TIER Tier Reit, Inc.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK OF TIER REIT, INC.

        The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of TIER REIT, Inc. common stock. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. You can access complete information by referring to the charter and bylaws of TIER REIT, Inc. and the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL. The charter and bylaws are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents.

General

        Our charter provides that we may issue 382,499,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 1,000 shares of non-participating, non-voting convertible stock, $0.0001 par value per share and 17,500,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. Subject to any preferential rights in favor of any class of preferred stock, our charter authorizes our board of directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire board of directors and without any action by our stockholders, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of authorized shares of any class or series of our stock. As of July 31, 2016, there were 47,746,054 shares of our common stock outstanding, and no shares of non-participating, non-voting convertible stock or shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

        Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts and obligations solely as a result of their status as stockholders.

Common Stock

        All of the shares of our common stock, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and all of the shares of our common stock have equal rights as to earnings, assets, dividends and voting. Subject to the preferential rights of holders of any other class or series of our stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions on such shares if, as and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of assets legally available therefor. Shares of our common stock generally have no preemptive, appraisal, preferential exchange, conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights and are freely transferable, except where their transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws, by contract or by the restrictions in our charter. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each share of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any preferred stock is outstanding at such time, and our charter restrictions on the transfer and ownership of our stock.

        Except as may otherwise be provided in the charter or specified in the terms of any class or series of our common stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors, and, except as may be provided in the charter or with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of shares of our common stock will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of our directors. Directors are elected by a plurality of all of the votes cast in the election of directors.

        Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, convert, consolidate, sell all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a statutory share exchange unless declared advisable by its board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation's charter. Our charter provides for approval of any of these matters by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matters. Maryland law also permits a Maryland corporation to transfer all or substantially all of its

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assets without the approval of the stockholders of the corporation to an entity if all of the equity interests of the entity are owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Because substantially all of our assets are held by our operating partnership or its subsidiaries, these subsidiaries may be able to merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.

Power to Reclassify Our Unissued Shares of Stock

        Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to the issuance of shares of each class or series, our board of directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the terms, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption of each such class or series. As a result, our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock that have priority over shares of our common stock with respect to dividends or other distributions or rights upon liquidation or with other terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests. As of the date hereof, no shares of preferred stock are outstanding and we have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Power to Increase or Decrease Authorized Shares of Stock and Issue Additional Shares of Common and Preferred Stock

        Our charter authorizes our board of directors to, without stockholder approval, amend our charter to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of stock, to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common or preferred stock, and to classify and reclassify unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock and thereafter to issue such classified or reclassified shares of stock. These charter provisions will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise. The additional classes or series, as well as the additional authorized shares of our common stock, will be available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or market system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of directors does not currently intend to do so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series of stock that could, depending upon the terms of the particular class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests. See "Material Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws—Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws."

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

        In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be a REIT has been made). Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our stock (after taking into account certain options to acquire shares of stock) may be owned, directly or indirectly or through application of certain attribution rules by five or fewer "individuals" (as defined in the Code to include certain entities, such as private foundations) at any time during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first taxable year for which an election to be a REIT has been made).

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        Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock that are, among other things, intended to assist us in complying with these requirements and to continue to qualify as a REIT. The relevant sections of our charter provide that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person or entity may actually own or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions, more than 9.8% (in value or in number, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common stock, or 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of our stock. We refer to each of these restrictions as an "ownership limit" and collectively as the "ownership limits." A person or entity that would have acquired actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock but for the application of the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed below, and, if appropriate in the context, any person or entity that would have been the record owner of such shares, is referred to as a "prohibited owner."

        The applicable constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and, for instance, may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be treated as owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% in value of our outstanding stock or less than 9.8% in the value or number of our outstanding common stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our stock) by an individual or entity could nevertheless cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own, constructively or beneficially, in excess of 9.8% of our outstanding stock or in excess of 9.8% of our outstanding common stock and thereby violate the applicable ownership limit.

        Our charter provides that our board of directors may, prospectively or retroactively, waive the ownership limit with respect to a particular stockholder and establish or increase a different limit on ownership for such stockholder. As a condition to granting such waiver, our board of directors may require, among other things, the stockholder receiving such waiver to make certain representations, warranties and covenants related to our ability to qualify as a REIT. In addition, our board of directors may require an opinion of counsel or Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") ruling, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to our board of directors, in its sole discretion, in order to determine or ensure our status as a REIT. Our board of directors may impose such other conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with such a waiver.

        Our charter further prohibits:

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any person from owning shares of our stock to the extent such ownership would result in our failing to qualify as a REIT;



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any person from transferring shares of our stock if such transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code);



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any person from owing shares of our stock to the extent such ownership would result in us being "closely held" within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year); and



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any person from owning shares of our stock to the extent such ownership would cause any of our income that would otherwise qualify as "rents from real property" for purposes of Section 856(d) of the Code to fail to qualify as such.

        Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate the ownership limitation provisions or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above must give written notice immediately to us or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, provide us at least 15 days prior written notice, and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our qualification as a REIT.

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        The ownership limitation provisions and other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT or that compliance with any such restriction or limitation is no longer required for REIT qualification.

        Pursuant to our charter, if any purported transfer of our stock or any other event otherwise would result in any person violating the ownership limits or other restrictions described above, then that number of shares in excess of the ownership limit or causing a violation of one of the other restrictions (other than the 100 person limit addressed below) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable organizations selected by us. The prohibited owner will have no rights in shares of our stock held by the trustee. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the trust. Any dividend or other distribution paid to the prohibited owner, prior to our discovery that the shares had been automatically transferred to a trust as described above, must be repaid to the trustee upon demand, and any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the trustee, for distribution to the beneficiary of the trust. If the transfer to the trust as described above is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent violation of the applicable ownership limit or our failing to qualify as a REIT, then our charter provides that the transfer of shares resulting in such violation will be void. If, however, any transfer of our stock would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), then any such purported transfer will be automatically void and of no force or effect and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in the shares.

        The trustee must sell the shares to a person or entity designated by the trustee who could own the shares without violating the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock; provided that the right of the trustee to sell the shares will be subject to the rights of any person or entity to purchase such shares from the trust that we establish by an agreement entered into prior to the date the shares are transferred to the trust. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold shall terminate, and the trustee must distribute to the prohibited owner an amount equal to the lesser of: (a) the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares (or, if the prohibited owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer to the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other such transaction), the fair market value of such shares on the day of the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer of such shares to the trust), as determined under our charter, and (b) the sales proceeds (net of commissions and other expenses of sale) received by the trustee for the shares. The trustee may reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of any dividends or other distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner before our discovery that the shares had been transferred to the trust and that is owed by the prohibited owner to the trustee. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner will be immediately paid to the charitable beneficiary, together with any dividends or other distributions thereon. In addition, if prior to discovery by us that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trust, such shares of stock are sold by a prohibited owner, then such shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for or in respect of such shares that exceeds the amount that such prohibited owner was entitled to receive, such excess amount shall be paid to the trustee upon demand. The prohibited owner has no rights in the shares held by the trustee.

        The trustee will be designated by us and will be unaffiliated with us and with any prohibited owner. Prior to the sale of any shares by the trust, the trustee will receive, in trust for the charitable beneficiary, all dividends and other distributions paid by us with respect to such shares and may also exercise all voting rights with respect to such shares for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary.

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        Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee shall have the authority, at the trustee's sole discretion:

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to rescind as void any vote cast by a prohibited owner prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust; and



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to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the beneficiary of the trust.

        However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind and recast the vote.

        If our board of directors determines in good faith that a proposed transfer or other event has taken place that would violate the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter, our board of directors shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such transfer, including, but not limited to, causing us to redeem shares of stock, refusing to give effect to the transfer on our books or instituting proceedings to enjoin the transfer.

        Following the end of each REIT taxable year, every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of any class or series of our stock, upon request following the end of each of our taxable years, must give written notice to us stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock that the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner also must provide us with any additional information that we request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the person's actual or beneficial ownership on our qualification as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limitation provisions. In addition, any person or entity that is an actual owner, beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our stock and any person or entity (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for an actual owner, beneficial owner or constructive owner must, on request, provide in writing to us such information as we may request in good faith in order to determine our qualification as a REIT and comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

        Any certificates representing shares of our stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above.

        These restrictions on ownership and transfer could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for our common stock that our stockholders believe to be in their best interest.

Listing

        Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "TIER."

Transfer Agent and Registrar

        The transfer agent and registrar for the shares of our common stock is DST Systems, Inc.

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK OF TIER REIT, INC.

         The following description summarizes the material provisions of the preferred stock we may offer. This description is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified entirely by reference to our charter, bylaws and the applicable provisions of the MGCL. Any series of preferred stock we issue will be governed by our charter (as amended and in effect as of the date of such issuance).

        Our charter authorizes our board of directors to designate and issue one or more classes or series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. Our board of directors may determine the relative rights, preferences and privileges of each class or series of preferred stock so issued. No shares of our preferred stock are presently outstanding. The specific terms of any series of preferred stock offered hereunder will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS OF TIER REIT, INC.

        We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares. The consideration per share of common stock or preferred stock or per depositary share may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may provide for settlement by delivery by us or on our behalf of shares of the underlying security, or they may provide for settlement by reference or linkage to the value, performance or trading price of the underlying security. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and may provide for the prepayment of all or part of the consideration payable by holders in connection with the purchase of the underlying security or other property pursuant to the stock purchase contracts.

        The securities related to the stock purchase contracts may be pledged to a collateral agent for our benefit pursuant to a pledge agreement to secure the obligations of holders of stock purchase contracts to purchase the underlying security or property under the related stock purchase contracts. The rights of holders of stock purchase contracts to the related pledged securities will be subject to our security interest therein created by the pledge agreement. No holder of stock purchase contracts will be permitted to withdraw the pledged securities related to such stock purchase contracts from the pledge arrangement.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES OF TIER REIT, INC.

         This section outlines some of the provisions of the deposit agreement to govern any depositary shares, the depositary shares themselves and the depositary receipts. This information may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the relevant deposit agreement and depositary receipts with respect to the depositary shares related to any particular series of preferred stock. The specific terms of any series of depositary shares will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If so described in the prospectus supplement, the terms of that series of depositary shares may differ from the general description of terms presented below.

Interest in a Fractional Share, or Multiple Shares, of Preferred Stock

        We may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares, each of which would represent an interest in a fractional share, or multiple shares, of our preferred stock instead of whole shares of preferred stock. If so, we will allow a depositary to issue to the public depositary shares, each of which will represent an interest in a fractional share, or multiple shares, of preferred stock as described in the prospectus supplement.

Deposit Agreement

        The shares of the preferred stock underlying any depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company acting as depositary with respect to those shares of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will specify the name and address of the depositary. Under the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion of its interest in a fractional share, or multiple shares, of the preferred stock underlying that depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of that preferred stock, including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights.

        Depositary shares will be evidenced by one or more depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. We will distribute depositary receipts to those persons purchasing such depositary shares in accordance with the terms of the offering made by the related prospectus supplement.

Dividends and Other Distributions

        The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to each record depositary shareholder based on the number of the depositary shares owned by that holder on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only that amount which can be distributed without attributing to any depositary shareholders a fraction of one cent, and any balance not so distributed will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record depositary shareholders.

        If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property to the entitled record depositary shareholders, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make that distribution. In that case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt the method it deems equitable and practicable for making that distribution, including any sale of property and the distribution of the net proceeds from this sale to the concerned holders.

        Each deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights we offer to holders of the relevant series of preferred stock will be made available to depositary shareholders.

        The amount distributed in all of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by us or the depositary on account of taxes and governmental charges.

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Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

        Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the office of the depositary and upon payment of the charges provided in the deposit agreement and subject to the terms thereof, a holder of depositary receipts is entitled to have the depositary deliver to such holder the applicable number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares evidenced by the surrendered depositary receipts. There may be no market, however, for the underlying preferred stock and once the underlying preferred stock is withdrawn from the depositary, it may not be redeposited.

Redemption and Liquidation

        The terms on which the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock of any series may be redeemed, and any amounts distributable upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Voting

        Upon receiving notice of any meeting at which preferred stockholders of any series are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in that notice to the record depositary shareholders relating to those series of preferred stock. Each depositary shareholder on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying that holder's depositary shares. The depositary will vote the shares of preferred stock underlying those depositary shares according to those instructions, and we will take reasonably necessary actions to enable the depositary to do so. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the depositary shareholders relating to that preferred stock, it will abstain from voting those shares of preferred stock, unless otherwise discussed in the prospectus supplement.

Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement

        We and the depositary may amend the depositary receipt form evidencing the depositary shares and the related deposit agreement. However, any amendment that significantly affects the rights of the depositary shareholders will not be effective unless holders of a majority of the outstanding depositary shares approve that amendment. No amendment, however, may impair the right of any depositary shareholder to receive any money or other property to which he may be entitled under the terms of the deposit agreement at the times and in the manner and amount provided for therein. We or the depositary may terminate a deposit agreement only if:

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we redeemed or reacquired all outstanding depositary shares relating to the deposit agreement;



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all outstanding depositary shares have been converted (if convertible) into shares of common stock or another series of preferred stock; or



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there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock of any series in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution has been made to the related depositary shareholders.

Charges of Depositary

        We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will also pay all charges of each depositary in connection with the initial deposit and any redemption of the preferred stock. Depositary shareholders will be required to pay any other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

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Miscellaneous

        Each depositary will forward to the relevant depositary shareholders all our reports and communications that we are required to furnish to preferred stockholders of any series.

        The deposit agreement will contain provisions relating to adjustments in the fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by a depositary share in the event of a change in par value, split-up, combination or other reclassification of the preferred stock or upon any recapitalization, merger or sale of substantially all of our assets.

        Neither the depositary nor our company will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under any deposit agreement, or subject to any liability under the deposit agreement to holders of depositary receipts other than for the relevant party's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The obligations of our company and each depositary under any deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of their duties under that agreement, and they will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless they are provided with satisfactory indemnity. They may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, depositary shareholders or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

        A depositary may resign at any time by issuing us a notice of resignation, and we may remove any depositary at any time by issuing it a notice of removal. Resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of appointment. That successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS OF TIER REIT, INC.

        TIER REIT, Inc. may issue warrants for the purchase of TIER REIT, Inc.'s preferred stock or common stock by this prospectus. Warrants may be issued independently, together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement or through a dividend or other distribution to the stockholders of TIER REIT, Inc. and may be attached to or separate from such securities. We may issue warrants under a warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. We will name any warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of a particular series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will describe the terms of the warrants and applicable warrant agreement, including, where applicable, the following:

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the title of such warrants;



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their aggregate number;



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the price or prices at which we will issue them;



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the designation, number and terms of the preferred stock or common stock that can be purchased upon exercise of them;



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the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;



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the date, if any, on and after which they and the related preferred stock or common stock, if any, will be separately transferable;



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the price at which each share of preferred stock or common stock that can be purchased upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;



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the date on which the right to exercise them shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;



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the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;



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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;



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a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and



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any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange, and exercise of such warrants.

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GLOBAL SECURITIES

        We may issue some or all of our securities of any series as global securities. We will register each global security in the name of a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The global securities will be deposited with a depositary or nominee or custodian for the depositary and will bear a legend regarding restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer as discussed below and any other matters to be provided pursuant to the applicable prospectus supplement.

        As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security and the securities represented by it for all purposes under the securities and the applicable prospectus supplement. Except in limited circumstances, owners of a beneficial interest in a global security:

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will not be entitled to have the global security or any securities represented by it registered in their names;



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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated securities in exchange for the global security; and



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will not be considered to be the owners or holders of the global security or any securities represented by it for any purposes under the securities or the applicable prospectus supplement.

        We will make all payments of principal and any premium and interest on a global security to the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

        Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to institutions having accounts with the depositary or its nominee, called "participants" for purposes of this discussion, and to persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global security is issued, the depositary will credit on its book-entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by:

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the depositary, with respect to participants' interests; or



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any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by the participants on their behalf.

        Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests held through the participants will be the responsibility of the participants. The depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary's or any participant's records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:

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us or our affiliates;



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the trustee under any applicable prospectus supplement; or



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any agent of any of the above.

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MATERIAL PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

         The following description of the terms of our stock and of certain provisions of Maryland law is only a summary. Copies of our charter and bylaws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the following description is qualified entirely by reference to our charter and bylaws and the applicable provisions of Maryland law.

Number of Directors; Vacancies

        Our charter provides that the number of directors will be set only by the board of directors in accordance with our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that a majority of our entire board of directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. However, the number of directors may never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, which is one.

        Our charter and bylaws provide that any and all vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Annual Elections; Plurality Voting

        Each of our directors will be elected by our stockholders to serve until our next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Pursuant to our bylaws, directors are elected by a plurality of all of the votes cast in the election of directors.

Removal of Directors

        Our charter provides that, subject to the rights, if any, of holders of any class or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, a director may be removed only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of the shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. "Cause" is defined in our charter to mean conviction of a director of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that a director caused demonstrable, material harm to us through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty. This provision, when coupled with the exclusive power of our board of directors to fill vacancies on our board of directors, precludes stockholders from (1) removing incumbent directors except upon the affirmative vote of the shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter and for cause and (2) filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders

        Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our president and our board of directors. Additionally, our bylaws provide that, subject to the satisfaction of certain procedural and informational requirements by the stockholders requesting the meeting, a special meeting of stockholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders shall be called by the secretary of the corporation upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

Business Combinations

        Under the MGCL, certain "business combinations" (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and any interested stockholder, or an affiliate of such an

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interested stockholder, are prohibited for five years following the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:

•

any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation's outstanding voting stock after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock; or



•

an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question and after the date on which the corporation had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

        After such five-year period, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

•

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and



•

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

        These supermajority approval requirements do not apply if, among other conditions, the corporation's common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. In addition, a person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. The board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance with any terms and conditions determined by it.

        These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a corporation's board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These provisions of the MGCL may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests.

Control Share Acquisitions

        The MGCL provides that holders of "control shares" of a Maryland corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition" have no voting rights with respect to any control shares except to the extent approved at a special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of stock of a corporation in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of such shares in the election of directors: (a) a person who makes or proposes to make a control share acquisition; (b) an officer of the corporation; or (c) an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. "Control shares" are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

•

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;



•

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

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•

a majority or more of all voting power.

        Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A "control share acquisition" means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

        A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an "acquiring person statement" as described in the MGCL), may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares acquired or to be acquired in the control share acquisition. If no request for a special meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

        If voting rights of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an "acquiring person statement" as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights, unless these specific appraisal rights are eliminated under the charter or bylaws.

        The control share acquisition statute does not apply to: (a) shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction, or (b) acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

        Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. This bylaw provision may be amended only by our board of directors.

Appraisal Rights

        The MGCL provides that stockholders may exercise appraisal rights unless appraisal rights are eliminated under a company's charter. Our charter generally eliminates all appraisal rights of stockholders unless the board, by a majority vote of the entire board, determines that such rights shall apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to a particular transaction or to all transactions.

Subtitle 8

        Under Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL, a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three directors who are not officers or employees of the corporation, and who are not affiliated with a person who is seeking to acquire control of the corporation, may elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of the following five provisions:

•

a classified board requirement;



•

a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;



•

a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the board of directors;

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•

a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies; or



•

a requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders only at the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

        Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already (a) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships, subject to limitations set forth in our charter and bylaws, (b) provide that vacancies on our board may be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred, and (c) require, unless called by the board of directors or our president, the request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on a matter at such meeting to call a special meeting to consider and vote on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders. We have elected to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 requiring that any vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies. We have not elected to require a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director. Additionally, we have not elected to create a classified board. In the future, our board of directors may elect, without stockholder approval, to create a classified board or elect to be subject to one or more of the other provisions of Subtitle 8.

Amendments to Our Charter and Bylaws

        Other than amendments to certain provisions of our charter described below and amendments permitted to be made without stockholder approval under Maryland law or by a specific provision in our charter, our charter may be amended only if such amendment is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our board of directors, without stockholder approval, has the power under our charter to amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we are authorized to issue, to authorize us to issue authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify and reclassify unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock into one or more classes or series of stock and set the terms of such newly classified or reclassified shares.

        Our board of directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Transactions Outside the Ordinary Course of Business

        We generally may not merge with or into or consolidate with another company, sell all or substantially all of our assets or engage in a statutory share exchange or convert unless such transaction is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Dissolution of Our Company

        The voluntary dissolution of our company must be declared advisable by a majority of our entire board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

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Meetings of Stockholders

        Under our bylaws, annual meetings of stockholders must be held at a date, time and place determined by our board of directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be called by our president or our board of directors. Additionally, a special meeting of stockholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders must be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter at such meeting who have requested the special meeting in accordance with the procedures specified in our bylaws and provided the information and certifications required by our bylaws. Only matters set forth in the notice of a special meeting of stockholders may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

        Our bylaws provide that:

•

with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders at the annual meeting may be made only:



•

pursuant to the notice of such meeting;



•

by or at the direction of our board of directors; or



•

by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures and provided the information and certifications required by the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws; and



•

with respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders, and nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors may be made, provided that the meeting has been called for the purpose of electing directors, only:



•

by or at the direction of our board of directors; or



•

by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures and provided the information and certifications required by the advance notice procedures set forth in our bylaws.

        The purpose of requiring stockholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our board of directors the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals. The advance notice procedures also permit a more orderly procedure for conducting our stockholder meetings. Although our bylaws do not give our board of directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain actions, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.

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Action by Stockholders

        Our charter provides that stockholder action can be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, or by written consent in lieu of a meeting only if such consent is approved unanimously. These provisions, combined with the requirements of our bylaws regarding advance notice of nominations and other business to be considered at a meeting of stockholders and the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders, may have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal.

Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

        The provisions of the MGCL, our charter and our bylaws described above including, among others, the Maryland business combination statute, the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the exclusive power of our board of directors to fill vacancies on the board and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change of control of our company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interests. Likewise, if our board of directors were to opt in to the provisions of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL providing for a classified board of directors or if our stockholders were to vote to amend our bylaws to opt in to the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL, these provisions of the MGCL could provide us with similar anti-takeover effects.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors' and Officers' Liability

        Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except to the extent that (a) it is proved that the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received; or (b) a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the person's action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding. Our charter contains a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The MGCL requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter in the proceeding, against reasonable expenses incurred by the director or officer in connection with the proceeding, claim, issue or matter. The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and:



•

was committed in bad faith; or



•

was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; or



•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or



•

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

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        Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not, however, indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or if the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless limited by the charter (which our charter does not), a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of a director or officer, may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the director or officer met the standards of conduct described above or has been adjudged liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, but such indemnification shall be limited to expenses.

        In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer, without requiring a preliminary determination of the director's or officer's ultimate entitlement to indemnification, upon the corporation's receipt of:

•

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and



•

a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the director's or officer's behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.

        Our charter authorizes us to obligate our company and our bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding, without requiring a preliminary determination of the director's ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to:

•

any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or



•

any individual who, while serving as a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

        Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to (a) any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and (b) any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.

        Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

        We have obtained an insurance policy under which our directors and executive officers are insured, subject to the limits of the policy, against certain losses arising from claims made against such directors and officers by reason of any acts or omissions covered under such policy in their respective capacities as directors or officers, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

REIT Qualification

        Our charter provides that our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT.

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the qualification and taxation of TIER REIT, Inc. as a REIT and relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of common stock and preferred stock of TIER REIT, Inc.

        Because this is a summary that is intended to address only certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our common stock and preferred stock generally applicable to holders, it may not contain all the information that may be important to you. As you review this discussion, you should keep in mind that:

•

the tax consequences to you may vary depending on your particular tax situation;



•

special rules that are not discussed below may apply to you if, for example, you are a broker-dealer, a trust, an estate, a regulated investment company, a REIT, a financial institution, an insurance company, a person who holds 10% or more (by vote or value) of our stock, a person holding their interest through a partnership or similar pass-through entity, a person subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code, a person holding our common stock or preferred stock as part of a "straddle," "hedge," "short sale," "conversion transaction," "synthetic security" or other integrated investment, a person who marks-to market our common stock or preferred stock, a U.S. expatriate, a U.S. stockholder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or are otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the Code;



•

this summary assumes that stockholders hold our common stock and preferred stock as a "capital asset" within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code;



•

this summary does not address U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to tax-exempt organizations and non-U.S. persons, except to the limited extent described below;



•

this summary does not address state, local, non-U.S., alternative minimum, or estate tax considerations; and



•

this discussion is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, tax advice.

        In addition, this summary does not address tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of stock purchase contracts, depositary shares or warrants, and in the event we issue any stock purchase contracts, depositary shares or warrants, the prospectus supplement will discuss the related tax considerations in greater detail.

         You are urged both to review the following discussion and to consult with your own tax advisor to determine the effect of ownership and disposition of our common stock and preferred stock on your particular tax situation, including any state, local, or non-U.S. tax consequences.

        For purposes of this discussion, references to "we," "us" or "our," and any similar terms, refer solely to TIER REIT, Inc. and not Tier Operating Partnership LP.

        The information in this section is based on the current Code, the current, temporary and proposed regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department (the "Treasury Regulations"), the legislative history of the Code, current administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS (including its practices and policies as endorsed in private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS except in the case of the taxpayer to whom a private letter ruling is addressed), and existing court decisions. Future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions could change current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change could apply retroactively. We have not obtained any rulings from the IRS concerning the tax treatment of the matters discussed below. Thus, it is possible that the IRS could challenge the

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statements in this discussion which do not bind the IRS or the courts, and that a court could agree with the IRS.

Classification and Taxation of TIER REIT, Inc. as a REIT

        We elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. A REIT generally is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income that it distributes to stockholders if it meets the applicable REIT distribution requirements and other requirements for qualification.

        We believe that our form of organization and our operations through the date hereof and our proposed ownership, organization and method of operations thereafter have enabled and will enable to us to qualify as a REIT beginning with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. In connection with our filing of this registration statement, we received an opinion of our tax counsel, Goodwin Procter LLP, to the effect that (i) commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2008, we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT and (ii) our current and proposed ownership, organization and method of operation as represented by management will allow us to continue to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. This opinion was based on representations and covenants made by us as to certain factual matters relating to our organization, our prior and intended or expected ownership and method of operation, certain assumptions relating to our organization and operation, and certain other matters affecting our ability to qualify as a REIT. Goodwin Procter LLP has not verified those representations, and their opinion has assumed that such representations and covenants are accurate and complete, that we have operated and will at all times operate in accordance with such representations and covenants and that we will take no action inconsistent with our status as a REIT. In addition, this opinion was based on the law existing and in effect as of its date. Our qualification and taxation as a REIT will depend on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels, diversity of share ownership and the various qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below. Goodwin Procter LLP has not reviewed and will not review our compliance with these tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, the opinion of our tax counsel does not guarantee our ability to qualify as or remain qualified as a REIT, and no assurance can be given that we have satisfied and will satisfy such tests for our taxable year ending December 31, 2016 or for any future period. Also, the opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP is not binding on the IRS, or any court, and could be subject to modification or withdrawal based on future legislative, judicial or administrative changes to U.S. federal income tax laws, any of which could be applied retroactively. Goodwin Procter LLP has no obligation to advise us or the holders of our stock of any subsequent change in the matters addressed in its opinion, the factual representations or assumptions on which the conclusions in the opinion are based, or of any subsequent change in applicable law.

        So long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our net income that we distribute currently to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates "double taxation" (that is, taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels) that generally results from an investment in a corporation. However, even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as follows:

•

We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed "REIT taxable income." REIT taxable income is the taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid.



•

Under some circumstances, we may be subject to the "alternative minimum tax" on our items of tax preference.

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•

If we have net income from the sale or other disposition of "foreclosure property" that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, or other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on this income.



•

If we have net income from "prohibited transactions" we will be subject to a 100% tax on this income. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business other than foreclosure property.



•

If we fail to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because other requirements are met, we will be subject to a tax equal to the gross income attributable to the greater of either (1) the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test for the taxable year or (2) the amount by which we fail the 95% gross income test for the taxable year, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.



•

If we fail to satisfy any of the REIT asset tests, as described below, other than a failure by a de minimis amount of the 5% or 10% assets tests, and we qualify for and satisfy certain cure provisions, then we will be required to pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the product of (x) the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests and (y) the highest U.S. federal income tax rate then applicable to corporations.



•

If we fail to satisfy any provision of the 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 and not due to willful neglect, we may retain our REIT qualification, but we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure.



•

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT because we fail to distribute by the end of the relevant year any earnings and profits we inherit from a taxable C corporation during the year (e.g., by tax-free merger or tax-free liquidation), and the failure is not due to fraud with intent to evade tax, we generally may retain our REIT status by paying a special distribution, but we will be required to pay an interest charge on 50% of the amount of undistributed non-REIT earnings and profits.



•

We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record-keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of our stockholders, as described below in "—Requirements for Qualification as a REIT."



•

We will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of amounts actually distributed and amounts retained for which federal income tax was paid, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and any undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years.



•

We will be subject to a 100% penalty tax on some payments we receive (or on certain expenses deducted by our taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs) if arrangements among us, our tenants, and/or our TRSs are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.



•

If we acquire any asset from a corporation that 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 that asset during the applicable recognition period beginning on the date we acquired the asset, we will be required to pay tax at the highest regular corporate tax rate on the lesser of (1) the

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amount of that gain and (2) the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset over (b) our adjusted basis in the asset, in each case determined as of the date we acquired the asset. A C corporation is generally defined as a corporation required to pay full corporate level tax.

•

We may elect to retain and pay income tax on our net long-term capital gain. In that case, a stockholder would: (1) include its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain (to the extent we make a timely designation of such gain to the stockholder) in its income, (2) be deemed to have paid the tax that we paid on such gain and (3) be allowed a credit for its proportionate share of the tax deemed to have been paid with an adjustment made to increase the stockholders' basis in our stock.



•

We have and may have subsidiaries or own interests in other lower-tier entities that are C corporations that will elect, jointly with us, to be treated as our TRSs, the earnings of which would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax.

        No assurance can be given that the amount of any such U.S. federal income taxes will not be substantial. In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes other than U.S. federal income tax, including payroll taxes and state, local, and non-U.S. income, franchise, property and other taxes on assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

        We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code effective with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004. In order to have so qualified, we must have met and continue to meet the requirements discussed below, relating to our organization, ownership, sources of income, nature of assets and distributions of income to stockholders, beginning with our taxable year ending December 31, 2004 unless otherwise noted.

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

(1)

which is managed by one or more trustees or directors;



(2)

the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;



(3)

which would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Code;



(4)

which is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to applicable provisions of the Code;



(5)

the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;



(6)

during the last half of each taxable year not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares of which is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer "individuals," as defined in the Code to include specified entities;



(7)

which makes an election to be taxable as a REIT, or has made this election for a previous taxable year which has not been revoked or terminated, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status;



(8)

which uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder; and



(9)

which meets other applicable tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.

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        Conditions (1), (2), (3), and (4) above must be met during the entire taxable year and condition (5) above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. Conditions (5) and (6) need not be satisfied during a corporation's initial tax year as a REIT. For purposes of determining stock ownership under condition (6) above, a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, and a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes generally are each considered an individual. A trust that is a qualified trust under Code Section 401(a) generally is not considered an individual, and beneficiaries of a qualified trust are treated as holding shares of a REIT in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of condition (6) above. For purposes of condition (6) above, stock owned by an entity is attributed to the owners of the entity and an individual is deemed to own stock owned by certain family members.

        Our charter provides restrictions regarding the transfer of shares of our capital stock that are intended to assist us in satisfying the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements.

        To monitor its compliance with condition (6) above, a REIT is required to send annual letters to its stockholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of its shares. If we comply with the annual letters requirement and we do not know or, exercising reasonable diligence, would not have known of our failure to meet condition (6) above, then we will be treated as having met condition (6) above.

        For purposes of condition (8) above, we will use a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and we intend to comply with the applicable recordkeeping requirements.

Non-REIT Accumulated Earnings and Profits

        As a REIT, at the end of a taxable year, we may not have any earnings and profits accumulated in a non-REIT year (sometimes referred to as "non-REIT earnings and profits"). Such non-REIT earnings and profits include any accumulated earnings and profits of corporations whose assets we acquire (or are deemed to have acquired) through tax-free mergers and other tax-free reorganizations and through tax-free liquidations and thus generally included the accumulated earnings and profits of the corporations that we acquired in the formation transactions in connection with our initial public offering. We believe that we have operated, and we intend to continue to operate, so that we have not had and will not have any earnings and profits accumulated in a non-REIT year at the close of any taxable year.

        However, the determination of the amounts of any such non-REIT earnings and profits is a complex factual and legal determinations. In addition, certain aspects of the computational rules are not completely clear. Thus, we cannot guarantee that the IRS will not assert that we had accumulated non-REIT earnings as of the end of 2004 or a subsequent taxable year.

        If it is subsequently determined that we had any accumulated non-REIT earnings and profits as of December 31, 2004 or as of the end of any subsequent taxable year, we could fail to qualify as a REIT beginning with the applicable taxable year. Pursuant to Treasury Regulations, however, so long as our failure to comply with the prohibition on non-REIT earnings and profits was not due to fraud with intent to evade tax, we could cure such failure by paying an interest charge on 50% of the amount of accumulated non-REIT earnings and profits and by making a special distribution of accumulated non-REIT earnings and profits. We intend to utilize such cure provisions if ever required to do so. The amount of any such interest charge could be substantial.

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Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

        A TRS of ours is a corporation in which we directly or indirectly own stock and that jointly with us elects to be treated as our TRS under Section 856(l) of the Code. In addition, if one of our TRSs owns, directly or indirectly, securities representing more than 35% of the vote or value of a subsidiary corporation, that subsidiary will also be treated as our TRS. A TRS is a corporation subject to U.S. federal income tax, and state and local income tax, where applicable, as a regular C corporation.

        Generally, a TRS can perform impermissible tenant services without causing us to receive impermissible tenant services income from those services under the REIT income tests. A TRS may also engage in other activities that, if conducted by us other than through a TRS, could result in the receipt of non-qualified income or the ownership of non-qualified assets. However, several provisions regarding the arrangements between a REIT and its TRSs ensure that a TRS will be subject to an appropriate level of U.S. federal income taxation. For example, a TRS is limited in its ability to deduct interest paid or accrued to us in excess of certain amounts. In addition, we will be obligated to pay a 100% penalty tax on some payments that we receive or on certain expenses deducted by the TRS if the economic arrangements among us, our tenants, and/or the TRS are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties.

        We may own interests in one or more TRSs that may perform certain services for our tenants, receive management fee income and/or hold interests in joint ventures and private equity real estate funds that might hold assets or generate income that could cause us to fail the REIT income or asset tests or subject us to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions. Our TRSs may incur significant amounts of U.S. federal, state and local income taxes.

Subsidiary REITs

        If any REIT in which we hold or held an interest fails or failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, that failure could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation that is not a REIT or a TRS, as further described below. Investments in subsidiary REITs may pose additional challenges, such as smaller income and asset bases against which to absorb nonqualifying income and assets and, in the case of subsidiary REITs acquired by purchase, reliance on the seller's compliance with the REIT requirements for periods prior to acquisition.

Ownership of Partnership Interests and Disregarded Subsidiaries by a REIT

        A REIT that is a partner in a partnership (or a member of a limited liability company or other entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to earn its proportionate share of the partnership's income. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs, as described below. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of any subsidiary partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) in which we or our operating partnership holds an interest, will be treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT income and asset tests. Our operating partnership, Tier Operating Partnership LP, is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of the date hereof, but previously has been (and in the future may be) a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary (including an entity which is treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is a "qualified REIT subsidiary," the separate existence of that subsidiary is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Generally,

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a qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a TRS, all of the capital stock of which is owned by the REIT (either directly or through other disregarded subsidiaries). For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. Our qualified REIT subsidiaries will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, but may be subject to state and local taxation in some states. Certain other entities also may be treated as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally including any domestic unincorporated entity that would be treated as a partnership if it had more than one owner, and including our operating partnership, Tier Operating Partnership LP, during periods that we are its sole beneficial owner. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of any such disregarded entity will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the owner of the disregarded entity.

Income Tests Applicable to REITs

        To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income tests annually. First, at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain other income and gains, described below, for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including "rents from real property," gains on the disposition of real estate assets other than certain debt instruments of publically offered REITs, dividends paid by another REIT, and interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, or from some types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain other income and gains, described below, must be derived from any combination of income qualifying under the 75% test and dividends, interest and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities.

        Rents we receive will qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term "rents from real property" solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a "related party tenant" will not qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income tests unless the tenant is a TRS and either (i) at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants and the rent paid by the TRS is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space, or (ii) the property leased is a "qualified lodging facility," as defined in Section 856(d)(9)(D) of the Code, or a "qualified health care property," as defined in Section 856(e)(6)(D)(i), and certain other conditions are satisfied. A tenant is a related party tenant if the REIT, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the REIT, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the tenant. Third, if rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property.

        Generally, for rents to qualify as rents from real property for the purpose of satisfying the gross income tests, we may provide directly only an insignificant amount of services, unless those services are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant." Accordingly, we may not provide "impermissible services" to tenants (except through an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue and that meets other requirements or through a TRS) without giving rise to "impermissible tenant service income." Impermissible tenant service income is deemed to be at least 150% of the direct cost to us of providing the service. If the impermissible tenant service income exceeds 1% of our total income from a property, then all of the income from that property will fail to qualify as rents from real property. If the total amount of impermissible tenant service income from a property does not exceed 1% of our total

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income from the property, the services will not disqualify any other income from the property that qualifies as rents from real property, but the impermissible tenant service income will not qualify as rents from real property.

        Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. A mortgage loan secured by both real property and personal property shall be treated as a wholly qualifying real estate asset and all interest shall be qualifying for purposes of the 75% income test if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property, as of the date we make a binding commitment to make the loan.

        If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to relief under the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet the tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we attached a schedule of the sources of our income to our federal income tax return, and otherwise comply with the applicable Treasury Regulations. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because nonqualifying income that we intentionally incur unexpectedly exceeds the limits on nonqualifying income, the IRS could conclude that the failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances involving us, we will fail to qualify as a REIT. As discussed under "—Classification and Taxation of TIER REIT, Inc. as a REIT," even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed based on the amount of nonqualifying income.

Asset Tests Applicable to REITs

        To maintain our qualification as a REIT we must also satisfy, at the close of each quarter of each taxable year, the following tests relating to the nature and diversification of our assets.

•

At least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items (including receivables and certain money market funds) and U.S. Government securities. Real estate assets include interests in real property (such as land, buildings, leasehold interest in real property and, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, personal property leased with real property if the rents attributable to the personal property would be rents from real property under the income tests discussed above), interests in mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, shares in other qualifying REITs, and stock or debt instruments held for less than one year purchased with the proceeds from an offering of shares of our stock or certain debt and, for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, debt instruments issued by publicly offered REITs.



•

Not more than 25% (for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018) or 20% (for taxable years beginning before 2009 or on or after January 1, 2018) of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries



•

Not more than 25% (for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2016) of the value of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments of publicly offered REITs that are not secured by mortgages on real property or interests in real property.



•

Not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class.



•

Except for equity investments in REITs, qualified REIT subsidiaries or taxable REIT subsidiaries or other securities that qualify as "real estate assets" for purposes of the 75% asset test:



•

the value of any one issuer's securities we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets;

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•

we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer's outstanding voting securities; and



•

we may not own more than 10% of the total value of any one issuer's outstanding securities.

        Securities for purposes of the asset tests may include debt securities that are not fully secured by a mortgage on real property (or treated as such). However, 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. In general, straight debt is defined as a written, unconditional promise to pay on demand or at a specific date a fixed principal amount, and the interest rate and payment dates on the debt must not be contingent on profits or the discretion of the debtor. In addition, straight debt may not contain a convertibility feature.

        We believe that our assets comply with the above asset tests and that we can operate so that we can continue to comply with those tests. However, our ability to satisfy these asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals.

        If we fail to satisfy the 5% or 10% asset tests described above after a 30-day cure period prescribed in the Code, we will be deemed to have met those tests if the value of our non-qualifying assets is de minimis (that is, that value does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the applicable quarter and $10,000,000) and we dispose of the non-qualifying assets (or otherwise cure that failure) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which the failure to satisfy the asset tests is discovered. For violations due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect that are in excess of the de minimis exception described above, we may avoid disqualification as a REIT under any of the asset tests, after the 30 day cure period, by disposing of sufficient assets (or otherwise curing that failure) to meet the asset tests within that six month period, paying a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 and the highest corporate tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the non-qualifying assets and disclosing certain information to the IRS. If we cannot take advantage of these relief provisions, or if we fail to timely cure any noncompliance with the asset tests, we would cease to qualify as a REIT.

        If we satisfy the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our REIT status if we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a later quarter solely because of changes in asset values. If our failure to satisfy the asset tests results, either in whole or in part, from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure can be cured by disposing of sufficient non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and to take any other action within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance. In some instances, however, we may be compelled to dispose of assets that we would prefer to retain.

Annual Distribution Requirements Applicable to REITs

        To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders each year in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of (a) 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain and (b) 90% of the net income, after tax, from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain specified

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items of noncash income. For purposes of the distribution requirements, any built-in gain (net of the applicable tax) we recognize during the applicable recognition period that existed on an asset at the time we acquired it from a C corporation in a carry-over basis transaction will be included in our REIT taxable income. These distributions must be paid either in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the prior year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment date after the declaration is made.

        To the extent that we do not distribute (and are not deemed to have distributed) all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on these retained amounts at regular corporate tax rates.

        We will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of amounts actually distributed and amounts retained for which U.S. federal income tax was paid, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:

        (1)   85% of our REIT 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 taxable years.

        A REIT may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains and pay the tax on the gains. In that case, a REIT may elect to have its stockholders include their proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains in income as long-term capital gains and receive a credit for their share of the tax paid by the REIT. For purposes of the 4% excise tax described above, any retained amounts would be treated as having been distributed.

        We believe that we have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.

        We anticipate that we will generally have sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement and to distribute such greater amount as may be necessary to avoid U.S. federal income and excise taxes. It is possible, however, that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to fund required distributions as a result, for example, of differences in timing between our cash flow, the receipt of income for GAAP purposes and the recognition of income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the effect of non-deductible capital expenditures, the creation of reserves, payment of required debt service or amortization payments, or the need to make additional investments in qualifying real estate assets. The insufficiency of our cash flow to cover our distribution requirements could require us to (i) sell assets in adverse market conditions, (ii) borrow on unfavorable terms, (iii) distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions or capital expenditures or used for the repayment of debt, (iv) pay dividends in the form of taxable stock dividends or (v) use cash reserves, in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements.

        Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying dividends to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. We will refer to such dividends as "deficiency dividends." Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will, however, be required to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Prohibited Transactions

        Net income derived from prohibited transactions is subject to a 100% tax. The term "prohibited transactions" generally includes a sale or other disposition of property (other than foreclosure property) that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Whether

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property is held "primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business" depends on the specific facts and circumstances. The Code provides a safe harbor pursuant to which sales of properties held for at least two years and meeting certain additional requirements will not be treated as prohibited transactions, but compliance with the safe harbor may not always be practical. We intend to hold our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of owning and operating properties and to make sales of properties that are consistent with our investment objectives; however, no assurance can be given that any particular property in which we hold a direct or indirect interest will not be treated as property held for sale to customers, or that the safe-harbor provisions will apply. The 100% tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate income tax rates. The potential application of the prohibited transactions tax could cause us to forego potential dispositions of other property or to forego other opportunities that might otherwise be attractive to us (such as developing property for sale), or to undertake such dispositions or other opportunities through a TRS, which would generally result in corporate income taxes being incurred.