify you (such notice if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) of its acceptance, promptly after the Expiration Date, of all Private Notes properly tendered and you, on behalf of the Company, will exchange such Private Notes for Exchange Notes and cause such Private Notes to be canceled. Delivery of Exchange Notes will be made on behalf of the Company by you at the rate of $1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes for each $1,000 principal amount of the Private Notes tendered promptly after notice (such notice if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) of acceptance of said Private Notes



by the Company; provided, however, that in all cases, Private Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be exchanged only after timely receipt by you of certificates for such Private Notes (or confirmation of book-entry transfer into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), a properly completed and, except as described in the section of the prospectus captioned "Exchange Offer, Registration Rights—Procedures for Tendering," duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, you shall issue Exchange Notes only in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof.

        9.     Tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except that, subject to the terms and upon the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal, Private Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.

        10.   The Company shall not be required to exchange any Private Notes tendered if any of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer are not met. Notice of any decision by the Company not to exchange any Private Notes tendered shall be given (and confirmed in writing) by the Company to you.

        11.   If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Company does not accept for exchange all or part of the Private Notes tendered because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the Prospectus or otherwise, you shall as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer return those certificates for unaccepted Private Notes (or effect appropriate book-entry transfer), together with any related required documents and the Letters of Transmittal relating thereto that are in your possession, to the persons who deposited them (or effected such book-entry transfer).

        12.   All certificates for reissued Private Notes, unaccepted Private Notes or for Exchange Notes (other than those effected by book-entry transfer) shall be forwarded by (a) first-class certified mail, return receipt requested, under a blanket surety bond obtained by you protecting you and the Company from loss or liability arising out of the non-receipt or non-delivery of such certificates or (b) by registered mail insured by you separately for the replacement value of each of such certificates.

        13.   You are not authorized to pay or offer to pay any concessions, commissions or other solicitation fees to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee or to engage or use any person to solicit tenders.

        14.   As Exchange Agent hereunder, you:

            (a)   shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically set forth in the Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal or herein or as may be subsequently agreed to in writing by you and the Company;

            (b)   will be regarded as making no representations and having no responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency, value or genuineness of any of the certificates for the Private Notes deposited with you pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and will not be required to and will make no representation as to the validity, value or genuineness of the Exchange Offer;

            (c)   will not be obligated to take any legal action hereunder which might in your reasonable judgment involve any expense or liability, unless you will have been furnished with reasonable indemnity;

            (d)   may rely on and will be protected in acting in reliance upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter or other document or security delivered to you and reasonably believed by you to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties;

            (e)   may act upon any tender, statement, request, comment, agreement or other instrument whatsoever not only as to its due execution and validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, which you shall in good faith believe to be genuine or to have been signed or represented by a proper person or persons;



            (f)    may rely on and shall be protected in acting upon written or oral instructions from any officer of the Company;

            (g)   may consult with your counsel with respect to any questions relating to your duties and responsibilities, and the written opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by you hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of such counsel; and

            (h)   will not advise any person tendering Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of Private Notes or as to the market value, decline or appreciation in market value of any Private Notes that may or may not occur as a result of the Exchange Offer or as to the market value of the Exchange Notes;

provided, however, that in no way will your general duty to act in good faith and without gross negligence or willful misconduct be limited by the foregoing.

        15.   You will take such action as may from time to time be requested by the Company or its counsel (and such other action as you may reasonably deem appropriate) to furnish copies of the Prospectus, Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined in the Prospectus) or such other forms as may be approved from time to time by the Company, to all persons requesting such documents and to accept and comply with telephone requests for information relating to the Exchange Offer, provided that such information shall relate only to the procedures for accepting (or withdrawing from) the Exchange Offer. The Company will furnish you with copies of such documents at your request.

        16.   You will advise by facsimile transmission or telephone, and promptly thereafter confirm in writing to Catherine D. Rice of the Company (telephone number (212) 930-9400, facsimile number (212) 930-9455), and such other person or persons as the Company may request, daily up to and including the Expiration Date as to the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes which have been duly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the items received by you pursuant to the Exchange Offer and this Agreement, separately reporting and giving cumulative totals as to items properly received and items improperly received. In addition, you will also inform, and cooperate in making available to, the Company or any such other person or persons upon oral request made from time to time prior to the Expiration Date of such other information as it or he or she reasonably requests. Such cooperation shall include, without limitation, the granting by you to the Company and such person as the Company may request of access to those persons on your staff who are responsible for receiving tenders, in order to ensure that immediately prior to the Expiration Date the Company shall have received information in sufficient detail to enable it to decide whether to extend the Exchange Offer. You shall prepare a final list of all persons whose tenders were accepted, the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes tendered, the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes accepted and the identity of any Participating Broker-Dealers and the aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes delivered to each, and deliver said list to the Company.

        17.   Letters of Transmittal, book-entry confirmations and Notices of Guaranteed Delivery received by you shall be preserved by you for a period of time at least equal to the period of time you preserve other records pertaining to the transfer of securities, or one year, whichever is longer, and thereafter shall be delivered by you to the Company. You shall dispose of unused Letters of Transmittal and other surplus materials as instructed by the Company.

        18.   You hereby expressly waive any lien, encumbrance or right of set-off whatsoever that you may have with respect to funds deposited with you for the payment of transfer taxes by reasons of amounts, if any, borrowed by the Company, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates pursuant to any loan or credit agreement with you or for compensation owed to you hereunder.

        19.   For services rendered as Exchange Agent hereunder, you shall be entitled to such compensation as set forth on Schedule I attached hereto.



        20.   You hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal and further acknowledge that you have examined each of them. Any inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal (as they may be amended from time to time), on the other hand, shall be resolved in favor of the latter two documents, except with respect to the duties, liabilities and indemnification of you as Exchange Agent, which shall be controlled by this Agreement.

        21.   The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold you harmless in your capacity as Exchange Agent hereunder against any loss, liability, cost or expense, including attorneys' fees and expenses arising out of or in connection with any act, omission, delay or refusal made by you in reliance upon any signature, endorsement, assignment, certificate, order, request, notice, instruction or other instrument or document reasonably believed by you to be valid, genuine and sufficient and in accepting any tender or effecting any transfer of Private Notes reasonably believed by you in good faith to be authorized, and in delaying or refusing in good faith to accept any tenders or effect any transfer of Private Notes; provided, however, that anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be liable for indemnification or otherwise for any loss, liability, cost or expense to the extent arising out of your gross negligence or willful misconduct. In no case shall the Company be liable under this indemnity with respect to any claim against you unless the Company shall be notified by you, by letter or cable or by facsimile which is confirmed by letter, of the written assertion of a claim against you or of any other action commenced against you, promptly after you shall have received any such written assertion or notice of commencement of action. The Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of any such claim or other action, and, if the Company so elects, the Company may assume the defense of any pending or threatened action against you in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder, in which case the Company shall not thereafter be responsible for the subsequently-incurred fees and disbursements of legal counsel for you under this paragraph so long as the Company shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to you to defend such suit; provided, that the Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any such action if the named parties to such action include both you and the Company and representation of both parties by the same legal counsel would, in the written opinion of your counsel, be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicting interests between you and the Company. You understand and agree that the Company shall not be liable under this paragraph for the fees and expenses of more than one legal counsel for you.

        22.   You shall arrange to comply with all requirements under the tax laws of the United States, including those relating to missing Tax Identification Numbers, and shall file any appropriate reports with the Internal Revenue Service. The Company understands that you are required, in certain instances, to deduct twenty-eight percent (28%) with respect to interest paid on the Exchange Notes and proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or retirement of the Exchange Notes from holders who have not supplied their correct Taxpayer Identification Number or required certification. Such funds will be turned over to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with applicable regulations.

        23.   You shall notify the Company of the amount of any transfer taxes payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes and, upon receipt of a written approval from the Company, shall deliver or cause to be delivered, in a timely manner to each governmental authority to which any transfer taxes are payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes, your check in the amount of all transfer taxes so payable, and the Company shall reimburse you for the amount of any and all transfer taxes payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes; provided, however, that you shall reimburse the Company for amounts refunded to you in respect of your payment of any such transfer taxes, at such time as such refund is received by you.

        24.   This Agreement and your appointment as Exchange Agent hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state, and without regard to conflicts of law principles.

        25.   This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any


right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Without limitation of the foregoing, the parties hereto expressly agree that no holder of Private Notes or Exchange Notes shall have any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under, or by reason of, this Agreement.

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

        27.   In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

        28.   This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified, amended, rescinded, canceled or waived, in whole or in part except by a written instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to be charged.

        29.   Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile or similar writing) and shall be given to such party, addressed to it, at its address or fax number set forth below:

if to the Company, to:

    iStar Financial Inc.
    1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
    New York, New York 10036
    Telephone: (212) 930-9400
    Fax: (305) 930-9455
    Attention: Catherine D. Rice

with a copy to:

    Clifford Chance US LLP
    200 Park Avenue
    New York, New York 10166
    Telephone: (212) 878-8000
    Fax: (212) 878-8375
    Attention: Kathleen L. Werner, Esq.

If to the Exchange Agent, to:

    U.S. Bank Trust National Association
    100 Wall Street, 16th Floor
    Telephone: (212) 361-6159
    Fax: (212) 361-6153
    Attention: Corporate Trust Services

        30.   Unless terminated earlier by the parties hereto, this Agreement shall terminate 90 days following the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, paragraphs 17, 19, 21 and 23 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. Upon any termination of this Agreement, you shall promptly deliver to the Company any certificates for Notes, funds or property then held by you as Exchange Agent under this Agreement.

        31.   This Agreement shall be binding and effective as of the date hereof.



        Please acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and confirm the arrangements herein provided by signing and returning the enclosed copy.

    iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.

 

 

By:

 

 

        Name:
        Title:

 

 

Accepted as of the date first above written:

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Exchange Agent

 

 

By:

 

 

        Name:
        Title::



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FORM OF EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT