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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K  
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20162017
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 1-34364
 
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) 
Maryland
(State of Organization)
26-4273474
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
 
Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, MA 02458-1634
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                                                       (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code 617-219-1440
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title Of Each Class Name Of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest The NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC
5.875% Senior Notes due 2046 
The NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒  No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐   No ☒
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒  No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒  No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☒
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”,filer,” “accelerated filer”filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “smaller reporting“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ☒

Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
Smaller reportingEmerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, or common shares, of the registrant held by non-affiliates was approximately $1.6$1.3 billion based on the $23.06$18.31 closing price per common share on the New YorkThe Nasdaq Stock ExchangeMarket LLC on June 30, 2016.2017. For purposes of this calculation, an aggregate of 1,855,3991,942,816 common shares held directly by, or by affiliates of, the trustees and the executive officers of the registrant have been included in the number of common shares held by affiliates.
 
Number of the registrant’s common shares outstanding as of February 21, 2017: 71,177,906.23, 2018: 99,145,304.


References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the Company, GOV, we, us or our mean Government Properties Income Trust and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement for the 20172018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2017.
     


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WARNING CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CONTAINS STATEMENTS THAT CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. ALSO, WHENEVER WE USE WORDS SUCH AS “BELIEVE”, “EXPECT”, “ANTICIPATE”, “INTEND”, “PLAN”, “ESTIMATE”, “WILL”, “MAY” AND NEGATIVES OR DERIVATIVES OF THESE OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, WE ARE MAKING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED UPON OUR PRESENT INTENT, BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS, BUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OCCUR AND MAY NOT OCCUR. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS REPORT RELATE TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF OUR BUSINESS, INCLUDING:
OUR ACQUISITIONS AND SALES OF PROPERTIES, 
OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE FOR ACQUISITIONS AND TENANCIES EFFECTIVELY, 
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT OUR TENANTS WILL PAY RENT OR BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY CYCLICAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OR GOVERNMENT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS,
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT OUR TENANTS WILL RENEW OR EXTEND THEIR LEASES AND NOT EXERCISE EARLY TERMINATION OPTIONS PURSUANT TO THEIR LEASES OR THAT WE WILL OBTAIN REPLACEMENT TENANTS,
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT OUR RENTS WILL INCREASE WHEN WE RENEW OR EXTEND OUR LEASES OR ENTER NEW LEASES,
OUR ABILITY TO PAY DISTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS AND TO SUSTAIN THE AMOUNT OF SUCH DISTRIBUTIONS, 
OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE BENEFIT FINANCIALLY FROM OUR OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN SELECT INCOME REIT, OR SIR, 
OUR POLICIES AND PLANS REGARDING INVESTMENTS, FINANCINGS AND DISPOSITIONS, 
THE FUTURE AVAILABILITY OF BORROWINGS UNDER OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY, 
OUR EXPECTATION THAT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ACQUIRE, AND THAT WE WILL ACQUIRE, ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES IN THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, D.C. MARKET AREA OR ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING PROPERTIES THAT ARE MAJORITY LEASED TO GOVERNMENT TENANTS, OR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR TENANTS OR OTHER PRIVATE TENANTS, 
OUR EXPECTATIONS REGARDING DEMAND FOR LEASED SPACE BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, 
OUR ABILITY TO RAISE EQUITYDEBT OR DEBTEQUITY CAPITAL, 
OUR ABILITY TO PAY INTEREST ON AND PRINCIPAL OF OUR DEBT, 
OUR ABILITY TO APPROPRIATELY BALANCE OUR USE OF DEBT AND EQUITY CAPITAL, 
OUR CREDIT RATINGS, 
OUR EXPECTED BENEFITS FROM OUR ACQUISITION OF FIRST POTOMAC REALTY TRUST, OR FPO, AND SUCH ACQUISITION, THE FPO TRANSACTION,
OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE BENEFIT FROM OUR OWNERSHIP OFINTEREST IN AND OTHER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE RMR GROUP INC., OR RMR INC., 
OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE BENEFIT FROM OUR OWNERSHIP OFINTEREST IN AND OTHER RELATIONSHIPS WITH AFFILIATES INSURANCE COMPANY, OR AIC, AND FROM OUR PARTICIPATION IN INSURANCE PROGRAMS ARRANGED BY AIC,
THE CREDIT QUALITIES OF OUR TENANTS,
OUR QUALIFICATION FOR TAXATION AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, OR REIT, AND
OTHER MATTERS.
 

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OUR ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN OR IMPLIED BY OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS FACTORS. FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND UPON OUR BUSINESS, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS, OR FFO, AVAILABLE FOR COMMON SHAREHOLDERS, NORMALIZED FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS, OR NORMALIZED FFO, AVAILABLE FOR COMMON SHAREHOLDERS, CONSOLIDATED PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME, OR NOI, CASH FLOWS, LIQUIDITY AND PROSPECTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: 

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THE IMPACT OF CONDITIONS AND CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY AND THE CAPITAL MARKETS ON US AND OUR TENANTS,
COMPETITION WITHIN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TOIN THOSE MARKETS IN WHICH OUR PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AND WITH RESPECT TO GOVERNMENT TENANCIES, 
THE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN THE REAL ESTATE NEEDS AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, 
COMPLIANCE WITH, AND CHANGES TO, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, ACCOUNTING RULES, TAX LAWS AND SIMILAR MATTERS, 
ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH OUR RELATED PARTIES, INCLUDING OUR MANAGING TRUSTEES,TRUSTEE, THE RMR GROUP LLC, OR RMR LLC, RMR INC., SIR, AIC AND OTHERS AFFILIATED WITH THEM, 
LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON OUR BUSINESS AND OUR ABILITY TO SATISFY COMPLEX RULES IN ORDER FOR US TO QUALIFY FOR TAXATION AS A REIT FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, AND 
ACTS OF TERRORISM, OUTBREAKS OF SO CALLED PANDEMICS OR OTHER MANMADE OR NATURAL DISASTERS BEYOND OUR CONTROL.

FOR EXAMPLE:
OUR ABILITY TO MAKE FUTURE DISTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS AND TO MAKE PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON OUR INDEBTEDNESS DEPENDS UPON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING OUR FUTURE EARNINGS, THE CAPITAL COSTS WE INCUR TO LEASE OUR PROPERTIES, OUR WORKING CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND OUR RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS FROM SIR. WE MAY BE UNABLE TO PAY OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS OR TO MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT RATE OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON OUR COMMON SHARES AND FUTURE DISTRIBUTIONS MAY BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED, 
OUR ABILITY TO GROW OUR BUSINESS AND INCREASE DISTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SHAREHOLDERSDISTRIBUTIONS DEPENDS IN LARGE PART UPON OUR ABILITY TO BUY PROPERTIES AND LEASE THEM FOR RENTS, LESS THEIR PROPERTY OPERATING EXPENSES,COSTS, THAT EXCEED OUR CAPITAL COSTS. WE MAY BE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY PROPERTIES THAT WE WANT TO ACQUIRE OR TO NEGOTIATE ACCEPTABLE PURCHASE PRICES, ACQUISITION FINANCING OR LEASE TERMS FOR NEW PROPERTIES,
SOME OF OUR TENANTS MAY NOT RENEW EXPIRING LEASES, AND WE MAY BE UNABLE TO OBTAIN NEW TENANTS TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THE HISTORICAL OCCUPANCY RATES OF, OR RENTS FROM, OUR PROPERTIES,
SOME GOVERNMENT TENANTS MAY EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS TO VACATE THEIR SPACE BEFORE THE STATED EXPIRATION OF THEIR LEASES, AND WE MAY BE UNABLE TO OBTAIN NEW TENANTS TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORICAL OCCUPANCY RATES OF, OR RENTS FROM, OUR PROPERTIES,
RENTS THAT WE CAN CHARGE AT OUR PROPERTIES MAY DECLINE BECAUSE OF CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS OR OTHERWISE, 
CONTINGENCIES IN OUR ACQUISITION AND SALE AGREEMENTS MAY NOT BE SATISFIED AND OUR PENDING ACQUISITIONS AND SALES MAY NOT OCCUR, MAY BE DELAYED OR THE TERMS OF SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY CHANGE, 

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WE MAY FAIL TO SELL PROPERTIES THAT WE IDENTIFY FOR SALE OR WE MAY REALIZE LOSSES ON ANY SUCH SALES OR IN CONNECTION WITH DECISIONS TO PURSUE SELLING CERTAIN OF OUR PROPERTIES,
CONTINUED AVAILABILITY OF BORROWINGS UNDER OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY IS SUBJECT TO OUR SATISFYING CERTAIN FINANCIAL COVENANTS AND OTHER CUSTOMARY CREDIT FACILITY CONDITIONS THAT WE MAY BE UNABLE TO SATISFY, 
ACTUAL COSTS UNDER OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY OR OTHER FLOATING RATE CREDIT FACILITIESDEBT WILL BE HIGHER THAN LIBOR PLUS A PREMIUM BECAUSE OF OTHER FEES AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH FACILITIES, DEBT,

THE INTEREST RATES PAYABLE UNDER OUR FLOATING RATE DEBT OBLIGATIONS DEPEND UPON OUR CREDIT RATINGS. BOTH MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, OR MOODY'S, AND STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS SERVICES, OR S&P, HAVE RECENTLY UPDATED OUR RATING OUTLOOK TO NEGATIVE, WHICH MAY IMPLY THAT OUR CREDIT RATINGS MAY BE DOWNGRADED. IF OUR CREDIT RATINGS ARE DOWNGRADED, OUR BORROWING COSTS WILL INCREASE,
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OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS DEBT CAPITAL AND THE COST OF OUR DEBT CAPITAL WILL DEPEND IN PART ON OUR CREDIT RATINGS. IF OUR CREDIT RATINGS ARE DOWNGRADED, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS DEBT CAPITAL OR THE DEBT CAPITAL WE CAN ACCESS MAY BE EXPENSIVE,     
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO REPAY OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS WHEN THEY BECOME DUE, 
THE MAXIMUM BORROWING AVAILABILITY UNDER OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AND TERM LOANS MAY BE INCREASED TO UP TO $2.5 BILLION ON A COMBINED BASIS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; HOWEVER, INCREASING THE MAXIMUM BORROWING AVAILABILITY UNDER OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AND TERM LOANS IS SUBJECT TO OUR OBTAINING ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS FROM LENDERS, WHICH MAY NOT OCCUR, 
WE HAVE THE OPTION TO EXTEND THE MATURITY DATE OF OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY UPON PAYMENT OF A FEE AND MEETING OTHER CONDITIONS.CONDITIONS;  HOWEVER, THE APPLICABLE CONDITIONS MAY NOT BE MET, 
THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN US AND RMR LLC HAVE CONTINUING 20 YEAR TERMS.  HOWEVER, THOSE AGREEMENTS INCLUDE TERMS WHICH PERMIT EARLY TERMINATION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.  ACCORDINGLY, WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT THESE AGREEMENTS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR CONTINUING 20 YEAR TERMS OR FOR SHORTER TERMS,
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR RELATED PARTIES, INCLUDING RMR LLC, RMR INC., SIR, AIC AND OTHERS AFFILIATED WITH THEM MAY BENEFIT US AND PROVIDE US WITH COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES IN OPERATING AND GROWING OUR BUSINESS. HOWEVER, THE ADVANTAGES WE BELIEVE WE MAY REALIZE FROM THESE RELATIONSHIPS MAY NOT MATERIALIZE, 
WE MAY FAIL TO EXECUTE SUCCESSFULLY ON THE PREMIUMS USED TO DETERMINEEXPANDED BUSINESS STRATEGY OR INCREASED SCALE RESULTING FROM THE INTEREST RATE PAYABLE ON OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITYFPO TRANSACTION AND TERM LOANS ANDTHEREFORE MAY NOT REALIZE THE FACILITY FEE PAYABLE ON OUR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY ARE BASED ON OUR CREDIT RATINGS.  FUTURE CHANGES IN OUR CREDIT RATINGS MAY CAUSEBENEFITS WE EXPECT FROM THE INTEREST AND FEES WE PAY TO INCREASE, FPO TRANSACTION,
SIR MAY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ITS DISTRIBUTIONS TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS, INCLUDING US,  
RMR INC. MAY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ITS DISTRIBUTIONS TO ITS SHAREHOLDERS, INCLUDING US,
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO SELL OUR SIR COMMON SHARES FOR AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO OUR CARRYING VALUE OF THOSE SHARES AND ANY SUCH SALE MAY BE AT A DISCOUNT TO MARKET PRICE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE SIZE OF OUR SIR HOLDINGS OR OTHERWISE; WE MAY REALIZE A LOSS ON OUR INVESTMENT IN OUR SIR SHARES, AND
WE CURRENTLY EXPECT TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $15.4 MILLION TO COMPLETE OUR REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING PROPERTY IN CONNECTION WITH A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT.  IN ADDITION, AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2016,2017, WE HAVE ESTIMATED UNSPENT LEASING RELATED OBLIGATIONS OF $26.5 MILLION, EXCLUDING THE ESTIMATED DEVELOPMENT COSTS NOTED IN THE PRECEDING SENTENCE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY ESTIMATE DEVELOPMENT COSTS.  THIS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND$31.3 MILLION. OUR UNSPENT LEASING RELATED OBLIGATIONS MAY COST MORE OR

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LESS AND MAY TAKE LONGER TO COMPLETE THAN WE CURRENTLY EXPECT, AND WE MAY INCUR INCREASINGINCREASED AMOUNTS FOR THESE AND SIMILAR PURPOSES IN THE FUTURE.
CURRENTLY UNEXPECTED RESULTS COULD OCCUR DUE TO MANY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, SOME OF WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT TENANTS’ NEEDS FOR LEASED SPACE, ACTS OF TERRORISM, NATURAL DISASTERS OR CHANGES IN CAPITAL MARKETS OR THE ECONOMY GENERALLY.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ELSEWHERE IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K OR IN OUR OTHER FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR SEC, INCLUDING UNDER THE CAPTION “RISK FACTORS”, OR INCORPORATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, IDENTIFIES OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE DIFFERENCES FROM OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. OUR FILINGS WITH THE SEC ARE AVAILABLE ON THE SEC’S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV.
YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.
EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WE DO NOT INTEND TO UPDATE OR CHANGE ANY FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.

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STATEMENT CONCERNING LIMITED LIABILITY
THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ESTABLISHING GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST, DATED JUNE 8, 2009, AS AMENDED, AS FILED WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND, PROVIDES THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL LIABILITY, JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, FOR ANY OBLIGATION OF, OR CLAIM AGAINST, GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST. ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST IN ANY WAY SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.


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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
20162017 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
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PART I
Item 1.  Business
The Company.  We are a real estate investment trust, or REIT, formed in 2009 under Maryland law.  As of December 31, 2016, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations,2017, we wholly owned 73108 properties (95(167 buildings) withand had a noncontrolling ownership interest in two properties (three buildings) through two unconsolidated joint ventures in which we own 50% and 51% interests. As of December 31, 2017, our consolidated properties have an undepreciated carrying value of approximately $1.9$3.0 billion and a depreciated carrying value of approximately $1.6$2.6 billion. These 73Our 108 consolidated properties have approximately 11.417.5 million rentable square feet.
As of December 31, 2016,2017, we also owned 24,918,421 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of Select Income REIT, or SIR, or approximately 27.9%27.8% of the then outstanding common shares of SIR.  SIR is a REIT which primarily owns single tenant, net leased properties. As of December 31, 20162017 our investment in SIR had a market value of approximately $626.2 million and a carrying value of approximately $487.7$467.5 million.  See Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding our investment in SIR.  We account for our investment in SIR under the equity method.    
Our principal executive offices are located at Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, Massachusetts 02458-1634, and our telephone number is (617) 219-1440.
Acquisition of First Potomac Realty Trust.On October 2, 2017, we completed our acquisition of First Potomac Realty Trust, or FPO, pursuant to merger transactions, as a result of which we acquired 35 office properties (72 buildings) with approximately 6.0 million rentable square feet, and two properties (three buildings) with approximately 0.4 million rentable square feet owned by joint ventures in which we acquired FPO's 50% and 51% interests, or collectively, the FPO Transaction. The aggregate value we paid for FPO was approximately $1.4 billion, including approximately $651.7 million in cash to FPO shareholders, the repayment of approximately $483.0 million of FPO corporate debt, the assumption of approximately$167.5 million of FPO mortgage debt; this amount excludes the $82.0 million of mortgage debt that encumbers the two joint venture properties and the payment of certain transaction fees and expenses, net of FPO cash on hand. See Notes 5, 9 and 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding the FPO Transaction and our related financing activities.  

Our Business.  Our business plan is to maintain our properties, seek to extend or enter into new leases as leases approach expiration, enter into new leases for our vacant space and selectively acquire additional properties that are majority leased to government tenants and government contractor tenants, selectively dispose of properties when we determine that our continued ownership will not achieve desired returns or if the opportunity costs from continuing to own such properties exceed our expected returns from those properties and pay distributions to our shareholders.properties. As our current leases expire, we will attempt to renew our leases with existing tenants or to enter into leases with new tenants, in both circumstances at rents equal to or higher than the rents we now receive. Our ability to renew leases with our existing tenants or to enter into new leases with new tenants and the rents we are able to charge will depend in large part upon market conditions which are generally beyond our control. We may also selectively dispose of properties when we determine that our continued ownership will not achieve desired returns or if we determine that we have uses for the sale proceeds which will meet our other business objectives.
Our Growth Strategy.  Our internal growth strategy is to attempt to increase the rents we receive from our current properties. To achieve rent increases we may invest in our properties to make improvements requested by existing tenants or to induce lease renewals or new tenant leases when our current leases expire or vacant space is leased. However, as noted above, our ability to maintain or increase the rents we receive from our current properties will depend in large part upon market conditions which are beyond our control.
Our external growth strategy is defined by our investment policies, including our acquisition, disposition and financing policies.  Our investment, acquisition, disposition and financing policies are established by our Board of Trustees and may be changed by our Board of Trustees at any time without shareholder approval.
Our Investment Policies

Our investment objectives include increasing cash flow by acquiring properties atthat produce yields that are greater than our cost of capital in order to increase per share distributions to our shareholders. To achieve these objectives, we seek to: maintain a strong capital base of shareholders’ equity; invest in quality properties with highstrong credit quality tenants; use moderate debt leverage to fund additional investments; when market conditions permit, refinance debt with additional equity or long term debt; and pursue diversification so that our cash flow from operations comes from diverse properties and tenants.


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Acquisition Policies. We currently expect to acquire additional properties that are majority leased to government tenants or government contractor tenants.tenants outside the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area and government tenants and private sector tenants within the metropolitan Washington D.C. market area. We expect to use the extensive nationwide resources of our manager, The RMR Group LLC, a Maryland limited liability company, or RMR LLC, to locate and acquire such properties. We believe that current government budgetary methodology, and spending priorities, and the current U.S. presidential administration's views on the size and scope of government employment have resulted in a decrease in government employment, government tenants reducing their space utilization per employee and consolidation into existing government owned properties, thereby reducing the demand for government leased space. Although we believe that we will be able to locate and acquire additional properties that are majority leased to government tenants, we have recently expanded our acquisition policyof FPO enabled us to expand our business strategy to include the acquisition, ownership and operation of office properties majority leased to both government contractor tenants. We currently expect that our future acquisitions will continue to be primarilyand private sector tenants in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area. The metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area is one of properties that are majority leased to government tenants.the largest office markets in the United States and the nation’s largest beneficiary of spending by the U.S. government. We expect to acquire additional properties primarily for the purpose of realizing income from the operations of those properties rather than to realize capital gains by selling those properties.



In implementing our acquisition strategy, we consider a range of factors relating to proposed property purchases including:

the historic and projected rents received and likely to be received from the property;

the historic and expected operating expenses, including real estate taxes, incurred and expected to be incurred at the property;

the strategic fit of the property with the rest of our properties;

the growth, tax and regulatory environments of the marketsmarket in which the property is located;

the current or potential market position of the property;

the current and expected future space utilization at the property by its tenant(s);

the remaining term of the leaseleases at the property and other lease terms;

the quality, experience and creditworthiness of the property’s tenant(s) and how essential the occupant’s mission at the property is to the tenant(s);

the occupancy and demand for similar properties in the same or nearby markets;

the likelihood of the tenant(s) renewing at lease expiration;

the construction quality, physical condition, age and design of the property and expected capital expenditures that may be needed at the property;

the location andof the property;

the type (e.g., office vs. industrial) of the property;

the use and size of the property;

the proposed acquisition price of the property;

the estimated replacement cost of the property;

our weighted average long term cost of capital compared to the projected returns we may realize by owning the property;

the pricing of comparable properties as evidenced by recent arm’s length market sales; and

the existence of alternative sources, uses or needs for our capital.capital, including our debt leverage.

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Other Investments.Acquisitions. We prefer wholly owned investments in fee interests. However, circumstances may arise in which we may invest in leaseholds, joint ventures, mortgages and other real estate interests. WeIn connection with the FPO Transaction, we acquired FPO's 50% and 51% interests in two unconsolidated joint ventures. In the future, we may invest in or enter into additional real estate joint ventures if we conclude that by doing so we may benefit from the participation of coventurersco-venturers, or that our opportunity to participate in the investment is contingent on the use of a joint venture structure.structure or that pre-existing joint venture arrangements may be part of an acquisition we wish to make, such as the FPO Transaction. We may invest in participating, convertible or other types of mortgages if we conclude that by doing so, we may benefit from the cash flow or appreciation in the value of a property which is not available for purchase.

We have in the past considered,The FPO Transaction was a significant acquisition for us and we may in the future consider the possibility of entering into mergers or strategic combinations with other companies. A principal goal of any such transaction may be to further diversify our revenue sources and increase our cash flow from operations.

We have no policies which specifically limit the percentage of our assets that may be invested in any individual property, in any one type of property, in properties managed by or leased to any one entity, in properties managed by or leased to any affiliated group of entities or in securities of one or more other persons.



We may in the future acquire additional common shares of SIR or The RMR Group Inc. (Nasdaq: RMR), a Maryland corporation, or RMR Inc., or securities of other entities, including entities engaged in real estate activities. We may invest in the securities of other entities for the purpose of exercising control, or otherwise, make loans to other persons or entities, engage in the sale of investments, offer securities in exchange for property or repurchase or reacquire our securities.

Our Board of Trustees may change our acquisition policies without a vote of, or notice to, our shareholders.

Disposition Policies. We generally consider ourselves to be a long term owner of properties and are more interested in the long term earnings potential of our properties than selling properties for short term gains. However, from time to time, we consider the sale of properties. We make disposition decisions based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the following:

the occupancy of the property;
the remaining length of the current leaseleases and its (their) other terms;
our expectation regarding tenant lease renewals or the likelihood of finding a(a) replacement tenanttenant(s) if the property has significant vacancies or is likely to become substantially vacant;
the future expected space utilization of the tenant(s) and the potential impact that may have on occupancy at the property;
the potential costs associated with finding a(a) replacement tenant,tenant(s), including tenant improvements, leasing commissions and concessions, the cost to operate the property while vacant and building improvement capital, as compared to our projected returns from future rents;
our evaluation of future rent for the property relative to leasing costs;
the capital required to maintain the property;
the strategic fit of the property or investment with the rest of our portfolio;
the estimated value we may receive by selling the property;
our intended use of the proceeds we may realize from the sale of a property;
the proposed sale price;
our financial position and needs from time to time; and
the existence of alternative sources, uses or needs for capital.capital, including our debt leverage.

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As part of our long term financing plans for the FPO Transaction and to reduce our financial leverage, we expect to dispose of certain properties. We have entered agreements to sell three properties (three buildings) for an aggregate contract price of $39.0 million. We are marketing or plan to market for sale 28 additional properties (61 buildings) including properties acquired as part of the FPO Transaction, with a carrying value of $658.2 million as of December 31, 2017. We cannot be sure we will sell any properties or sell them for prices in excess of our carrying values.

Our Board of Trustees may change our investmentdisposition policies at any time without a vote of, or notice to, our shareholders.

Our Financing Policies

To qualify for taxation as a REIT under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the IRC, we must distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income (excluding net capital gains). Accordingly, we generally will not be able to retain sufficient cash to fund our operations, repay our debts, invest in our properties and fund acquisitions and development or redevelopment efforts. Instead, we expect to repay our debts, invest in our properties and fund acquisitions and development or redevelopment efforts with borrowings under our revolving credit facility, proceeds from equity or debt securities we may issue, (domestically or in foreign markets), including by subsidiaries, cash distributions we may receive on our SIR common shares or retained cash from operations whichthat may exceed our distributions.distributions paid. To the extent we obtain additional debt financing, we may do so on an unsecured or a secured basis. We may seek to obtain lines of credit or to issue securities senior to our common shares, including preferred shares or debt securities, some of which may be convertible into our common shares or be accompanied by warrants to purchase our common shares. We may also finance acquisitions by assuming debt or through the issuance of equity or other securities. The proceeds from any of our financings may be used to pay distributions, to provide working capital, to refinance existing indebtedness or to finance acquisitions and expansions of existing or new properties.

Although there are no limitations in our organizational documents on the type or amount of indebtedness we may incur, the borrowing limitations established by the covenants in the credit agreement governing our revolving credit facility and term loans, or our credit agreement, and our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements currently restrict our ability to incur indebtedness and require us to maintain certain financial ratios. However, we may seek to amend these covenants or seek replacement financings with less restrictive covenants. In the future, we may decide to seek changes in the financial covenants


which currently restrict our debt leverage based upon then current economic conditions, the relative availability and costs of debt versus equity capital and our need for capital to take advantage of acquisition opportunities or otherwise.

We currently have a $750 million unsecured revolving credit facility, or our revolving credit facility, that we use for working capital and general business purposes, andincluding to fund acquisitions. In some instances, we may assume outstanding mortgage debt in connection with our acquisitions or place new mortgages on properties we own. For more information regarding our financing sources and activities, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Our Investment and Financing Liquidity and Resources” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Generally, we intend to manage our leverage in a way that may allow us to maintain “investment grade” ratings from nationally recognized statistical rating organizations; however,organizations. As part of the FPO Transaction, our leverage increased through our assumption and issuance of additional debt. As noted above, we intend to dispose of certain properties in order to reduce our debt leverage. However, we cannot be sure that we will be successful in these efforts or be able to maintain our investment grade ratings.

Our Board of Trustees may change our financing policies at any time without a vote of, or notice to, our shareholders.

Employees
We have no employees. Services which would otherwise be provided to us by employees are provided by RMR LLC and by our Managing Trustee and officers. As of February 1, 2018, RMR LLC had over 550 full time employees in its headquarters and regional offices located throughout the United States.
Other Information

Our Manager.   RMR Inc. is a holding company and substantially all of its business is conducted by its majority owned subsidiary, RMR LLC.  Barry Portnoy and Adam Portnoy, our Managing Trustees, areTrustee, as the current sole trustee of ABP Trust is the controlling shareholders, directors and officersshareholder of RMR Inc. He is also a director and an officer of RMR Inc.  Barry Portnoy was our other Managing Trustee

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and a director and an officer of RMR Inc. until his death on February 25, 2018. Our day to day operations are conducted by RMR LLC.  RMR LLC originates and presents investment and divestment opportunities to our Board of Trustees and provides management and administrative services to us. RMR LLC has a principal place of business at Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, Massachusetts 02458-1634, and its telephone number is (617) 796-8390.  RMR LLC or its subsidiaries also acts as the manager to SIR, Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, or ILPT, Hospitality Properties Trust, or HPT, and Senior Housing Properties Trust, or SNH, and Tremont Mortgage Trust, or TRMT, and provides management and other services to other private and public companies, including Five Star Quality Care,Senior Living Inc., or FVE,Five Star, TravelCenters of America LLC, or TA, and Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, or Sonesta.  As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the executive officers of RMR LLC are: Adam Portnoy, President and Chief Executive Officer; Barry Portnoy, Chairman;  David M. Blackman, Executive Vice President; Jennifer B. Clark, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; David J. Hegarty, Executive Vice President; Matthew P. Jordan, Executive Vice President; Mark L. Kleifges, Executive Vice President; Bruce J. Mackey Jr., Executive Vice President; John G. Murray, Executive Vice President; Thomas M. O’Brien,John C. Popeo, Executive Vice President; and John C. Popeo,Andrew J. Rebholz, Executive Vice President.  David M. Blackman and Mark L. Kleifges are also our executive officers.  Messrs. Blackman and Kleifges and other officers of RMR LLC also serve as officers of other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services.
Employees.  We have no employees. Services which would otherwise be provided to us by employees are provided by RMR LLC and by our Managing Trustees and officers. As of February 21, 2017, RMR LLC had over 450 full time employees in its headquarters and regional offices located throughout the United States.
Competition.  Investing in and operating office buildings and maintaining relationships with government, tenantsgovernment contractor and government contractorother tenants and attracting new tenants is a highly competitive business. We compete against other REITs, numerous financial institutions, individuals and public and private companies, including entities funded by both domestic and foreign capital, who are actively engaged in this business. Also, we compete for investments based on a number of factors including purchase prices, closing terms, underwriting criteria and our reputation. Our ability to successfully compete is also materially impacted by the availability and cost of capital to us. We do not believe we have a dominant position in any of the geographic markets in which we operate, but some of our competitors are dominant in selected markets. Some of our competitors may have greater financial and other resources than we have. We believe we have some competitive advantages in leasing to government tenants and purchasing government leased properties because of our experience and familiarity with government leasing procedures. We also believe the experience and abilities of our management and the quality of our properties may afford us some competitive advantages and allow us to operate our business successfully despite the competitive nature of our business.
For additional information about competition and other risks associated with our business, please see “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Environmental Matters.  Under various laws, owners as well as tenants and operators of real estate may be required to investigate and clean up or remove hazardous substances present at or migrating from properties they own, lease or operate and may be held liable for property damage or personal injuries that result from hazardous substances. These laws also expose us to the possibility that we may become liable to governmental agencies or third parties for costs and damages they incur in connection with hazardous substances. It is our usual practice to obtain and review “Phase I” environmental surveys prior to our acquisition of properties in order to assess the possible presence of and cost of removing hazardous substances. Certain of our


buildings contain asbestos. We believe any asbestos in our buildings is contained in accordance with current regulations, and we have no current plans to remove it. If we remove the asbestos or renovate or demolish these properties, certain environmental regulations govern the manner in which the asbestos must be handled and removed. We do not believe that there are environmental conditions at any of our properties that have had or will have a material adverse effect on us. However, we cannot be sure that conditions are not present at our properties or that costs we may be required to incur in the future to remediate contamination will not have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition. For more information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Ownership of real estate is subject to environmental and climate change risks.”
In reaction to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. Government has instituted “green lease” policies which include the “Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy” as one of the factors it considers when leasing property. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 also allows the General Services Administration, or GSA, to give preference to buildings for lease that have received an “ENERGY STAR” certification. The ENERGY STAR program is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which is focused on promoting energy efficient products and buildings.  Buildings that reach a specified level of energy efficiency may receive the ENERGY STAR recognition for a period of 12 months before the requirement that they be recertified.  Furthermore, certain buildings are not eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.  For example, lab uses, medical office buildings and buildings less than 50% occupied cannot be ENERGY STAR certified.  For the year ended December 31, 2016, 502017, 69 of our consolidated buildings with an aggregate of 6,054,6038,637,564 rentable square feet (56.2%(45.4% and 55.9%50.1% of our eligible consolidated buildings and eligible consolidated rentable square feet, respectively) were ENERGY STAR certified.

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The U.S. Government’s “green lease” policies also permit government tenants to require leadership in energy and environmental design, or LEED®, designation in selecting new premises or renewing leases at existing premises. The LEED® designation program is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting environmental sustainability for the built environment.  Buildings that reach specified levels of sustainability may receive a LEED® designation. As of December 31, 2016, 162017, 25 of our consolidated buildings with an aggregate of 2,424,9233,602,853 rentable square feet (16.8%(15.5% and 21.2%20.6% of our total consolidated buildings and total consolidated rentable square feet, respectively) were LEED® designated.
We and our manager, RMR LLC, continuously study ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts at our properties.  We and RMR LLC are members of the ENERGY STAR Partner program and RMR LLC is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. OurWe believe our effort to obtain additional ENERGY STAR labels and/or LEED® designations and manage our properties in a sustainable manner benefit our business while also bettering the environment. We are also monitoring the newU.S. presidential administration policies and practices for potential changes to "green lease" policies. For more information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—The U.S. Government’s “green lease” policies may adversely affect us.”
Insurance.    We generally have insurance coverage for our properties and the operations conducted on them, including for casualty, liability, fire and extended coverage. We participate with RMR LLC and other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services in a combined property insurance program through Affiliates Insurance Company, or AIC, and with respect to which AIC is an insurer or a reinsurer of certain coverage amounts. We also participate with RMR Inc. and other companies managed by RMR LLC in a partial joint program for director and officers liability insurance as well as purchasing such insurance for our own account. For more information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Related Person Transactions” and Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Other Matters.  Legislative and regulatory developments may occur at the federal, state and local levels that have direct or indirect impact on the ownership, leasing and operation of our properties. We may need to make expenditures, to the extent these costs are not paid by our tenants, due to changes in government regulations, or the application of such regulations to our properties, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA, fire and safety regulations, building codes, land use regulations or environmental regulations on containment, abatement or removal.
Segment Information. We operate in two business segments: direct ownership of real estate properties that are primarily leased to government tenants and our equity method investment in SIR. For more information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Internet Website.  Our internet website address is www.govreit.com. Copies of our governance guidelines, code of business conduct and ethics, or Code of Conduct, and the charters of our audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees are posted on our website and also may be obtained free of charge by writing to our Secretary, Government Properties Income Trust, Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, Massachusetts, 02458-1634 or at our website. We also have a policy outlining procedures for handling concerns or complaints about accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and a governance hotline accessible on our website that shareholders can use to report concerns or


complaints about accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters or violations or possible violations of our Code of Conduct. We make available, free of charge, on our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after these forms are filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Our Board of Trustees provides a process for securitySecurity holders tomay send communications to our Board of Trustees or individual Trustees. Information aboutTrustees by writing to the processparty for sending communications to our Board of Trusteeswhom the communication is intended at c/o Secretary, Government Properties Income Trust, Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, Massachusetts 02458-1634 or individual Trustees can be found on our website.email secretary@govreit.com. Our website address is included several times in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as textual references only and the information in our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Other Matters.  Legislative and regulatory developments may occur at the federal, state and local levels that have direct or indirect impact on the ownership, leasing and operation of our properties. We may need to make expenditures, to the extent these costs are not paid by our tenants, due to changes in government regulations, or the application of such regulations to our properties, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, fire and safety regulations, building codes, land use regulations or environmental regulations on containment, abatement or removal.
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary of material United States federal income tax considerations is based on existing law, and is limited to investors who own our shares as investment assets rather than as inventory or as property used in a trade or business. The summary does not discuss all of the particular tax considerations that might be relevant to you if you are subject to special rules under federal income tax law, for example if you are:

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a bank, insurance company or other financial institution;

a regulated investment company or REIT;

a subchapter S corporation;

a broker, dealer or trader in securities or foreign currency;

a person who marks-to-market our shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

a U.S. shareholder (as defined below) that has a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;

a person who acquires or owns our shares in connection with employment or other performance of services;

a person subject to alternative minimum tax;

a person who acquires or owns our shares as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, constructive sale transaction, constructive ownership transaction or conversion transaction, or as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated financial transaction;

a person who owns 10% or more (by vote or value, directly or constructively under the IRC) of any class of our shares;

a U.S. expatriate;

a non-U.S. shareholder (as defined below) whose investment in our shares is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States;

a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during an applicable taxable year;

a “qualified shareholder” (as defined in Section 897(k)(3)(A) of the IRC);

a “qualified foreign pension fund” (as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the IRC) or any entity wholly owned by one or more qualified foreign pension funds;

a person subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of their use of applicable financial statements (within the meaning of Section 451(b)(3) of the IRC); or

except as specifically described in the following summary, a trust, estate, tax-exempt entity or foreign person.

The sections of the IRC that govern the federal income tax qualification and treatment of a REIT and its shareholders are complex. This presentation is a summary of applicable IRC provisions, related rules and regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Future legislative, judicial or administrative actions or decisions could also affect the accuracy of statements made in this summary. We have not received a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect to any matter described in this summary, and we cannot assure yoube sure that the IRS or a court will agree with all of the statements made in this summary. The IRS could, for example, take a different position from that described in this summary with respect to our acquisitions, operations, valuations, restructurings or other matters, which, if a court agreed, could result in significant tax liabilities for applicable parties. In addition, this summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations, and does not discuss any estate, gift, state, local or foreign tax considerations. For all these reasons, we urge you and any holder of or prospective acquiror of our shares to consult with a tax advisor about the federal income tax and other tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our shares. Our intentions and beliefs described in this summary are based upon our understanding of applicable laws and regulations that are in effect as


of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. If new laws or regulations are enacted which impact us directly or indirectly, we may change our intentions or beliefs.

Your federal income tax consequences generally will differ depending on whether or not you are a “U.S. shareholder.” For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of our shares that is:

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, including an alien individual who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or meets the substantial presence residency test under the federal income tax laws;

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an entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

an estate the income of which is subject to federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or, to the extent provided in Treasury regulations, a trust in existence on August 20, 1996 that has elected to be treated as a domestic trust;

whose status as a U.S. shareholder is not overridden by an applicable tax treaty. Conversely, a “non-U.S. shareholder” is a beneficial owner of our shares other than an entity (or other arrangement) treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or a U.S. shareholder.

If any entity (or other arrangement) treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes holds our shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Any entity or(or other arrangementarrangement) treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes that is a holder of our shares and the partners in such a partnership (as determined for federal income tax purposes) are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the federal income tax consequences and other tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our shares.
Acquisition of FPO
As discussed above, we acquired FPO and its operating partnership in 2017. As a result of the FPO Transaction, we are treated for federal income tax purposes as having acquired the assets of FPO for the cash that we paid plus the assumption of FPO’s liabilities, after which FPO was treated as liquidating and distributing the cash to its shareholders. FPO recognized gain or loss on the disposition of its assets based on the sum of the cash paid by us and the value of the liabilities assumed by us. This gain or loss plus FPO’s operating income was offset fully by the dividends paid deduction available to liquidating REITs in their final taxable year. Our initial tax basis in the assets of FPO equaled the sum of the cash we paid to the holders of FPO common shares in conjunction with the FPO Transaction, the value of FPO’s liabilities that we assumed, and the acquisition costs that we capitalized for income tax purposes.

The assets that we acquired in the FPO Transaction generally (a) qualify as real estate assets that satisfy the REIT asset tests that are described below under the heading “—REIT Qualification Requirements—Asset Tests,” and (b) generate gross income that satisfies the REIT gross income tests that are described below under the heading “—REIT Qualification Requirements—Income Tests.” As a result, we believe that our acquisition of FPO’s assets has not and will not materially impact our qualification for taxation as a REIT.

As a condition of the closing of the FPO Transaction, FPO’s counsel provided us with an opinion that FPO had been organized and had operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the IRC. If, contrary to that opinion and our expectation, FPO failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any applicable period, then we may inherit significant tax liabilities in the FPO Transaction because, as the successor by merger to FPO, we would generally inherit any corporate income tax liabilities of FPO, including penalties and interest.

It is unclear whether the IRC provisions that are generally available to remediate REIT compliance failures will be available to us as a successor in respect of any determination that FPO failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT. If and to the extent the remedial provisions are available to us to address FPO’s REIT qualification and taxation for the applicable period prior to or including the FPO Transaction, we may incur significant cash outlays in connection with the remediation, possibly including (a) required distribution payments to shareholders and associated interest payments to the IRS and (b) tax and interest payments to the IRS and state and local tax authorities.

FPO’s failure before the FPO Transaction to have qualified for taxation as a REIT and our efforts to remedy any such failure could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Taxation as a REIT
We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the IRC, commencing with our 2009 taxable year. Our REIT election, assuming continuing compliance with the then applicable qualification tests, has continued and will continue in effect for subsequent taxable years. Although no assurance canwe cannot be given,sure, we believe that from and after our 2009taxable year

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we have been organized and have operated, and will continue to be organized and to operate, in a manner that qualified us and will continue to qualify us to be taxed as a REIT under the IRC.
As a REIT, we generally are not subject to federal income tax on our net income distributed as dividends to our shareholders. Distributions to our shareholders generally are included in theirour shareholders’ income as dividends to the extent of our available current or accumulated earnings and profits. Our dividends are not generally entitled to the preferential tax rates on qualified dividend income, but a portion of our dividends may be treated as capital gain dividends or as qualified dividend income, all as explained below. However, for taxable years beginning after 2017 and before 2026 and pursuant to the deduction-without-outlay mechanism of Section 199A of the IRC, our noncorporate shareholders will be eligible for lower effective tax rates on our dividends that are not treated as capital gain dividends or as qualified dividend income. No portion of any of our dividends is generally eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits generally are treated for federal income tax purposes as returns of capital to the extent of a recipient shareholder’s basis in our shares, and will reduce this basis. Our current or accumulated earnings and profits are generally allocated first to distributions made on our preferred shares, of which there are none outstanding at this time, and thereafter to distributions made on our common shares. For all these purposes, our distributions include cash distributions, any in kind distributions of property that we might make, and deemed or constructive distributions resulting from capital market activities (such as some redemptions), as described below.

Our counsel, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, has provided to us anis of the opinion that we have been organized and have qualified for taxation as a REIT under the IRC for our 2009 through 20162017 taxable years, and that our current and anticipated investments and plan of operation will enable us to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the IRC. Our counsel’s opinions are conditioned upon the assumption that our leases, our declaration of trust and all other legal documents to which we have been or are a party have been and will be complied with by all parties to those documents, upon the accuracy and completeness of the factual matters described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and upon representations made by us to our counsel as to certain factual matters relating to our organization and operations and our expected manner of operation. If this assumption or a description or representation is inaccurate or incomplete, our counsel’s opinions may be adversely affected and may not be relied upon. The opinions of our counsel are based upon the law as it exists today, but the law may change in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. Given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing


importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given byneither Sullivan & Worcester LLP or usnor we can be sure that we will qualify as or be taxed as a REIT for any particular year. Any opinion of Sullivan & Worcester LLP as to our qualification or taxation as a REIT will be expressed as of the date issued. Our counsel will have no obligation to advise us or our shareholders of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed, or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. Also, the opinions of our counsel are not binding on either the IRS or a court, and either could take a position different from that expressed by our counsel.

Our continued qualification and taxation as a REIT will depend upon our compliance on a continuing basis with various qualification tests imposed under the IRC and summarized below. While we believe that we have satisfied and will satisfy these tests, our counsel does not review compliance with these tests on a continuing basis. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any year, we will be subject to federal income taxation as if we were a corporation taxed under subchapter C of the IRC, or a C corporation, and our shareholders will be taxed like shareholders of regular C corporations, meaning that federal income tax generally will be applied at both the corporate and shareholder levels. In this event, we could be subject to significant tax liabilities, and the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders could be reduced or eliminated.

If we qualify for taxation as a REIT and meet the tests described below, we generally will not pay federal income tax on amounts we distribute to our shareholders. However, even if we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may still be subject to federal tax in the following circumstances, as described below:

We will be taxed at regular corporate income tax rates on any undistributed “real estate investment trust taxable income,” determined by including our undistributed ordinary income and net capital gains, if any.
We may be subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax on our items of tax preference.
If we have net income from the disposition of “foreclosure property,” as described in Section 856(e) of the IRC, that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business or from other nonqualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax on this income at the highest regular corporate income tax rate.

If we have net income from “prohibited transactions” - that is, dispositions at a gain of inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business other than dispositions of foreclosure property and other than dispositions excepted by statutory safe harbors - harbors—we will be subject to tax on this income at a 100% rate.

If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, but nonetheless maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT because of specified cure

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provisions, we will be subject to tax at a 100% rate on the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, with adjustments, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability for the taxable year.

If we fail to satisfy any of the REIT asset tests described below (other than a de minimis failure of the 5% or 10% asset tests) due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, but nonetheless maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT because of specified cure provisions, we will be subject to a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest regular corporate income tax rate multiplied by the net income generated by the nonqualifying assets that caused us to fail the test.

If we fail to satisfy any provision of the IRC that would result in our failure to qualify for taxation as a REIT (other than violations of the REIT gross income tests or violations of the REIT asset tests described below), due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, we may retain our qualification for taxation as a REIT but will be subject to a penalty of $50,000 for each failure.

If we fail to distribute for any calendar year at least the sum of 85% of our REIT ordinary income for that year, 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for that year and any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed.

If we acquire a REIT asset where our adjusted tax basis in the asset is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the asset in the hands of a C corporation, under specified circumstances we may be subject to federal income taxation on all or part of the built-in gain (calculated as of the date the property ceased being owned by


the C corporation) on such asset. We generally do not expect to sell assets if doing so would result in the imposition of a material built-in gains tax liability; but if and when we do sell assets that may have associated built-in gains tax exposure, then we expect to make appropriate provision for the associated tax liabilities on our financial statements.

If we acquire a corporation in a transaction where we succeed to its tax attributes, to preserve our qualification for taxation as a REIT we must generally distribute all of the C corporation earnings and profits inherited in that acquisition, if any, no later than the end of our taxable year in which the acquisition occurs. However, if we fail to do so, relief provisions would allow us to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT provided we distribute any subsequently discovered C corporation earnings and profits and pay an interest charge in respect of the period of delayed distribution.

Our subsidiaries that are C corporations, including our “taxable REIT subsidiaries” as defined in Section 856(l) of the IRC, or TRSs, generally will be required to pay federal corporate income tax on their earnings, and a 100% tax may be imposed on any transaction between us and one of our TRSs that does not reflect arm’s length terms.

If it is determined that FPO failed to satisfy one or more of the REIT tests described below, the IRS might allow us, as FPO’s successor, the same opportunity for relief as though we were the remediating REIT. In such case, FPO would be deemed to have retained its qualification for taxation as a REIT and the relevant penalties or sanctions for remediation would fall upon us in a manner comparable to the above.

As discussed below, we are invested in real estate through a subsidiary that we believe qualifies for taxation as a REIT. If it is determined that this entity failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may fail one or more of the REIT asset tests. In such case, we expect that we would be able to avail ourselves of the relief provisions described below, but would be subject to a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest regular corporate income tax rate multiplied by the net income we earned from this subsidiary.

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any year, then we will be subject to federal income tax in the same manner as a regular C corporation. Further, as a regular C corporation, distributions to our shareholders will not be deductible by us, nor will distributions be required under the IRC. Also, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to our shareholders will generally be taxable as ordinary dividends potentially eligible for the preferential tax rates discussed below inunder the heading “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders” and, subject to limitations in the IRC, will be potentially eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. Finally, we will generally be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the taxable year in which the termination of our REIT status is effective. Our failure to qualify for taxation as a REIT for even one year could result in us reducing or eliminating distributions to our shareholders, or in us incurring substantial indebtedness or liquidating substantial investments in order to pay the resulting corporate-level income taxes. Relief provisions under the IRC may allow us to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT even if we fail to comply with various REIT requirements, all as discussed in more detail below. However, it is impossible to state whether in any particular circumstance we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions.

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REIT Qualification Requirements
General Requirements. Section 856(a) of the IRC defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

(1)that 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)that would be taxable, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the IRC, as a domestic C corporation;

(4)that is not a financial institution or an insurance company subject to special provisions of the IRC;

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

(6)that is not “closely held,” meaning that during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the IRC to include specified tax-exempt entities); and

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

Section 856(b) of the IRC provides that conditions (1) through (4) must be met during the entire taxable year and that condition (5) 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. WeAlthough we cannot be sure, we believe that we have met conditions (1) through (7) during each of the requisite periods ending on or before the close of our most recently completed taxable year, and that we will continue to meet these conditions in our current and future taxable years. There can, however, be no assurance in this regard.

To help comply with condition (6), our declaration of trust restricts transfers of our shares that would otherwise result in concentrated ownership positions. These restrictions, however, do not ensure that we have previously satisfied, and may not


ensure that we will in all cases be able to continue to satisfy, the share ownership requirements described in condition (6). If we comply with applicable Treasury regulations to ascertain the ownership of our outstanding shares and do not know, or by exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, that we failed condition (6), then we will be treated as having met condition (6). Accordingly, we have complied and will continue to comply with these regulations, including by requesting annually from record holders of significant percentages of our shares information regarding the ownership of our shares. Under our declaration of trust, our shareholders are required to respond to these requests for information. A shareholder that fails or refuses to comply with the request is required by Treasury regulations to submit a statement with its federal income tax return disclosing its actual ownership of our shares and other information.

For purposes of condition (6), an “individual” generally includes a natural person, a supplemental unemployment compensation benefit plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes, but does not include a qualified pension plan or profit-sharing trust. As a result, REIT shares owned by an entity that is not an “individual” are considered to be owned by the direct and indirect owners of the entity that are individuals (as so defined), rather than to be owned by the entity itself. Similarly, REIT shares held by a qualified pension plan or profit-sharing trust are treated as held directly by the individual beneficiaries in proportion to their actuarial interests in such plan or trust. Consequently, five or fewer such trusts could own more than 50% of the interests in an entity without jeopardizing that entity’s qualification for taxation as a REIT.

The IRC provides that we will not automatically fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT if we do not meet conditions (1) through (6), provided we can establish that such failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Each such excused failure will result in the imposition of a $50,000 penalty instead of REIT disqualification. This relief provision may apply to a failure of the applicable conditions even if the failure first occurred in a year prior to the taxable year in which the failure was discovered.

Our Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and Our Investments Through Partnerships. Except in respect of a TRS as discussed below, Section 856(i) of the IRC provides that any corporation, 100% of whose stock is held by a REIT and its disregarded subsidiaries, is a qualified REIT subsidiary and shall not be treated as a separate corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of a qualified REIT subsidiary are treated as the REIT’s. We believe that each of our direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, other than the TRSs discussed below (and entities owned

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in whole or in part by the TRSs), will be either a qualified REIT subsidiary within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the IRC or a noncorporate entity that for federal income tax purposes is not treated as separate from its owner under Treasury regulations issued under Section 7701 of the IRC, each such disregarded entity referred to as a QRS. Thus, in applying all of the REIT qualification requirements described in this summary, all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of our QRSs are treated as ours, and our investment in the stock and other securities of such QRSs will be disregarded.

We have invested and may in the future invest in real estate through one or more entities that are treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is a partner in a partnership, Treasury regulations under the IRC provide that, for purposes of the REIT qualification requirements regarding income and assets described below, the REIT is generally deemed to own its proportionate share, based on respective capital interests, of the income and assets of the partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test, described below, the REIT’s proportionate share of the partnership’s assets is based on its proportionate interest in the equity and specified debt securities issued by the partnership). In addition, for these purposes, the character of the assets and items of gross income of the partnership generally remains the same in the hands of the REIT. In contrast, for purposes of the distribution requirementrequirements discussed below, we wouldmust take into account as a partner our share of the partnership’s income as determined under the general federal income tax rules governing partners and partnerships under Sections 701 through 777 of the IRC.

Subsidiary REITs.REITs We may in the future invest in real estate through one or more. When a subsidiary entities that are intended to qualifyqualifies for taxation as REITs. Anya REIT separate and apart from its REIT parent, the subsidiary’s shares are qualifying real estate assets for purposes of the REIT parent’s 75% asset test described below. However, failure of the subsidiary REIT will generally be subject to separately satisfy the various REIT qualification requirements and other limitations described in this summary or that are otherwise applicable to us. If one of our subsidiary REITs were to fail(and failure to qualify for taxation as a REIT, thenthe applicable relief provisions) would generally result in (a) the subsidiary REIT would becomebeing subject to regular U.S. corporate income tax, as described above, and (b) ourthe REIT parent’s ownership of shares in the subsidiary REIT would cease(i) ceasing to be a qualifying real estate assetassets for purposes of the 75% asset test, and would become(ii) becoming subject to the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test generally applicable to oura REIT’s ownership in corporations other than REITs and TRSs, and (iii) thereby jeopardizing the REIT parent’s own REIT qualification and taxation on account of the subsidiary’s failure cascading up to the REIT parent, all as described under “—Asset Tests” below. If

We own a substantial amount of the outstanding common shares of SIR, which we believe has qualified and will remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under the IRC. In addition, we have invested and may in the future invest in real estate through one or more other subsidiary REIT were to failentities that have intended and are intended to qualify for taxation as a REIT, it is possible that we would not meet the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test with respect to our interest in the subsidiary REIT, in which event we would fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT unless we could utilize applicable relief provisions.REITs. We expect to makehave made protective TRS elections with respect to our subsidiary REITs and may implementhave implemented other protective arrangements intended to avoid a cascading REIT failure if any of our


subsidiary REITs weredid not to qualify for taxation as a REIT, but there canwe cannot be no assurancesure that such protective elections and other arrangements will be effective in every instance so as to avoid or mitigate the resulting adverse consequences to us. For example, we joined with SIR in filing a protective TRS election, effective for the third quarter of 2014, and we have reaffirmed this protective election with SIR every January thereafter, and we may continue to do so unless and until our ownership of SIR falls below 10%. Pursuant to this protective TRS election, we believe that if SIR is not a REIT for some reason, then it would instead be considered one of our TRSs, and as such its value would either fit within our REIT gross asset tests described below or would be such that any penalty taxes associated with our remediation of a REIT asset test failure for which there is reasonable cause, as described below, would be much lower than if no such TRS election were in place, though any applicable penalty taxes might still be substantial. Protective TRS elections will not impact our compliance with the 75% and 95% gross income tests described below, because we do not expect our gains and dividends from a subsidiary REIT’s shares to jeopardize compliance with these tests even if for some reason the subsidiary is not a REIT.

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. WeAs a REIT, we are permitted to own any or all of the securities of a TRS, provided that no more than 25% (20% beginning with20% (25% before our 2018 taxable year) of the total value of our assets, at the close of each quarter, is comprised of our investments in the stock or other securities of our TRSs. Very generally, a TRS is a subsidiary corporation other than a REIT in which a REIT directly or indirectly holds stock and that has made a joint election with its parentaffiliated REIT to be treated as a TRS. Our ownership of stock and other securities in TRSs is exempt from the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test discussed below.

In addition, any corporation (other than a REIT) in which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the outstanding securities of such corporation willis automatically be treated as a TRS. Subject to the discussion below, we believe that we and each of our TRSs have complied with, and will continue to comply with, the requirements for TRS status at all times during which we intend for the subsidiary’s TRS election to be in effect, and we believe that the same will be true for any TRS that we later form or acquire.

We acquired in the second quarter of 2015, and owned until the fourth quarter of 2015, an ownership position in RMR Inc., that was in excess of 10% of RMR Inc.’s outstanding securities by vote or value. Accordingly, we elected to treat RMR Inc. as a TRS effective as of June 5, 2015. RMR Inc., through its principal subsidiary,, RMR LLC, has provided and continues to provide

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business and property management and other services to us and to other public and private companies, including other public REITs. Among these clients were and are operators of lodging facilities, operators of health care facilities, and owners of such facilities. Our counsel, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, has provided to us an opinion that the activities proscribed to TRSs under Section 856(l)(3) of the IRC relating to operating or managing lodging facilities or health care facilities should include only regular onsite services or day-to-day operational activities at or for lodging facilities or health care facilities. To the best of our knowledge, neither RMR Inc. nor RMR LLC has been or is involved in proscribed activities at or for lodging facilities or health care facilities. Thus, we do not believe that Section 856(l)(3) of the IRC precluded or precludes RMR Inc. from being treated as our TRS. In addition, because we acquired a significant portion of our investment in RMR Inc. in exchange for our common shares that were newly issued, our counsel, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, is of the opinion that our investment in RMR Inc. should have qualified as a “temporary investment of new capital” under Section 856(c)(5)(B) of the IRC to the extent related to such issuance of our common shares. To the extent our investment in RMR Inc. so qualified, it constituted a “real estate asset” under Section 856(c) of the IRC and did not constitute a security subject to the REIT asset test limitations discussed below for a one-year period that ended in June 2016. If the IRS or a court determines, contrary to the opinion of our counsel, that RMR Inc. was or is precluded from being treated as our TRS, then our ownership position in RMR Inc. in excess of 10% of RMR Inc.’s outstanding securities by vote or value, except to the extent and for the period that such ownership qualified as a “temporary investment of new capital,” would have been and would be in violation of the applicable REIT asset tests described below. Under those circumstances, however, we expect that we would qualify for the REIT asset tests’ relief provision described below, and thereby would preserve our qualification for taxation as a REIT. If the relief provision below were to apply to us, we would be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate income tax rate on the net income generated by our investment in RMR Inc. in excess of a 10% ownership position in that company.

Our TRSs are taxed as C corporations that are separate from us. As regular C corporations, TRSs may generally utilize net operating losses and other tax attribute carry-forwards to reduce or otherwise eliminate federal income tax liability in a given taxable year. Net operating losses and other carry-forwards are subject to limitations, including limitations imposed under Section 382 of the IRC following an “ownership change” (as defined in applicable Treasury regulations). As a result, there can be no assurance that our TRSs will be able to utilize, in full or in part, any net operating losses or other carry-forwards that they may generate in the future.
As discussed below, TRSs can perform services for our tenants without disqualifying the rents we receive from those tenants under the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below. Moreover, because our TRSs are taxed as C corporations that are separate from us, their assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit generally are not imputed to us for purposes of the REIT qualification requirements described in this summary. Therefore, our TRSs may generally undertake third-party managementconduct activities that would be treated as prohibited transactions or would give rise to nonqualified income if conducted by us directly. As regular C corporations, TRSs may generally utilize net operating losses and development activitiesother tax attribute carryforwards to reduce or otherwise eliminate federal income tax liability in a given taxable year. Net operating losses and activitiesother carryforwards are subject to limitations, however, including limitations imposed under Section 382 of the IRC following an “ownership change” (as defined in applicable Treasury regulations) and a limitation stemming from December 2017 amendments to the IRC providing that carryforwards of net operating losses arising in taxable years beginning after 2017 generally cannot offset more than 80% of the current year’s taxable income. Moreover, pursuant to the December 2017 amendments to the IRC, net operating losses arising in taxable years beginning after 2017 may not relatedbe carried back, but may be carried forward indefinitely. As a result, we cannot be sure that our TRSs will be able to real estate.utilize, in full or in part, any net operating losses or other carryforwards that they may generate in the future.

Restrictions and sanctions such as deduction limitations and excise taxes, are imposed on TRSs and their affiliated REITs to ensure that the TRSs will be subject to an appropriate level of federal income taxation. For example, a TRS may not deduct interest paid in any year to an affiliated REIT to the extent that the interest payments exceed, generally, 50% of the TRS’s adjusted taxable income for that year. However, the TRS may carry forward the disallowed interest expense to a succeeding year, and deduct the interest in that later year subject to that year’s 50% adjusted taxable income limitation. In addition, if a TRS pays interest, rent or other amounts to its affiliated REIT in an amount that exceeds what an unrelated third


party would have paid in an arm’s length transaction, then the REIT generally will be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of the excessive portion of the payment. Further, if in comparison to an arm’s length transaction, a third-party tenant has overpaid rent to the REIT in exchange for underpaying the TRS for services rendered, and if the REIT has not adequately compensated the TRS for services provided to or on behalf of the third-party tenant, then the REIT may be subject to an excise tax equal to 100% of the undercompensation to the TRS. A safe harbor exception to this excise tax applies if the TRS has been compensated at a rate at least equal to 150% of its direct cost in furnishing or rendering the service. Finally, beginning with our 2016 taxable year, the 100% excise tax also applies to the underpricing of services provided by a TRSone of our TRSs to its affiliated REITus in contexts where the services are unrelated to services for REITour tenants. There canWe cannot be no assurancesure that arrangements involving our TRSs will not result in the imposition of one or more of these deduction limitationsrestrictions or excise taxes,sanctions, but we do not believe that we or our TRSs are or will be subject to these impositions.

Income Tests. There are two gross income requirements for qualification for taxation as a REIT under the IRC:

At least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year (excluding: (a) gross income from sales or other dispositions of property subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions; (b) any income arising from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that we enter into to manage interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings we incur to acquire or carry real estate assets; (c) any income arising from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that we enter into primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations relating to any item that qualifies under the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (or any property that generates such income or gain); (d) beginning with our 2016 taxable year, any income from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that we enter into to manage risk associated with extant, qualified hedges of liabilities or properties that have been extinguished or disposed; (e) real estate foreign

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exchange gain (as defined in Section 856(n)(2) of the IRC); and (f) income from the repurchase or discharge of indebtedness) must be derived from investments relating to real property, including “rents from real property” as defined under Section 856 of the IRC, interest and gain from mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, income and gain from foreclosure property, gain from the sale or other disposition of real property, or dividends on and gain from the sale or disposition of shares in other REITs (but excluding in all cases any gains subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions). When we receive new capital in exchange for our shares or in a public offering of our five-year or longer debt instruments, income attributable to the temporary investment of this new capital in stock or a debt instrument, if received or accrued within one year of our receipt of the new capital, is generally also qualifying income under the 75% gross income test.

At least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year (excluding: (a) gross income from sales or other dispositions of property subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions; (b) any income arising from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that we enter into to manage interest rate or price changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings we incur to acquire or carry real estate assets; (c) any income arising from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that we enter into primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations relating to any item that qualifies under the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test (or any property that generates such income or gain); (d) beginning with our 2016 taxable year, any income from “clearly identified” hedging transactions that we enter into to manage risk associated with extant, qualified hedges of liabilities or properties that have been extinguished or disposed; (e) passive foreign exchange gain (as defined in Section 856(n)(3) of the IRC); and (f) income from the repurchase or discharge of indebtedness) must be derived from a combination of items of real property income that satisfy the 75% gross income test described above, dividends, interest, or gains from the sale or disposition of stock, securities or real property (but excluding in all cases any gains subject to the 100% tax on prohibited transactions).

Although we will use our best efforts to ensure that the income generated by our investments will be of a type that satisfies both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, there canwe cannot be no assurancesure in this regard.

In order to qualify as “rents from real property” under Section 856 of the IRC, several requirements must be met:

The amount of rent received generally must not be based on the income or profits of any person, but may be based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales.

Rents do not qualify if the REIT owns 10% or more by vote or value of stock of the tenant (or 10% or more of the interests in the assets or net profits of the tenant, if the tenant is not a corporation), whether directly or after application of attribution rules. We generally do not intend to lease property to any party if rents from that property would not qualify as “rents from real property,” but application of the 10% ownership rule is dependent upon complex attribution rules and circumstances that may be beyond our control. Our declaration of trust


generally disallows transfers or purported acquisitions, directly or by attribution, of our shares to the extent necessary to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT under the IRC. Nevertheless, there canwe cannot be no assurancesure that these restrictions will be effective to prevent our qualification for taxation as a REIT from being jeopardized under the 10% affiliated tenant rule. Furthermore, there canwe cannot be no assurancesure that we will be able to monitor and enforce these restrictions, nor will our shareholders necessarily be aware of ownership of our shares attributed to them under the IRC’s attribution rules.

There is a limited exception to the above prohibition on earning “rents from real property” from a 10% affiliated tenant where the tenant is a TRS. If at least 90% of the leased space of a property is leased to tenants other than TRSs and 10% affiliated tenants, and if the TRS’s rent to the REIT for space at that property is substantially comparable to the rents paid by nonaffiliated tenants for comparable space at the property, then otherwise qualifying rents paid by the TRS to the REIT will not be disqualified on account of the rule prohibiting 10% affiliated tenants.

In order for rents to qualify, we generally must not manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of the property, except through an independent contractor from whom we derive no income or through one of our TRSs. There is an exception to this rule permitting a REIT to perform customary management and tenant services of the sort that a tax-exempt organization could perform without being considered in receipt of “unrelated business taxable income,” or UBTI, under Section 512(b)(3) of the IRC. In addition, a de minimis amount of noncustomary services provided to tenants will not disqualify income as “rents from real property” as long as the value of the impermissible tenant services does not exceed 1% of the gross income from the property.

If rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property is 15% or less of the total rent received under the lease, then the rent attributable to personal property qualifies as “rents from real property.” None of the rent attributable to personal property received under a lease will qualify if this 15% threshold is exceeded. The portion

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of rental income treated as attributable to personal property is determined according to the ratio of the fair market value of the personal property to the total fair market value of the real and personal property that is rented.

In addition, “rents from real property” includes both charges we receive for services customarily rendered in connection with the rental of comparable real property in the same geographicalgeographic area, even if the charges are separately stated, as well as charges we receive for services provided by our TRSs when the charges are not separately stated. Whether separately stated charges received by a REIT for services that are not geographically customary and provided by a TRS are included in “rents from real property” has not been addressed clearly by the IRS in published authorities; however, our counsel, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, is of the opinion that, although the matter is not free from doubt, “rents from real property” also includes charges we receive for services provided by our TRSs when the charges are separately stated, even if the services are not geographically customary. Accordingly, we believe that our revenues from TRS-provided services, whether the charges are separately stated or not, qualify as “rents from real property” because the services satisfy the geographically customary standard, because the services have been provided by a TRS, or for both reasons.

We believe that all or substantially all of our rents and related service charges have qualified and will continue to qualify as “rents from real property” for purposes of Section 856 of the IRC.

In order to qualify as mortgage interest on real property for purposes of the 75% gross income test, interest must derive from a mortgage loan secured by a mortgage on real property (oror on interests in real property)property (including, in the case of a loan secured by both real property and personal property, such personal property to the extent that it does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all of the property securing the loan) with a fair market value at the time the loan is made (reduced by any senior liens on the property) at least equal to the amount of such loan. If the amount of the loan exceeds the fair market value of the real property (as so reduced by senior liens), then a part of the interest will be treated as interest on a mortgageincome from such loan in a ratio equal to the ratio ofpercentage amount by which the fair marketloan exceeds the value of the real property (as so reduced by senior liens) will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test.

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Absent the “foreclosure property” rules of Section 856(e) of the IRC, a REIT’s receipt of active, nonrental gross income from a property would not qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests. But as foreclosure property, the active, nonrental gross income from the property would so qualify. Foreclosure property is generally any real property, including interests in real property, and any personal property incident to such real property:

that is acquired by a REIT as a result of the REIT having bid on such property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced such property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after there was a default or when default was imminent on a lease of such property or on indebtedness that such property secured;

for which any related loan acquired by the REIT was acquired at a time when the default was not imminent or anticipated; and

for which the REIT makes a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property.

Any gain that a REIT recognizes on the sale of foreclosure property held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers, plus any income it receives from foreclosure property that would not otherwise qualify under the 75% gross income test in the absence of foreclosure property treatment, reduced by expenses directly connected with the production of those items of income, would be subject to income tax at the highest regular corporate income tax rate under the foreclosure property income tax rules of Section 857(b)(4) of the IRC. Thus, if a REIT should lease foreclosure property in exchange for rent that qualifies as “rents from real property” as described above, then that rental income is not subject to the total amountforeclosure property income tax.

Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the mortgage loan.third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is obtained from the IRS. However, this grace period terminates and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property on the first day:

on which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, or any amount is received or accrued, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test;

on which any construction takes place on the property, other than completion of a building or any other improvement where more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent and other than specifically exempted forms of maintenance or deferred maintenance; or

which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business which is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income or a TRS.

Other than sales of foreclosure property, any gain that we realize on the sale of property held as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business, together known as dealer gains, may be treated as income from a prohibited transaction that is subject to a penalty tax at a 100% rate. The 100% tax does not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS, but such income will be subject to tax in the hands of the TRS at regular corporate income tax rates; we may therefore utilize our TRSs in transactions in which we might otherwise recognize dealer gains. Whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding theeach particular transaction. Sections 857(b)(6)(C) and (E) of the IRC provide safe harbors pursuant to which limited sales of real property held for at least two years and meeting specified additional requirements will not be treated as prohibited transactions. However, compliance with the safe harbors is not always achievable in practice. There canWe attempt to structure our activities to avoid transactions that are prohibited transactions, or otherwise conduct such activities through TRSs. We cannot be no assurance as tosure whether or not the IRS might successfully assert that one or more of


our dispositions is subject to the 100% penalty tax. Dealer gainsGains subject to the 100% penalty tax are excluded from the 75% and 95% gross income tests, whereas real property gains that are not dealer gains or that are exempted from the 100% penalty tax on account of the safe harbors are considered qualifying gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

We believe that any gain from dispositions of assets that we have made, or that we might make in the future, including through any partnerships, will generally qualify as income that satisfies the 75% and 95% gross income tests to the extent that such assets qualify as real property, and will not be dealer gains or subject to the 100% penalty tax, because our general intent has been and is to:


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own our assets for investment with a view to long-term income production and capital appreciation;

engage in the business of developing, owning, leasing and managing our existing properties and acquiring, developing, owning, leasing and managing new properties; and

make occasional dispositions of our assets consistent with our long-term investment objectives.

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test in any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify for taxation as a REIT for that year if we satisfy the following requirements:

our failure to meet the test is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect; and

after we identify the failure, we file a schedule describing each item of our gross income included in the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test for that taxable year.

Even if this relief provision does apply, a 100% tax is imposed upon the greater of the amount by which we failed the 75% gross income test or the amount by which we failed the 95% gross income test, with adjustments, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability for the taxable year. This relief provision may apply to a failure of the applicable income tests even if the failure first occurred in a year prior to the taxable year in which the failure was discovered.

Based on the discussion above, we believe that we have satisfied, and will continue to satisfy, the 75% and 95% gross income tests outlined above on a continuing basis beginning with our first taxable year as a REIT.

Asset Tests. At the close of each calendar quarter of each taxable year, we must also satisfy the following asset percentage tests in order to qualify for taxation as a REIT for federal income tax purposes:

At least 75% of the value of our total assets must consist of “real estate assets,” defined as real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property or on interests in real property), ancillary personal property to the extent that rents attributable to such personal property are treated as rents from real property in accordance with the rules described above (beginning with our 2016 taxable year), cash and cash items, shares in other REITs, debt instruments issued by “publicly offered REITs” as defined in Section 562(c)(2) of the IRC (beginning with our 2016 taxable year), government securities and temporary investments of new capital (that is, any stock or debt instrument that we hold that is attributable to any amount received by us (a) in exchange for our stock or (b) in a public offering of our five-year or longer debt instruments, but in each case only for the one-year period commencing with our receipt of the new capital).

Not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those securities that count favorably toward the preceding 75% asset test.

Of the investments included in the preceding 25% asset class, the value of any one non-REIT issuer’s securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets. In addition, we may not own more than 10% of the vote or value of any one non-REIT issuer’s outstanding securities, unless the securities are “straight debt” securities or otherwise excepted as discussed below. Our stock and other securities in a TRS are exempted from these 5% and 10% asset tests.

Not more than 25% (20% beginning with20% (25% before our 2018 taxable year) of the value of our total assets may be represented by stock or other securities of our TRSs.

Beginning with our 2016 taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be represented by “nonqualified publicly offered REIT debt instruments” as defined in Section 856(c)(5)(L)(ii) of the IRC.


Our counsel, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, is of the opinion that, although the matter is not free from doubt, our investments in the equity or debt of a TRS of ours, to the extent that and during the period in which they qualify as temporary investments of new capital, will be treated as real estate assets, and not as securities, for purposes of the above REIT asset tests.

If we own a mortgage loan secured by a mortgage on real property (oror on interests in real property)property (including, in the case of a loan secured by both real property and personal property, such personal property to the extent that it does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all of the property securing the loan) with a fair market value at the time the loan is made (reduced by any senior liens on the property) at least equal to the amount of such loan, the mortgage loan will generally be treated as a real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test above. But if the loan is undersecured when made, then the portion adequately secured by

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the real property (or the interests in real property) will generally be treated as a real estate asset for purposes of the 75% asset test above and the remaining portion will generally be treated as a separate security that must satisfy applicable asset tests.

The above REIT asset tests must be satisfied at the close of each calendar quarter of each taxable year as a REIT. After a REIT meets the asset tests at the close of any quarter, it will not lose its qualification for taxation as a REIT in any subsequent quarter solely because of fluctuations in the values of its assets. This grandfathering rule may be of limited benefit to a REIT such as us that makes periodic acquisitions of both qualifying and nonqualifying REIT assets. When a failure to satisfy the above asset tests results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure can be cured by disposition of sufficient nonqualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter.

In addition, if we fail the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test at the close of any quarter and we do not cure such failure within 30days after the close of that quarter, that failure will nevertheless be excused if (a) the failure is de minimis and (b) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, we either dispose of the assets causing the failure or otherwise satisfy the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test. For purposes of this relief provision, the failure will be de minimis if the value of the assets causing the failure does not exceed $10,000,000. If our failure is not de minimis, or if any of the other REIT asset tests have been violated, we may nevertheless qualify for taxation as a REIT if (a) we provide the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (b) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (c) we pay a tax equal to the greater of (1) $50,000 or (2) the highest regular corporate income tax rate imposed on the net income generated by the assets causing the failure during the period of the failure, and (d) within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, we either dispose of the assets causing the failure or otherwise satisfy all of the REIT asset tests. These relief provisions may apply to a failure of the applicable asset tests even if the failure first occurred in a year prior to the taxable year in which the failure was discovered.

The IRC also provides an excepted securities safe harbor to the 10% value test that includes among other items (a) “straight debt” securities, (b) specified rental agreements in which payment is to be made in subsequent years, (c) any obligation to pay “rents from real property,” (d) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of or payments from a nongovernmental entity, and (e) any security issued by another REIT. In addition, any debt instrument issued by an entity classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and not otherwise excepted from the definition of a security for purposes of the above safe harbor, will not be treated as a security for purposes of the 10% value test if at least 75% of the partnership’s gross income, excluding income from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

We have maintained and will continue to maintain records of the value of our assets to document our compliance with the above asset tests and intend to take actions as may be required to cure any failure to satisfy the tests within 30days after the close of any quarter or within the six month periods described above.

Based on the discussion above, we believe that we have satisfied, and will continue to satisfy, the REIT asset tests outlined above on a continuing basis beginning with our first taxable year as a REIT.

Annual Distribution Requirements. In order to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the IRC, we are required to make annual distributions other than capital gain dividends to our shareholders in an amount at least equal to the excess of:

(1)the sum of 90% of our “real estate investment trust taxable income” and 90% of our net income after tax, if any, from property received in foreclosure, over

(2)the amount by which our noncash income (e.g., imputed rental income or income from transactions inadvertently failing to qualify as like-kind exchanges) exceeds 5% of our “real estate investment trust taxable income.”


For these purposes, our “real estate investment trust taxable income” is as defined under Section 857 of the IRC and is computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain and will generally be reduced by specified corporate-level income taxes that we pay (e.g., taxes on built-in gains or foreclosure property income).

The December 2017 amendments to the IRC generally limit the deductibility of net interest expense paid or accrued on debt properly allocable to a trade or business to 30% of “adjusted taxable income,” subject to specified exceptions. Any deduction in excess of the limitation is carried forward and may be used in a subsequent year, subject to that year’s 30% limitation. Provided a taxpayer makes an election to be treated as a real property trade or business (which is irrevocable), the 30% limitation does not apply to a trade or business involving real property development, redevelopment, construction, reconstruction, acquisition, conversion, rental, operation, management, leasing, or brokerage, within the meaning of Section 469(c)(7)(C) of the IRC. Legislative history indicates that a real property trade or business includes a trade or business conducted by a corporation or a

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REIT. We intend to make an election to be treated as a real property trade or business and accordingly do not expect the foregoing interest deduction limitations to apply to us or to the calculation of our "real estate investment trust taxable income."

For our 2014 and prior taxable years, a distribution of ours that was not pro rata within a class of our beneficial interests entitled to a distribution, or which was not consistent with the rights to distributions among our classes of beneficial interests, would have been a preferential distribution that would not have been taken into consideration for purposes of the distribution requirements, and accordingly the payment of a preferential distribution would have affected our ability to meet the distribution requirements. Taking into account our distribution policies, including any dividend reinvestment plan we adopted, we do not believe that we made any preferential distributions in 2014 or prior taxable years. From and after our 2015 taxable year, the preferential distribution rule has not applied to us because we have been and expect to remain a “publicly offered REIT” (as defined in Section 562(c)(2) of the IRC) that is required to file annual and periodic reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act.

Distributions must be paid in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our federal income tax return for the earlier taxable year and if paid on or before the first regular distribution payment after that declaration. If a dividend is declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record during one of those months and is paid during the following January, then for federal income tax purposes such dividend will be treated as having been both paid and received on December 31 of the prior taxable year.

The 90% distribution requirements may be waived by the IRS if a REIT establishes that it failed to meet them by reason of distributions previously made to meet the requirements of the 4% excise tax discussed below. To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain and all of our “real estate investment trust taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate income tax rates on undistributed amounts. Even if we fully distribute our net capital gain and all of our “real estate investment trust taxable income,” we may be subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax on our items of tax preference. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax to the extent we fail within a calendar year to make required distributions to our shareholders of 85% of our ordinary income and 95% of our capital gain net income plus the excess, if any, of the “grossed up required distribution” for the preceding calendar year over the amount treated as distributed for that preceding calendar year. For this purpose, the term “grossed up required distribution” for any calendar year is the sum of our taxable income for the calendar year without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and all amounts from earlier years that are not treated as having been distributed under the provision. We will be treated as having sufficient earnings and profits to treat as a dividend any distribution by us up to the amount required to be distributed in order to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax.

If we do not have enough cash or other liquid assets to meet the 90% distribution requirements, or if we so choose, we may find it necessary or desirable to arrange for new debt or equity financing to provide funds for required distributions in order to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT. We can provide no assurancecannot be sure that financing would be available for these purposes on favorable terms, or at all.

We may be able to rectify a failure to pay sufficient dividends for any year by paying “deficiency dividends” to shareholders in a later year. These deficiency dividends may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year, but an interest charge would be imposed upon us for the delay in distribution. While the payment of a deficiency dividend will apply to a prior year for purposes of our REIT distribution requirements and our dividends paid deduction, it will be treated as an additional distribution to the shareholders receiving it in the year such dividend is paid.

In addition to the other distribution requirements above, to preserve our qualification for taxation as a REIT we are required to timely distribute all C corporation earnings and profits that we inherit from acquired corporations, as described below.
Our Relationship with SIR
We own a substantial amount of the outstanding common shares of SIR, which we currently expect is and will remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under the IRC. For any of our taxable years in which SIR qualifies for taxation as a REIT, our investment in SIR will count as a qualifying REIT asset toward the REIT gross asset tests and our gains and dividends from SIR common shares will count as qualifying income under the 75% and 95% gross income tests, all as described above. However, because we do not and cannot control SIR’s compliance with the federal income tax requirements for REIT qualification and taxation, we can provide no assurance that SIR is or will remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under the IRC. Accordingly, we have joined with SIR in filing a protective TRS election under Section 856(l) of the IRC, effective for the third quarter of 2014, and we have reaffirmed this protective election with SIR every January 1 thereafter, and may continue


to do so, unless and until our ownership of SIR falls below 10%. Pursuant to this protective TRS election, we believe that even if SIR is not a REIT for some reason, then it would instead be considered one of our TRSs, and as such its value would either fit within our REIT gross asset tests described above or would be such that any penalty taxes associated with our remediation of a REIT asset test failure for which there is reasonable cause, as described above, would be much lower than if no such TRS election were in place, though any applicable penalty taxes might still be substantial. The protective TRS election will not impact our compliance with the 75% and 95% gross income tests described above; we do not expect our gains and dividends from SIR common shares to jeopardize compliance with these tests even if for some reason SIR is not a REIT.
Acquisitions of C Corporations
We may in the future engage in transactions where we acquire all of the outstanding stock of a C corporation. Upon these acquisitions, except to the extent we make an applicable TRS election, each of our acquired entities and their various wholly-owned corporate and noncorporate subsidiaries will become our QRSs. Thus, after such acquisitions, all assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the acquired and then disregarded entitieswill be treated as ours for purposes of the various REIT qualification tests described above. In addition, we generally will be treated as the successor to the acquired and then disregarded entities’ federal income tax attributes, such as those entities’ (a) adjusted tax bases in their assets and their depreciation schedules; and (b) earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes, if any. The carryover of these attributes creates REIT implications such as built-in gains tax exposure and additional distribution requirements, as described below. However, when we make an election under Section 338(g) of the IRC with respect to corporations that we acquire,we generallywill not be subject to such attribute carryovers in respect of attributes existing prior to such election.

Built-in Gains from C Corporations. Notwithstanding our qualification and taxation as a REIT, under specified circumstances we may be subject to corporate income taxation if we acquire a REIT asset where our adjusted tax basis in the asset

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is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the asset as owned by a C corporation. For instance, we may be subject to federal income taxation on all or part of the built-in gain (calculated as ofthat was present on the last date the property ceased beingan asset was owned by thea C corporation) oncorporation, if we succeed to a carryover tax basis in that asset directly or indirectly from such an assetC corporation and if we sell the asset during a prescribedthe five year period beginning on the day the asset was acquired. The prescribed period has ranged from as much as 10 years to as few as five years, and is currently five years.ceased being owned by such C corporation. To the extent of our income and gains in a taxable year that are subject to the built-in gains tax, net of any taxes paid on such income and gains with respect to that taxable year, our taxable dividends paid in the following year will be potentially eligible for taxation to noncorporate U.S. shareholders at the preferential tax rates for “qualified dividends” as described below inunder the heading “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders”. We generally do not expect to sell assets if doing so would result in the imposition of a material built-in gains tax liability; but if and when we do sell assets that may have associated built-in gains tax exposure, then we expect to make appropriate provision for the associated tax liabilities on our financial statements.

Earnings and Profits. Following a corporate acquisition, we must generally distribute all of the C corporation earnings and profits inherited in that transaction, if any, no later than the end of our taxable year in which the transaction occurs, in order to preserve our qualification for taxation as a REIT. However, if we fail to do so, relief provisions would allow us to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT provided we distribute any subsequently discovered C corporation earnings and profits and pay an interest charge in respect of the period of delayed distribution. C corporation earnings and profits that we inherit are, in general, specially allocated under a priority rule to the earliest possible distributions following the event causing the inheritance, and only then is the balance of our earnings and profits for the taxable year allocated among our distributions to the extent not already treated as a distribution of C corporation earnings and profits under the priority rule. The distribution of these C corporation earnings and profits is potentially eligible for taxation to noncorporate U.S. shareholders at the preferential tax rates for “qualified dividends” as described below inunder the heading “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders”.

Depreciation and Federal Income Tax Treatment of Leases

Our initial tax bases in our assets will generally be our acquisition cost. As described above and pursuant to the December 2017 amendments to the IRC, we intend to make an election to be treated as an electing real property trade or business pursuant to Section 163(j)(7)(B) of the IRC; depreciable real property (including specified improvements) held by electing real property trades or businesses must be depreciated under the alternative depreciation system under the IRC, which generally imposes a class life for depreciable real property as long as 40 years. We will generally depreciate our depreciable real property on a straight-line basis over 40 years and our personal property over the applicable shorter periods. These depreciation schedules, and our initial tax bases, may vary for properties that we acquire through tax-free or carryover basis acquisitions, or that are the subject of cost segregation analyses.

We are entitled to depreciation deductions from our facilities only if we are treated for federal income tax purposes as the owner of the facilities. This means that the leases of theour facilities must be classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as true leases, rather than as sales or financing arrangements, and we believe this to be the case.


Distributions to our Shareholders

As described above, we expect to make distributions to our shareholders from time to time. These distributions may include cash distributions, in kind distributions of property, and deemed or constructive distributions resulting from capital market activities. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of our distributions will vary based on the status of the recipient shareholder as more fully described below under the headings “—Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders,” “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Shareholders,” and “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders.”

A redemption of our shares for cash only will be treated as a distribution under Section 302 of the IRC, and hence taxable as a dividend to the extent of our available current or accumulated earnings and profits, unless the redemption satisfies one of the tests set forth in Section 302(b) of the IRC enabling the redemption to be treated as a sale or exchange of the shares. The redemption for cash only will be treated as a sale or exchange if it (a) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the surrendering shareholder’s ownership in us, (b) results in a “complete termination” of the surrendering shareholder’s entire share interest in us, or (c) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the surrendering shareholder, all within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the IRC. In determining whether any of these tests have been met, a shareholder must generally take into account shares considered to be owned by such shareholder by reason of constructive ownership rules set forth in the IRC, as well as shares actually owned by such shareholder. In addition, if a redemption is treated as a distribution under the preceding tests, then a shareholder’s tax basis in the redeemed shares generally will be transferred to the shareholder’s remaining shares in us, if any, and if such shareholder owns no other shares in us, such basis generally may be transferred to a related person or may be lost entirely. Because the determination as to whether a shareholder will satisfy any of the tests of Section 302(b) of the IRC depends upon the facts and circumstances at the time that our shares are redeemed, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor to determine yourthe particular tax treatment of any redemption.

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Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders
For noncorporate U.S. shareholders, to the extent that their total adjusted income does not exceed applicable thresholds, the maximum federal income tax rate for long-term capital gains and most corporate dividends is generally 15%. For those noncorporate U.S. shareholders whose total adjusted income exceeds the applicable thresholds, the maximum federal income tax rate for long-term capital gains and most corporate dividends is generally 20%. However, because we are not generally subject to federal income tax on the portion of our “real estate investment trust taxable income” distributed to our shareholders, dividends on our shares generally are not eligible for suchthese preferential tax rates, except that any distribution of C corporation earnings and profits and taxed built-in gain items will potentially be eligible for these preferential tax rates. As a result, our ordinary dividends generally are generally taxed at the higher federal income tax rates applicable to ordinary income.income (subject to the lower effective tax rates applicable to qualified REIT dividends via the deduction-without-outlay mechanism of Section 199A of the IRC, which is available to our noncorporate U.S. shareholders for taxable years after 2017 and before 2026). To summarize, the preferential federal income tax rates for long-term capital gains and for qualified dividends generally apply to:
(1)    
(1)long-term capital gains, if any, recognized on the disposition of our shares;

(2)our distributions designated as long-term capital gain dividends (except to the extent attributable to real estate depreciation recapture, in which case the distributions are subject to a maximum 25% federal income tax rate);

(3)our dividends attributable to dividend income, if any, received by us from C corporations such as TRSs;

(4)our dividends attributable to earnings and profits that we inherit from C corporations; and

(5)our dividends to the extent attributable to income upon which we have paid federal corporate income tax (such as taxes on built-in gains), net of the corporate income taxes thereon.

As long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, a distribution to our U.S. shareholders that we do not designate as a capital gain dividend generally will be treated as an ordinary income dividend to the extent of our available current or accumulated earnings and profits.profits (subject to the lower effective tax rates applicable to qualified REIT dividends via the deduction-without-outlay mechanism of Section 199A of the IRC, which is available to our noncorporate U.S. shareholders for taxable years after 2017 and before 2026). Distributions made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that we properly designate as capital gain dividends generally will be taxed as long-term capital gains, as discussed below, to the extent they do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. However, corporate shareholders may be required to treat up to 20% of any capital gain dividend as ordinary income under Section 291 of the IRC.

In addition, we may elect to retain net capital gain income and treat it as constructively distributed. In that case:

(1)we will be taxed at regular corporate capital gains tax rates on retained amounts;


(2)each of our U.S. shareholdershareholders will be taxed on its designated proportionate share of our retained net capital gains as though that amount were distributed and designated as a capital gain dividend;

(3)each of our U.S. shareholdershareholders will receive a credit or refund for its designated proportionate share of the tax that we pay;

(4)each of our U.S. shareholdershareholders will increase its adjusted basis in our shares by the excess of the amount of its proportionate share of these retained net capital gains over the U.S. shareholder’s proportionate share of the tax that we pay; and

(5)both we and our corporate shareholders will make commensurate adjustments in our respective earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes.

If we elect to retain our net capital gains in this fashion, we will notify our U.S. shareholders of the relevant tax information within 60days after the close of the affected taxable year.

If for any taxable year we designate capital gain dividends for our shareholders, then a portion of the capital gain dividends we designate will be allocated to the holders of a particular class of shares on a percentage basis equal to the ratio of the amount of the total dividends paid or made available for the year to the holders of that class of shares to the total dividends paid or made available for the year to holders of all outstanding classes of our shares. We will similarly designate the portion of any capital gain dividend

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that is to be taxed to noncorporate U.S. shareholders at preferential maximum rates (including any qualified dividend income and any capital gains attributable to real estate depreciation recapture that are subject to a maximum 25% federal income tax rate) so that the designations will be proportionate among all outstanding classes of our shares.

Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. shareholder to the extent that they do not exceed the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in our shares, but will reduce the shareholder’s basis in such shares. To the extent that these excess distributions exceed a U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in such shares, they will be included in income as capital gain, with long-term gain generally taxed to noncorporate U.S. shareholders at preferential maximum rates. No U.S. shareholder may include on its federal income tax return any of our net operating losses or any of our capital losses. In addition, no portion of any of our dividends is eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

If a dividend is declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record during one of those months and is paid during the following January, then for federal income tax purposes the dividend will be treated as having been both paid and received on December 31 of the prior taxable year. Also, items that are treated differently for regular and alternative minimum tax purposes are to be allocated between a REIT and its shareholders under Treasury regulations which are to be prescribed. It is possible that these Treasury regulations will permit or require tax preference items to be allocated to our shareholders with respect to any accelerated depreciation or other tax preference items that we claim. We may choose to allocate applicable tax preference items to our shareholders, even in the absence of such regulations.

A U.S. shareholder will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s adjusted basis in our shares that are sold or exchanged. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder’s holding period in our shares exceeds one year. In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of our shares held for six months or less will generally be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain dividends we paid on such shares during the holding period.

U.S. shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts are generally required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on their net investment income (including dividends on and gains from the sale or other disposition of our shares), or in the case of estates and trusts on their net investment income that is not distributed, in each case to the extent that their total adjusted income exceeds applicable thresholds. U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the 3.8% Medicare tax, including the applicability of the deduction-without-outlay mechanism of Section 199A of the IRC to the calculation of their net investment income.

If a U.S. shareholder recognizes a loss upon a disposition of our shares in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury regulations involving “reportable transactions” could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the IRS. These Treasury regulations are written quite broadly, and apply to many routine and simple transactions. A reportable transaction currently includes, among other things, a sale or exchange of our shares resulting in a tax loss in excess of (a) $10 million in any single year or $20 million in a prescribed combination of taxable years in the case of our shares held by a C corporation or by a partnership with only C corporation partners or (b) $2 million in any single year or $4 million in a prescribed combination of taxable years in the case of our shares held by any other partnership or an S corporation, trust or individual, including losses that flow through pass


through entities to individuals. A taxpayer discloses a reportable transaction by filing IRS Form 8886 with its federal income tax return and, in the first year of filing, a copy of Form 8886 must be sent to the IRS’s Office of Tax Shelter Analysis. The annual maximum penalty for failing to disclose a reportable transaction is generally $10,000 in the case of a natural person and $50,000 in any other case.

Noncorporate U.S. shareholders who borrow funds to finance their acquisition of our shares could be limited in the amount of deductions allowed for the interest paid on the indebtedness incurred. Under Section 163(d) of the IRC, interest paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry property held for investment is generally deductible only to the extent of the investor’s net investment income. A U.S. shareholder’s net investment income will include, ordinary income dividend distributions received from us and,only if an appropriate election is made by the shareholder, capital gain dividend distributions and qualified dividends received from us; however, distributionsus, and it is possible that ordinary REIT dividends received from us. In addition, a U.S. shareholder that utilizes the deduction under Section 199A of the IRC with respect to qualified REIT dividends received from us may also be required to make a similar election in order to include such qualified REIT dividends in the calculation of net investment income. Distributions treated as a nontaxable return of the shareholder’s basis will not enter into the computation of net investment income.
Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Shareholders
The rules governing the federal income taxation of tax-exempt entities are complex, and the following discussion is intended only as a summary of material considerations of an investment in our shares relevant to such investors. If you are a tax-exempt shareholder, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor to determine the impact of federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, including any tax return filing and other reporting requirements, with respect to your acquisition of or investment in our shares.


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Our distributions made to shareholders that are tax-exempt pension plans, individual retirement accounts or other qualifying tax-exempt entities should not constitute UBTI, provided that the shareholder has not financed its acquisition of our shares with “acquisition indebtedness” within the meaning of the IRC, that the shares are not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business of the tax-exempt entity, and that, consistent with our present intent, we do not hold a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit. Special UBTI rules under Section 856(h)(3) of the IRC may apply to a trust described in Section 401(a) of the IRC if it owns more than 10% by value of a class of our shares.conduit or otherwise hold mortgage assets or conduct mortgage securitization activities that generate “excess inclusion” income.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
The rules governing the U.S. federal income taxation of non-U.S. shareholders are complex, and the following discussion is intended only as a summary of material considerations of an investment in our shares relevant to such investors. If you are a non-U.S. shareholder, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, including any tax return filing and other reporting requirements, with respect to your acquisition of or investment in our shares.

We expect that a non-U.S. shareholder’s receipt of (a) distributions from us, and (b) proceeds from the sale of our shares, will not be treated as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and a non-U.S. shareholder will therefore not be subject to the often higher federal tax and withholding rates, branch profits taxes and increased reporting and filing requirements that apply to income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. This expectation and a number of the determinations below are predicated on our shares being listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, such as The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq. Although there canwe cannot be no assurance in this regard,sure, we expect that each class of our shares has been and will remain listed on a U.S. national securities exchange; however, we can provide no assurancecannot be sure that our shares will continue to be so listed in future taxable years or that any class of our shares that we may issue in the future will be so listed.

Distributions. A distribution by us to a non-U.S. shareholder that is not designated as a capital gain dividend will be treated as an ordinary income dividend to the extent that it is made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. A distribution of this type will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax and withholding at the rate of 30%, or at a lower rate if the non-U.S. shareholder has in the manner prescribed by the IRS demonstrated to the applicable withholding agent its entitlement to benefits under a tax treaty. Because we cannot determine our current and accumulated earnings and profits until the end of the taxable year, withholding at the statutory rate of 30% or applicable lower treaty rate will generally be imposed on the gross amount of any distribution to a non-U.S. shareholder that we make and do not designate as a capital gain dividend. Notwithstanding this potential withholding on distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, these excess portions of distributions are a nontaxable return of capital to the extent that they do not exceed the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our shares, and the nontaxable return of capital will reduce the adjusted basis in these shares. To the extent that distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits exceed the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our shares, the distributions will give rise to U.S. federal income tax liability only in the unlikely event that the non-U.S. shareholder would otherwise be subject to tax on any gain from the sale or exchange of these shares, as discussed below under the heading “—Dispositions of


Our Shares.” A non-U.S. shareholder may seek a refund from the IRS of amounts withheld on distributions to it in excess of such shareholder’s allocable share of our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

For so long as a class of our shares is listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, capital gain dividends that we declare and pay to a non-U.S. shareholder on those shares, as well as dividends to a non-U.S. shareholder on those shares attributable to our sale or exchange of “United States real property interests” within the meaning of Section 897 of the IRC, or USRPIs, will not be subject to withholding as though those amounts were effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, and non-U.S. shareholders will not be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns or pay branch profits tax in respect of these dividends. Instead, these dividends will generally be treated as ordinary dividends and subject to withholding in the manner described above.

Tax treaties may reduce the withholding obligations on our distributions. Under some treaties, however, rates below 30% that are applicable to ordinary income dividends from U.S. corporations may not apply to ordinary income dividends from a REIT or may apply only if the REIT meets specified additional conditions. A non-U.S. shareholder must generally use an applicable IRS Form W-8, or substantially similar form, to claim tax treaty benefits. If the amount of tax withheld with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. shareholder exceeds the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability with respect to the distribution, the non-U.S. shareholder may file for a refund of the excess from the IRS. Treasury regulations also provide special rules to determine whether, for purposes of determining the applicability of a tax treaty, our distributions to a non-U.S. shareholder that is an entity should be treated as paid to the entity or to those owning an interest in that entity, and whether the entity or its owners are entitled to benefits under the tax treaty.

If, contrary to our expectation, a class of our shares was not listed on a U.S. national securities exchange and we made a distribution on those shares that was attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI, then a non-U.S. shareholder

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holding those shares would be taxed as if the distribution was gain effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States conducted by the non-U.S. shareholder. In addition, the applicable withholding agent would be required to withhold from a distribution to such a non-U.S. shareholder, and remit to the IRS, up to 35%21% of the maximum amount of any distribution that was or could have been designated as a capital gain dividend. The non-U.S. shareholder also would generally be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to the distribution (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of a nonresident alien individual), would be subject to fulsome U.S. federal income tax return reporting requirements, and, in the case of a corporate non-U.S. shareholder, may owe the up to 30% branch profits tax under Section 884 of the IRC (or lower applicable tax treaty rate) in respect of these amounts.
A special “wash sale” rule under Section 897(h)(5) of the IRC may apply to a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 10% of a class of our shares.
Dispositions of Our Shares. If as expected our shares are not USRPIs, then a non-U.S. shareholder’s gain on the sale of these shares generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation or withholding. We expect that our shares will not be USRPIs because one or both of the following exemptions will be available at all times.

First, for so long as a class of our shares is listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, a non-U.S. shareholder’s gain on the sale of those shares will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation as a sale of a USRPI. Second, our shares will not constitute USRPIs if we are a “domestically controlledcontrolled” REIT. A domestically controlled REIT is a REIT in which at all times during the preceding five-year period less than 50% of the fair market value of its outstanding shares was directly or indirectly held by foreign persons. From and after December 18, 2015, a person who at all relevant times holds less than 5% of a REIT’s shares that are “regularly traded” on a domestic “established securities market” is deemed to be a U.S. person in making the determination of whether a REIT is domestically controlled, unless the REIT has actual knowledge that the person is not a U.S. person. Other presumptions apply in making the determination with respect to other classes of REIT shareholders. As a result of applicable presumptions, we expect to be able to demonstrate from and after December 18, 2015 that we are less than 50% foreign owned. For periods prior to December 18, 2015, we believe that we were less than 50% foreign owned, but that may not be possible to demonstrate unless and until a pending technical correction clarifiescorrections legislation expressly expands application of the statute on this point.ownership presumptions. Accordingly, although we can provide no assurancecannot be sure, we believe that we have been orare and will remain a domestically controlled REIT, particularly if that determination includes the period before December 18, 2015, when the presumptions described above may not apply unless and until the pending technical correction is passed.“domestically controlled” REIT.

If, contrary to our expectation, a gain on the sale of our shares is subject to U.S. federal income taxation (for example, because neither of the above exemptions were then available, i.e., that class of our shares were not then listed on a U.S. national securities exchange and we were not a domestically controlled“domestically controlled” REIT), then (a) a non-U.S. shareholder would generally be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. shareholder with respect to its gain (subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals), (b) the non-U.S. shareholder would also be


subject to fulsome U.S. federal income tax return reporting requirements, and (c) a purchaser of that class of our shares from the non-U.S. shareholder may be required to withhold 15% of the purchase price paid to the non-U.S. shareholder and to remit the withheld amount to the IRS.
Information Reporting, Backup Withholding, and Foreign Account Withholding
Information reporting, backup withholding, and foreign account withholding may apply to distributions or proceeds paid to our shareholders under the circumstances discussed below. If a shareholder is subject to backup or other U.S. federal income tax withholding, then the applicable withholding agent will be required to withhold the appropriate amount with respect to a deemed or constructive distribution or a distribution in kind even though there is insufficient cash from which to satisfy the withholding obligation. To satisfy this withholding obligation, the applicable withholding agent may collect the amount of U.S. federal income tax required to be withheld by reducing to cash for remittance to the IRS a sufficient portion of the property that the shareholder would otherwise receive or own, and the shareholder may bear brokerage or other costs for this withholding procedure.
The backup withholding rate is currently 28%.
Amounts withheld under backup withholding are generally not an additional tax and may be refunded by the IRS or credited against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability.liability, provided that such shareholder timely files for a refund or credit with the IRS. A U.S. shareholder may be subject to backup withholding when it receives distributions on our shares or proceeds upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our shares, unless the U.S. shareholder properly executes, or has previously properly executed, under penalties of perjury an IRS Form W-9 or substantially similar form that:

provides the U.S. shareholder’s correct taxpayer identification number;

certifies that the U.S. shareholder is exempt from backup withholding because (a) it comes within an enumerated exempt category, (b) it has not been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding, or (c) it has been notified by the IRS that it is no longer subject to backup withholding; and

certifies that it is a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person.

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If the U.S. shareholder has not provided and does not provide its correct taxpayer identification number and appropriate certifications on an IRS Form W-9 or substantially similar form, it may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS, and the applicable withholding agent may have to withhold a portion of any distributions or proceeds paid to such U.S. shareholder. Unless the U.S. shareholder has established on a properly executed IRS Form W-9 or substantially similar form that it comes within an enumerated exempt category, distributions or proceeds on our shares paid to it during the calendar year, and the amount of tax withheld, if any, will be reported to it and to the IRS.

Distributions on our shares to a non-U.S. shareholder during each calendar year and the amount of tax withheld, if any, will generally be reported to the non-U.S. shareholder and to the IRS. This information reporting requirement applies regardless of whether the non-U.S. shareholder is subject to withholding on distributions on our shares or whether the withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. Also, distributions paid to a non-U.S. shareholder on our shares will generally be subject to backup withholding, unless the non-U.S. shareholder properly certifies to the applicable withholding agent its non-U.S. shareholder status on an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form. Information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to proceeds a non-U.S. shareholder receives upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our shares, if the non-U.S. shareholder properly certifies to the applicable withholding agent its non-U.S. shareholder status on an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form. Even without having executed an applicable IRS Form W-8 or substantially similar form, however, in some cases information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to proceeds that a non-U.S. shareholder receives upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our shares if the non-U.S. shareholder receives those proceeds through a broker’s foreign office.

Non-U.S. financial institutions and other non-U.S. entities are subject to diligence and reporting requirements for purposes of identifying accounts and investments held directly or indirectly by U.S. persons. The failure to comply with these additional information reporting, certification and other requirements could result in a 30% U.S. withholding tax on applicable payments to non-U.S. persons.persons, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable provisions of an income tax treaty. In particular, a payee that is a foreign financial institution that is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements described above must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the IRC), annually report information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on applicable payments to noncompliant foreign financial institutions and account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States with respect to these requirements may be


subject to different rules. The foregoing withholding regime generally applies to payments of dividends on our shares, and is expected to generally apply to other “withholdable payments” (including payments of gross proceeds from a sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of our shares) made after December 31, 2018. In general, to avoid withholding, any non-U.S. intermediary through which a shareholder owns our shares must establish its compliance with the foregoing regime, and a non-U.S. shareholder must provide specified documentation (usually an applicable IRS Form W-8) containing information about its identity, its status, and if required, its direct and indirect U.S. owners. Non-U.S. shareholders and shareholders who hold our shares through a non-U.S. intermediary are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding foreign account tax compliance.
Other Tax Considerations
Our tax treatment and that of our shareholders may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative actions at any time, which actions may behave retroactive in effect. The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by the U.S. Congress, the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and statutory changes, new regulations, revisions to existing regulations and revised interpretations of established concepts are issued frequently.frequently; in fact, both technical corrections legislation and administrative guidance may someday be enacted or promulgated in response to the substantial December 2017 amendments to the IRC. Likewise, the rules regarding taxes other than U.S. federal income taxes may also be modified. No prediction can be made as to the likelihood of passage of new tax legislation or other provisions, or the direct or indirect effect on us and our shareholders. Revisions to tax laws and interpretations of these laws could adversely affect our ability to qualify and be taxed as a REIT, as well as the tax or other consequences of an investment in our shares. We and our shareholders may also be subject to taxation by state, local or other jurisdictions, including those in which we or our shareholders transact business or reside. These tax consequences may not be comparable to the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed above.

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ERISA PLANS, KEOGH PLANS AND INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
General Fiduciary Obligations
Fiduciaries of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to Title I of theThe Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, the IRC and similar provisions to those described below under applicable foreign or state law, individually and collectively, impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, or an ERISA Plan, or an individual retirement account or annuity, or an IRA, a Roth IRA, a tax-favored account (such as an Archer MSA, Coverdell education savings account or health savings account), a Keogh plan or other qualified retirement plan not subject to Title I of ERISA, each a Non-ERISA Plan. Under ERISA and the IRC, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of, or the management or disposition of the assets of, an ERISA Plan or Non-ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to an ERISA Plan or Non-ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan or Non-ERISA Plan.

Fiduciaries of an ERISA Plan must consider whether:

their investment in our shares or other securities satisfies the diversification requirements of ERISA;

the investment is prudent in light of possible limitations on the marketability of our shares;

they have authority to acquire our shares or other securities under the applicable governing instrument and Title I of ERISA; and

the investment is otherwise consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities.
Trustees and other fiduciaries
Fiduciaries of an ERISA planPlan may incur personal liability for any loss suffered by the planERISA Plan on account of a violation of their fiduciary responsibilities. In addition, these fiduciaries may be subject to a civil penalty of up to 20% of any amount recovered by the planERISA Plan on account of a violation. Fiduciaries of any individual retirement account or annuity, or IRA, Roth IRA, tax-favored account (such as an Archer MSA, Coverdell education savings account or health savings account), Keogh plan or other qualified retirement plan not subject to Title I of ERISA, or non-ERISA plans,Non-ERISA Plan should consider that the planNon-ERISA Plan may only make investments that are authorized by the appropriate governing instrument.instrument and applicable law.

Fiduciaries considering an investment in our securities should consult their own legal advisors if they have any concern as to whether the investment is consistent with the foregoing criteria or is otherwise appropriate. The sale of our securities to an ERISA Plan or non-ERISA planNon-ERISA Plan is in no respect a representation by us or any underwriter of the securities that the investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by plansthe arrangements generally or any particular plan,arrangement, or that the investment is appropriate for plansarrangements generally or any particular plan.arrangement.
Prohibited Transactions
Fiduciaries of ERISA plansPlans and persons making the investment decision for a non-ERISA planNon-ERISA Plans should consider the application of the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the IRC in making their investment decision. Sales and other transactions between an ERISA Plan or non-ERISA plan,a Non-ERISA Plan and disqualified persons related to it,or parties in interest, as applicable, are prohibited transactions.transactions and result in adverse consequences absent an exemption. The particular facts concerning the sponsorship, operations and other investments of an ERISA planPlan or non-ERISA planNon-ERISA Plan may cause a wide range of other persons to be treated as disqualified persons or parties in interest with respect to it. A non-exempt prohibited transaction, in addition to imposing potential personal liability upon fiduciaries of ERISA plans,Plan fiduciaries, may also result in the imposition of an excise tax


under the IRC or a penalty under ERISA upon the disqualified person or party in interest with respect to the plan.interest. If the disqualified person who engages in the transaction is the individual on behalf of whom an IRA, Roth IRA or other tax-favored account is maintained or(or his beneficiary,beneficiary), the IRA, Roth IRA or other tax-favored account may lose its tax-exempt status and its assets may be deemed to have been distributed to the individual in a taxable distribution on account of the non-exempt prohibited transaction, but no excise tax will be imposed. Fiduciaries considering an investment in our securities should consult their own legal advisors as to whether the ownership of our securities involves a non-exempt prohibited transaction.
“Plan Assets” Considerations
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a regulation defining “plan assets.” The regulation, as subsequently modified by ERISA, generally provides that when an ERISA Plan or non-ERISA plana Non-ERISA Plan otherwise subject to Title I of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the IRC acquires a security that is an equity interest in an entity and that security is neither a “publicly offered security” nor a security issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the assets of the ERISA plan’sPlan or non-ERISA plan’s assets Non-ERISA Plan

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include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the underlying assets of the entity, unless it is established either that the entity is an operating company or that equity participation in the entity by benefit plan investors is not significant. We are not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Each class of our equity (that is, our common shares and any other class of equity that we may issue) must be analyzed separately to ascertain whether it is a publicly offered security. The regulation defines a publicly offered security as a security that is “widely held,” “freely transferable” and either part of a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act, or sold under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided the securities are registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering occurred. Each class of our outstanding shares has been registered under the Exchange Act within the necessary time frame to satisfy the foregoing condition.

The regulation provides that a security is “widely held” only if it is part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of one another. However, a security will not fail to be “widely held” because the number of independent investors falls below 100 subsequent to the initial public offering as a result of events beyond the issuer’s control. WeAlthough we cannot be sure, we believe our common shares have been and will remain widely held, and we expect the same to be true of any future class of equity that we may issue, but we can give no assurances in this regard.issue.

The regulation provides that whether a security is “freely transferable” is a factual question to be determined on the basis of all relevant facts and circumstances. The regulation further provides that, where a security is part of an offering in which the minimum investment is $10,000 or less, some restrictions on transfer ordinarily will not, alone or in combination, affect a finding that these securities are freely transferable. The restrictions on transfer enumerated in the regulation as not affecting that finding include:

any restriction on or prohibition against any transfer or assignment that would result in a termination or reclassification for federal or state tax purposes, or would otherwise violate any state or federal law or court order;

any requirement that advance notice of a transfer or assignment be given to the issuer and any requirement that either the transferor or transferee, or both, execute documentation setting forth representations as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer that are among those enumerated in the regulation as not affecting free transferability, including those described in the preceding clause of this sentence;

any administrative procedure that establishes an effective date, or an event prior to which a transfer or assignment will not be effective; and

any limitation or restriction on transfer or assignment that is not imposed by the issuer or a person acting on behalf of the issuer.

We believe that the restrictions imposed under our declaration of truston the transfer of shares do not result in the failure of our shares to be “freely transferable.” Furthermore, we believe that there exist no other facts or circumstances limiting the transferability of our shares that are not included among those enumerated as not affecting their free transferability under the regulation, and we do not expect or intend to impose in the future, or to permit any person to impose on our behalf, any limitations or restrictions on transfer that would not be among the enumerated permissible limitations or restrictions.

Assuming that each class of our shares will be “widely held” and that no other facts and circumstances exist that restrict transferability of these shares, our counsel, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, is of the opinion that our shares will not fail to be


“freely “freely transferable” for purposes of the regulation due to the restrictions on transfer of our shares underin our declaration of trustand that under the regulation each class of our currently outstanding shares is publicly offered and our assets will not be deemed to be “plan assets” of any ERISA planPlan or non-ERISA planNon-ERISA Plan that acquires our shares in a public offering. This opinion is conditioned upon certain assumptions and representations, as discussed above in “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation as a REIT.”

Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The risks described below may not be the only risks we face but are risks we believe are material at this time. Additional risks that we do not yet know of, or that we currently think are immaterial, also may also impair our business operations or financial results. If any of the events or circumstances described below occurs, our business, financial condition, or results of operations, liquidity, prospects or ability to make or sustain distributions to our shareholders could be adversely affected and the market pricevalue of our securities could decline. Investors and prospective investors should consider the following risks anddescribed below, the information contained under the heading “Warning Concerning Forward Looking

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Statements” and the risks described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K before deciding whether to invest in our securities.
Risks Related to Our Business
We may be unable to lease our properties when our leases expire, and we may experience declining rents or incur significant costs to renew our leases or to lease our properties to new tenants.expire.
The weighted average remaining term of our leases in effect as of December 31, 2016, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations,2017 is 4.84.7 years based upon annualized rental income and 5.04.8 years based upon occupied consolidated square footage. As of December 31, 2016, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations,2017, leases representing approximately 61.0%60.2% of our annualized rental income and 58.8%60.8% of our occupied consolidated square footage will expire by December 31, 2021.
2022. Although we typically will seek to renew our leases with current tenants when they expire, we cannot be sure that we will be successful in doing so. If our tenants do not renew their leases, we may be unable to locateobtain new tenants to maintain or increase the historical occupancy rates of, or rents from, our properties.
Leases with government contractor tenants tend to be for terms consistent with the tenant’s government contracts which are generally three to five years. If a government contractor tenant does not retain its contract, the tenant may not renew its lease. Government contractors are dependent upon government spending. A reduction in government spending can have a negative effect on the contractor’s business and the renewal of leases for our properties.
We may experience declining rents or incur significant costs to renew our leases or to lease our properties to new tenants.
When we renew our leases with current tenants or lease to new tenants, we may experience rent decreases, and we may have to spend substantial amounts for leasing commissions, tenant improvements or other tenant inducements. Moreover, many of our properties have been specially designed for the particular businessbusinesses of our tenants; if the current leases for such properties are terminated or are not renewed, we may be required to renovate such properties at substantial costs, decrease the rents we charge or provide other concessions in order to lease such properties to new tenants.
Government tenants have been increasing space utilization when renewing or entering new leases. This may result in a government tenant occupying less space in our property. If that government tenant is the sole occupant of the property, the vacant space may become unleasable. If substantial reconfiguration of the government tenant's space is required to achieve the increase in space utilized, the government tenant may find it more advantageous to relocate than to renovate the existing space.
Leases with government contractor tenants tend to be for terms consistent with the tenant's government contracts which are generally three to five years. If a government contractor tenant does not retain its contract, the tenant may not renew its lease. Government contractors are dependent upon government spending. A reduction in government spending can have a negative effect on the contractor's business and the renewal of leases for our properties.
Further, laws and regulations applicable to government leasing often require public solicitations of bids when new or renewal leases are being considered. Market conditions may require us to lower our rents to retain government or other tenants. Some of our current rents include payments to amortize the cost of tenant improvements which government or other tenants may be unwilling to pay or contractually allowed to eliminate when leases are renewed.
Current government tenant space utilization trends may adversely impact our business.
Government tenants have been reducing their space utilization per employee when renewing or entering new leases. This may result in a renewing government tenant occupying less space in our property. If that renewing government tenant is the sole occupant of the property, the vacant space may become unleasable. If substantial reconfiguration of the government tenant’s space is required to achieve the increase in space utilized, the government tenant may find it more advantageous to relocate than to renew its lease and renovate the existing space.
Current and future government financial and other circumstances and trends in technology may adversely impact our business.
GovernmentWe believe that current government budgetary pressures, enhancements in technology and policy and administrative decisions have resulted in a decrease in government employment, and in government tenants reducing their space utilization per employee and consolidatingin consolidation of government tenants into existing government owned properties, thereby reducing the demand for government leased space. Our historical experience with respect to properties of the type we own that are majority leased to government tenants has been that government tenants frequently renew leases to avoid the costs and disruptions that may result from relocating their operations. However, efforts to reduce space utilization rates may result in our tenants exercising early termination rights under our leases, vacating our properties upon expiration of our leases in order to relocate, or in renewing their leases for less areaspace than they currently occupy. Further, the needAlso, our government tenants’ desire to reconfigure leased office space to reduce utilization per employee may require us to spend increasedsignificant amounts for tenant improvements, and relocation


has becometenant relocations in such circumstances are more prevalent now than in instances where efforts by government tenants to reduce their space utilization requires a significant reconfiguration of currently leased space. Moreover,our past experience. Increasing uncertainty with respect to government agency budgets and a lack of adequate funding to implement relocations, consolidations and reconfigurations have recently resulted in delayed space decisions by some of our government tenants and their reliance on short term lease renewals byrenewals. At present, we are unable to reasonably project what the financial impact of market conditions or changing government tenants.financial circumstances will be on our financial results for future periods.

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For example, reduction in paper tax return processing has resulted in the IRS has publicly statedstating that it plans to discontinue its tax return processing operations at our property located in Fresno, CA in 2021. The IRS lease for this property, which accounted for approximately 3.1%2.0% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016,2017, expires in the fourth quarter of 2021. The IRS has also publicly stated that it plans to discontinue its paper tax return processing operations in Covington, KY in 2019. Our property located in Florence, KY is leased to the IRS and we believe it is used to support thesethe Covington, KY operations. Our Florence, KY propertyThis IRS lease, which accounted for approximately 0.9%0.6% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016,2017, expires in the second quarter of 2022 but is subject to possible early termination rights beginning in 2017. Theby our tenant. Despite its public announcements, the IRS has not notified ussent any official notices of its intentions regarding these properties.
We currently have a concentration of properties in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area and are exposed to changes in market conditions in this area.
Approximately 43.3% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2017 was received from our consolidated properties located in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area. In addition, the Trump administrationtwo properties owned by two joint ventures in which we own 50% and 51% interests are also located in the metropolitan Washington D.C. market area. A downturn in economic conditions in this area could result in reduced demand from tenants for our properties or lower the rents that our tenants in this area are willing to pay when our leases expire or terminate and when renewal or new terms are negotiated. Additionally, in recent years there has recently ordered an employment freezebeen a decrease in demand for new leased space by the federalU.S. Government in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area, and that could increase competition for government that limits hiringtenants and adversely affect our ability to retain government tenants when our leases expire.
We may also be subject to changes in the regulatory environment of the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area (such as increases in real estate and other taxes, costs of complying with government regulations or increased regulation and other factors) or other adverse conditions or events (such as natural disasters). Thus, adverse developments and/or conditions in metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area could reduce demand for all newspace, impact the credit worthiness of our tenants or force our tenants to curtail operations, which could impair their ability to meet their rent obligations to us and, existing government positions, except those in national security, public safety and the military. Although we are unable to reasonably project the future impact of changing government financial circumstances and policy prioritiesaccordingly, could have a material adverse effect on our results such changing circumstances and priorities could increase vacancy and decrease rental income at our government leased properties.of operations.
We may be unable to grow our business by acquisitions of additional properties.properties, and we might encounter unanticipated difficulties and expenditures relating to our acquired properties, including those acquired as part of the FPO Transaction.
Part of ourOur business plan involvesplans involve the acquisition of additional properties that are majority leased to government tenants.tenants and government contractor tenants, as well as other properties located in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area. There are a limited number of such properties, which may limit our acquisition opportunities. In addition, our ability to make profitable acquisitions is subject to risks, including, but not limited to, risks associated with:
competition from other investors, including publicly traded and private REITs, numerous financial institutions, individuals, foreign investors and other public and private companies;

our long term cost of capital;

contingencies in our acquisition agreements; and

the availability and terms of financing.
Additionally, we
We might encounter unanticipated difficulties and expenditures relating to anyour acquired properties.properties, including those acquired as part of the FPO Transaction. For example:

we do not believe that it is possible to understand fully understand a property before it is owned and operated for an extendeda reasonable period of time, and, notwithstanding pre-acquisition due diligence, we could acquire a property that contains undisclosed defects in design or construction;

the market in which an acquired property is located may experience unexpected changes that adversely affect the property’s value;

the occupancy of and rents from properties that we acquire may decline during our ownership and rents or returns that are in effect or expected at the time a property is acquired may decline thereafter;ownership;

property operating costs for our acquired properties may be higher than anticipated and our acquired properties may not yield expected returns;

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we may acquire properties subject to unknown liabilities and without any recourse, or with limited recourse, such as liability for the cleanup of undisclosed environmental contamination or for claims by tenants, vendors or other persons related to actions taken by former owners of the properties; and

acquired properties might require significant management attention that would otherwise be devoted to our ongoing business.other business activities; and

we may encounter unexpected costs and delays in the transition of business and property management functions of FPO properties to us and RMR LLC.

The FPO Transaction was a significant acquisition for us. Until we have fully integrated the properties we acquired as part of the FPO Transaction into our business and fully implement our long term financing plan for the acquisition, we expect that our acquisition activities may be reduced. As a result, our growth by acquisitions will likely be delayed and thereafter could be further delayed or unattained for the reasons noted above or otherwise.

For these reasons, among others, we might not realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions and our business plan to acquire additional properties may not succeed or may cause us to experience losses.

Our plan to sell properties may not be successful.

An element of our business plan involves the sale of properties. We cannot be sure that we will be able to find attractive sale opportunities or that any sale will be completed in a timely manner, if at all. Our ability to sell certain of our properties, and the prices we receive upon a sale, may be affected by many factors, and we may be unable to execute our strategy. In particular, these factors could arise from weakness in or the lack of an established market for a property, changes in the financial condition or prospects of prospective purchasers, the number of prospective purchasers, the number of competing properties on the market, unfavorable local, national or international economic conditions, and changes in laws, regulations or fiscal policies of jurisdictions in which the property is located. We may not succeed in selling properties that we identify for sale, the terms of any such sales may not meet our expectations and we may incur losses in connection with these potential sales.
REIT distribution requirements and limitations on our ability to access reasonably priced capital may adversely impact our ability to carry out our business plan.
To retainmaintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT under the IRC, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income (excluding capital gains). Accordingly, we may not be able to retain sufficient cash to fund our operations, repay our debts, invest in our properties or fund our acquisitions or development or redevelopment efforts. Our business strategies therefore depend, in part, upon our ability to raise additional capital at reasonable costs. The volatility in the availability of capital to businesses on a global basis in most debt and equity markets generally may limit our ability to raise reasonably priced capital. We may also be also unable to raise reasonably priced capital because of reasons related to our business, market perceptions of our prospects, the terms of our indebtedness or for reasons beyond our control, such as market conditions. Because the earnings we are permitted to retain are limited by the rules governing REIT qualification and taxation, if we are unable to raise reasonably priced capital, we may not be able to carry out our business plan.
We face significant competition.
We face significant competition for acquisition opportunities from other investors, including publicly traded and private REITs, numerous financial institutions, individuals and public and private companies. Because of competition, we may be unable to acquire, or may pay a significantly increased purchase price for, a desired property, which would reduce our expected returns from that property. Some of our competitors may have greater financial and other resources than us.
In addition, we face competition for tenants at our properties. Some competing properties may be newer, better located or more attractive to tenants. Competing properties may have lower rates of occupancy than our properties, which may result in competing owners offering available space at lower rents than we offer at our properties. Development activities may increase the supply of properties of the type we own in the leasing markets in which we own properties which mayand increase the competition we face. These competition mattersCompetition may affect our abilitymake it difficult for us to attract and retain tenants and may reduce the rents we are able to charge. Government tenants are generally viewed as desirable tenants and are therefore particularly difficult to attract and retain because they are generally viewed asretain.
We also face significant competition for acquisition opportunities from other investors, including publicly traded and private REITs, numerous financial institutions, individuals, foreign investors and other public and private companies. Some of our competitors may have greater financial and other resources than us. Because of competition for acquisitions, we may be unable to acquire desirable tenants.properties or we may pay higher prices for, and realize lower net cash flows than we hope to achieve from, acquisitions.

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The U.S. Government’s “green lease” policies may adversely affect us.
TheIn recent years, the U.S. Government has instituted “green lease” policies which allow a government tenant to require leadership in energy and environmental design for commercial interiors, or LEED®-CI, designation in selecting new premises or renewing leases at existing premises. In addition, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 allows the GSA to give preference to buildings for lease that have received an “Energy Star” label. Obtaining such certificationsdesignation and labels may be costly and time consuming, but our failure to do so may result in aour competitive disadvantage for us in acquiring new or retaining existing government tenants.
Some government tenants have the right to terminate their leases prior to their lease expiration date and changes in the U.S. Government’s and state governments’ requirements for leased space may adversely affect us.
Substantially allA majority of our current rents come from government tenants. Some of our leases with government tenants allow the tenants to vacate the leased premises before the stated terms of the leases expire with little or no liability. In particular:
Tenants occupying approximately 11.7%8.6% of our consolidated rentable square feet and contributing approximately 9.3%6.8% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations,2017 have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases before the stated term of their leases expire.
In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, early termination rights become exercisable by other tenants who currently occupy an additional approximately 2.3%, 2.2%, 4.9%5.2%, 7.0%7.2%, 0.7%1.4%, 2.9%3.4%, 1.9%0.5%, 0.9%0.2%, 0.1%, 0.6% and 0.6%0.4% of our consolidated rentable square feet, respectively, and contribute an additional approximately 1.8%3.6%, 3.0%4.9%, 5.1%7.0%, 7.5%1.4%, 2.9%, 0.6%, 2.3%0.3%, 1.7%0.2%, 1.1%0.8% and 0.6%0.4% of our annualized rental income, respectively, as of December 31, 2016.2017.
Pursuant to leases with 1526 of our government tenants, these tenants have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases if their respective legislature or other funding authority does not appropriate rent amounts in their respective annual budgets. These 1526 tenants represent approximately 17.4%12.9% of our consolidated rentable square feet and 16.9%12.3% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016.


2017.
For fiscal policy reasons, security concerns or other reasons, some or all of our government tenants may decide to exercise early termination rights under our leases or vacate our properties upon expiration of our leases. We believe the U.S. Government is actively trying to reduce their space utilization per employee and consolidate into existing government owned properties. If a significant number of such events occur, our income and cash flow may materially decline and our ability to make or sustain regular distributions to our shareholders may be jeopardized.
We may be unable to realize our expected expense savings.
We currently expect to realize annual general and administrative expense savings compared to what we and FPO incurred or would have incurred if we had not acquired FPO. Our management agreement with RMR LLC sets the fees that we pay in lieu of certain general and administrative expenses pursuant to a concentration of properties informula based upon the Washington, D.C. metro area and are exposed to changes in market conditions in this area.
Approximately 27.1%lower of our annualized rental incomemarket capitalization or the historical cost of certain of our assets. Also, we may pay incentive fees to RMR LLC in certain circumstances based upon total returns realized by our shareholders compared to an index of total returns of certain other REITs. Some of these calculations will depend upon future market prices of our securities and other REITs’ securities which are beyond our control. Accordingly, the amount of annual general and administrative expense savings which we may realize, if any, cannot be precisely calculated; and, in fact we may realize more or less savings or no savings, and our annual general and administrative expenses incurred as a result of December 31, 2016, excluding onethe FPO Transaction may be higher than the aggregate amounts we and FPO incurred or would have incurred if we had not acquired FPO.
We currently anticipate being able to realize property (one building) classifiedlevel cost savings at the FPO properties as discontinuedthe management and operations was received fromof the FPO properties located in the Washington, D.C. metro area. A downturn in economic conditions in this area could result in reduced demand from tenants forare combined with our propertiesproperty level operations and those of other companies managed by RMR LLC. However, we may be unable to realize or lower the rents thatsustain these property level cost savings or our government tenants in this area are willing to pay when our leases expire or terminate and when renewal or new terms are negotiated. Additionally, in recent years there has been a decrease in demand for new leased space by the U.S. Government in the Washington, D.C. metro area, and that could increase competition for government tenants and adversely affect our ability to retain government tenants when our leases expire.doing so may take longer than we now anticipate.
Real estate construction and redevelopment creates risks.
PartWe may develop new properties or redevelop some of our business plan involves the possible development or redevelopment of some of ourexisting properties as the existing leases expire, or as our tenants’ needs evolve.change or to pursue any other opportunities that we believe are desirable. The development and redevelopment of new and existing buildings involves significant risks in addition to those involved in the ownership and operation of leased

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properties, including the risks that financing may not be available on favorable terms for development projects and construction may not be completed on schedule or within budget, resulting in increased debt service expense and construction costs and delays in leasing such properties and generating cash flow.flows. Development activities are also subject to risks relating to the inability to obtain, or delays in obtaining, all necessary zoning, land use, building, occupancy, and other required government permits and authorizations. Once completed, any new properties may perform below anticipated financial results. The occurrence of one or more of the foregoingthese circumstances in connection with our development or redevelopment activities could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, development activities, regardlessoperations and the value of whether or not they are ultimately successful, typically require a substantial amount of management’s time and attention which could take management’s time away from our other day to day operations.securities.
We have debt and we may incur additional debt.
As of December 31, 2016,2017, our consolidated indebtedness was $1.4$2.2 billion, our consolidated total debt to total gross book value of real estate assets and market value ofratio, with our SIR common shares ratioincluded in gross assets at market value, was 49.9%53.4% and we had $590$180.0 million available for borrowing under our $750$750.0 million revolving credit facility. OurThe agreement governing our revolving credit facility and our $300$300.0 million term loan and our $250$250.0 million term loan, or our credit agreement, includes a feature under which the maximum aggregate borrowing availability may be increased to up to $2.5 billion on a combined basis underin certain circumstances.
We are subject to numerous risks associated with our debt, including the risk that our cash flows could be insufficient for us to make required payments on our debt. There are no limits in our organizational documents on the amount of debt we may incur, and we may incur substantial debt.
Our debt obligations could have important consequences to our securityholders. Our incurring excessive debt could limit our ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, construction projects, refinancing, lease obligations or other purposes and jeopardize our ability to maintain investment grade ratings. These obligations may also increase our vulnerability to adverse economic, market and industry conditions, limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, and place us at a disadvantage in relation to competitors that have lower debt levels. As a result, we are subject to numerous risks associated withExcessive debt financing, including the risk that our cash flow could be insufficient to meet required payments on our debt or to enable us to sustain our rate of distribution to our shareholders. In addition, amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility and term loans require interest to be paid at variable interest rates. When interest rates increase, so will our interest costs, which could adversely affect our cash flow,limit our ability to pay principalobtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, construction projects, refinancing, lease obligations or other purposes and interest onhinder our debt andability to maintain investment grade ratings from nationally recognized credit rating agencies or to make or sustain distributions to our cost of refinancing our debt when it becomes due. For further information regarding our exposure to risks associated with market changes in interest rates, please see elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.” Additionally, if we choose to hedge our interest rate risk, we cannot be sure that the hedge will be effective or that any hedging counterparty will meet its obligations to us. Any or all of the above events and factors could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.shareholders.
If we default under any of our debt obligations, we may be in default under the agreements governing other debt obligations of ours which have cross default provisions, including the agreement governing our revolving credit facility and term loans, or our credit agreement and our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements. In such case, our lenders


may demand immediate payment of any outstanding indebtedness and we could be forced to liquidate our assets for less than the values we would receive in a more orderly process.
OurWe may fail to comply with the terms of our credit agreement and our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements, contain terms limiting our ability to incur additional debt. These terms, or our failure or inability to meet them,which could adversely affect our business and may prevent us fromour making distributions to our shareholders.
Our credit agreement includesand our senior unsecured notes indentures and their supplements include various conditions, to our borrowing, financial and other covenants including covenants requiring us to maintain certain minimum debt service coverage and leverage ratios, and events of default. Our senior unsecured notes indenture and its supplements also impose customary restrictions on us, including requiring us to comply with certain debt to asset ratios and debt service coverage ratios if we want to incur additional debt and requiring us to maintain at least a specified ratio of total unencumbered assets to debt. We may not be able to satisfy all of these conditions or may default on some of these covenants for various reasons, including for reasons beyond our control. For example, our credit agreement and our senior unsecured notes indentures and their supplements require us to maintain certain debt service ratios. Our ability to comply with such covenants will depend upon the net rental income we receive from our properties. If the occupancy at our properties declines or if our rents decline, we may be unable to borrow under our revolving credit facility. Complying with these covenants may limit our ability to take actions that may be beneficial to us and our shareholders.securityholders.
If we are unable to borrow under our revolving credit facility, we may be unable to meet our obligations or grow our business by acquiring additional properties. If we default under our credit agreement, our lenders may demand immediate payment of any amounts outstanding and may elect not to fund future borrowings under our revolving credit facility or term loans.borrowings. During the continuance of any event of default under our credit agreement, we may be limited or in some cases prohibited from making distributions to our shareholders. Any such default under our credit agreement that results in acceleration of our obligations to repay outstanding indebtedness or in our no longer being permitted to borrow under our revolving credit facility would likely have serious and adverse consequences to us and would likely cause the market pricevalue of our common sharessecurities to decline.
In the future, we may obtain additional debt financing, and the covenants and conditions which apply to any such additional indebtednessdebt may be more restrictive than the covenants and conditions that are contained in our credit agreement or our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements.
Amounts recoverable under our leases for increased operating costs may be less than the actual increased costs.
Under most of our leases, the tenant’s obligation to pay us adjusted rent for increased operating costs (e.g., the costs of cleaning services, supplies, materials, maintenance, trash removal, landscaping, snow removal, water, sewer charges, heating, electricity and certain administrative expenses) is increased annually based on a cost of living index rather than the actual amount of our costs. Accordingly, the amount of any rent adjustment may not fully offset any increased costs we may incur in

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providing these services, including any increased costs which result from climate change laws designed to reduce carbon emissions or otherwise.
Increasing interest rates may adversely affect us.
Since the most recent U.S. economic recession, the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, or the U.S. Federal Reserve, has taken actions that have resulted in low interest rates for a long period of time. InSince December 2016, the U.S. Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of aone percentage point, and there are some market expectations that market interest rates rose afterwill rise further in the recent U.S. presidential election in anticipation of possible increased government spending and inflation.near to intermediate term. Market interest rates may continue to increase, and those increases may materially and negatively affect us in several ways, including:
Investors may consider whether to buy or sell our common shares based upon the distribution rate on our common shares relative to the then prevailing market interest rates. If market interest rates go up, investors may expect a higher distribution rate than we are able to pay, which may increase our cost of capital, or they may sell our common shares and seek alternatealternative investments with athat offer higher distribution rate.rates. Sales of our common shares may cause a decline in the market pricevalue of our common shares.

Amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility and term loans require interest to be paid at variable interest rates. When interest rates increase, our interest costs will increase, which could adversely affect our cash flow,flows, our ability to pay principal and interest on our debt, our cost of refinancing our debtfixed rate debts when it becomesthey become due and our ability to make or sustain the rate of distributions to our shareholders. Additionally, if we choose to hedge our interest rate risk, we cannot be sure that the hedge will be effective or that our hedging counterparty will meet its obligations to us.

Property values are often determined, in part, based upon a capitalization of rental income formula. When market interest rates increase, property investors often demand higher capitalization rates and that causes property values to decline. Increases in interest rates could lower the value of our properties and cause the market pricevalue of our common sharessecurities to decline.


Ownership of real estate is subject to environmental and climate change risks.
Ownership of real estate is subject to risks associated with environmental hazards. We may be liable for environmental hazards at, or migrating from, our properties, including those created by prior owners or occupants, existing tenants, abutters or other persons. The U.S. Government is not required to indemnify us for environmental hazards they create at our properties. As a result, the U.S. Government could hold us liable for environmental hazards they create at our properties and we could have no recourse to them. Various federal and state laws impose liabilities upon property owners, including us, for environmental damages arising at, or migrating from, owned properties, and we cannotmay be sure that we will not be held liable for the costs of environmental investigation and clean up at, or near, our properties. As an owner or previous owner of properties, we also may be liable to pay damages to government agencies or third parties for costs and damages they incur arising from environmental hazards at, or migrating from, oursuch properties. The costs and damages that may arise from environmental hazards are often difficult to project and may be substantial.
WeIn addition, we believe some of our properties may contain asbestos. We believe any asbestos on our properties is contained in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and we have no current plans to remove it. If we removed the asbestos or demolished the affected properties, certain environmental regulations govern the manner in which the asbestos must be handled and removed, and we could incur substantial costs complying with such regulations.
Environmental liabilities could adversely affect our financial condition and result in losses.
Our leases with non-government tenants generally require our tenants to operate in compliance with applicable law and to indemnify us against any environmental liabilities arising from their activities on our properties; however, applicable law may subject us to strict liability by virtue of our property ownership interests. The U.S. Government is not required to indemnify us for environmental hazards they create at our properties and therefore could hold us liable for environmental hazards they create at our properties and we could have no recourse to them.
We do not have any insurance to limit losses that we may incur as a result of known or unknown environmental conditions. However, environmental exposures are difficult to assess and estimate for numerous reasons, including uncertainty about the extent of contamination, alternative treatment methods that may be applied, the location of the property which subjects it to differing local laws and regulations and their interpretations, as well as the time it may take to remediate contamination.

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Ownership of real estate is subject to climate change and adverse weather risks.
Some observers believe severe weather activities in different parts of the countryworld over the last few years is evidence of global climate change. Such severeSevere weather that may result from climate change may have an adverse effect on individualcertain properties we own. Further,Flooding caused by rising sea levels and severe weather events, including hurricanes, tornadoes and widespread fires, may have an adverse effect on properties we own and result in significant losses to us and interruption of our business. Also, the political debate about climate change has resulted in various treaties, laws and regulations that are intended to limit carbon emissions. These or future laws may cause operating costs at our properties to increase. Laws enacted to mitigate climate change may make some of our buildings obsolete or require us to make material investments in our properties which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. For more information regarding climate change matters operationsand their possible adverse impact on us, please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysiscause the value of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Impact of Climate Change” in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.our securities to decline.
Real estate ownership creates risks and liabilities.
In addition to the risks related to environmental hazards and climate change,discussed above, our business is subject to other risks associated with real estate ownership, including:
the illiquid nature of real estate markets, which limits our ability to sell our assets rapidly to respond to changing market conditions;

the subjectivity of real estate valuations and changes in such valuations over time;

current and future adverse national real estate trends, including increasing vacancy rates, declining rental rates and
general deterioration of market conditions;

costs that may be incurred relating to property maintenance and repair, and the need to make expenditures due to changes in government regulations; and
litigation
liabilities and litigations arising from injuries on our properties or otherwise incidental to the ownership of our business.properties.

RMR LLC relies on information technology networks and related systems in its operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology or those networks and systems could materially and adversely affect us.
RMR LLC relies on information technology and systems, including the Internet and commercially available software, to process, transmit, store and safeguard information and to manage or support a variety of its business processes (including managing our building systems), including financial transactions and maintenance of records, which may include personal identifying information of employees and tenants and lease data. If RMR LLC experiences material security or other failures, inadequacies or interruptions of its information technology, it could incur material costs and losses and our operations could be disrupted as a result. Further, third party vendors could experience similar events with respect to their information technology and systems that impact the products and services they provide to RMR LLC or us. RMR LLC relies on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring, as well as its internal procedures and personnel, to provide security for processing, transmitting, storing and safeguarding confidential tenant, customer and vendor information, such as personally identifiable information related to its employees and others and information regarding its and our financial accounts. RMR LLC takes various actions, and incurs significant costs, to maintain and protect the operation and security of its information technology and systems, including the data maintained in those systems. However, it is possible that these measures will not prevent the systems’ improper functioning or a compromise in security, such as in the event of a cyberattack or the improper disclosure of personally identifiable information.
Security breaches, computer viruses, attacks by hackers, online fraud schemes and similar breaches can create significant system disruptions, shutdowns, fraudulent transfer of assets or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. For example, in June 2017, RMR LLC became aware that it had been a victim of criminal fraud in which a person pretending to be a representative of a seller in a property acquisition transaction provided fraudulent money wire instructions that caused money to be wire transferred to an account that was believed to be, but was not, the seller’s account. We were not involved in that transaction and we did not incur any loss from that transaction; however, there may be a risk that similar fraudulent activities could be attempted against us, RMR LLC or others with respect to our assets. The cybersecurity risks to RMR LLC, us and third party vendors are heightened by, among other things, the evolving nature of the threats faced, advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography and new and increasingly sophisticated methods used to perpetuate illegal or fraudulent activities against RMR LLC, including cyberattacks, email or wire fraud and other attacks

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exploiting security vulnerabilities in RMR LLC’s or other third parties’ information technology networks and related systems are essentialor operations. Any failure to its ability to perform our day to day operations (including managing our building systems). As a result, we face risks associated withmaintain the security, breaches, whether through cyber attacks or cyber intrusions over the Internet, malware, computer viruses, attachments to emails, persons who access our systems from inside or outside the RMR LLC organizationproper function and other significant disruptionsavailability of RMR LLC’s information technology networks and related systems. A security breachsystems, or other significant disruption involvingcertain third party vendors’ failure to similarly protect their information technology and systems that are relevant to RMR LLC’s or our operations, or to safeguard RMR LLC’s or our business processes, assets and information technology networks and related systems could disrupt our operations; result in the unauthorized accessfinancial losses, interrupt RMR LLC’s operations, damage RMR LLC’s reputation, cause RMR LLC to be in default of material contracts and the destruction, loss, theft, misappropriationsubject RMR LLC to liability claims or release of, proprietary, personally identifiable, confidential, sensitive or otherwise valuable information, which others could use to compete against us or which could expose us to damage claims by third parties for disruptive, destructive or otherwise harmful purposes and outcomes; require significant management attention and resources to remedy any damages that result; subject us to claims for breach of contract, damages, credits, penalties or termination of leases or other agreements; or damage our business relationships or reputation generally.regulatory penalties. Any or all of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect us.our business and the value of our securities.


Although RMR LLC takes various actions to maintain the security and integrity of its information technology networks and related systems, and has implemented various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption, we cannot be sure that RMR LLC’s security efforts and measures will be effective or that any attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging. Even the most well protected information, networks, systems and facilities remain potentially vulnerable because the techniques used in such attempted security breaches evolve and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, and in some cases are designed to not be detected and, in fact, may not be detected. Accordingly, RMR LLC may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate security barriers or other preventative measures. It is therefore not possible for this risk to be entirely mitigated.
The U.S. GovernmentCurrent government policies regarding interest rates and international trade policies may cause a recession.
The U.S. Federal Reserve policy regarding the timing and amount of future increases in interest rates the risk ofand changing U.S. and other countries’ trade policies and the risk that declining foreign economic conditions and markets may hinder the growth of the U.S. economy. It is unclear whether the U.S. economy will be able to withstand these market challenges and global uncertainty and achieve meaningful andcontinue sustained growth. Economic weakness in the U.S. economy generally or a new U.S. recession would likely adversely affect our financial condition and that of our tenants, could adversely impact the ability of our tenants to renew our leases or pay rent to us, and may cause the valuevalues of our properties and of our securities to decline.
InsuranceSome of our tenants do not have credit ratings.
As a result of the FPO Transaction, a greater number of our tenants are non-government tenants and are not rated by any nationally recognized credit rating organization. It is more difficult to assess the ability of a tenant that is not rated to meet its obligations than that of a rated tenant. Moreover, tenants may be rated when we enter leases with them but their ratings may be later lowered or terminated during the term of the leases. Because we now have a greater number of unrated tenants, we may experience a higher percentage of tenant defaults than we would have had prior to the FPO Transaction or than landlords who have a higher percentage of highly rated tenants.
Our use of joint ventures may limit our flexibility with jointly owned investments.
As part of the FPO Transaction, we acquired two properties (three buildings) which are owned by joint ventures with unrelated third parties, and we may in the future acquire, develop or recapitalize properties in joint ventures with other persons or entities. Our participation in these joint ventures is subject to risks, including the following:
we may share approval rights over major decisions affecting the ownership or operation of the joint venture and any property owned by the joint venture;

we may be required to contribute additional capital if our partners fail to fund their share of any required capital contributions;

our joint venture partners may have economic or other business interests or goals that are inconsistent with our business interests or goals and that could affect our ability to lease or release the property, operate the property or maintain our qualification as a REIT;

our joint venture partners may be subject to different laws or regulations than us, or may be structured differently than us for tax purposes, which could create conflicts of interest and/or affect our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT;

our ability to sell the interest on advantageous terms when we so desire may be limited or restricted under the terms of the applicable joint venture agreements; and

disagreements with our joint venture partners could result in litigation or arbitration that could be expensive and distracting to management and could delay important decisions.

Any of the foregoing risks could have a material adverse effect on our propertiesbusiness, financial condition and results of operations.
Insurance may not adequately cover all losses, and uninsured losses could materially and adversely affect us.our losses.
We are generally responsible for the costs of insurance coverage for our properties, including for casualty, liability, fire and extended coverage. Losses of a catastrophic nature, such as those caused by hurricanes, flooding, volcanic eruptions and

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earthquakes, among other things, may be covered by insurance policies with limitations such as large deductibles or co-payments that we may not be able to pay. Insurance proceeds may not be adequate to restore an affected property to its condition prior to a loss or to compensate us for our losses, including the loss of future revenues from an affected property, and we could be materially and adversely affected.property.
We may incur significant costs complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain similar state statutes, places of public accommodation and many commercial properties must meet specified requirements related to access and use by disabled persons. We may be required to make substantial capital expenditures at our properties to comply with these laws. In addition, non-compliance could result in the imposition of fines or an award of damages and costs to private litigants. These expenditures may have an adverse impact on our financial results and the market pricevalue of our common shares.securities.
Changes in lease accounting standards may materially and adversely affect us.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, has adopted new accounting rules to be effective for fiscal years ending after December 2018, which will require companies to capitalize substantially all leases on their balance sheets by recognizing a lessee’s rights and obligations. When the final rules are effective, many companies that account for certain leases on an “off balance sheet” basis will be required to account for such leases “on balance sheet.” This change will remove many of the differences in the way companies account for owned property and leased property and could have a material effect on various aspects of our tenants’ businesses, including the appearance of their credit quality and other factors they consider in deciding whether to own or lease properties. When the rules are effective, or as the effective date approaches, thethese rules could cause companies that lease properties to prefer shorter lease terms in an effort to reduce the leasing liability required to be recorded on their balance sheets; however, we do not expect this rule will affectsheets or some companies may decide to prefer property ownership to leasing. Such decisions by our current or prospective tenants may adversely impact our business and the behaviorvalue of our government tenants. The new rules may also make lease renewal options less attractive because under certain circumstances, the rules will require a tenant to assume that a renewal right will be exercised and accrue a liability relating to the longer lease term.securities.
Our business could be adversely impacted if there are deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting.
The design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent all errors, misstatements or misrepresentations. While management will continue to review the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting, there can be nowe cannot guarantee that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives all of the time. Deficiencies, including any material weaknesses, in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting could result in misstatements of our results of operations or our financial statements or could otherwise materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.


Risks Related to Our Relationships with RMR Inc., RMR LLC and SIRSIR.
We may not realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of an interest in RMR Inc.
On June 5, 2015, we participated in a transaction with RMR Inc., RMR LLC, ABP Trust, SIR and two other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services in which, among other things, we acquired 1,541,201 shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock, ABP Trust acquired 700,000 of our common shares and we amended our management agreements with RMR LLC and extended them for continuing 20 year terms, or the Up-C Transaction. In December 2015, we distributed 768,032 of the shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock that we received in the Up-C Transaction pro rata to our shareholders. SIR also distributed shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock pro rata to its shareholders from which we received 441,056 shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock as a shareholder of SIR. We believe the Up-C Transaction provided several benefits to us, including an attractive investment in the equity securities of RMR Inc., the further alignment of the interests of RMR LLC, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy with our interests and greater transparency for us and our shareholders into the compensation practices and financial and operating results of RMR LLC. However, our investment in RMR Inc. is subject to various risks, including the highly competitive nature of RMR LLC’s business and the limited public market for RMR Inc.’s securities, among others, which may result in us losing some or all of our investment in RMR Inc. or otherwise not realizing the benefits we expect from the Up-C Transaction. For further information on the Up-C Transaction, see Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We are dependent upon RMR LLC to manage our business and implement our growth strategy.
We have no employees. Personnel and services that we require are provided to us by RMR LLC pursuant to our management agreements with RMR LLC. Our ability to achieve our business objectives depends on RMR LLC and its ability to manage our properties, identify and complete our acquisitions and dispositions and to execute our growth strategy. Accordingly, our business is dependent upon RMR LLC’s business contacts, its ability to successfully hire, train, supervise and manage its personnel and its ability to maintain its operating systems. If we lose the services provided by RMR LLC or its key personnel, our business and growth prospects may decline. We may be unable to duplicate the quality and depth of management available to us by becoming internally managed or by hiring another manager. Also, inIn the event RMR LLC is unwilling or unable to continue to provide management services to us, our cost of obtaining substitute services may be greater than the fees we pay RMR LLC under our management agreements, and as a result our expenses may increase.
Each of our executive officers is also an officer of RMR LLC, our President and Chief Operating Officer, David Blackman, is the president and chief operating officer of SIR and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Mark Kleifges, is the chief financial officer and treasurer of HPT. Because our executive officers have duties to RMR LLC, and David Blackman and Mark Kleifges have duties to SIR and HPT, respectively, as well as to our company, we do not have their undivided attention. They face conflicts in allocating their time and resources between our company and RMR LLC and other companies to which it provides services.
Our management structure and agreements and relationships with RMR LLC and RMR LLC’s and its controlling shareholders’ relationships with others may create conflicts of interest, or the appearance of such conflicts, and may restrict our investment activities.
Our manager, RMR LLC, is authorized to follow broad operating and investment guidelines and, therefore, has discretion in determining the properties that will be appropriate investments for us, as well as our individual operating and investment decisions. Our Board of Trustees periodically reviews our operating and investment guidelines and our operating activities and investments but it does not review or approve each decision made by RMR LLC on our behalf. In addition, in conducting periodic reviews, our Board of Trustees relies primarily on information provided to it by RMR LLC.

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RMR LLC is a subsidiary of RMR Inc. Our Managing Trustees controlTrustee, Adam Portnoy, as the current sole trustee of ABP Trust is the controlling shareholder of RMR Inc., which and as the current sole trustee of ABP Trust beneficially owns all the class A membership units of RMR LLC not owned by RMR Inc. Adam Portnoy, is the managing memberdirector, president and chief executive officer of RMR Inc. and controlsan officer of RMR LLC.
 Barry Portnoy was our other Managing Trustee and a director and an officer of RMR Inc. until his death on February 25, 2018. RMR LLC or its subsidiary also acts as the manager for threefive other Nasdaq listed REITs: HPT, which owns hotels and travel centers; ILPT, which primarily owns industrial and logistics properties; SNH, which primarily owns healthcare, senior living properties and medical office buildings; and SIR, which primarily owns and invests in net leased, single tenant properties.properties; and TRMT, which primarily originates and invests in first mortgage loans secured by middle market and transitional commercial real estate. RMR LLC also provides services to other publicly and privately owned companies, including FVE,including: Five Star, which operates senior living communities; TA, which operates and franchises travel centers, convenience stores and restaurants; and Sonesta, which operates, manages and franchises hotels, resorts and cruise ships. An affiliate of RMR LLC is an investment adviser to the RMR Real Estate Income Fund, or RIF, a closed end investment company listed on the NYSE American, which primarily invests in securities of REITs that are not managed by RMR LLC.
Each of our executive officers is also an officer of RMR LLC, including our President and Chief Operating Officer, David Blackman, who is also the president and chief operating officer of SIR and the chief executive officer of TRMT, and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Mark Kleifges, who is also the chief financial officer and treasurer of HPT and of RIF. Because our executive officers have duties to RMR LLC, and David Blackman and Mark Kleifges have duties to SIR and TRMT and HPT and RIF, respectively, as well as to us, we do not have their undivided attention. They may have conflicts in allocating their time and resources between us and RMR LLC and other companies to which RMR LLC provides services. Our Independent Trustees also serve as independent directors or independent trustees of other companies to which RMR LLC or its subsidiary provides management services, including one of our Independent Trustees also serving as an independent trustee of SIR.
In addition to his investment in RMR Inc. and RMR LLC, our Managing Trustee holds equity investments in other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services and some of these companies, including us, have significant cross ownership interests, including, for example: as of February 23, 2018, our Managing Trustee and Barry Portnoy, our former Managing Trustee, owned, directly or indirectly, in aggregate 1.8% of our outstanding common shares, 36.4% of Five Star's outstanding common stock, 1.5% of HPT’s outstanding common shares, 1.3% of SNH’s outstanding common shares, 1.9% of SIR’s outstanding common shares and 9.1% of RIF’s outstanding common shares; we own 27.8% of SIR’s outstanding common shares; SIR owns 69.2% of ILPT’s outstanding common shares; HPT owns 8.6% of TA’s outstanding common shares; SNH owns 8.4% of Five Star’s outstanding common stock; and Tremont Realty Advisors LLC, a subsidiary of RMR LLC, owns 19.2% of TRMT’s outstanding common shares. Our executive officers may also own equity investments in other companies to which RMR LLC or its subsidiary provides management services. These multiple responsibilities, relationships and relationshipscross ownerships could create competition for the time and efforts of RMR LLC, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoyother RMR LLC personnel, including our executive officers, and may give rise to conflicts of interest or the appearance of such conflicts of interest.interest with respect to matters involving us, RMR Inc., RMR LLC, our Managing Trustee, the other companies to which RMR LLC or its subsidiary provides management services and their related parties. Conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest could have a material adverse impact on our reputation, business and the market price of our common shares and other securities and we may be subject to increased risk of litigation as a result.
In our management agreements with RMR LLC, we acknowledge that RMR LLC may engage in other activities or businesses and act as the manager to any other person or entity (including other REITs) even though such person or entity has investment policies and objectives similar to our policies and objectives and we are not entitled to preferential treatment in receiving information, recommendations and other services from RMR LLC. Accordingly, we may lose investment opportunities to, and may compete for tenants with, other businesses managed by RMR LLC or its subsidiary. We cannot be sure that our Code of Conduct or our Governance Guidelines, or other procedural protections we adopt will be sufficient to enable us to identify, adequately address or mitigate actual or alleged conflicts of interest or ensure that our transactions with related persons are made on terms that are at least as favorable to us as those that would have been obtained with an unrelated person.
Our management agreements were not negotiated on an arm’s length basis and their fee structure may not create proper incentives for RMR LLC, which may increase the risk of an investment in our common shares.
As a result of theseour relationships with RMR LLC, our management agreements were not negotiated on an arm’s length basis between unrelated parties, and therefore the terms, including the fees payable to RMR LLC, may not be as favorable to us as they


would have been if they were negotiated on an arm’s length basis between unrelated parties. Our property management fees are calculated based on rents we receive and construction supervision fees for construction at our properties

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overseen and managed by RMR LLC, and our base business management fee is calculated based upon the lower of the historical costs of our real estate investments and our market capitalization. These fee arrangements could incentivize RMR LLC to pursue acquisitions, capital transactions, tenancies and construction projects or to avoid disposing of our assets in order to increase or maintain its management fees. If we do not effectively manage our investment, disposition and capital transactions and leasing, construction and other property management activities, we may pay increased management fees without proportional benefits to us.
In our management agreements withaddition, we pay RMR LLC we acknowledge that RMR LLC may engage in other activities or businesses and act as the manager to any other person or entity (including other REITs) even though such person or entity has investment policies and objectives similar to our policies and objectives and we are not entitled to preferential treatment in receiving information, recommendations and other services from RMR LLC. Accordingly, we may lose investment opportunities to, and may compete for tenants with, other businesses managed by RMR LLC. 
Adam Portnoy is a managing director, president, chief executive officer and controlling shareholder (through ABP Trust) of RMR Inc. and an officer of RMR LLC, and Barry Portnoy is a managing director, officer and controlling shareholder (through ABP Trust) of RMR Inc. and an officer of RMR LLC. Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy (through ABP Trust) also own class A membership units of RMR LLC. All of the memberssubstantial base management fees regardless of our Board of Trustees, including our Independent Trustees, are members of one or more boards of trustees or directors of other companiesfinancial results. RMR LLC’s entitlement to which RMR LLC providesa base management services. Our executive officers are also officers of RMR LLC, our Presidentfee might reduce its incentive to devote its time and Chief Operating Officer, David Blackman, also serves as president and chief operating officer of SIR, and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Mark Kleifges, also serves as chief financial officer and treasurer of HPT. In additioneffort to theirseeking investments in RMR Inc. and RMR LLC, our Managing Trustees hold equity investments in other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services and some of these companies have significant cross ownership interests, including,that provide attractive returns for example: our Managing Trustees own, directly or indirectly, in aggregate 36.7% of FVE’s outstanding common stock, 2.5% of our common shares, 1.4% of HPT’s outstanding common shares, 1.3% of SNH’s outstanding common shares and 1.9% of SIR’s outstanding common shares; we own 27.9% of SIR’s outstanding common shares; HPT owns 8.7% of TA’s outstanding common shares; and SNH owns 8.5% of FVE’s outstanding common stock. Our executive officers may also own equity investments in other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services. Such equity ownership or positions could create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest with respect to matters involving us, the other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services and their related parties. Conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest could have a material adverse impact on our reputation, business and the market price of our common shares and other securities and we may be subject to increased risk of litigation as a result.us.
The Up-C Transaction and the agreements entered into as part of the Up-C Transaction are among related persons, which increases the risk of allegations of conflicts of interest, and such allegations may impair our ability to realize the benefits we expect from the Up-C Transaction.
Because of the various relationships among us, RMR Inc., RMR LLC and the other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services, the Up-C Transaction and the agreements entered into as part of the Up-C Transaction, including the amendment and extension of our management agreements for continuing 20 year terms, are among related persons. The Up-C Transaction and the terms thereof were negotiated and reviewed by a Joint Special Committee comprised solely of our Independent Trustees and the independent trustees of the other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services, or the Joint Special Committee, and were separately approved and adopted by our Independent Trustee who did not serve as an independent trustee of any of the other REITs, by a Special Committee of our Board of Trustees, comprised solely of our Independent Trustees, or our Special Committee, and by our Board of Trustees. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to the Joint Special Committee and Reynolds Advisory Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to our Special Committee. Nonetheless, because of these various relationships, the Up-C Transaction was not negotiated on an arm’s length basis among unrelated third parties, and therefore may not be on terms as favorable to us or the other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services as it would have been if it was negotiated on an arm’s length basis among unrelated parties. As a result of these relationships, we may be subject to increased risk that our shareholders or the shareholders of the other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services may challenge the Up-C Transaction and the agreements entered into as part of the Up-C Transaction. Any such challenge could result in substantial costs and a diversion our management’s attention, could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business and growth and could adversely affect our ability to realize the benefits we expect from the Up-C Transaction, whether or not the allegations have merit or are substantiated.


The termination of our management agreements may require us to pay a substantial termination fee, including in the case of a termination for unsatisfactory performance, which may limit our ability to end our relationship with RMR LLC.
The terms of our management agreements with RMR LLC automatically extend on December 31st of each year so that such terms thereafter end on the 20th anniversary of the date of the extension. We have the right to terminate these agreements: (1) at any time on 60 days’ written notice for convenience, (2) immediately upon written notice for cause, as defined in the agreements, (3) on written notice given within 60 days after the end of any applicable calendar year for a performance reason, as defined in the agreements, and (4) by written notice during the 12 months following a manager change of control, as defined in the agreements. However, if we terminate a management agreement for convenience, or if RMR LLC terminates a management agreement with us for good reason, as defined in such agreement, we are obligated to pay RMR LLC a termination fee in an amount equal to the sum of the present values of the monthly future fees, as defined in the agreement, payable to RMR LLC for the then remaining term, which depending on the time of termination would be between 19 and 20 years. Additionally, if we terminate a management agreement for a performance reason, as defined in the agreement, we are obligated to pay RMR LLC the termination fee calculated as described above, but assuming a remaining term of 10 years. These provisions substantially increase the cost to us of terminating the management agreements without cause, which may limit our ability to end our relationship with RMR LLC as our manager. The payment of the termination fee could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, including our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
Our management arrangements with RMR LLC may discourage oura change of control.control of us.
Our management agreements with RMR LLC have continuing 20 year terms that renew annually. As noted in the preceding risk factor, if we terminate either of these management agreements other than for cause or upon a change of control of our manager, we are obligated to pay RMR LLC a substantial termination fee. For these reasons, our management agreements with RMR LLC may discourage a change of control of us, including a change of control which might result in payment of a premium for our common shares.
We may not realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of an interest in RMR Inc.
On June 5, 2015, we participated in a transaction with RMR Inc., RMR LLC, ABP Trust, SIR and two other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services in which, among other things, we acquired 1,541,201 shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock, ABP Trust acquired 700,000 of our common shares and we amended our management agreements with RMR LLC and extended them for continuing 20 year terms, or the Up-C Transaction. In December 2015, we distributed 768,032 of the shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock that we received in the Up-C Transaction pro rata to our shareholders. SIR also distributed shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock pro rata to its shareholders from which we received 441,056 shares of RMR Inc.’s class A common stock as a shareholder of SIR. We believe the Up-C Transaction provided several benefits to us, including an attractive investment in the equity securities of RMR Inc., the further alignment of the interests of RMR LLC and Adam Portnoy with our interests and greater transparency for us and our shareholders into the compensation practices and financial and operating results of RMR LLC. However, our investment in RMR Inc. is subject to various risks, including the highly competitive nature of RMR LLC’s business and the limited public market for RMR Inc.’s securities, among others, which may result in us losing some or all of our investment in RMR Inc. or otherwise not realizing the benefits we expect from the Up-C Transaction. For further information on the Up-C Transaction, see Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Up-C Transaction and the agreements entered into as part of the Up-C Transaction are among related persons, which increases the risk of allegations of conflicts of interest, and such allegations may impair our ability to realize the benefits we expect from the Up-C Transaction.
Because of the various relationships among us, RMR Inc., RMR LLC and the other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services, the Up-C Transaction and the agreements entered into as part of the Up-C Transaction, including the amendment and extension of our management agreements for continuing 20 year terms, are among related

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persons. The Up-C Transaction and the terms thereof were negotiated and reviewed by a Joint Special Committee comprised solely of our Independent Trustees and the independent trustees of the other REITs to which RMR LLC then provided management services, or the Joint Special Committee, and were separately approved and adopted by our Independent Trustee who did not serve as an independent trustee of any of the other REITs, by a Special Committee of our Board of Trustees, comprised solely of our Independent Trustees, or our Special Committee, and by our Board of Trustees. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to the Joint Special Committee and Reynolds Advisory Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to our Special Committee. Nonetheless, because of these various relationships, the Up-C Transaction was not negotiated on an arm’s length basis among unrelated third parties, and therefore may not be on terms as favorable to us or the other applicable REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services as it would have been if it was negotiated on an arm’s length basis among unrelated parties. As a result of these relationships, we may be subject to increased risk that our shareholders or the shareholders of the other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management services may challenge the Up-C Transaction and the agreements entered into as part of the Up-C Transaction. Any such challenge could result in substantial costs and be a diversion to our management’s attention, could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business and growth and could adversely affect our ability to realize the benefits we expect from the Up-C Transaction, whether or not the allegations have merit or are substantiated.
We may be at an increased risk for dissident shareholder activities due to perceived conflicts of interest arising from our management structure.
In the past, in particular following periods of volatility in the overall market or declines in the market price of a company’s securities, shareholder litigation, dissident shareholder trustee nominations and dissident shareholder proposals have often been instituted against companies alleging conflicts of interest in business dealings with affiliated and related persons and entities. Our relationships with RMR Inc., RMR LLC, SIR, AIC, the other businesses and entities to which RMR LLC providesor its subsidiaries provide management services, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy and other related persons of RMR LLC may precipitate such activities. Certain proxy advisory firms which have significant influence over the voting by shareholders of public companies have, in the past, recommended, and in the future may recommend, that shareholders withhold votes for the election of our incumbent Trustees and vote against our say on pay vote or other management proposals. These recommendations may affect the outcome of our Board elections and impact our governance, which may increase shareholder activism and litigation. These activities, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs, and a diversion of our management’s attention, and could have a material adverse impact on our reputation and business.
We may experience losses from our business dealings with AIC.
We, ABP Trust, SIR and four other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services each own 14.3% of AIC, and we have invested $6.0 million in AIC. We and those other AIC shareholders participate in a combined property insurance program designedarranged and reinsured in part by AIC and we periodically consider the possibilities for expanding our relationship with AIC to other types of insurance. Our principal reason for investing in AIC and for purchasing insurance in these programs is to seek to improve our financial results by obtaining improved insurance coverages at lower costs than may be otherwise available to us or by participating in any profits which we may realize as an owner of AIC. While we believe we have in the past benefitted from these arrangements, these beneficial financial results may not occur in the future, and we may need to invest additional capital in order to continue to pursue these results. AIC’s business involves the risks typical of an insurance business, including the risk that it may not operate profitably. Accordingly, financial benefits from our business dealings with AIC may not be achieved in the future, and we may experience losses from these dealings.


Risks Related to Our Ownership Interest in SIR
The market price of our ownership in SIR may decline.
We own 24,918,421 SIR common shares. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the carrying value of our SIR common shares was $487.7$467.5 million, and the market price of those common shares was $627.9$626.2 million based on the closing price of SIR’s common shares on Nasdaq on that day. We have no ability to control theThe market price offor SIR’s common shares.shares will vary. If it appears that the market price of our SIR common shares is persistently below the carrying value of our SIR common shares, we may be required to record an impairment charge with regard to our ownership of the SIR common shares, and the amount of this charge may be material.
We may be unable to realize the market price or the carrying value of our SIR common shares at the time of sale.
As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we own 27.9%27.8% of SIR’s total outstanding common shares. Because we own such a large number of SIR common shares which represents such a large percentage of SIR’s outstanding common shares, any effort we make to sell our SIR common shares may depress the market price of SIR’s common shares and

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we may be unable to realize an otherwise market price for our SIR common shares. Speculation by the press, stock analysts, our shareholders or others regarding our intention with respect to our investment in SIR could adversely affect the market price of SIR’s common shares. Also, we may be unable to sell our SIR common shares for an amount equal to thetheir carrying value of our SIR common shares because of the significance of our SIR holdings, a reduced market price of SIR common shares or otherwise; we may realize a loss on our investment in SIR common shares.
SIR’s cash distributions may change from time to time, and we cannot provide assurance that SIR will declare cash distributions in any particular amounts or at all. A reduction in SIR’s cash distributions would have a negative effect on us.
SIR’s board of trustees may lower the amount of distributions that SIR pays to its shareholders, including us, which would reduce the cash flow we realize by owning our SIR common shares and could adversely impact our ability to make payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness and future distributions on our common shares.
The ability of SIR to pay regular cash distributions is out of our control and made at the discretion of SIR’s board of trustees. The declaration of any distribution will depend upon various factors that SIR’s board of trustees deems relevant, including its results of operations, its financial condition, the debt and equity capital available to it, the expectation of its capital requirements, the funds from operations attributed to SIR, the normalized funds from operations attributed to SIR, the restrictive covenants in its financial or other contractual arrangements (including those contained in its credit agreement), tax law requirements to maintain its qualification for taxation as a REIT, restrictions under Maryland law and its expected needs for and availability of cash to pay its obligations.
SIR’s board of trustees may also amend or revise SIR’s operational, financing and investment policies, including its policies with respect to its intention to qualify for taxation as a REIT, acquisitions, dispositions, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and distributions, or to approve transactions that deviate from these policies, without a vote of, or notice to, SIR’s shareholders.
Although we own a large percentage of SIR’s outstanding common shares, we do not control SIR’s day to day activities, some of which may adversely impact us.
Although we own a large percentage of SIR’s outstanding common shares and may have significant influence over SIR’s board of trustees and the outcome of shareholder actions, we do not control SIR’s day to day activities. Certain activities by SIR could adversely impact us or the market price of our investment in SIR. For example:
SIR may incur substantial amounts of indebtedness, which may adversely impact the market price of SIR’s common shares, including our SIR common shares;
SIR’s board of trustees may lower the amount of distributions that SIR pays to its shareholders, including us, which would reduce the cash flow we realize by owning our SIR common shares and could adversely impact our ability to make payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness and future distributions on our common shares;
SIR may determine to issue significant amounts of equity capital, which would dilute our ownership interest in SIR;

SIR may issue additional common shares at a per share price below the per share carrying value of our SIR common shares, which may require us to reduce our cost basis for our SIR common shares and recognize losses on our SIR investment;

SIR may incur losses becauseif it is unable to maintain the occupancy or rents it now receives from its properties or because of increasedits operating expenses increase or otherwise, and any such losses may reduce the market price of our SIR common shares;

SIR’s board of trustees may change or revise SIR’s business plans and policies from time to time without shareholder approval, and any such changes could adversely affect SIR’s financial condition, results of operations, the market price of SIR’s common shares and SIR’s ability to make distributions to its shareholders; and
Our
our relationship with SIR may create conflicts of interest or the perception of such conflicts.


Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure
Ownership limitations and certain provisions in our declaration of trust and bylaws, as well as certain provisions of Maryland law, may deter, delay or prevent a change in our control or unsolicited acquisition proposals.

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Our declaration of trust prohibits any shareholder other than RMR LLC and its affiliates (as defined under Maryland law) and certain persons who have been exempted by our Board of Trustees from owning, directly and by attribution, more than 9.8% of the number or value of shares (whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of our outstanding shares of beneficial interest, including our common shares. This provision of our declaration of trust is intended to, among other purposes, assist with our REIT compliance under the IRC and otherwise promote our orderly governance. However, this provision may also inhibit acquisitions of a significant stake in us and may deter, delay or prevent a change in control of us or unsolicited acquisition proposals that a shareholder may consider favorable. Additionally, provisions contained in our declaration of trust and bylaws or under Maryland law may have a similar impact, including, for example, provisions relating to:
the division of our Trustees into three classes, with the term of one class expiring each year, which could delay a change of control of us;

limitations on shareholder voting rights and standards for the election of Trustees and other provisions which require larger majorities for approval ofwith respect to certain actions whichthat are not approved by our Trustees than for actions which are approved by ourBoard of Trustees;

the authority of our Board of Trustees, and not our shareholders, to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws and to fill vacancies on our Board of Trustees;

shareholder voting standards which require a supermajority for approval of certain actions;

the fact that only our Board of Trustees, or if there are no Trustees, our officers, may call shareholder meetings and that shareholders are not entitled to act without a meeting;

required qualifications for an individual to serve as a Trustee and a requirement that certain of our Trustees be “Managing Trustees” and other Trustees be “Independent Trustees”, as defined in our governing documents;

limitations on the ability of our shareholders to propose nominees for election as Trustees and propose other business to be considered at a meeting of our shareholders;

limitations on the ability of our shareholders to remove our Trustees; and

the authority of our Board of Trustees to create and issue new classes or series of shares (including shares with voting rights and other rights and privileges that may deter a change in control) and issue additional common shares. 

In addition, our shareholders agreement with respect to AIC provides that AIC and the other shareholders of AIC may have rights to acquire our interests in AIC in the event that anyone acquires more than 9.8% of our shares or we experience some other change in control.
Our ownership interest in AIC may prevent shareholders from accumulating a large share stake in us, from nominating or serving as Trustees, or from taking actions to otherwise control our business.
As an owner of AIC, we are licensed and approved as an insurance holding company; and any shareholder who owns or controls 10% or more of our securities or anyone who wishes to solicit proxies for election of, or to serve as, one of our Trustees or for another proposal of business not approved by our Board of Trustees may be required to receive pre-clearance from the concerned insurance regulators. These pre-approval procedures may discourage or prevent investors from purchasing our securities, from nominating persons to serve as our Trustees or from taking other actions.
Our rights and the rights of our shareholders to take action against our Trustees and officers are limited.
Our declaration of trust limits the liability of our Trustees and officers to us and our shareholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted under Maryland law. Under current Maryland law, our Trustees and officers will not have any liability to us and our shareholders for money damages other than liability resulting from:


actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

active and deliberate dishonesty by the Trustee or officer that was established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action adjudicated.

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Our declaration of trust authorizes us, and our bylaws and indemnification agreements require us, to indemnify any present or former Trustee or officer, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in those and certain other capacities. In addition, we may be obligated to pay or reimburse the expenses incurred by our present and former Trustees and officers without requiring a preliminary determination of their ultimate entitlement to indemnification. As a result, we and our shareholders may have more limited rights against our present and former Trustees and officers than might otherwise exist absent the provisions in our declaration of trust, bylaws and indemnification agreements or that might exist with other companies, which could limit our shareholders' recourse in the event of actions not in their best interest.
Disputes with RMR LLC and shareholder litigation against us or our Trustees and officers may be referred to binding arbitration proceedings.
Our contracts with RMR LLC provide that any dispute arising under those contracts may be referred to binding arbitration proceedings. Similarly, our bylaws provide that certain actions by our shareholders against us or against our Trustees and officers, other than disputes, or any portion thereof, regarding the meaning, interpretation or validity of any provision of our declaration of trust or bylaws, may be referred to binding arbitration proceedings. As a result, we and our shareholders would not be able to pursue litigation in courts against RMR LLC or our Trustees and officers for disputes referred to arbitration in accordance with our bylaws. In addition, the ability to collect attorneys’ fees or other damages may be limited in the arbitration proceedings, which may discourage attorneys from agreeing to represent parties wishing to commence such a proceeding.
Our bylaws designate the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland as the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our shareholders, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our Trustees, officers, manager, agents or employees.
Our bylaws currently provide that, unless the dispute has been referred to binding arbitration, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland will be the sole and exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (2) any action asserting a claim for breach of a duty owed by any Trustee, officer, manager, agent or employee of ours to us or our shareholders; (3) any action asserting a claim against us or any Trustee, officer, manager, agent or employee of ours arising pursuant to Maryland law, our declaration of trust or bylaws brought by or on behalf of a shareholder; or (4) any action asserting a claim against us or any Trustee, officer, manager, agent or employee of ours that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Our bylaws currently also provide that the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland will be the sole and exclusive forum for any dispute, or portion thereof, regarding the meaning, interpretation or validity of any provision of our declaration of trust or bylaws. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in our shares of beneficial interest shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these provisions of our bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time. These choice of forum provisions may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that the shareholder believes is favorable for disputes with us or our Trustees, officers, manager, agents or employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our Trustees, officers, manager or agents.
We may change our operational, financing and investment policies without shareholder approval and we may become more highly leveraged, which may increase our risk of default under our debt obligations.
Our Board of Trustees determines our operational, financing and investment policies and may amend or revise our policies, including our policies with respect to our intention to qualify for taxation as a REIT, acquisitions, dispositions, growth, operations, indebtedness, capitalization and distributions, or approve transactions that deviate from these policies, without a vote of, or notice to, our shareholders. Policy changes could adversely affect the market price of our common shares and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. Further, our organizational documents do not limit the amount or percentage of indebtedness, funded or otherwise, that we may incur. Our Board of Trustees may alter or eliminate our current policy on borrowing at any time without shareholder approval. If this policy changes, we could become more highly leveraged, which could result in an increase in our debt service costs. Higher leverage also increases the risk of default on our obligations. In addition, a change in our investment policies, including the manner in which we allocate our resources across our portfolio or the types of assets in which we seek to invest, may increase our exposure to interest rate risk, real estate market fluctuations and liquidity risk.


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Risks Related to Our Taxation
The loss of our statusOur failure to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposesunder the IRC could have significant adverse consequences.

As a REIT, we generally do not pay federal or most state income taxes.taxes as long as we distribute all of our REIT taxable income and meet other qualifications set forth in the IRC. However, actual qualification for taxation as a REIT under the IRC depends on our satisfying complex statutory requirements, for which there are only limited judicial and administrative interpretations. We believe that we have been organized and have operated, and will continue to be organized and to operate, in a manner that qualified and will continue to qualify us to be taxed as a REIT under the IRC. However, we cannot be certainsure that the IRS, upon review or audit, the IRS will agree with this conclusion. Furthermore, there is no guaranteewe cannot be sure that the federal government, or any state or other taxation authority, will continue to afford favorable income tax treatment to REITs and their shareholders.

Maintaining our qualification for taxation as a REIT under the IRC will require us to continue to satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the nature of our assets, the sources of our income and the amounts we distribute to our shareholders. In order to meet these requirements, it may be necessary for us to sell or forgo attractive investments.

If we cease to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the IRC, then our ability to raise capital might be adversely affected, we will be in breach under our credit agreement, we may be subject to material amounts of federal and state income taxes and the valuemarket price of our common shares likely wouldcould decline. In addition, if we lose or revoke our qualification for taxation as a REIT under the IRC for a taxable year, we will generally be prevented from requalifying for taxation as a REIT for the next four taxable years.
Distributions to shareholders generally will not qualify for reduced tax rates.rates applicable to “qualified dividends.”
Dividends payable by U.S. corporations to noncorporate shareholders, such as individuals, trusts and estates, are generally eligible for reduced federal income tax rates.rates applicable to “qualified dividends.” Distributions paid by REITs however, generally are not eligibletreated as “qualified dividends” under the IRC and the reduced rates applicable to such dividends do not generally apply. However, for these reduced rates. The moretax years beginning after 2017 and before 2026, REIT dividends paid to noncorporate shareholders are generally taxed at an effective tax rate lower than applicable ordinary income tax rates due to the availability of a deduction under the IRC for specified forms of income from passthrough entities. More favorable rates forwill nevertheless continue to apply to regular corporate “qualified” dividends, which may cause some investors to perceive that an investment in a REIT is less attractive than an investment in a non-REIT entity that pays dividends, thereby reducing the demand and market price of our common shares.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.
We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, subject to specified adjustments and excluding any net capital gain, in order to maintain our qualification for federal corporate income tax not to apply to earnings that we distribute.taxation as a REIT under the IRC. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement, federal corporate income tax will not apply to the earnings that we distribute, but if we distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, then we will be subject to federal corporate income tax on our undistributed taxable income. We intend to make distributions to our shareholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the IRC. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we pay out to our shareholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under federal tax laws.
From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our income for financial reporting purposes prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, or differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash may occur. If we do not have other funds available in these situations, among other things, we could be required tomay borrow funds on unfavorable terms, sell investments at disadvantageous prices or distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions in order to make distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax in a particular year. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our shareholders’ equity. Thus, compliance with the REIT distribution requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affectcause the valuemarket price of our shares.common shares to decline.
Even if we qualify and remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under the IRC, we may face other tax liabilities that reduce our cash flow.
Even if we qualify and remain qualified for taxation as a REIT under the IRC, we may be subject to federal, state and local taxes on our income and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, excise taxes, state or local income, property and transfer taxes, and other taxes. See “Business—Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations-Taxation as a REIT.” Also, some state jurisdictions may in the future limit or eliminate certain favorable income tax deductions, including the dividends paid deduction, which could increase our income tax expense. In addition, in order to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the IRC, prevent the recognition of particular types of non-cash

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income, or avert the imposition of a 100% tax that applies to specified gains derived by a REIT from dealer property or inventory, we may hold or dispose of some of our assets and conduct some of our operations through our TRSs or other subsidiary corporations that will be subject to corporate level income tax at regular rates. In addition, while we intend that our transactions with our TRSs will be conducted on arm’s length bases, we may be subject to a 100% excise tax on a transaction that the IRS or a court determines was not conducted at arm’s length. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We may incur adverse tax consequences if FPO failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the IRC prior to the FPO Transaction.

We received an opinion from FPO’s counsel that FPO was organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the IRC prior to the FPO Transaction. If, contrary to that opinion, FPO failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the IRC, then we may inherit significant tax liabilities as a result of the FPO Transaction because, as the successor by merger to FPO, we would generally inherit any corporate income tax liabilities of FPO, including penalties and interest.
It is unclear whether the IRC provisions that are generally available to remediate REIT compliance failures will be available to us as a successor in respect of any determination that FPO failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the IRC. If and to the extent the remedial provisions are available to us to address FPO’s qualification and taxation as a REIT under the IRC for the applicable period prior to or including the FPO Transaction, we may have to expend significant resources in connection with the remediation, including, among other things, (a) required distribution payments to shareholders and associated interest payments to the IRS, and (b) tax and interest payments to the IRS and state and local tax authorities.
FPO’s failure to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the IRC for the applicable period prior to or including the FPO Transaction and our efforts to remedy any such failure could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could materially and adversely affect us and our shareholders.
The rules dealing with U.S. federal, state, and local taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and other taxation authorities. Changes to the tax laws, with or without retroactive application, could materially and adversely affect us and our shareholders. We cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect us or our shareholders. New legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly and negatively affect our ability to qualify for taxation as a REIT or the tax consequences of such qualification.
In addition, December 2017 legislation has made substantial changes to the IRC. Among those changes are a significant permanent reduction in the generally applicable corporate income tax rate, changes in the taxation of individuals and other noncorporate taxpayers that generally reduce their taxes on a temporary basis subject to “sunset” provisions, the elimination or modification of various deductions (including substantial limitation of the deduction for personal state and local taxes imposed on individuals), and preferential taxation of income derived by individuals from passthrough entities in comparison to earnings received directly by individuals.  This legislation also imposes additional limitations on the deduction of net operating losses, which may in the future cause us to make additional distributions that will be taxable to our shareholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. The effect of these and other changes made in this legislation is highly uncertain, both in terms of their direct effect on the taxation of an investment in our common shares and their indirect effect on the value of properties owned by us. Furthermore, many of the provisions of the new law will require guidance through the issuance of Treasury regulations in order to assess their effect. There may be a substantial delay before such regulations are promulgated, increasing the uncertainty as to the ultimate effect of the statutory amendments on us or our shareholders. It is also possible that there will be technical corrections legislation proposed with respect to the new law, the effect of which cannot be predicted and may be adverse to us or our shareholders.
Risks Related to our Securities
Our distributions to our shareholders may decline.
We intend to continue to make regular quarterly distributions to our shareholders. However:
our ability to make or sustain the rate of our distributions will be adversely affected if any of the risks described herein, or other significant events,in this Annual Report on Form 10-K occur;


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our making of distributions is subject to compliance with restrictions contained in our credit agreement and may be subject to restrictions in future debt obligations we may incur; and

the timing and amount of any distributions will be madedetermined at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend uponon various factors that our Board of Trustees deems relevant, including our financial condition, our results of operations, our financial condition, debt and equity capital available to us,liquidity, our expectation of our future capital requirements, our funds from operations, or FFO, our normalized funds from operations, or Normalized FFO, restrictive covenants in our financial or other contractual arrangements, (including those containedgeneral economic conditions in our credit agreement), tax lawthe United States, requirements of the IRC to maintain our qualificationremain qualified for taxation as a REIT and restrictions under Maryland law and our expected needs and availabilitythe laws of cash to pay our obligations.Maryland.

For these reasons, among others, our distribution rate may decline or we may cease making distributions. Also,distributions to our distributions may include a return of capital.shareholders.
Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market pricevalue of our common shares.securities.
As with other publicly traded equity securities and REIT securities, the market pricevalue of our common shares and other securities depends on various market conditions that mayare subject to change from time to time, including:
the extent of investor interest in our securities;

the general reputation of REITs and externally managed companies and the attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate based companies or by other issuers less sensitive to rises in interest rates;

our underlying asset value;

investor confidence in the stock and bond markets, generally;

market interest rates;

national economic conditions;

changes in tax laws;

changes in our credit ratings; and

general market conditions.

We believe that one of the factors that investors consider important in deciding whether to buy or sell equity securities of a REIT is the distribution rate, considered as a percentage of the price of the equity securities, relative to market interest rates. Interest rates have been at historically low levels for an extended period of time. There is a general market perception that REIT shares outperform in low interest rate environments and underperform in rising interest rate environments when compared to the broader market. InSince December 2016, the U.S. Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of aone percentage point. Marketpoint, and there are some market expectations that market interest rates may continue to increasewill rise further in the near to intermediate term. If market interest rates continue to increase, or if there iscontinues to be market expectation of such increases, prospective purchasers of REIT equity securities may want to achieve a higher distribution rate. Thus, higher market interest rates, or the expectation of higher interest rates, could cause the market pricevalue of our common sharessecurities to decline.


Further issuances of equity securities may be dilutive to current shareholders.
The interests of our existing shareholders could be diluted if we issue additional equity securities to finance future acquisitions or to repay indebtedness. Our ability to execute our business strategy depends on our access to an appropriate blend of debt financing, which may include secured and unsecured debt, and equity financing, which may include common and preferred shares.
The Notes are structurally subordinated to the payment of all indebtedness and other liabilities and any preferred equity of our subsidiaries.
We are the sole obligor on our outstanding senior unsecured notes, and our outstanding senior unsecured notes and any notes or other debt securities we may issue in the future, or, together with our outstanding senior unsecured notes, the Notes, and such Notes are not, and any Notes we may issue in the future may not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. Our

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subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due on the Notes, or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividend, distribution, loan or other payments. The rights of holders of Notes to benefit from any of the assets of our subsidiaries are subject to the prior satisfaction of claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors and any preferred equity holders. As a result, the Notes are, and, except to the extent that future Notes are guaranteed by our subsidiaries, will be, structurally subordinated to all of the debt and other liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including guarantees of other indebtedness of ours, payment obligations under lease agreements, trade payables and preferred equity. As of December 31, 2016,2017, our subsidiaries had total indebtedness and other liabilities (excluding security and other deposits and guaranties) of $54.7$238.5 million.
The Notes are unsecured and effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.
The outstanding Notes are not secured and any Notes we may issue in the future may not be secured. Upon any distribution to our creditors in a bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding relating to us or our property, the holders of our secured debt will be entitled to exercise the remedies available to a secured lender under applicable law and pursuant to the instruments governing such debt and to be paid in full from the assets securing that secured debt before any payment may be made with respect to Notes that are not secured by those assets. In that event, because such Notes will not be secured by any of our assets, it is possible that there will be no assets from which claims of holders of such Notes can be satisfied or, if any assets remain, that the remaining assets will be insufficient to satisfy those claims in full. If the value of such remaining assets is less than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Notes and accrued interest and all future debt ranking equally with such Notes, we will be unable to fully satisfy our obligations under such Notes. In addition, if we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under our secured debt, the holders of that secured debt would be entitled to foreclose on our assets securing that secured debt and liquidate those assets. Accordingly, we may not have sufficient funds to pay amounts due on such Notes. As a result, noteholders may lose a portion of or the entire value of their investment in such Notes. Further, the terms of the outstanding Notes permit, and the terms of any Notes we may issue in the future may permit us to incur additional secured indebtedness subject to compliance with certain debt ratios. The Notes that are not secured will be effectively subordinated to any such additional secured indebtedness. As of December 31, 2016,2017, we had $27.8$183.1 million in secured mortgage debt.
There may be no public market for certain of the Notes, and one may not develop, be maintained or be liquid.
We have not applied for listing of certain of the Notes on any securities exchange or for quotation on any automatic dealer quotation system, and we may not do so for Notes issued in the future. We can give no assurances concerning the liquidity of any market that may develop for such Notes, the ability of any holder to sell such Notes or the price at which holders would be able to sell such Notes. If a market for such Notes does not develop, holders may be unable to resell such Notes for an extended period of time, if at all. If a market for such Notes does develop, it may not continue or it may not be sufficiently liquid to allow holders to resell such Notes. Consequently, holders of such Notes may not be able to liquidate their investment readily, and lenders may not readily accept such Notes as collateral for loans.
The Notes may trade at a discount from their initial issue price or principal amount, depending upon many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the ratings assigned by rating agencies, the market for similar securities and other factors, including general economic conditions and our financial condition, performance and prospects. Any decline in market prices, regardless of cause, may adversely affect the liquidity and trading markets for the Notes.

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A downgrade in credit ratings could materially adversely affect the market price of the Notes and may increase our cost of capital.
The outstanding Notes are rated by two rating agencies and any Notes we may issue in the future may be rated by one or more rating agencies. These credit ratings are continually reviewed by rating agencies and may change at any time based upon, among other things, our results of operations and financial condition. In June 2017, both Moody’s Investors Service, or Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, or S&P, published reviews of our credit ratings and assigned negative outlooks to our ratings. These negative outlooks imply that our credit ratings may be downgraded to below “investment grade.” If our credit ratings are downgraded, we may have difficulty accessing debt capital markets to meet our obligations and the costs of any debt we do obtain may be increased. For example, the interest rates we are required to pay on our revolving credit facility and our other floating rate debt obligations will increase if our credit ratings are downgraded. We intend to sell some assets, to pay certain debt, to otherwise adjust our capital structure and to take other actions which we believe may avoid any credit ratings downgrade; however, we can provide no assurance that these efforts will be successful to avoid our credit ratings being downgraded. Negative changes in the ratings assigned to our debt securities could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Notes and our costs and availability of capital, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our ability to satisfy our debt service obligations.
Redemption may adversely affect noteholders’ return on the Notes.
We have the right to redeem some or all of the outstanding Notes prior to maturity and may have such a right with respect to any Notes we issue in the future. We may redeem such Notes at times when prevailing interest rates may be relatively low compared to the interest rate of such Notes. Accordingly, noteholders may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as that of the Notes.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 Item 2.  Properties
General. As of December 31, 2016,2017, we wholly owned 73108 properties (95(167 buildings), excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations. Our properties are located in 3130 states and the District of Columbia containing approximately 17.5 million consolidated rentable square feet and containhad a noncontrolling ownership interest in two properties (three buildings) containing approximately 11.40.4 million rentable square feet.feet through two unconsolidated joint ventures in which we own 50% and 51% interests. As of December 31, 2016, 462017, 49 of thoseour consolidated properties (60(64 buildings), with approximately 7.27.8 million rentable square feet, were majority leased to the U.S. Government, 2021 of thoseour consolidated properties (26(28 buildings), with approximately 3.03.1 million rentable square feet, were majority leased to 13 state governments, twothree of thoseour consolidated properties (two building)(three buildings), with 377,104approximately 0.4 million rentable square feet were majority leased to other government tenants, onetwo of thoseour consolidated properties (three(four buildings), with 409,478approximately 0.5 million rentable square feet, waswere majority leased to government contractor tenants, two31 of thoseour consolidated properties (two(66 buildings), with 319,344approximately 5.5 million rentable square feet, were majority leased to other non-government tenants and two of our consolidated properties (two buildings), with 109,595approximately 0.1 million rentable square feet, were available for lease.


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The following table provides certain information about our properties excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, as of December 31, 20162017 (dollars in thousands):
Consolidated Properties      
Property Location 
Number of
Properties
 
Number of
Buildings
 
Undepreciated
Carrying
Value (1)
 
Depreciated
Carrying
Value (1)
 
Annualized
Rental
Income (2)
 Number of
Properties
 Number of
Buildings
 
Undepreciated
Carrying
Value
(1)
 
Depreciated
Carrying
Value
(1)
 
Annualized
Rental
Income
(2)
Alabama 2 2 $23,052
 $20,927
 $2,952
 2 2 $23,065
 $20,421
 $3,086
Arizona 2 2 21,834
 19,475
 2,335
 2 2 22,305
 19,446
 2,351
California 11 11 296,317
 245,728
 39,239
 11 11 302,492
 244,081
 40,844
Colorado 3 5 68,836
 50,747
 10,628
 3 5 68,945
 49,118
 10,653
District of Columbia 2 2 142,244
 105,634
 26,422
 8 8 567,256
 526,055
 75,416
Florida 2 2 48,817
 42,530
 6,802
 2 2 48,817
 41,424
 6,824
Georgia 5 9 146,917
 123,892
 23,635
 5 9 167,163
 140,537
 23,720
Idaho 1 3 33,209
 29,957
 4,681
 1 3 33,218
 29,159
 4,669
Illinois 1 1 15,536
 12,945
 2,120
 1 1 15,340
 12,594
 1,987
Indiana 1 3 75,944
 66,324
 9,905
 1 3 76,880
 65,223
 9,730
Kansas 1 1 13,680
 11,689
 3,029
 1 1 15,171
 12,612
 2,920
Kentucky 1 1 13,438
 12,264
 2,539
 1 1 13,501
 12,032
 2,554
Maryland 7 8 167,330
 131,475
 19,553
 18 43 426,417
 384,601
 63,419
Massachusetts 4 4 83,009
 71,651
 13,571
 4 4 84,436
 71,068
 13,554
Michigan 1 1 18,655
 15,654
 2,714
 1 1 18,990
 15,530
 2,731
Minnesota 2 2 39,892
 32,504
 3,906
 2 2 26,153
 22,959
 4,327
Mississippi 1 1 25,946
 23,126
 3,792
 1 1 25,946
 22,487
 3,974
Missouri 2 2 25,639
 20,683
 4,016
 2 2 26,586
 21,080
 4,275
New Hampshire 1 1 17,491
 14,849
 2,310
 1 1 18,597
 15,641
 2,433
New Jersey 1 1 45,067
 39,149
 5,923
 1 1 45,823
 38,874
 6,469
New Mexico 1 1 2,418
 2,147
 
New York 4 4 168,994
 145,945
 20,870
 4 4 170,369
 144,029
 18,945
Oregon 1 1 28,670
 25,406
 5,151
 1 1 28,761
 24,694
 5,147
South Carolina 1 3 17,333
 14,225
 2,126
 1 3 17,385
 13,667
 2,192
Tennessee 1 1 9,696
 8,528
 3,028
 1 1 9,783
 8,349
 2,858
Texas 1 1 13,516
 8,841
 2,201
 1 1 13,293
 8,584
 2,993
Vermont 1 1 9,236
 7,797
 1,114
 1 1 9,236
 7,580
 1,118
Virginia 7 14 252,039
 241,299
 38,994
 26 46 634,449
 615,674
 98,962
Washington 2 4 42,693
 32,121
 5,447
 2 4 44,001
 32,322
 5,537
West Virginia 1 1 5,062
 3,057
 767
 1 1 5,074
 2,964
 
Wisconsin 1 1 5,587
 4,942
 795
 1 1 5,587
 4,824
 801
Wyoming 1 1 10,663
 6,445
 1,791
 1 1 10,682
 6,244
 2,156
Total 73 95 $1,888,760
 $1,591,956
 $272,356
Total Consolidated 108 167 $2,975,721
 $2,633,873
 $426,645

(1)Excludes value assigned to real estate intangibles in purchase price allocation.
(2)Annualized rental income is defined as the annualized contractual base rents from our tenants pursuant to our lease agreements as of December 31, 2016,2017, plus straight line rent adjustments and estimated recurring expense reimbursements to be paid to us, and excluding lease value amortization.

At December 31, 2016, three2017, eight of our consolidated properties (three(eight buildings) with an aggregate undepreciated carrying value of $56.3$375.2 million were encumbered by threeeight mortgages totaling $27.8$183.1 million. The two properties (three buildings) owned by our unconsolidated joint ventures were encumbered by two mortgages totaling $82.0 million at December 31, 2017. See Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding our unconsolidated joint ventures.


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Item 3.  Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation matters incidental to the ordinary course of our business.  Although we are unable to predict with certainty the eventual outcome of any litigation, we are currently not a party to any litigation which we expect to have a material adverse effect on our business.
Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

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PART II
Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE (symbol: GOV), through June 30, 2016. Beginning on July 1, 2016, our common shares are traded on Nasdaq (symbol: GOV). The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sale prices for our common shares as reported by the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable.
 High Low High Low
2017    
First Quarter $21.08
 $18.84
Second Quarter 22.99
 18.26
Third Quarter 18.83
 17.36
Fourth Quarter 19.60
 17.79
2016        
First Quarter $17.90
 $12.33
 $17.90
 $12.33
Second Quarter 23.07
 17.59
 23.07
 17.59
Third Quarter 24.61
 21.82
 24.61
 21.82
Fourth Quarter 22.67
 17.66
 22.67
 17.66
2015    
First Quarter $23.80
 $22.11
Second Quarter 23.15
 18.40
Third Quarter 19.34
 15.10
Fourth Quarter 17.97
 15.35
 
The closing price of our common shares on Nasdaq on February 1, 2017,2018, was $19.09$16.92 per common share.
As of February 1, 2017,2018, there were 169196 shareholders of record of our common shares.
Information about cash distributions declared on our common shares is summarized in the table below. Common share cash distributions are generally paid in the quarter following the quarter to which they relate.
 
Cash
Distributions
Per Common Share
 
Cash
Distributions
Per Common Share
 2016 2015 2017 2016
First Quarter $0.43
 $0.43
 $0.43
 $0.43
Second Quarter 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
Third Quarter 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
Fourth Quarter 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
Total $1.72
 $1.72
 $1.72
 $1.72
We currently intend to continue to declare and pay common share distributions on a quarterly basis in cash. However, the timing, amount and form of future distributions are determined at the discretion of our Board of Trustees and will depend upon various factors that our Board of Trustees deems relevant, including our results of operations, our financial condition, debt and equity capital available to us, our expectation of our future capital requirements and operating performance, our FFO, our Normalized FFO, our receipt of distributions from SIR, restrictive covenants in our financial or other contractual arrangements (including those in our credit agreement and our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements), tax law requirements to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, restrictions under Maryland law and our expected needs for and availability of cash to pay our obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure yoube sure that we will continue to pay distributions in the future or that the amount of any distributions we do pay will not decrease.
In addition to the cash distributions paid to our common shareholders in 2015, on December 14, 2015, we distributed 768,032 shares, or 0.0108 of a share for each of our common shares, of RMR Inc. class A common stock we owned to our shareholders as a special distribution.  This distribution resulted in a taxable valuation of this in-kind distribution of $0.1284 for each of our common shares.
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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth selected financial data for the periods and dates indicated. This data should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statementsConsolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Amounts are in thousands, except per share data.
 Year Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Income statement data:                    
Rental income $258,180
 $248,549
 $251,031
 $226,910
 $203,700
 $316,532
 $258,180
 $248,549
 $251,031
 $226,910
                    
Expenses:                    
Real estate taxes 30,703
 29,906
 28,389
 25,710
 22,485
 37,942
 30,703
 29,906
 28,389
 25,710
Utility expenses 17,269
 17,916
 19,369
 17,116
 15,767
 20,998
 17,269
 17,916
 19,369
 17,116
Other operating expenses 54,290
 50,425
 45,982
 41,134
 37,074
 65,349
 54,290
 50,425
 45,982
 41,134
Depreciation and amortization 73,153
 68,696
 66,593
 55,699
 49,070
 109,588
 73,153
 68,696
 66,593
 55,699
Loss on impairment of real estate 
 
 2,016
 
 
 9,490
 
 
 2,016
 
Acquisition related costs 1,191
 811
 1,344
 2,439
 1,614
 
 1,191
 811
 1,344
 2,439
General and administrative 14,897
 14,826
 15,809
 12,710
 11,924
 18,847
 14,897
 14,826
 15,809
 12,710
Total expenses 191,503
 182,580
 179,502
 154,808
 137,934
 262,214
 191,503
 182,580
 179,502
 154,808
                    
Operating income 66,677
 65,969
 71,529
 72,102
 65,766
 54,318
 66,677
 65,969
 71,529
 72,102
Dividend income 971
 811
 
 
 
 1,216
 971
 811
 
 
Interest income 158
 14
 69
 37
 29
 1,962
 158
 14
 69
 37
Interest expense (45,060) (37,008) (28,048) (16,831) (16,892) (65,406) (45,060) (37,008) (28,048) (16,831)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt 104
 34
 (1,307) 
 
 (1,715) 104
 34
 (1,307) 
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock 
 (12,368) 
 
 
 
 
 (12,368) 
 
Net gain (loss) on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT 86
 (42,145) (53) 
 
 72
 86
 (42,145) (53) 
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment 
 (203,297) 
 
 
 
 
 (203,297) 
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity                    
in earnings of investees 22,936
 (227,990) 42,190
 55,308
 48,903
in earnings of investees and gain on sale of real estate (9,553) 22,936
 (227,990) 42,190
 55,308
Income tax expense  (101) (86) (117) (133) (159) (101) (101) (86) (117) (133)
Equity in earnings of investees 35,518
 18,640
 10,963
 334
 316
 21,571
 35,518
 18,640
 10,963
 334
Income (loss) from continuing operations 58,353
 (209,436) 53,036
 55,509
 49,060
 11,917
 58,353
 (209,436) 53,036
 55,509
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (589) (525) 3,498
 (889) 900
 173
 (589) (525) 3,498
 (889)
Income (loss) before gain on sale of property 57,764
 (209,961) 56,534
 54,620
 49,960
Gain on sale of property 79
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before gain on sale of real estate 12,090
 57,764
 (209,961) 56,534
 54,620
Gain on sale of real estate 
 79
 
 
 
Net income (loss) $57,843
 $(209,961) $56,534
 $54,620
 $49,960
 12,090
 57,843
 (209,961) 56,534
 54,620
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions (275) 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders $11,815
 $57,843
 $(209,961) $56,534
 $54,620
                    
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic) 71,050
 70,700
 61,313
 54,606
 48,558
 84,633
 71,050
 70,700
 61,313
 54,606
Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) 71,071
 70,700
 61,399
 54,685
 48,644
 84,653
 71,071
 70,700
 61,399
 54,685
Per common share data:                    
Income (loss) from continuing operations (basic) $0.82
 $(2.96) $0.87
 $1.02
 $1.01
 $0.14
 $0.82
 $(2.96) $0.87
 $1.02
Income (loss) from continuing operations (diluted) $0.82
 $(2.96) $0.86
 $1.02
 $1.01
 $0.14
 $0.82
 $(2.96) $0.86
 $1.02
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (basic and diluted) $(0.01) $(0.01) $0.06
 $(0.02) $0.02
 $
 $(0.01) $(0.01) $0.06
 $(0.02)
Net income (loss) (basic and diluted) $0.81
 $(2.97) $0.92
 $1.00
 $1.03
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders (basic and diluted) $0.14
 $0.81
 $(2.97) $0.92
 $1.00
Common distributions paid $1.72
 $1.72
(1) 
$1.72
 $1.72
 $1.69
 $1.72
 $1.72
 $1.72
(1) 
$1.72
 $1.72
                    
 As of December 31, As of December 31,
Balance sheet data: 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Total real estate investments, gross (2)
 $1,888,760
 $1,696,132
 $1,682,480
 $1,568,562
 $1,467,863
 $2,975,721
 $1,888,760
 $1,696,132
 $1,682,480
 $1,568,562
Real estate investments, net (2)
 1,591,956
 1,440,253
 1,462,689
 1,380,927
 1,311,202
 2,633,873
 1,591,956
 1,440,253
 1,462,689
 1,380,927
Total assets 2,385,066
 2,168,510
 2,419,908
 1,630,789
 1,559,912
 3,703,565
 2,385,066
 2,168,510
 2,419,908
 1,630,789
Debt, net 1,381,852
 1,145,598
 1,077,410
 596,063
 490,405
 2,245,092
 1,381,852
 1,145,598
 1,077,410
 596,063
Shareholders' equity 935,004
 956,651
 1,297,449
 989,675
 1,027,451
 1,330,043
 935,004
 956,651
 1,297,449
 989,675

(1)Excludes a non-cash distribution of $0.1284 per share related to the distribution of shares of RMR Inc. class A common stock to our shareholders on December 14, 2015.
(2)Excludes properties classified as assets held for sale or discontinued operations.operations and properties owned by unconsolidated joint ventures.

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Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statementsConsolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
OVERVIEW
We are a REIT organized under Maryland law. As of December 31, 2016,2017, we wholly owned 73108 properties (95(167 buildings), excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.  Our and had a noncontrolling ownership interest in two properties (three buildings) totaling 443,867 rentable square feet through two unconsolidated joint ventures in which we own 50% and 51% interests. As of December 31, 2017, our consolidated properties are located in 3130 states and the District of Columbia and contain approximately 11.4 million17,499,338 rentable square feet, of which 58.6%41.2% was leased to the U.S. Government, 21.9%14.9% was leased to 13 state governments, 2.6% was leased to threefive other government tenants, 3.5%5.8% was leased to government contractor tenants, 8.5%29.7% was leased to various other non-governmental organizations and 4.9%5.8% was available for lease as of December 31, 2016.lease. The U.S. Government, 13 state governments and threefive other government tenants combined were responsible for 87.9%62.6% and 92.8%87.9% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively. The term annualized rental income as used in this section is defined as the annualized contractual base rents from our tenants pursuant to our lease agreements as of the measurement date, plus straight line rent adjustments and estimated recurring expense reimbursements to be paid to us, and excluding lease value amortization.
On October 2, 2017, we completed the FPO Transaction, pursuant to which we acquired 35 office properties (72 buildings) with 6,028,072 rentable square feet and two properties (three buildings) with 443,867 rentable square feet owned by joint ventures in which we acquired FPO's 50% and 51% interests. The aggregate value we paid for FPO was $1,370,888, including $651,696 in cash consideration paid to FPO shareholders, the repayment of $483,000 of FPO corporate debt, the assumption of $167,548 of FPO mortgage debt; this amount excludes the $82,000 of mortgage debt that encumbers the two properties that were owned by joint ventures that FPO had 50% and 51% interests in, and the payment of certain transaction fees and expenses, net of FPO cash on hand.

We financed the cash portion of the FPO Transaction consideration with borrowings under our revolving credit facility and with cash on hand, which included net proceeds from our public offerings of common shares and senior unsecured notes, as described further in Notes 9 and 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2016,2017, we also owned 24,918,421 common shares, or approximately 27.9%27.8% of the then outstanding common shares, of SIR. SIR is a REIT which primarily owns single tenant, net leased properties. See Notes 7 and 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding our investment in SIR. We account for our investment in SIR under the equity method.


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Consolidated Property Operations
As of December 31, 2017, 94.2% of our consolidated rentable square feet was leased, compared to 95.1% of our consolidated rentable square feet as of December 31, 2016, excludingwhich excludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations 95.1% of our rentable square feetwhich was leased, compared to 94.5% of our rentable square feet as of Decembersold on August 31, 2015.2017.  Occupancy data for our consolidated properties as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and 2015 iswas as follows (square feet in thousands):
     Comparable     Comparable
 
All Properties (1)
 
Properties (2)
 
All Consolidated Properties (1)
 
Consolidated Properties (2)
 December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015 2017 2016 2017 2016
Total properties 73
 71
 70
 70
 108
 73
 69
 69
Total buildings 95
 91
 90
 90
 167
 95
 89
 89
Total square feet (3)
 11,443
 10,701
 10,612
 10,666
 17,499
 11,443
 10,572
 10,583
Percent leased (3)(4)
 95.1% 94.5% 95.1% 94.8% 94.2% 95.1% 94.9% 95.4%

(1)Based on consolidated properties we owned on December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 2015, respectively, excludingexcludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.operations which was sold on August 31, 2017.
(2)Based on consolidated properties we owned on December 31, 20162017 and which we owned continuously since January 1, 2015, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.2016. Our comparable properties increaseddecreased from 6770 properties (86(90 buildings) at December 31, 20152016 as a result of our acquisition of four properties (five buildings) during the year ended December 31, 2014, offset by the sale of one property (one building) during the year ended December 31, 2016.2017.
(3)Subject to changes when space is re-measured or re-configured for tenants.
(4)Percent leased includes (i) space being fitted out for tenant occupancy pursuant to our lease agreements, if any, and (ii) space which is leased, but is not occupied or is being offered for sublease by tenants, if any, as of the measurement date.


The average annualized effective rental rate per square foot for our consolidated properties for the years ended December 31, 20162017 and 20152016 are as follows:
 Year Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
 2016 2015 2017 2016
Average annualized effective rental rate per square foot (1):
        
All properties (2)
 $25.26
 $24.73
 $25.99
 $25.26
Comparable properties (3)
 $25.03
 $24.72
 $25.37
 $25.04

(1)Average annualized effective rental rate per square foot represents annualized total rental income during the period specified divided by the average rentable square feet leased during the period specified. Excludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.operations which was sold on August 31, 2017.
(2)Based on consolidated properties we owned on December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 2015, respectively, excludingexcludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.operations which was sold on August 31, 2017.
(3)Based on consolidated properties we owned on December 31, 20162017 and which we owned continuously since January 1, 2015 excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.2016.


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During the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, changes in rentable square feet leased and available for lease at our consolidated properties, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations which was sold on August 31, 2017, were as follows:
 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2017
   Available     Available  
 Leased for Lease Total 
Leased (1)
 for Lease Total
Beginning of year 10,115,001
 585,963
 10,700,964
 10,881,289
 561,224
 11,442,513
Changes resulting from:  
  
  
  
  
  
Acquisition of properties 773,429
 56,756
 830,185
 5,655,477
 441,969
 6,097,446
Disposition of properties 
 (35,228) (35,228) 
 (29,045) (29,045)
Lease expirations (1,594,603) 1,594,603
 
 (1,664,210) 1,664,210
 
Lease renewals (1)
 1,394,256
 (1,394,256) 
 1,468,301
 (1,468,301) 
New leases (1)(2)
 193,206
 (193,206) 
 136,482
 (136,482) 
Re-measurements (3)
 
 (53,408) (53,408) 
 (11,576) (11,576)
End of year 10,881,289
 561,224
 11,442,513
 16,477,339
 1,021,999
 17,499,338

(1)Based on leases entered into duringRentable square footage excludes an expansion being constructed at an existing property we own prior to the year ended December 31, 2016.commencement of the lease.
(2)Rentable square footage of newBased on leases forentered during the year ended December 31, 2016 excludes a 25,579 square foot expansion to be constructed at an existing property prior to the commencement of the lease.2017.
(3)Rentable square footage is subject to changes when space is re-measured or re-configured for tenants.

Leases at our consolidated properties totaling 1,594,6031,664,210 rentable square feet expired during the year ended December 31, 2016.2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, we entered into leases totaling 1,613,0411,604,783 rentable square feet, including a 25,579 square foot expansion to be constructed at an existing property and lease renewals of 1,394,2561,468,301 rentable square feet.  The weighted (by rentable square feet) average rental rates for leases of 1,381,5931,232,389 rentable square feet entered into with government tenants (which includes the 25,579 square foot expansion referenced above) during the year ended December 31, 20162017 increased by 8.0%4.9% when compared to the weighted (by rentable square feet) average prior rents for the same space. The weighted (by rentable square feet) average rental rates for leases of 231,448372,394 rentable square feet entered into with non-government tenants during the year ended December 31, 20162017 decreased by 5.3%2.1% when compared to the weighted (by rentable square feet) average rental rates previously charged for the same space.



During the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, changes in effective rental rates per square foot achieved for new leases and lease renewals at our consolidated properties that commenced during the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, when compared to prior effective rental rates per square foot in effect for the same space (and excluding space acquired vacant), were as follows: 
 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2017
 Old Effective New Effective      Old Effective New Effective     
 Rent Per Rent Per Rentable Rent Per Rent Per Rentable
 
Square Foot (1)
 
Square Foot (1)
 Square Feet 
Square Foot (1)
 
Square Foot (1)
 Square Feet
New leases $29.08
 $23.33
 185,715
 $22.76
 $22.25
 142,665
Lease renewals $31.27
 $32.78
 1,406,025
 $23.42
 $23.87
 1,320,675
Total leasing activity $31.01
 $31.68
 1,591,740
 $23.35
 $23.71
 1,463,340
(1)Effective rental rate includes contractual base rents from our tenants pursuant to our lease agreements, plus straight line rent adjustments and estimated expense reimbursements to be paid to us, and excluding lease value amortization.


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During the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, commitments made for expenditures, such as tenant improvements andland leasing costs, in connection with leasing space at our consolidated properties were as follows:
 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2017
 Government Non-Government      Government Non-Government     
 Leases Leases Total Leases Leases Total
Rentable square feet leased during the year (1)
 1,381,593
 231,448
 1,613,041
 1,232,389
 372,394
 1,604,783
Tenant leasing costs and concession commitments (2)(3) (in thousands)
 $32,207
 $6,282
 $38,489
Tenant leasing costs and concession commitments (1) (in thousands)
 $11,062
 $7,187
 $18,249
Tenant leasing costs and concession commitments per rentable square foot (3)(1)
 $23.31
 $27.14
 $23.86
 $8.98
 $19.30
 $11.37
Weighted (by square feet) average lease term (years) 9.1
 6.1
 8.6
 8.4
 5.0
 7.6
Total leasing costs and concession commitments per rentable square foot per year (3)(1)
 $2.57
 $4.44
 $2.76
 $1.07
 $3.87
 $1.50

(1)Includes a 25,579 square foot expansion to be constructed at an existing property prior to the commencement of the lease.
(2)Includes commitments made for leasing expenditures and concessions, such as tenant improvements, leasing commissions, tenant reimbursements and free rent.
(3)Excludes the estimated cost of $19,742 to redevelop and expand an existing property prior to the commencement of the lease.

As of December 31, 2016, we have estimated unspent leasing related obligations of $26,459 plus have committed to redevelop and expand an existing property at an estimated cost to complete of approximately $15,355.

During the years ended December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, amounts capitalized at our consolidated properties, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations which was sold on August 31, 2017, for tenant improvements, leasing costs, building improvements and development and redevelopment activities were as follows (dollars in thousands):
 Year Ended Year Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2017 2016
Tenant improvements (1)
 $15,856
 $7,802
 $16,050
 $15,856
Leasing costs (2)
 $9,949
 $5,166
 $5,796
 $9,949
Building improvements (3)
 $11,261
 $9,407
 $15,435
 $11,261
Development, redevelopment and other activities (4)
 $7,818
 $2,414
 $21,553
 $7,818

(1)Tenant improvements include capital expenditures used to improve tenants’ space or amounts paid directly to tenants to improve their space.
(2)Leasing costs include leasing related costs, such as brokerage commissions and other tenant inducements.
(3)Building improvements generally include expenditures to replace obsolete building components and expenditures that extend the useful life of existing assets.
(4)
Development, redevelopment and other activities generally include (i) capital expenditures that are identified at the time of a property acquisition and incurred within a short time period after acquiring the property, and (ii) capital expenditure projects that reposition a property or result in new sources of revenue.



As of December 31, 2017, we have estimated unspent leasing related obligations of $31,310.

We believe that current government budgetary pressuresmethodology, spending priorities and the current U.S. presidential administration's views on the size and scope of government employment have resulted in a decrease in government employment, government tenants reducing their space utilization per employee and consolidation of government tenants into existing government owned properties, thereby reducing the demand for government leased space. Further, the Trump administration has recently ordered an employment freeze for the federal government that limits hiring for all new and existing government positions, except those in national security, public safety and the military, which could increase vacancy and decrease rental income at our government leased properties.

Our historical experience with respect to properties of the type we own that are majority leased to government tenants has been that government tenants frequently renew leases to avoid the costs and disruptions that may result from relocating their operations. However, relocation hasefforts to reduce space utilization rates may result in our tenants exercising early termination rights under our leases, vacating our properties upon expiration of our leases in order to relocate, or renewing their leases for less space than they currently occupy. Also, our government tenants' desires to reconfigure leased office space to reduce utilization per employee may require us to spend significant amounts for tenant improvements, and tenant relocations have become more prevalent whenthan our past experiences in instances where efforts by government tenants to reduce their space utilization requiresrequire a significant reconfiguration of currently leased space. Accordingly,Increasing uncertainty with respect to government agency budgets and funding to implement relocations, consolidations and reconfigurations recently has resulted in delayed decisions by some of our government tenants and their reliance on short term lease renewals. At present, we are unable to reasonably project what the financial impact of market conditions or changing government financial circumstances will be on our financial results for future periods.
As of December 31, 2017, we derive 43.3% of our annualized revenues from our consolidated properties located in the metropolitan Washington D.C. market area, which includes Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland. A downturn in economic conditions in this area could result in reduced demand from tenants for our properties or reduce the rents that our tenants in this area are willing to pay when our leases expire or terminate and when renewal or new terms are

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negotiated. Additionally, in recent years there has been a decrease in demand for new leased space by the U.S. Government in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area, and that could increase competition for government tenants and adversely affect our ability to retain government tenants when our leases expire.

The IRS has publicly stated that it plans to discontinue its paper tax return processing operations at our property located in Fresno, CA in 2021. The IRS lease for this property, which accounted for approximately 3.1%2.0% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016,2017, expires in the fourth quarter of 2021. The IRS has also publicly stated that it plans to discontinue its paper tax return processing operations in Covington, KY in 2019. Our property located in Florence, KY is leased to the IRS and we believe it is used to support the Covington, KY operations. Our Florence, KY propertyThis IRS lease, which accounted for approximately 0.9%0.6% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016,2017, expires in the second quarter of 2022 andbut is subject to possible early termination rights beginning in 2017. Theby our tenant. Despite its public announcements, the IRS has not notifiedprovided us any official notices of its intentions regarding these properties.

As of December 31, 2016,2017, we had leases at our consolidated properties totaling 904,2991,666,566 rentable square feet that were scheduled to expire during 2017.2018. As of February 21, 2017,23, 2018, tenants with leases totaling 131,219630,788 rentable square feet that are scheduled to expire during 20172018 have notified us that they do not plan to renew their leases upon expiration and we cannot be sure as to whether other tenants may or may not renew their leases upon expiration. Based upon current market conditions and tenant negotiations for leases scheduled to expire during 2017,through December 31, 2018, we expect that the rental rates we are likely to achieve on new or renewed leases for space under leases expiring during 2017through December 31, 2018 will, in the aggregate and on a weighted (by annualized revenues) average basis, be modestly lower than the rates currently being paid, thereby generally resulting in lower revenue from the same space. We cannot be sure of the rental rates thatwhich will result from our ongoing negotiations regarding lease renewals or any new leases we may enter into;enter; also, we may experience material declines in our rental income due to vacancies upon lease expirations or early terminations. Prevailing market conditions and government and other tenants' needs at the time we negotiate and enter leases or lease renewals will generally determine rental rates and demand for leased space at our properties, and market conditions and government and other tenants' needs are beyond our control.


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As of December 31, 2016,2017, lease expirations at our consolidated properties excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, by year are as follows (dollars in thousands):
 Number Expirations       Annualized     Number Expirations       Annualized    
 of of Leased     Cumulative Rental   Cumulative of of Leased     Cumulative Rental   Cumulative
 Tenants Square   Percent Percent Income Percent Percent Tenants Square   Percent Percent Income Percent Percent
Year (1)
 Expiring 
Feet (2)
   of Total of Total Expiring of Total of Total Expiring 
Feet (2)
   of Total of Total Expiring of Total of Total
2017 45
 904,299
   8.3% 8.3% $20,065
 7.4% 7.4%
2018 41
 1,225,044
   11.3% 19.6% 36,471
 13.4% 20.8% 128
 1,666,566
   10.1% 10.1% $48,215
 11.3% 11.3%
2019 41
 1,907,410
   17.5% 37.1% 57,622
 21.2% 42.0% 97
 2,567,338
   15.6% 25.7% 73,723
 17.3% 28.6%
2020 33
 1,307,618
   12.0% 49.1% 31,101
 11.4% 53.4% 110
 2,415,770
   14.7% 40.4% 63,570
 14.9% 43.5%
2021 37
 1,059,747
   9.7% 58.8% 20,802
 7.6% 61.0% 90
 1,728,712
   10.5% 50.9% 34,102
 8.0% 51.5%
2022 20
 907,530
   8.3% 67.1% 21,828
 8.0% 69.0% 91
 1,630,325
   9.9% 60.8% 36,985
 8.7% 60.2%
2023 15
 600,262
   5.5% 72.6% 13,866
 5.1% 74.1% 46
 1,173,462
   7.1% 67.9% 34,434
 8.1% 68.3%
2024 14
 980,097
   9.0% 81.6% 22,196
 8.1% 82.2% 40
 1,405,259
   8.5% 76.4% 35,541
 8.3% 76.6%
2025 11
 585,990
   5.4% 87.0% 11,136
 4.1% 86.3% 34
 1,090,044
   6.6% 83.0% 25,023
 5.9% 82.5%
2026 and thereafter 23
 1,403,292
 
(3) 
 13.0% 100.0% 37,269
 13.7% 100.0%
2026 27
 820,395
   5.0% 88.0% 23,621
 5.5% 88.0%
2027 and thereafter 48
 1,979,468
 
(3) 
 12.0% 100.0% 51,431
 12.0% 100.0%
Total 280
 10,881,289
   100.0%   $272,356
 100.0%   711
 16,477,339
   100.0%   $426,645
 100.0%  
                            
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) 5.0       4.8    Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) 4.8       4.7    
 
(1)The year of lease expiration is pursuant to current contract terms. Some government tenants have the right to vacate their space before the stated expirations of their leases. As of December 31, 2016,2017, government tenants occupying approximately 11.7%8.6% of our consolidated rentable square feet and responsible for approximately 9.3%6.8% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 20162017 have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases before the stated terms of their leases expire. Also, in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, early termination rights become exercisable by other tenants who currently occupy an additional approximately 2.3%, 2.2%, 4.9%5.2%, 7.0%7.2%, 0.7%1.4%, 2.9%3.4%, 1.9%0.5%, 0.9%0.2%, 0.1%, 0.6% and 0.6%0.4% of our consolidated rentable square feet, respectively, and contribute an additional approximately 1.8%3.6%, 3.0%4.9%, 5.1%7.0%, 7.5%1.4%, 2.9%, 0.6%, 2.3%0.3%, 1.7%0.2%, 1.1%0.8% and 0.6%0.4% of our annualized rental income, respectively, as of December 31, 2017. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, 26 of our government tenants have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases if the legislature or other funding authority does not appropriate rent amounts in their respective annual budgets. These 26 tenants occupy approximately 12.9% of our consolidated rentable square feet and contribute approximately12.3% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2017.


respectively, as of December 31, 2016. In addition, as of December 31, 2016, 15 of our government tenants have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases if the legislature or other funding authority does not appropriate rent amounts in their respective annual budgets. These 15 tenants occupy approximately 17.4% of our rentable square feet and contribute approximately 16.9% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2016.

(2)Leased square feet is pursuant to leases existing as of December 31, 2016,2017, and includes (i) space being fitted out for tenant occupancy pursuant to our lease agreements, if any, and (ii) space which is leased, but is not occupied or is being offered for sublease by tenants, if any.  Square feet measurements are subject to changes when space is re-measured or re-configured for new tenants.

(3)Leased square footage excludes a 25,579 square footan expansion to bebeing constructed at an existing property we own prior to the commencement of the lease.

Acquisition Activities (dollar amounts in thousands)
During the year ended December 31, 2016,In January 2017, we acquired three properties (five buildings)an office property (one building) located in Manassas, VA with a combined 830,18569,374 rentable square feet andfor a land parcel adjacent to one of our existing properties for an aggregate purchase price of $199,031,$12,620, excluding capitalized acquisition related costs.costs of $37, using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  We acquired these propertiesthis property at a rangecapitalization rate of capitalization rates from 7.2%. to 9.1% with a weighted (by purchase price) average capitalization of 7.9%8.6%.  We calculate the capitalization rate for property acquisitions as the ratio of (x) annual straight line rental income, excluding the impact of above and below market lease amortization, based on leases in effect on the acquisition date, less our estimated annual property operating expenses that we expect to pay as of the acquisition date, excluding depreciation and amortization expense, to (y) the acquisition purchase price, including the principal amount of assumed debt, if any, and excluding acquisition costs.

In January 2016,September 2017, we acquired an office property (one building) located in Sacramento, CA with 337,811 rentable square feet for a purchase price of $79,235, excluding acquisition costs, using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  This property was 86% leased to the State of California on the date of acquisition.    

In July 2016, we acquired a land parcel in Atlanta, GA adjacent to one of our existing properties for $1,670 using cash on hand.

In August 2016, we entered an agreement to acquire transferable development rights that would allow us to expand a property we own in Washington, D.C. for a purchase price of $2,030, excluding acquisition costs. This acquisition is currently expected to occur in the third quarter of 2017.

In December 2016,As described above, we completed the FPO Transaction on October 2, 2017. Pursuant to that transaction, we acquired an35 office property (one building) located in Rancho Cordova, CAproperties (72 buildings) with 82,8966,028,072 rentable square feet, for a purchase price of $13,943, excluding acquisition costs, using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. This property was 100% leased, including 77% leased to the State of California on the date of acquisition.

Also in December 2016, we acquired an office propertytwo properties (three buildings) located in Chantilly, VA with 409,478443,867 rentable square feet for a purchase price of $104,183, excluding acquisition costs, using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. This property was 98% leased to three government contractor tenants on the date of acquisition.

In January 2017,owned by joint ventures in which we acquired an office property (one building) located in Manassas, VA with 69,374 rentable square feetFPO's 50% and 51% interests. The total consideration for a purchase priceour acquisition of $13,200, excluding acquisition costs, using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. This propertyFPO was 100% leased to Prince William County.$1,370,888.

Disposition Activities (dollar amounts in thousands)
In March 2016,August 2017, we entered an agreement to sell ansold a vacant office property (one building) located in Falls Church, VA with 164,746 rentable square feet and a net book value of $12,282 at December 31, 2016.  The contract sales price is $13,148,$12,901 as of the sale date for $13,523, excluding closing costs.  This sale is currently expected to occur in the first quarter of 2017. 

In July 2016,October 2017, we sold ana vacant office property (one building) located in Savannah, GAAlbuquerque, NM with 35,22829,045 rentable square feet and a net book value of $2,986$1,885, as of the sale date for $4,000,$2,000, excluding closing costs.

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In connectionJanuary 2018, we entered an agreement to sell an office property (one building) located in Minneapolis, MN with this193,594 rentable square feet for $20,000, excluding closing costs. This sale is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2018.

In February 2018, we provided $3,600entered an agreement to sell an office property (one building) located in Safford, AZ with 36,139 rentable square feet for $8,250, excluding closing costs. This sale is expected to occur in the second quarter of mortgage2018.

In February 2018, we entered an agreement to sell an office property (one building) located in Sacramento, CA with 110,500 rentable square feet for $10,755, excluding closing costs. This sale is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2018.

As part of our long term financing plans for the FPO Transaction and to reduce our financial leverage, we expect to dispose of certain additional properties. We are marketing or plan to market for sale 28 properties (61 buildings) including properties acquired as part of the buyer.FPO Transaction, with a carrying value of $658,190 as of December 31, 2017. We cannot be sure we will sell any properties or sell them for prices in excess of our carrying values.

Our pending acquisitions and dispositiondispositions are subject to conditions; accordingly, we cannot be sure that we will complete these transactions or that these transactions will not be delayed or the terms of these transactions will not change.

For more information about our property acquisition and disposition activities, please see “Business—Acquisition Policies” and “Business —Disposition Policies” in Part 1, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


Segment Information
We operate in two business segments: direct ownership of real estate properties that are primarily leased to government tenants and our equity method investment in SIR.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31, 2016,2017, Compared to Year Ended December 31, 20152016
          
Acquired Properties  Results (2)
 
Disposed Properties Results (3)
        
  
Comparable Properties Results (1)
 Year Ended Year Ended Consolidated Results
  Year Ended December 31, December 31, December 31, Year Ended December 31,
      $ %             $ %
  2016 2015 Change Change 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 Change Change
Rental income $249,430
 $246,747
 $2,683
 1.1% $8,735
 $
 $15
 $1,802
 $258,180
 $248,549
 $9,631
 3.9%
Operating expenses:                        
Real estate taxes 29,757
 29,633
 124
 0.4% 918
 
 28
 273
 30,703
 29,906
 797
 2.7%
Utility expenses 16,667
 17,750
 (1,083) (6.1%) 578
 
 24
 166
 17,269
 17,916
 (647) (3.6%)
Other operating expenses 52,212
 49,946
 2,266
 4.5% 2,019
 
 59
 479
 54,290
 50,425
 3,865
 7.7%
Total operating expenses 98,636
 97,329
 1,307
 1.3% 3,515
 
 111
 918
 102,262
 98,247
 4,015
 4.1%
Net operating income (4)
 $150,794
 $149,418
 $1,376
 0.92% $5,220
 $
 $(96) $884
 155,918
 150,302
 5,616
 3.7%
                         
Other expenses:                        
Depreciation and amortization     73,153
 68,696
 4,457
 6.5%
Acquisition related costs     1,191
 811
 380
 46.9%
General and administrative     14,897
 14,826
 71
 0.5%
Total other expenses                 89,241
 84,333
 4,908
 5.8%
Operating income                 66,677
 65,969
 708
 1.1%
Dividend income                 971
 811
 160
 19.7%
Interest income                 158
 14
 144
 nm
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt premium and discounts and debt issuance costs of $2,832 and $1,376, respectively) (45,060) (37,008) (8,052) 21.8%
Gain on early extinguishment of debt     104
 34
 70
 205.9%
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock 
 (12,368) 12,368
  nm
Net gain (loss) on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT 86
 (42,145) 42,231
  nm
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment 
 (203,297) 203,297
  nm
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of investees 22,936
 (227,990) 250,926
  nm
Income tax expense (101) (86) (15) 17.4%
Equity in earnings of investees 35,518
 18,640
 16,878
 90.5%
Income (loss) from continuing operations 58,353
 (209,436) 267,789
  nm
Loss from discontinued operations (589) (525) (64) 12.2%
Income (loss) before gain on sale of property 57,764
 (209,961) 267,725
 nm
Gain on sale of property 79
 
 79
  nm
Net income (loss) $57,843
 $(209,961) $267,804
  nm
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic) 71,050
 70,700
 350
 0.5%
Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted) 71,071
 70,700
 371
 0.5%
         
Per common share amounts (basic and diluted):        
Income (loss) from continuing operations $0.82
 $(2.96) $3.78
 nm
Loss from discontinued operations $(0.01) $(0.01) $
  %
Net income (loss) $0.81
 $(2.97) $3.78
 nm
             
Calculation of Funds From Operations and Normalized Funds From Operations (5)
            
                         
Net income (loss)                 $57,843
 $(209,961)    
Plus: Depreciation and amortization     73,153
 68,696
    
Plus: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     71,227
 56,105
    
Less: Equity in earnings from Select Income REIT     (35,381) (18,620)    
Less: Gain on sale of property     (79) 
    
Funds from operations     166,763
 (103,780)    
Plus: Acquisition related costs     1,191
 811
    
Plus: Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock     
 12,368
    
Plus: Loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT     2
 42,145
    
Plus: Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment     
 203,297
    
Plus: Normalized FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     71,313
 70,012
    
Less: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     (71,227) (56,105)    
Less: Gain on early extinguishment of debt     (104) (34)    
Less: Gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT     (88) 
    
Normalized funds from operations     $167,850
 $168,714
    
             
Funds from operations per common share (basic and diluted)     $2.35
 $(1.47)    
Normalized funds from operations per common share (basic and diluted)     $2.36
 $2.39
    
          
Acquired Properties  Results (2)
 
Disposed Properties Results (3)
        
  
Comparable Properties Results (1)
 Year Ended Year Ended Consolidated Results
  Year Ended December 31, December 31, December 31, Year Ended December 31,
      $ %               $ %  
  2017 2016 Change Change 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 Change Change
Rental income $253,197
 $249,429
 $3,768
 1.5% $63,335
 $8,751
 $
 $
 $316,532
 $258,180
 $58,352
 22.6%
Operating expenses:                        
Real estate taxes 30,814
 29,725
 1,089
 3.7% 7,128
 978
 
 
 37,942
 30,703
 7,239
 23.6%
Utility expenses 16,535
 16,652
 (117) (0.7%) 4,463
 617
 
 
 20,998
 17,269
 3,729
 21.6%
Other operating expenses 54,027
 52,129
 1,898
 3.6% 11,173
 1,936
 149
 225
 65,349
 54,290
 11,059
 20.4%
Total operating expenses 101,376
 98,506
 2,870
 2.9% 22,764
 3,531
 149
 225
 124,289
 102,262
 22,027
 21.5%
Net operating income (4)
 $151,821
 $150,923
 $898
 0.6% $40,571
 $5,220
 $(149) $(225) 192,243
 155,918
 36,325
 23.3%
                         
Other expenses:                        
Depreciation and amortization     109,588
 73,153
 36,435
 49.8%
Loss on impairment of real estate     9,490
 
 9,490
 nm
Acquisition related costs     
 1,191
 (1,191) nm
General and administrative     18,847
 14,897
 3,950
 26.5%
Total other expenses                 137,925
 89,241
 48,684
 54.6%
Operating income                 54,318
 66,677
 (12,359) (18.5%)
Dividend income                 1,216
 971
 245
 25.2%
Interest income                 1,962
 158
 1,804
 nm
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt premium and discounts and debt issuance costs of $3,420 and $2,832, respectively) (65,406) (45,060) (20,346) 45.2%
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt     (1,715) 104
 (1,819) nm
Net gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT 72
 86
 (14) (16.3%)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in earnings of investees and gain on sale of real estate (9,553) 22,936
 (32,489) (141.7%)
Income tax expense (101) (101) 
 %
Equity in earnings of investees 21,571
 35,518
 (13,947) (39.3%)
Income from continuing operations 11,917
 58,353
 (46,436) (79.6%)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 173
 (589) 762
 nm
Income before gain on sale of real estate 12,090
 57,764
 (45,674) (79.1%)
Gain on sale of real estate 
 79
 (79) nm
Net income 12,090
 57,843
 (45,753) (79.1%)
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions (275) 
 (275) nm
Net income available for common shareholders $11,815
 $57,843
 $(46,028) (79.6%)
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic) 84,633
 71,050
 13,583
 19.1%
Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted) 84,653
 71,071
 13,582
 19.1%
         
Per common share amounts (basic and diluted):        
Income from continuing operations $0.14
 $0.82
 $(0.68) (82.9%)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $
 $(0.01) $0.01
 %
Net income available for common shareholders $0.14
 $0.81
 $(0.67) (82.7%)
             
Reconciliation of Net Income Available for Common Shareholders to Consolidated Property NOI:            
Net income available for common shareholders     $11,815
 $57,843
    
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions     275
 
    
Net income     12,090
 57,843
    
Gain on sale of real estate     
 (79)    
Income before gain on sale of real estate     12,090
 57,764
    
(Income) loss from discontinued operations     (173) 589
    
Income from continuing operations     11,917
 58,353
    
Equity in earnings of investees     (21,571) (35,518)    
Income tax expense     101
 101
    
Net gain on issuance of shares by SIR     (72) (86)    
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt     1,715
 (104)    
Interest expense     65,406
 45,060
    
Interest income     (1,962) (158)    
Dividend income     (1,216) (971)    
Operating income     54,318
 66,677
    
General and administrative     18,847
 14,897
    
Acquisition related costs     
 1,191
    
Loss on impairment of real estate     9,490
 
    
Depreciation and amortization     109,588
 73,153
    
Net operating income     $192,243
 $155,918
    
             

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Calculation of Funds From Operations Available for Common Shareholders and Normalized Funds From Operations Available for Common Shareholders (5)
                  2017 2016    
Net income available for common shareholders     $11,815
 $57,843
    
Plus: Depreciation and amortization:            
Consolidated properties     109,588
 73,153
    
Unconsolidated joint venture properties     2,185
 
    
Plus: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     58,279
 71,227
    
Plus: Loss on impairment of real estate     9,490
 
    
Less: Equity in earnings from Select Income REIT     (21,584) (35,381)    
Less: Increase in carrying value of property included in discontinued operations     (619) 
    
Less: Gain on sale of real estate     
 (79)    
Funds from operations available for common shareholders     169,154
 166,763
    
Plus: Acquisition related costs     
 1,191
    
Plus: Normalized FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     58,580
 71,313
    
Less: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     (58,279) (71,227)    
Less: (Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt     1,715
 (104)    
Less: Net gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT     (72) (86)    
Normalized funds from operations available for common shareholders     $171,098
 $167,850
    
             
Funds from operations per common share available for common shareholders (basic and diluted)     $2.00
 $2.35
    
Normalized funds from operations per common share available for common shareholders (basic and diluted)     $2.02
 $2.36
    
(1)Comparable properties consist of 7069 consolidated properties (90(89 buildings) we owned on December 31, 20162017 and which we owned continuously since January 1, 2015, and excludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.2016.
(2)Acquired properties consistsconsist of 39 consolidated properties (78 buildings) we acquired since January 1, 2016. In October 2017, we acquired 35 of these properties (72 buildings) in connection with the FPO Transaction. We acquired one of these properties (one building) in a separate transaction during 2017. The remaining three properties (five buildings) wewere acquired during the year ended December 31, 2016.
(3)Disposed properties consistsconsist of one consolidated property (one building) which we sold during 2016 and one consolidated property (one building) we sold during the year ended December 31, 20152017 and excludes one property (one building) weclassified as discontinued operations which was sold during the year ended December 31, 2016.in August 2017.
(4)The calculationcalculations of net operating income,Consolidated Property Net Operating Income, or NOI, excludesexclude certain components of net income (loss)available for common shareholders in order to provide results that are more closely related to our consolidated property level results of operations. We define Consolidated Property NOI as consolidated income from our rental of real estate less our consolidated property operating expenses. Consolidated Property NOI excludes amortization of capitalized tenant improvement costs and leasing commissions becausethat we record those amounts as depreciation and amortization. We consider Consolidated Property NOI to be an appropriate supplemental measure to net income (loss)available for common shareholders because it may help both investors and management to understand the operations of our consolidated properties. We use Consolidated Property NOI to evaluate individual and company wide consolidated property level performance, and we believe that Consolidated Property NOI provides useful information to investors regarding our results of operations because it reflects only those income and expense items that are generated and incurred at the property level and may facilitate comparisons of our operating performance between periods and with other REITs. Consolidated Property NOI does not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP and should not be considered as an alternativealternatives to net income, (loss)net income available for common shareholders or operating income as an indicatorindicators of our operating performance or as a measuremeasures of our liquidity. This measure should be considered in conjunction with net income, (loss)net income available for common shareholders and operating income as presented in our Consolidated Statementsconsolidated statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)comprehensive income (loss). Other REITs and real estate companies and REITs may calculate Consolidated Property NOI differently than we do.
(5)We calculate funds from operations, or FFO available for common shareholders and normalized funds from operations, or Normalized FFO available for common shareholders as shown above. FFO is calculated on the basis defined by The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT,Nareit, which is net income (loss),available for common shareholders calculated in accordance with GAAP, plus real estate depreciation and amortization of consolidated properties and our proportionate share of the real estate depreciation and amortization of unconsolidated joint venture properties and the difference between FFO attributable to an equity investment and equity in earnings of an equity investee but excluding impairment charges on and increases in the carrying value of real estate assets, any gain or loss on sale of properties,real estate, as well as certain other adjustments currently not applicable to us. Our calculation of Normalized FFO available for common shareholders differs from NAREIT'sNareit's definition of FFO available for common shareholders because we include the difference between FFO andSIR's Normalized FFO attributable to our equity investment in SIR (net of FFO attributable to our equity investment in SIR), we include business management incentive fees, if any, only in the fourth quarter versus the quarter when they are recognized as expense in accordance with GAAP due to their quarterly volatility not necessarily being indicative of our core operating performance and the uncertainty as to whether any such business management incentive fees will ultimately be payable when all contingencies for determining any such fees are determinedknown at the end of the calendar year and we exclude acquisition related costs expensed under GAAP, gains or losses on early extinguishment of debt, loss on impairment of SIR investment, gains orand losses on issuance of shares by SIR and lossgains and losses on distribution to common shareholdersearly extinguishment of RMR Inc. common stock.debt. We consider FFO available for common shareholders and Normalized FFO available for common shareholders to be appropriate supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT, along with net income, (loss)net income available for our common shareholders and operating income. We believe that FFO available for common shareholders and Normalized FFO available for common shareholders provide useful information to investors because by excluding the effects of certain historical amounts, such as depreciation expense, FFO available for common shareholders and Normalized FFO available for common shareholders may facilitate a comparison of our operating performance between periods and with other REITs. FFO available for common shareholders and Normalized FFO available for common shareholders are among the factors considered by our Board of Trustees when determining the amount of distributions to our shareholders. Other factors include, but are not limited to, requirements to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT, limitations in our credit agreement and public debt covenants, the availability to us of debt and equity capital, our expectation of our future capital requirements and operating performance, our receipt of distributions from SIR and our expected needs for and availability of cash to pay our obligations. FFO available for common shareholders and Normalized FFO available for common shareholders do not represent cash generated by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, (loss)net income available for common shareholders or operating income as an indicatorindicators of our operating performance or as a measuremeasures of our liquidity. These measures should be considered in conjunction with net income, (loss)net income available for common shareholders and operating income as presented in our Consolidated Statementsconsolidated statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)comprehensive income (loss). Other REITs and real estate companies and REITs may calculate FFO available for common shareholders and Normalized FFO available for common shareholders differently than we do.


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We refer to the 69 consolidated properties (89 buildings) we owned on December 31, 2017 and which we have owned continuously since January 1, 2016 as comparable properties. We refer to the 39 consolidated properties (78 buildings) that we acquired during the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017 as the acquired properties. We refer to the two properties (two buildings) we sold during the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017 as the disposed properties.

Our consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2017 include the operating results of three acquired properties (five buildings) for the entire year, as we acquired those properties during 2016, include 36 properties (73 buildings) for less than the entire year, as we acquired those properties during 2017, exclude the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for the entire year, as we sold that property during 2016, and include the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for less than the entire year, as we sold the property during 2017.  Our consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2016 exclude the operating results of 36 acquired properties (73 buildings) for the entire year, as we acquired these properties during 2017, include three acquired properties (five buildings) for less than the entire year, as we acquired these properties during 2016, include the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for the entire year, as we sold that property during 2017, and include the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for less than the entire year, as we sold that property during 2016.

References to changes in the income and expense categories below relate to the comparison of consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to the year ended December 31, 2016.
Rental income. The increase in rental income reflects an increase in rental income for comparable properties and the rental income from the acquired properties. Rental income for comparable properties increased $3,768 due primarily to increases in rental rates and occupied space at certain of our properties in 2017. Rental income increased $54,584 as a result of the acquired properties. Rental income includes non-cash straight line rent adjustments totaling $5,582 in 2017 and $2,691 in 2016, and amortization of acquired leases and assumed lease obligations totaling ($2,764) in 2017 and ($1,457) in 2016. 
Real estate taxes. The increase in real estate taxes reflects the increase in real estate taxes for comparable properties and the taxes for acquired properties. Real estate taxes for comparable properties increased $1,089 due primarily to the effect of higher real estate tax valuation assessments at certain of our properties in 2017. Real estate taxes increased $6,150 as a result of the acquired properties.  
Utility expenses. The increase in utility expenses reflects a decrease in utility expenses for comparable properties, offset by the utility expenses of the acquired properties. Utility expenses at comparable properties declined $117 primarily due to a decrease in electricity usage and rates at certain of our properties during 2017. Utility expenses increased $3,846 as a result of the acquired properties.  
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses consist of salaries and benefit costs of property level personnel, repairs and maintenance expense, cleaning expense, other direct costs of operating our properties and property management fees. The increase in other operating expenses reflects an increase in expenses for comparable properties and the net effect of the acquired properties and the disposed properties. Other operating expenses at comparable properties increased $1,898 primarily as a result of higher repairs and maintenance costs in 2017. Other operating expenses increased $9,237 as a result of the acquired properties.  We also realized a decrease of $76 in other operating expenses as a result of the disposed properties.

Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization reflects the depreciation and amortization from the acquired properties and the effect of improvements made to certain of our comparable properties, partially offset by the effect of certain assets becoming fully depreciated. Depreciation and amortization at comparable properties increased $1,477 due primarily to depreciation and amortization of improvements made to certain of our properties after January 1, 2016, partially offset by certain leasing related assets becoming fully depreciated in 2016 and 2017. Depreciation and amortization increased $34,958 as a result of the acquired properties.

Loss on impairment of real estate. We recorded a $9,490 loss on impairment of real estate in 2017 to reduce the carrying value of two properties (two buildings) to their estimated fair value.

Acquisition related costs. Acquisition related costs include legal and due diligence costs incurred in connection with our 2016 property acquisition activities that were expensed in accordance with GAAP. Pursuant to changes in GAAP, beginning in 2017, we generally capitalize our property acquisition related costs.

General and administrative.  General and administrative expenses consist of fees pursuant to our business management agreement, equity compensation expense, legal and accounting fees, Trustees’ fees and expenses, securities listing and transfer agency fees and other costs relating to our status as a publicly traded company. The increase in general and

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administrative expenses is primarily the result of an increase in business management fees in 2017 resulting from our acquisition activity, increases in accounting expense, higher stock compensation and an increase in other professional service costs.
Dividend income. Dividend income consists of dividends received from our investment in RMR Inc.

Interest income. The increase in interest income is primarily the result of higher average cash balances in 2017 due to our financing activities related to the FPO Transaction.

Interest expense. The increase in interest expense reflects higher average outstanding debt balances and higher weighted average interest rates on borrowings in 2017.

Loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt.  We recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1,715 in 2017 in connection with the termination of the bridge loan facility described in Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We recorded a $104 gain on early extinguishment of debt in 2016 in connection with the prepayment of two mortgage notes. 

Net gain on issuance of shares by SIR. Net gain on issuance of shares by SIR is a result of the issuance of common shares by SIR at prices which were in the aggregate above our then per share carrying value of our SIR common shares.

Income tax expense. Income tax expense is the result of operating income we earned in certain jurisdictions that is subject to state income taxes.
Equity in earnings of investees. Equity in earnings of investees represents our proportionate share of earnings from our investments in SIR, AIC and two unconsolidated joint ventures.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations. Income (loss) from discontinued operations reflects operating results for one property (one building) included in discontinued operations. During 2017, we recorded an adjustment of $619 to increase the carrying value of this property to its estimated fair value less costs to sell. We sold this property on August 31, 2017.

Gain on sale of real estate. Gain on sale of real estate represents the portion of the gain recognized from the sale of one of the disposed properties (one building) during 2016.

Preferred units of limited partnership distributions. Preferred units of limited partnership distributions represent distributions to the holders of 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units of FPO's former operating partnership. See Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding these preferred units of limited partnership.
Net income and net income available for common shareholders. Our net income, net income available for common shareholders and net income available for common shareholders per basic and diluted common share decreased in 2017 compared to 2016 primarily as a result of the changes noted above. The percentage decrease in net income available for common shareholders per common share (basic and diluted) is higher primarily as a result of the higher number of weighted average common shares outstanding as result of our issuance of common shares in an underwritten public offering during 2017.

















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Year Ended December 31, 2016, Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015
          
Acquired Properties 
Results (2)
 
Disposed Property  Results (3)
        
  
Comparable Properties Results (1)
 Year Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, Consolidated Results
  Year Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
      $ %               $ %  
  2016 2015 Change Change 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 Change Change
Rental income $249,430
 $246,747
 $2,683
 1.1% $8,750
 $
 $
 $1,802
 $258,180
 $248,549
 $9,631
 3.9%
Operating expenses:  
  
      
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Real estate taxes 29,757
 29,633
 124
 0.4% 918
 
 28
 273
 30,703
 29,906
 797
 2.7%
Utility expenses 16,667
 17,750
 (1,083) (6.1%) 578
 
 24
 166
 17,269
 17,916
 (647) (3.6%)
Other operating expenses 52,212
 49,946
 2,266
 4.5% 2,019
 
 59
 479
 54,290
 50,425
 3,865
 7.7%
Total operating expenses 98,636
 97,329
 1,307
 1.3% 3,515
 
 111
 918
 102,262
 98,247
 4,015
 4.1%
Net operating income (4)
 $150,794
 $149,418
 $1,376
 0.9% $5,235
 $
 $(111) $884
 155,918
 150,302
 5,616
 3.7%
                         
Other expenses:  
  
    
  
  
      
  
    
Depreciation and amortization - consolidated properties     73,153
 68,696
 4,457
 6.5%
Acquisition related costs     1,191
 811
 380
 46.9%
General and administrative     14,897
 14,826
 71
 0.5%
Total other expenses     89,241
 84,333
 4,908
 5.8%
Operating income     66,677
 65,969
 708
 1.1%
Dividend income     971
 811
 160
 19.7%
Interest income     158
 14
 144
 nm
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt premium and discounts and debt issuance costs of $2,832, and $1,376, respectively) (45,060) (37,008) (8,052) 21.8%
Gain on early extinguishment of debt 104
 34
 70
 nm
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock 
 (12,368) 12,368
 nm
Net gain (loss) on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT 86
 (42,145) 42,231
 nm
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment 
 (203,297) 203,297
 nm
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in earnings of investees and gain on sale of real estate 22,936
 (227,990) 250,926
 nm
Income tax expense (101) (86) (15) 17.4%
Equity in earnings of investees 35,518
 18,640
 16,878
 90.5%
Income (loss) from continuing operations 58,353
 (209,436) 267,789
 nm
Loss from discontinued operations (589) (525) (64) 12.2%
Income (loss) before gain on sale of real estate 57,764
 (209,961) 267,725
 nm
Gain on sale of real estate 79
 
 79
 nm
Net income (loss) $57,843
 $(209,961) $267,804
 nm
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic) 71,050
 70,700
 350
 0.5%
Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted) 71,071
 70,700
 371
 0.5%
         
Per common share amounts (basic and diluted):        
Income (loss) from continuing operations $0.82
 $(2.96) $3.78
 nm
Loss from discontinued operations $(0.01) $(0.01) $
 %
Net income (loss) $0.81
 $(2.97) $3.78
 nm
             
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Consolidated Property NOI:            
Net income (loss)     $57,843
 $(209,961)    
Gain on sale of real estate     (79) 
    
Income (loss) before gain on sale of real estate     57,764
 (209,961)    
Loss from discontinued operations     589
 525
    
Income (loss) from continuing operations     58,353
 (209,436)    
Equity in earnings of investees     (35,518) (18,640)    
Income tax expense     101
 86
    
Loss on impairment of SIR investment     
 203,297
    
Net (gain) loss on issuance of shares by SIR     (86) 42,145
    
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock     
 12,368
    
Gain on early extinguishment of debt     (104) (34)    
Interest expense     45,060
 37,008
    
Interest income     (158) (14)    
Dividend income     (971) (811)    
Operating income     66,677
 65,969
    
General and administrative     14,897
 14,826
    
Acquisition related costs     1,191
 811
    
Depreciation and amortization     73,153
 68,696
    
Consolidated Property NOI     $155,918
 $150,302
    
             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Calculation of Funds From Operations and Normalized Funds From Operations(5)
                  2016 2015    
Net income (loss)     $57,843
 $(209,961)    
Plus: Depreciation and amortization - consolidated properties     73,153
 68,696
    
Plus: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     71,227
 56,105
    
Less: Equity in earnings from Select Income REIT     (35,381) (18,620)    
Less: Gain on sale of real estate     (79) 
    
Funds from operations     166,763
 (103,780)    
Plus: Acquisition related costs     1,191
 811
    
Plus: Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock     
 12,368
    
Plus: Net loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT     
 42,145
    
Plus: Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment     
 203,297
    
Plus: Normalized FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     71,313
 70,012
    
Less: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     (71,227) (56,105)    
Less: Gain on early extinguishment of debt     (104) (34)    
Less: Net gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT     (86) 
    
Normalized funds from operations     $167,850
 $168,714
    
             
Funds from operations (basic and diluted)     $2.35
 $(1.47)    
Normalized funds from operations (basic and diluted)     $2.36
 $2.39
    
(1)Comparable properties consist of 70 consolidated properties (90 buildings) we owned on December 31, 2016 and which we owned continuously since January 1, 2015, and excludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.
(2)Acquired properties consist of three consolidated properties (five buildings) we acquired during the year ended December 31, 2016.
(3)Disposed properties consist of one consolidated property (one building) we sold during the year ended December 31, 2015 and one consolidated property (one building) we sold during the year ended December 31, 2016.
(4)See footnote (4) on page 60 for the definition of NOI.
(5)See footnote (5) on page 60 for the definition of FFO and Normalized FFO.

We refer to the 70 consolidated properties (90 buildings) we owned on December 31, 2016 and which we have owned continuously since January 1, 2015, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, as comparable properties. We refer to the three consolidated properties (five buildings) that we acquired during the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016 as the acquired properties. We refer to the two consolidated properties (two buildings) we sold during the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016 as the disposed properties.

Our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2016 include the operating results of the acquired properties for less than the entire year, as we acquired those properties during 2016, include the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for less than the entire year, as we sold that property during 2016, and exclude the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for the entire year, as we sold that property during 2015.  Our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2015 exclude the operating results of the acquired properties for the entire year, as we acquired thethose properties during 2016, and include the operating results of one disposed property (one building) for the entire year, as we sold that property during 2016, and include the operating results of one disposed property for less than the entire year, as we sold that property during 2015.

References to changes in the income and expense categories below relate to the comparison of consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.
Rental income. The increase in rental income reflects an increase in rental income for comparable properties and the net effect of the acquired properties and the disposed properties. Rental income for comparable properties increased $2,683 due primarily to increases in rental rates and occupied space at certain of our properties in 2016. Rental income increased $8,735 as a result of the acquired properties.  Rental income declined $1,787 as a result of the disposed properties. Rental income includes non-cash straight line rent adjustments totaling $2,691 in 2016 and $3,978 in 2015, and amortization of acquired leases and assumed lease obligations totaling ($1,457) in 2016 and ($1,155) in 2015. 


Real estate taxes. The increase in real estate taxes reflects the increase in real estate taxes for comparable properties and the net effect of the acquired properties and the disposed properties. Real estate taxes for comparable properties increased $124 due primarily to the effect of higher real estate tax valuation assessments at certain of our properties in 2016. Real estate taxes increased $918 as a result of the acquired properties.  Real estate taxes declined $245 as a result of the disposed properties.  
Utility expenses. The decrease in utility expenses reflects a decrease in utility expenses for comparable properties, partially offset by the net effect of the acquired properties and the disposed properties. Utility expenses at comparable properties declined $1,083 primarily due to milder temperatures experienced in certain parts of the United States during 2016

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compared to 2015. Utility expenses increased $578 as a result of the acquired properties.  Utility expenses declined $142 as a result of the disposed properties.  
 
Other operating expenses. Other operating expenses consist of salaries and benefit costs of property level personnel, repairs and maintenance expense, cleaning expense, other direct costs of operating our properties and property management fees. The increase in other operating expenses reflects anthe increase in expenses for comparable properties and the net effect of the acquired properties and the disposed properties. Other operating expenses at comparable properties increased $2,266 primarily as a result of higher employee compensation, cleaning and insurance costs at certain of our properties, partially offset by lower snow removal costs at certain of our properties in 2016.properties. Other operating expenses increased $2,019 as a result of the acquired properties.  Other operating expenses declined $420 as a result of the disposed properties.  
 
Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization reflects the effect of the acquired properties and improvements made to certain of our comparable properties, partially offset by the effect of certain assets becoming fully depreciated. Depreciation and amortization at comparable properties increased $167 due primarily to certain depreciable leasing related assets becoming fully depreciated after January 1, 2015, partially offset by depreciation and amortization of improvements made to certain of our properties after January 1, 2015. Depreciation and amortization increased $4,290 as a result of the acquired properties.
 
Acquisition related costs. Acquisition related costs in both 2016 and 2015 include legal and due diligence costs incurred in connection with our property acquisition activity.activities.
 
General and administrative.  General and administrative expenses consist of fees pursuant to our business management agreement, equity compensation expense, legal and accounting fees, Trustees’ fees and expenses, securities listing and transfer agency fees and other costs relating to our status as a publicly traded company.  The increase in general and administrative expenses primarily reflects an increase in equity compensation expense, partially offset by a decrease in professional fees in 2016.fees.
 
Dividend income. Dividend income consists of dividends received from our investment in RMR Inc.
 
Interest income. The increase in interest income is primarily the result of interest earned from the mortgage financing we provided to the purchaser of one of our disposed properties (one building) in 2016.

Interest expense. The increase in interest expense reflects higher average outstanding debt balances and higher weighted average interest rates on borrowings during 2016 compared to 2015.in 2016.
 
Gain on early extinguishment of debt.  We recorded a $104 gain on early extinguishment of debt in 2016 in connection with the prepayment of two mortgage notes. We recorded a $34 gain on early extinguishment of debt in 2015 in connection with the repaymentprepayment of a mortgage note.

Loss on distribution to common shareholders of RMR Inc. common shares. We recorded a $12,368 loss on the distribution of RMR Inc. shares we distributed to our shareholders in December 2015, which represents the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the RMR Inc. shares on the distribution date.
 
Net gain (loss) on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT.SIR. Net gain (loss) on issuance of shares by SIR is a result of the issuance of common shares by SIR at prices above or (below)below our then per share carrying value of our SIR common shares.
 
Loss on impairment of Select Income REITSIR investment. We recorded a $203,297 loss on impairment in 2015 to reduce the carrying value of our SIR investment to its estimated fair value.
 


Income tax expense. The increase in income tax expense reflects higher operating income in certain jurisdictions in 2016 that is subject to state income taxes.
 
Equity in earnings of investees. Equity in earnings of investees represents our proportionate share of earnings from our investments in SIR and AIC.
 
Loss from discontinued operations. Loss from discontinued operations reflects operating results for one property (one building) included in discontinued operations during 2016 and 2015.  

Gain on sale of property.real estate. Gain on sale of propertyreal estate represents the portion of the gain recognized from the sale of one of the disposed properties accounted for under the installment method(one building) during the 2016 period.2016.
 
Net income (loss). We recognizedOur net income and net income per common share in 2016 compared to aour net loss in 2015 as a result ofprimarily reflect the changes noted above.


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Year Ended December 31, 2015, Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014
          
Acquired Properties 
Results (2)
 
Disposed Property  Results (3)
        
  
Comparable Properties Results (1)
 Year Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, Consolidated Results
  Year Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
      $ %             $ %
  2015 2014 Change Change 2015 2014 2015 2014 2015 2014 Change Change
Rental income $227,699
 $229,996
 $(2,297) (1.0%) $19,317
 $11,240
 $1,533
 $9,795
 $248,549
 $251,031
 $(2,482) (1.0%)
Operating expenses:  
  
      
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Real estate taxes 27,596
 26,158
 1,438
 5.5 % 2,104
 816
 206
 1,415
 29,906
 28,389
 1,517
 5.3%
Utility expenses 17,417
 18,254
 (837) (4.6%) 401
 268
 98
 847
 17,916
 19,369
 (1,453) (7.5%)
Other operating expenses 46,835
 42,908
 3,927
 9.2 % 3,249
 1,586
 341
 1,488
 50,425
 45,982
 4,443
 9.7%
Total operating expenses 91,848
 87,320
 4,528
 5.2 % 5,754
 2,670
 645
 3,750
 98,247
 93,740
 4,507
 4.8%
Net operating income (4)
 $135,851
 $142,676
 $(6,825) (4.8%) $13,563
 $8,570
 $888
 $6,045
 150,302
 157,291
 (6,989) (4.4%)
                         
Other expenses:  
  
    
  
  
      
  
    
Depreciation and amortization     68,696
 66,593
 2,103
 3.2%
Loss on impairment of real estate     
 2,016
 (2,016) nm
Acquisition related costs     811
 1,344
 (533) (39.7%)
General and administrative     14,826
 15,809
 (983) (6.2%)
Total other expenses     84,333
 85,762
 (1,429) (1.7%)
Operating income     65,969
 71,529
 (5,560) (7.8%)
Dividend income     811
 
 811
 nm
Interest income     14
 69
 (55) (79.7%)
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt premium and discounts and debt issuance costs of $1,376, and $1,310, respectively) (37,008) (28,048) (8,960) 31.9%
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt 34
 (1,307) 1,341
 nm
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock (12,368) 
 (12,368) nm
Loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT (42,145) (53) (42,092) nm
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment (203,297) 
 (203,297) nm
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of investees (227,990) 42,190
 (270,180) nm
Income tax expense (86) (117) 31
 (26.5%)
Equity in earnings of investees 18,640
 10,963
 7,677
 70.0%
Income (loss) from continuing operations (209,436) 53,036
 (262,472) nm
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (525) 3,498
 (4,023) nm
Net income (loss) $(209,961) $56,534
 $(266,495) nm
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic) 70,700
 61,313
 9,387
 15.3 %
Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted) 70,700
 61,399
 9,301
 15.1 %
         
Per common share amounts:        
Income (loss) from continuing operations (basic) $(2.96) $0.87
 $(3.83) nm
Income (loss) from continuing operations (diluted) $(2.96) $0.86
 $(3.82) nm
Loss from discontinued operations (basic and diluted) $(0.01) $0.06
 $(0.07) nm
Net income (loss) (basic and diluted) $(2.97) $0.92
 $(3.89) nm
             
Calculation of Funds From Operations and Normalized Funds From Operations (5)
      
  
    
                         
Net income (loss)  
  
    
  
  
     $(209,961) $56,534
    
Plus: Depreciation and amortization     68,696
 66,593
    
Plus: Loss on impairment of real estate     
 2,016
    
Plus: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     56,105
 24,677
    
Less: Equity in earnings from Select Income REIT     (18,620) (10,876)    
Less: Increase in carrying value of asset held for sale     
 (2,344)    
Less: Net gain on sale of properties from discontinued operations     
 (774)    
Funds from operations     (103,780) 135,826
    
Plus: Acquisition related costs     811
 1,344
    
Plus: Loss on early extinguishment of debt     
 1,307
    
Plus: Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock     12,368
 
    
Plus: Loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT     42,145
 53
    
Plus: Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment     203,297
 
    
Plus: Normalized FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     70,012
 26,898
    
Less: FFO attributable to Select Income REIT investment     (56,105) (24,677)    
Less: Gain on early extinguishment of debt     (34) 
    
Normalized funds from operations     $168,714
 $140,751
    
             
Funds from operations per common share (basic)     $(1.47) $2.22
    
Funds from operations per common share (diluted)     $(1.47) $2.21
    
Normalized funds from operations per common share (basic)     $2.39
 $2.30
    
Normalized funds from operations per common share (diluted)     $2.39
 $2.29
    


(1)Comparable properties consist of 67 properties (86 buildings) we owned on December 31, 2015 and which we owned continuously since January 1, 2014, and excludes one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations.
(2)Acquired properties consist of four properties (five buildings) we owned on December 31, 2015 and which we acquired during the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015.
(3)Disposed property consists of one property (one building) we sold during the year ended December 31, 2015.
(4)See footnote (4) on page 53 for the definition of NOI.
(5)See footnote (5) on page 53 for the definition of FFO and Normalized FFO.

We refer to the 67 properties (86 buildings) we owned on December 31, 2015 and which we have owned continuously since January 1, 2014, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, as comparable properties. We refer to the four properties (five buildings) that we owned as of December 31, 2015, which we acquired during the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 as the acquired properties. We refer to the one property (one building) that we sold during the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 as the disposed property.
Our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2015 include the operating results of the acquired properties for the entire year, as we acquired those properties during 2014 and the disposed property for less than the entire year, as that property was sold during 2015.  Our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2014 include the operating results of the acquired properties for less than the entire year, as we acquired those properties during 2014, and the disposed property for the entire period, as we sold that property in 2015.
References to changes in the income and expense categories below relate to the comparison of consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to the year ended December 31, 2014.
Rental income. The decrease in rental income reflects a decrease in rental income for comparable properties and the net effect of acquired and disposed properties. Rental income for comparable properties declined $2,297 due primarily to decreases in occupied space at certain of our properties during 2015. Rental income from the acquired properties increased $8,077.  Rental income from the disposed property declined $8,262. Rental income includes non-cash straight line rent adjustments totaling $3,978 in 2015 and $4,495 in 2014, and amortization of acquired leases and assumed lease obligations totaling ($1,155) in 2015 and ($868) in 2014.
Real estate taxes. The increase in real estate taxes reflects an increase in real estate taxes for comparable properties and the net effect of acquired and disposed properties. Real estate taxes for comparable properties increased $1,438 due primarily to the effect of higher tax assessments at certain of our properties in 2015. Real estate taxes from the acquired properties increased $1,288.  Real estate taxes from the disposed property declined $1,209.  
Utility expenses. The decrease in utility expenses primarily reflects a decrease in utility expenses for comparable properties and the net effect of acquired and disposed properties. Utility expenses at comparable properties decreased  $837 due primarily to colder than normal temperatures experienced in certain parts of the United States during the winter of 2014. Utility expenses from the acquired properties increased  $133.  Utility expense from the disposed property declined $749.  
Other operating expenses. The increase in other operating expenses reflects an increase in expenses for comparable properties and the net effect of acquired and disposed properties. Other operating expenses at comparable properties increased $3,927 primarily as a result of higher employee compensation and repair and maintenance costs at certain of our properties in 2015. Other operating expenses from the acquired properties increased $1,663.  Other operating expenses from the disposed property declined $1,147. 
Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization reflects the net effect of property acquisitions and dispositions and improvements made to certain of our properties since January 1, 2014. Depreciation and amortization at comparable properties decreased $172, due primarily to certain depreciable leasing related assets becoming fully depreciated in 2014 and 2015, partially offset by depreciation and amortization of improvements made to certain of our properties after January 1, 2014. Depreciation and amortization from the acquired properties increased $4,304.  Depreciation and amortization from the disposed property declined $2,029.  
Loss onimpairmentof real estate. Loss on asset impairment relates to the adjustment to reduce the carrying value of one property (one building) classified as held for sale during 2014 to its estimated fair value less costs to sell.


Acquisition related costs. Acquisition related costs in both 2015 and 2014 include legal and due diligence costs incurred in connection with our property acquisitions and other investment activity.
General and administrative. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is due primarily to lower business management fee expense, equity compensation and professional fee costs in 2015. 
Dividend income. Dividend income consists of dividends received from our investment in RMR Inc.
Interest income. The decrease in interest and other income is primarily the result of a lower amount of investable cash in 2015 compared to 2014.
Interest expense. The increase in interest expense reflects higher average outstanding debt balances and higher weighted average interest rates on those borrowings during 2015 compared to 2014.
Gain (loss) on earlyextinguishment of debt.We recorded a $34 gain on early extinguishment of debt in 2015in connection with the repayment of a mortgage note. We recorded a $1,307loss on early extinguishment of debt in 2014 in connection with our debt refinancing activities.
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of RMR Inc. common shares. We recorded a $12,368 loss on the distribution of RMR Inc. shares we distributed to our shareholders in December 2015, which represents the difference between our carrying value and the fair value of the RMR Inc. shares on the distribution date. 
Loss on issuance of shares by SIR. Loss on issuance of shares by SIR is a result of the issuance of common shares by SIR during the 2015 and 2014 periods at prices below our then per share carrying value of our SIR common shares.
Loss on impairment of SIR investment. We recorded a $203,297 loss on impairment in 2015 to reduce the carrying value of our SIR investment to its estimated fair value.
Income tax expense. The decrease in income tax expense reflects lower operating income in certain jurisdictions in 2015 that is subject to state income taxes.
Equity in earnings of investees. Equity in earnings of investees represents our proportionate share of earnings from our investments in SIR and AIC.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations. Income (loss) from discontinued operations reflects operating results of two properties (two buildings) sold during 2014, and one property (one building) included in discontinued operations and held for sale as of December 31, 2015. Income (loss) from discontinued operations for 2014 also includes a $2,344 increase in the carrying value of one property (one building) included in discontinued operations and a $774 gain from the sale of one property (one building) included in discontinued operations.
Netincome (loss). We experienced a net loss in 2015 compared to net income in 2014 as a result of the changes noted above.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our Operating Liquidity and Resources (dollar amounts in thousands)
Our principal sourcesources of funds to meet operating and capital expenses, debt service obligations and pay distributions on our common shares isare the operating cash flowflows we generate as rental income from our properties, the distributions we receive from our investments in SIR and RMR Inc. and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We believe that these sources of funds will be sufficient to meet our operating and capital expenses and debt service obligations and pay distributions on our common shares for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future thereafter. Our future cash flows from operating activities will depend primarily upon:

our ability to maintain or increase the occupancy of, and the rental rates at, our properties;
our ability to control operating expenses at our properties;
our ability to purchase additional properties which produce cash flows from operations in excess of our cost of acquisition capital and property operating expenses; and


our receipt of distributions from our investments in SIR and RMR Inc.
Our future purchases of properties cannot be accurately projected because such purchases depend upon purchase opportunities which come to our attention and our ability to successfully complete the acquisitions. We generally do not intend to purchase “turn around” properties, or properties which do not generate positive cash flows.
Our changes in cash flows for the year ended December 31, 20162017 compared to the prior year were as follows: (i) cash provided by operating activities increased from $115,357 in 2015 to $124,258 in 2016;2016 to $133,047 in 2017; (ii) cash used in investing activities increased from $66,602 in 2015 to $215,157 in 2016;2016 to $1,186,213 in 2017; and (iii) cash flows from financing activities changed from $53,761 of cash used in financing activities in 2015 to $112,055 of cash provided by financing activities increased from $112,055 in 2016.2016 to $1,039,794 in 2017.

The increase in cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 20162017 as compared to the prior year was due primarily reflectsto an increase in consolidated property net operating incomeNOI and an increasefavorable changes in working capital, partially offset by a decrease in distributions of earnings received from our investment in SIR and RMR Inc. common shares, partially offset by higher interest payments and changes in working capital in 2016.SIR. The increase in cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 20162017 as compared to the prior year was due primarily to the FPO Transaction in 2017. The increase in cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the prior year was due primarily to our real estate acquisition activity in 2016 versus disposition activity in 2015, partially offset by our investment in SIR in 2015. The change in cash provided by (used in)FPO Transaction related financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year was due primarily to an increase in net borrowings in 2016,during 2017, including our issuanceissuances of common shares and senior unsecured notes.notes and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Our Investment and Financing Liquidity and Resources (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share and per square foot amounts)
In order to fund acquisitions and to meet cash needs that may result from our desire or need to make distributions or pay operating or capital expenses, we maintain a $750,000 revolving credit facility. The maturity date of our revolving credit facility is January 31, 2019 and, subject to our payment of an extension fee and meeting other conditions, we have an option to extend the stated maturity date of our revolving credit facility by one year to January 31, 2020. We are required to pay interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a premium, which was 125 basis points per annum at December 31, 2016,2017, on the amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility. We also pay a facility fee on the total amount of lending commitments under our revolving credit facility, which was 25 basis points per annum at December 31, 2016.2017. Both the interest rate premium and the facility fee are subject to adjustment based upon changes to our credit ratings. We can borrow, repay and reborrow funds available under our revolving credit facility until maturity, and no principal repayment is due until maturity. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the annual interest rate payable on borrowings under our revolving credit facility was 2.0%2.7%. As of December 31, 20162017 and February 21, 2017,23, 2018, we had $160,000$570,000 and $170,000,$595,000, respectively, outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

Our revolving credit facility is governed by a credit agreement with a syndicate of institutional lenders, which also governs our two unsecured term loans:
 
Our $300,000 term loan, which matures on March 31, 2020, is prepayable without penalty at any time. We are required to pay interest at LIBOR plus a premium, which was 140 basis points per annum at December 31, 2016,2017, on the amount outstanding under our $300,000 term loan.  The interest rate premium is subject to adjustment

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based upon changes to our credit ratings.  As of December 31, 2016,2017, the annual interest rate for the amount outstanding under our $300,000 term loan was 2.2%3.0%.
Our $250,000 term loan, which matures on March 31, 2022, is prepayable without penalty at any time. We are required to pay interest at LIBOR plus a premium, which was 180 basis points per annum at December 31, 2016,2017, on the amount outstanding under our $250,000 term loan.  The interest rate premium is subject to adjustment based upon changes to our credit ratings.  As of December 31, 2016,2017, the annual interest rate for the amount outstanding under our $250,000 term loan was 2.6%3.4%.
Our credit agreement also includes a feature under which the maximum borrowing availability may be increased to up to $2,500,000 on a combined basis in certain circumstances.
Our credit agreement for our revolving credit facility and term loans provides that, with certain exceptions, a subsidiary of ours is required to guaranty our obligations under the revolving credit facility and term loans only if that subsidiary has separately incurred debt (other than nonrecourse debt), within the meaning specified in the credit agreement, or provided a guarantee of debt incurred by us or any of our other subsidiaries.
 


Our $350,000 of 3.75% senior unsecured notes due 2019 are governed by an indenture and a supplement to that indenture and require semi-annual payments of interest only through maturity in August 2019 and may be repaid at par (plus accrued and unpaid interest) on or after July 15, 2019 or before that date together with a make whole premium.

In May 2016, we issuedOur $300,000 of 4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2022 are governed by an indenture and a supplement to that indenture and require semi-annual payments of interest only through maturity in July 2022 and may be repaid at par (plus accrued and unpaid interest) on or after June 15, 2022 or before that date together with a make whole premium.

Our $310,000 of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2046 are governed by an indenture and a supplement to that indenture and require quarterly payments of interest only through maturity in an underwritten public offering. In June 2016, the underwriters exercised an option to purchase an additional $10,000 of these notes. The net proceeds from this offering of $299,691,May 2046 and may be repaid at par (plus accrued and unpaid interest) on or after offering expenses, were used to repay all amounts then outstanding under our revolving credit facility and for general business purposes.May 26, 2021.

OurAs of December 31, 2017, our debt maturities (other than our revolving credit facility) are as follows: $1,549 in 2017, $1,671$3,672 in 2018, $359,439$361,541 in 2019, $301,619$338,433 in 2020, $13,230$14,420 in 2021, $575,518 in 2022 and $560,000$399,563 thereafter. 

None of our unsecured debt obligations require sinking fund payments prior to their maturity dates.  Our $27,508$183,147 in mortgage debts generally require monthly payments of principal and interest through maturity.

In addition to our debt obligations, as of December 31, 2016,2017, we have estimated unspent leasing related obligations of $26,459$31,310.

In connection with the FPO Transaction, we assumed five mortgage notes with an aggregate principal balance of $167,548. These mortgage notes are secured by five properties (five buildings). In November 2017, we repaid $10,000 of principal of one of these mortgage notes as part of our assumption agreement with the lender. Also, in connection with the FPO Transaction, we acquired FPO's 50% and have51% interests in two unconsolidated joint ventures having two mortgage notes with an aggregate principal balance of $82,000, which are secured by two properties (three buildings) owned by such joint ventures.

To partially finance the FPO Transaction, we entered into a commitment letter with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., or Citigroup, pursuant to which, on and subject to the terms and conditions of the commitment letter, Citigroup and a group of institutional lenders committed to redevelopprovide us a bridge loan facility. In July 2017, we and expand an existing propertythe lenders terminated this commitment letter and bridge loan facility after we raised the necessary funding for the FPO Transaction from the sale of our common shares and our issuance of senior unsecured notes in July 2017, each as described below. As a result of the termination of this bridge loan facility we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1,715.

Pursuant to the terms of the FPO Transaction, each unit of limited partnership interest in FPO's operating partnership that was not liquidated on the effective date of the FPO Transaction was exchanged on a one-for-one basis for 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units of the surviving subsidiary. As of December 31, 2017, there were 1,814 of 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units outstanding. Beginning on October of each year and ending January 15 of the following year, with the first such period beginning October 1, 2019, holders have the right to redeem their 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units for cash at an estimated cost$11.15 per unit. Beginning on April 1 of each year and ending June 30 of that year, with the first such period beginning April 1, 2018, we have the right to completeredeem all or any portion of approximately $15,355.the outstanding 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred

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Units for cash at $11.15 per unit. As of December 31, 2017, the carrying value of these 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units was $20,496 and is recorded as temporary equity on our consolidated balance sheets.

We currently expect to use cash balances, borrowings under our revolving credit facility, net proceeds from our property sales, distributions received from our investments in SIR and RMR Inc., assumption of mortgage debt and net proceeds from offerings of equity or debt securities to fund our future operations, capital expenditures, distributions to our shareholders and property acquisitions. When significant amounts are outstanding under our revolving credit facilityfacilities or the maturities of our indebtedness approach, we expect to explore refinancing alternatives. Such alternatives may include incurring additional term debt, issuing equity or debt securities, extending the maturity date of our revolving credit facility and entering into a new revolving credit facility. We may assume additional mortgage debt in connection with our acquisition of propertiesacquisitions or elect to place new mortgages on properties we own as a source of financing. We may also seek to participate in additional joint venture or other arrangements that may provide us with additional sources of financing. Although we cannot be sure that we will be successful in consummating any particular type of financing, we believe that we will have access to financing, such as debt and equity offerings, to fund future acquisitions and capital expenditures and to pay our obligations. We currently have an effective shelf registration statement that allows us to issue public securities on an expedited basis, but it does not assure that there will be buyers for such securities.
Our ability to obtain, and the costs of, our future debt financings will depend primarily on credit market conditions and our creditworthiness. We have no control over market conditions. Potential investors and lenders likely will evaluate our ability to pay distributions to shareholders, fund required debt service and repay debts when they become due by reviewing our business practices and plans to balance our use of debt and equity capital so that our financial profile and leverage ratios afford us flexibility to withstand any reasonably anticipated adverse changes. Similarly, our ability to raise equity capital in the future will depend primarily upon equity capital market conditions and our ability to conduct our business to maintain and grow our operating cash flows. We intend to conduct our business in a manner which will afford us reasonable access to capital for investment and financing activities, but we cannot be sure that we will be able to successfully carry out this intention.

In June 2017, both Moody's and S&P updated our ratings outlook to negative as a result of uncertainties arising from the FPO Transaction. Negative outlooks may imply that our debt ratings may be downgraded unless we are successful in reorganizing our financial profile.

On each of February 25, 2016,23, 2017 and May 23, 2016, August 22, 2016 and November 21, 20162017, we paid a regular quarterly distribution to common shareholders of record on January 23, 2017 and April 21, 2017, of $0.43 per share, or $30,606 on each of those dates. On August 21, 2017, we paid a regular quarterly distribution to our common shareholders in the amount of $30,584, $30,585, $30,590 and $30,607, respectively.record on July 24, 2017, of $0.43 per share, or $41,364. On November 20, 2017, we paid a regular quarterly distribution payable to common shareholders of record on October 23, 2017 of $0.43 per share, or $42,633. We funded these distributions using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. On January 13, 2017,19, 2018, we declared a distribution payable to common shareholders of record on January 23, 201729, 2018 in the amount of $0.43 per share, or $30,607.$42,633.  We expect to pay this distribution on or about February 23, 201726, 2018 using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

In February 2016,On July 5, 2017, we repaid,sold 25,000,000 of our common shares at par, a $23,473 mortgage note requiring interestprice of $18.50 per share in an underwritten public offering. On August 3, 2017, we sold 2,907,029 of our common shares at 6.21% which was secured by a property (one building) located in Landover, MD using cash on handprice of $18.50 per share pursuant to an overallotment option granted to the underwriters for the July offering. The aggregate net proceeds from these offerings were $493,866, after payments of the underwriters' discounts and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  This mortgage note was scheduled to mature in August 2016.
In March 2016, we repaid, at par, an $83,000 mortgage note requiring annual interest of 5.55% which was secured by one office property (two buildings) located in Reston, VA using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  This mortgage note was scheduled to mature in April 2016.  other offering expenses.


On July 20, 2017, we issued $300,000 of 4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2022 in an underwritten public offering. The net proceeds from this offering were $295,399, after payments of the underwriters' discounts and other offering expenses.

The aggregate net proceeds from these equity and debt offerings were used to finance, in part, the FPO Transaction.

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As of December 31, 2016,2017, our contractual obligations were as follows:
 Payments Due by Period Payments Due by Period
   Less than 1-3 3-5 More than   Less than 1-3 3-5 More than
Contractual Obligations Total 1 Year Years Years 5 Years Total 1 Year Years Years 5 Years
Long term debt obligations $1,397,508
 $1,549
 $521,110
 $314,849
 $560,000
 $2,263,147
 $3,672
 $1,269,974
 $589,938
 $399,563
Tenant related obligations (1)
 41,814
 37,556
 1,799
 957
 1,502
 31,311
 21,867
 6,861
 2,583
 
Purchase obligations (2)
 15,230
 15,230
 
 
 
Operating leases (2)
 4,893
 1,543
 3,211
 139
 
Projected interest expense (3)
 582,380
 49,434
 90,310
 52,496
 390,140
 683,284
 85,549
 112,834
 75,471
 409,430
Total $2,036,932
 $103,769
 $613,219
 $368,302
 $951,642
 $2,982,635
 $112,631
 $1,392,880
 $668,131
 $808,993
(1)Committed tenant related obligations includes leasing commissions and tenant improvements and are based on leases in effect as of December 31, 2016 and the estimated cost to complete of $15,355 to redevelop and expand an existing property prior to the commencement of the lease.2017.
(2)RepresentsReflects the purchase price for a property located in Manassas, VAlease obligations we assumed related to FPO's former corporate headquarters, net of $13,200 we acquired in January 2017 and the $2,030 purchase price for transferable development rights we agreed to acquire that would allow us to expand a property we own in Washington, D.C.sublease income.
(3)Projected interest expense is attributable to only our debt obligations at existing rates as of December 31, 20162017 and is not intended to project future interest costs which may result from debt prepayments, additional borrowings under our revolving credit facility, new debt issuances or changes in interest rates. 

As of December 31, 2017, there are 1,814 of 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units outstanding. Beginning on October of each year and ending January 15 of the following year, with the first such period beginning October 1, 2019, holders have the right to redeem their 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units for cash at $11.15 per unit.

We remain liable, solely to the extent of our proportionate ownership percentage, to fund any capital shortfalls or commitments from properties owned through the unconsolidated joint ventures.

Off BalanceSheet Arrangements

In additionconnection with the FPO Transaction, we acquired 50% and 51% interests in two unconsolidated joint ventures which own two properties (three buildings). The properties owned by these joint ventures are encumbered by an aggregate $82,000 of mortgage indebtedness. We do not control the activities that are most significant to these joint ventures and, as a result, we account for our investment in these joint ventures under the amounts discussed above, we also have business and property management agreements with continuing 20 year terms, which require us to pay management fees to RMR LLC.equity method of accounting. See Note 65 to the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Off BalanceSheet Arrangements
As10-K for more information on the financial condition and results of operations of these joint ventures. Other than these joint ventures, as of December 31, 2016,2017, we had no off balance sheet arrangements that have had or that we expect would be reasonably likely to have a future material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Debt Covenants (dollars in thousands)
Our principal debt obligations at December 31, 20162017 consisted of borrowings under our $750,000 revolving credit facility, our $300,000 term loan, our $250,000 term loan, an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $660,000$960,000 of public issuances of senior unsecured notes and threeeight secured mortgage notes with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $183,147 that were assumed in connection with certain of our acquisitions. We assumed five of the secured mortgage notes in connection with the FPO Transaction. Also, the two properties (three buildings) acquired in the FPO Transaction which are owned by joint ventures secure two additional mortgage notes. Our publicly issued senior unsecured notes are governed by an indentureindentures and itstheir supplements.  Our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements and theour credit agreement for our revolving credit facility and our two term loans provide for acceleration of payment of all amounts outstanding upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events of default, such as, in the case of our credit agreement, a change of control of us, which includes RMR LLC ceasing to act as our business manager and property manager. Our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements and our credit agreement also contain a number of covenants which generally restrict our ability to incur debts, including debts secured by mortgages on our properties, in excess of calculated amounts, require us to maintain various financial ratios, and, in the case of our credit agreement, restrict our ability to make distributions underto our shareholders in certain circumstances. Our mortgage notes are non-recourse, subject to certain limited exceptions, and do not contain any material financial covenants.  As of December 31, 2016,2017, we believe we were in compliance with the terms and conditions of our respective covenants under our credit agreement and senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and its supplements and our credit agreement.their supplements.
Neither our credit agreement nor our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements contain provisions for acceleration which could be triggered by our debt ratings. However, under our credit agreement our highest senior debt rating is used to determine the fees and interest rates we pay. Accordingly, if that debt rating is downgraded, by certain credit rating agencies, our interest expense and related costs under our credit agreement would increase. As noted above, in June 2017, both Moody's and S&P updated our

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rating outlook to negative, which may imply that downgrades to our credit rating will occur unless we are successful in reorganizing our financial profile.
Our credit agreement has cross default provisions to other indebtedness that is recourse of $25,000 or more and indebtedness that is non-recourse of $50,000 or more. Similarly, our senior unsecured notes indentureindentures and itstheir supplements contain cross default provisions to any other debts of more than $25,000 (or up to $50,000 in certain circumstances).


Related Person Transactions
We have relationships and historical and continuing transactions with RMR LLC, RMR Inc. and others related to them. For example: we have no employees and the personnel and various services we require to operate our business are provided to us by RMR LLC pursuant to our business management agreement and property management agreement with RMR LLC; RMR Inc. is the managing member of RMR LLC; ABP Trust, which is ownedcontrolled by its current sole trustee, our Managing Trustees,Trustee, is the controlling shareholder of RMR Inc.; and we own shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. We also have relationships and historical and continuing transactions with other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services and which may have trustees, directors and officers who are also trustees, directors or officers of us, RMR LLC or RMR Inc., including: SIR, of which we are the largest shareholder and at December 31, 20162017 and February 22, 2017,26, 2018, owned approximately 27.9%27.8% of the outstanding SIR common shares; and AIC, of which we, ABP Trust, SIR and four other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services each own 14.3% and which arranges and insures or reinsures in part a combined property insurance program for us and its six other shareholders.
For further information about these and other such relationships and related person transactions, see Notes 6, 7 and 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are incorporated herein by reference and our other filings with the SEC andincluding our definitive Proxy Statement for our 20172018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or our definitive Proxy Statement, to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2017. For further information about these transactions and relationships and about the risks that may arise as a result of these and other related person transactions and relationships, see elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Warning Concerning Forward Looking Statements,” Part I, Item 1, “Business” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” Our filings with the SEC and copies of certain of our agreements with these related persons, including our business management agreement and property management agreement with RMR LLC and our shareholders agreement with AIC and its six other shareholders, are available as exhibits to our public filings with the SEC and accessible at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. We may engage in additional transactions with related persons, including businesses to which RMR LLC or its affiliatessubsidiaries provide management services.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our critical accounting policies are those that will have the most impact on the reporting of our financial condition and results of operations and those requiring significant judgments and estimates. We believe that our judgments and estimates arehave been and will be consistently applied and produce financial information that fairly presents our results of operations. Our most critical accounting policies involve our investments in real property and equity securities. These policies affect our:
allocation of purchase prices amongbetween various asset categories, including allocations to above and below market leases for properties qualifying as acquired businesses under FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations, and the related impact on the recognition of rental income and depreciation and amortization expenses; and
assessment of the carrying values and impairments of long lived assets and equity investments.
We allocate the acquisition cost of each property investment to various property components such as land, buildings and improvements and intangibles based on their relative fair values, and each component generally has a different useful life. For acquired real estate, acquired, we record building, land and improvements, and, if applicable, the value of in place leases, the fair market value of above or below market leases and customer relationships at fair value. WeFor transactions that qualify as business combinations, we allocate the excess, if any, of the consideration over the fair value of assets acquired to goodwill. We base purchase price allocations and the determination of useful lives on our estimates and, under some circumstances, studies from independent real estate appraisal firmsappraisers to provide market information and evaluations that are relevant to management’sour purchase price allocations and determinations of useful lives; however, our management is ultimately responsible for the purchase price allocations and determination of useful lives.
We compute depreciation expense using the straight line method over estimated useful lives of up to 40 years for buildings and improvements, and up to 12 years for personal property. We do not depreciate the allocated cost of land. We amortize capitalized above market lease values as a reduction to rental income over the terms of the respective leases. We

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amortize capitalized below market lease values as an increase to rental income over the terms of the respective leases. We amortize the value of acquired in place leases exclusive of the value of above market and below market acquired leases to expense over the periods of the respective leases. If a lease is terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts relating to that lease are written off. Purchase price allocations require us to make certain assumptions and estimates. Incorrect assumptions and estimates may result in inaccurate depreciation and amortization charges over future periods.
We periodically evaluate our properties for impairment. Impairment indicators may include declining tenant occupancy, our concerns about a tenant’s financial condition (which may be endangered by a rent default or other information which comes to our attention) or our decision to dispose of an asset before the end of its estimated useful life and legislative, as well as market or industry


changes that could permanently reduce the value of a property. If indicators of impairment are present, we evaluate the carrying value of the related property by comparing it to the expected future undiscounted cash flows to be generated from that property. If the sum of these expected future cash flows is less than the carrying value, we reduce the net carrying value of the property to its fair value. This analysis requires us to judge whether indicators of impairment exist and to estimate likely future cash flows. If we misjudge or estimate incorrectly or if future tenant operations, market or industry factors differ from our expectations we may record an impairment charge that is inappropriate or fail to record a charge when we should have done so, or the amount of any such charges may be inaccurate.
These accounting policies involve significant judgments made based upon our experience and the experience of our management and our Board of Trustees, including judgments about current valuations, ultimate realizable value, estimated useful lives, salvage or residual value, the ability and willingness of our tenants to perform their obligations to us, current and future economic conditions and competitive factors in the markets in which our properties are located. Competition, economic conditions, changing government priorities and other factors may cause occupancy declines in the future. In the future, we may need to revise our carrying value assessments to incorporate information which is not now known, and such revisions could increase or decrease our depreciation expense related to properties we own or decrease the carrying values of our assets.
We periodically evaluate our equity investments for possible indicators of other than temporary impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. These indicators may include the length of time and degree to which the market value of our investment is below our cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer, our intent and ability to be a long term holder of the investment and other considerations.  If the decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary, we may record an impairment charge to adjust the basis of the investment to its fair value.
Impact of Inflation
Inflation in the past several years in the United States has been modest, but recently there have been indications of inflation in the U.S. economy and elsewhere and some market forecasts indicate an expectation of increased inflation in the near to intermediate term. Future inflation might have both positive and negative impacts on our business. Inflation might cause the value of our real estate assets to increase. Inflation might also cause our costs of equity and debt capital and operating costs to increase. An increase in our capital costs or in our operating costs may result in decreased earnings unless it is offset by increased revenues. Our government leases generally provide for annual rent increases based on a cost of living index calculation which may mitigate the impact upon us of increased costs as a result of inflation. Further, inflation may permit us to increase rents upon renewal or enter into new leases for the leased space for increased rent amounts.
Increases in operating costs as a result of inflation are likely to have modest, if any, impacts on our operating results. This is because most of the operating costs arising in our business are incurred at our properties and our tenants pay most of the property operating cost increases directly or indirectly when we pass through such costs as additional rent under our leases. Increased debt capital costs as a result of inflation are not directly or immediately paid by, or passed through, to our tenants; therefore, such cost increases are more likely to impact our financial results. Over time, however, inflationary debt capital cost increases may be mitigated as leases at our properties expire and new leases are entered which reflect inflationary increases in market rents.
To mitigate the adverse impact of any increased cost of debt capital in the event of material inflation, we may enter into interest rate hedge arrangements in the future. The decision to enter into these agreements will be based on various factors, including the amount of our floating rate debt outstanding, our belief that material interest rate increases are likely to occur, the costs of, and our expected benefit from, these agreements and upon possible requirements of our borrowing arrangements.
Generally, we do not expect inflation to have a material impact on our financial results for the next 12 months or for the current foreseeable future thereafter.

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Impact of Climate Change
The political debate about climate change has resulted in various treaties, laws and regulations which are intended to limit carbon emissions. We believe these laws being enacted or proposed may cause energy costs at our properties to increase in the future. In an effort to reduce the effects of any increased energy costs in the future, we and RMR LLC continuously study ways to improve the energy efficiency at all of our properties. RMR LLC is a member of the Energy Star Partner program, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which is focused on promoting energy efficiency at commercial properties through its “Energy Star” certification program, and a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting energy efficiency at commercial properties through its LEED®, green building program. We do not expect the direct impact of these possible increases in energy costs resulting from laws designed to address climate change to be material to our results of operations because the increased costs either may be the responsibility of our tenants directly or in large part passed through by us to our tenants as additional rent. AlthoughAlso, although we do not believe it is likely in the foreseeable future, laws enacted to mitigate climate change may make some of our buildings obsolete or cause us to make material investments in our properties which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In an effort to reduce the effects of any increased energy costs in the future, we continuously study ways to improve the energy efficiency at all of our properties. Our property manager, RMR LLC, is a member of the Energy Star Partner program, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that is focused on promoting energy efficiency at commercial properties through its “ENERGY STAR” label program, and a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization focused on promoting energy efficiency at commercial properties through its LEED® green building program.
Some observers believe severe weather activities in different parts of the countryworld over the last few years is evidence of global climate change. Such severeSevere weather that may result from climate changehave an adverse effect on certain properties we own. Rising sea levels could cause flooding at some of our properties, which may have an adverse effect on individual properties we own. We mitigate these risks by owning a geographically diversified portfolio of properties and by procuring or requiring tenants to procure insurance coverage we believe adequate to protect us from material damages and losses resulting from such activities.the consequences of losses caused by climate change. However, we


cannot be sure that our mitigation efforts will be sufficient or that future storms, rising sea levels or other changes that may occur due to future climate change or otherwise could not have a material adverse effect on our business.financial results.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk (dollar amounts in thousands)
We are exposed to risks associated with market changes in interest rates. We manage our exposure to this market risk by monitoring available financing alternatives. Other than as described below, we do not currently foresee any significant changes in our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates or in how we manage this exposure in the near future.
At December 31, 2016,2017, our outstanding fixed rate debt for our consolidated properties consisted of the following:
   Annual Annual      Interest   Annual Annual      Interest
 Principal Interest Interest   Payments Principal Interest Interest   Payments
Debt 
Balance (1)
 
Rate (1)
 
Expense (1)
 Maturity Due 
Balance (1)
 
Rate (1)
 
Expense (1)
 Maturity Due
Senior unsecured notes $350,000
 3.750% $13,125
 2019 Semi-annually $350,000
 3.750% $13,125
 2019 Semi-annually
Senior unsecured notes 310,000
 5.875% 18,213
 2046 Quarterly 310,000
 5.875% 18,213
 2046 Quarterly
Mortgage note 13,934
 5.877% 830
 2021 Monthly
Mortgage note 8,484
 7.000% 602
 2019 Monthly
Mortgage note 5,090
 8.150% 421
 2021 Monthly
Senior unsecured notes 300,000
 4.000% 12,000
 2022 Semi-annually
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Tampa, FL) 8,221
 7.000% 583
 2019 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Washington, DC) 34,474
 5.720% 1,999
 2020 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Chesapeake, VA) 3,173
 4.260% 137
 2020 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Lakewood, CO) 4,045
 8.150% 334
 2021 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Fairfax, VA) 13,693
 5.877% 816
 2021 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Washington, DC) 27,870
 4.220% 1,192
 2022 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Washington, DC) 24,891
 4.800% 1,211
 2023 Monthly
Mortgage note (one property (one building) in Washington, DC) 66,780
 4.050% 2,742
 2030 Monthly
 $687,508
  
 $33,191
     $1,143,147
  
 $52,352
    
(1)The principal balances and interest rates are the amounts determined pursuant tostated in the contracts. In accordance with GAAP, our carrying values and recorded interest expense may differ from these amounts because of market conditions at the time we issued or assumed these debts.  For more information, see Notes 9 and 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our $350,000 and $300,000 senior unsecured notes require semi-annual interest payments through maturity and our $310,000 senior unsecured notes require quarterly interest payments through maturity.  Our mortgages generally require principal and interest payments through maturity pursuant to amortization schedules.  Because these debts require interest to be paid at a fixed rate, changes in market interest rates during the term of these debts will not affect our interest obligations.  If these debts were refinanced at interest rates which are 100 basis points higher or lower than shown above, our per annum interest cost would increase or decrease, respectively, by approximately $7,094.$9,202.

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Changes in market interest rates also would affect the fair value of our fixed rate debt obligations; increases in market interest rates decrease the fair value of our fixed rate debt, while decreases in market interest rates increase the fair value of our fixed rate debt.  Based on the balances outstanding at December 31, 2016,2017, and discounted cash flow analyses through the respective maturity dates, and assuming no other changes in factors that may affect the fair value of our fixed rate debt obligations, a hypothetical immediate 100 basis point increase in interest rates would change the fair value of those obligations by approximately $44,814.$9,590.

Some of our fixed rate secured debt arrangements allow us to make repayments earlier than the stated maturity date. In some cases, we are not allowed to make early repayment prior to a cutoff date and we are generally allowed to make prepayments only at a premium equal to a make whole amount, as defined, which is generally designed to preserve a stated yield to the note holder. These prepayment rights may afford us opportunities to mitigate the risk of refinancing our debts at maturity at higher rates by refinancing prior to maturity.

At December 31, 2017, we have 50% and 51% interests in two joint venture arrangements which own two properties (three buildings) that are secured by fixed rate debt consisting of the following mortgage notes:
  Our JV   Annual Annual      Interest
  Ownership Principal Interest Interest   Payments
Debt Interest 
Balance (1)(2)
 
Rate (1)
 
Expense (1)
 Maturity Due
Mortgage note one property (one building) in Washington, DC 50% $32,000
 3.920% $1,254
 2024 Monthly
Mortgage note one property (two buildings) in Fairfax, VA 51% 50,000
 3.910% 1,955
 2029 Monthly
    $82,000
   $3,209
    
(1)The principal balance, annual interest rate and annual interest expense are the amounts stated in the applicable contract. In accordance with GAAP, recorded interest expense may differ from these amounts because of market conditions at the time we acquired the joint venture interests.
(2)Reflects the entire balance of the debt secured by the properties and is not adjusted to reflect the part of the joint venture arrangement interests we do not own.
Floating Rate Debt
    
At December 31, 2016,2017, our floating rate debt consisted of $160,000$570,000 of borrowings under our $750,000 revolving credit facility, our $300,000 term loan and our $250,000 term loan. Our revolving credit facility matures in January 2019 and, subject to the payment of an extension fee and our meeting other conditions, we have the option to extend the stated maturity by one year to January 2020. No principal repayments are required under our revolving credit facility or our term loans prior to maturity, and we can borrow, repay and reborrow funds available under our revolving credit facility, subject to conditions, at any time without penalty. Our $300,000 term loan matures on March 31, 2020. Our $250,000 term loan matures on March 31, 2022. Amounts outstanding under our term loans may be repaid without penalty at any time, but after they are repaid amounts may not be redrawn.

Borrowings under our $750,000 revolving credit facility and term loans are in U.S. dollars and require interest to be paid at a rate of LIBOR plus premiums that are subject to adjustment based upon changes to our credit ratings. Accordingly, we are vulnerable to changes in U.S. dollar based short term rates, specifically LIBOR. In addition, upon renewal or refinancing of our revolving credit facility or term loans, we are vulnerable to increases in interest rate premiums due to market conditions or


our perceived credit characteristics. Generally, a change in interest rates would not affect the value of our floating rate debt but would affect our operating results.


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The following table presents the impact a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would have on our annual floating rate interest expense as of December 31, 2016:2017:
 Impact of Changes in Interest Rates Impact of Changes in Interest Rates
 Annual Outstanding Total Interest Annual Earnings Annual Outstanding Total Interest Annual Earnings
 
Interest Rate (1)
 Debt Expense Per Year 
Per Share Impact (2)
 
Interest Rate (1)
 Debt Expense Per Year 
Per Share Impact (2)
At December 31, 2016 2.3% $710,000
 $16,557
 $0.23
At December 31, 2017 2.9% $1,120,000
 $32,931
 $0.39
100 bps increase 3.3% $710,000
 $23,755
 $0.33
 3.9% $1,120,000
 $44,287
 $0.52

(1)Weighted based on the respective interest rates and outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility and term loans as of December 31, 2016.2017.

(2)Based on the weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) for the year ended December 31, 2016.2017.
 
The following table presents the impact a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would have on our annual floating rate interest expense as of December 31, 20162017 if we were fully drawn on our revolving credit facility and our term loans remained outstanding:
 Impact of Changes in Interest Rates Impact of Changes in Interest Rates
 Annual Outstanding Total Interest Annual Earnings Annual Outstanding Total Interest Annual Earnings
 
Interest Rate (1)
 Debt Expense Per Year 
Per Share Impact (2)
 
Interest Rate (1)
 Debt Expense Per Year 
Per Share Impact (2)
At December 31, 2016 2.1% $1,300,000
 $27,679
 $0.39
At December 31, 2017 2.9% $1,300,000
 $38,224
 $0.45
100 bps increase 3.1% $1,300,000
 $40,860
 $0.57
 3.9% $1,300,000
 $51,404
 $0.61

(1)Weighted based on the respective interest rates and outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility (assuming fully drawn) and term loans as of December 31, 2016.2017. 
(2)Based on the weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) for the year ended December 31, 2016.2017.

The foregoing tables show the impact of an immediate change in floating interest rates as of December 31, 2016.2017. If interest rates were to change gradually over time, the impact would be spread over time. Our exposure to fluctuations in floating interest rates will increase or decrease in the future with increases or decreases in the outstanding amount under our revolving credit facility, our term loans or our other floating rate debt, if any. Although we have no present plans to do so, we may in the future enter into hedge arrangements from time to time to mitigate our exposure to changes in interest rates.


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Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information required by this item is included in Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our then Managing Trustees, our President and Chief Operating Officer and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15.15d-15 under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our then Managing Trustees, our President and our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 20162017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management Report on Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Trustees regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.2017. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on ourthis assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2016,2017, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our 2016 consolidated financial statements2017 Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting. Its report appears elsewhere herein.
Item 9B.  Other Information
At a meeting of our Board of Trustees held on February 21, 2017, our Board of Trustees, pursuant to a recommendation of our Nominating and Governance Committee, increased its size from five to six members, with the new Trustee to be in Class III with a term expiring at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and elected Ms. Elena Poptodorova as an Independent Trustee of the Trust in Class III with a term expiring at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to fill the vacancy created thereby.
Ms. Poptodorova, age 65, has been the director of the Shapiro-Silverberg AJC Central Europe Office since September 2016. Ms. Poptodorova served as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States, from 2010 to 2016 and from 2002 to 2008. During this time, she facilitated foreign investments in Bulgaria’s information technology sector and assisted the development of transatlantic business association to support investment ventures. From 2009 to 2010, Ms. Poptodorova was the director of the Security Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from 2008 to 2009 she served as the ambassador-at-large for the Black Sea Region. From 2001 to 2002, Ms. Poptodorova served as a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and director of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Organizations Directorate. Ms. Poptodorova was a member of the Bulgarian Parliament from 1990 to 2001, where she served on a variety of committees, including the national security, human rights, media and agriculture committees. During her service as a member of the Bulgarian Parliament, Ms. Poptodorova worked extensively on communal property and industrial property matters with the local government of her electoral district. In addition to her extensive government service, Ms. Poptodorova is a current member of the board of directors of the European Institute, the American Foundation for Bulgaria, the Executive Council on Diplomacy, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group, American University in Bulgaria and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Germany. None.


Our Board of Trustees concluded that Ms. Poptodorova is qualified to serve as one of our Independent Trustees based upon, among other things, her executive experience and demonstrated leadership ability as a former diplomat; insights gained and understanding of government practices through government service; experience in communal property and industrial property matters; experience in public policy matters; service on the boards of several private and charitable organizations; and qualifying as an Independent Trustee in accordance with the requirements of Nasdaq, the SEC and our amended and restated bylaws.
For her service as a Trustee, Ms. Poptodorova will be entitled to the compensation we generally provide to our Independent Trustees, with the annual cash fees prorated.  In accordance with our publicly disclosed Trustee compensation policy, the Board expects that Ms. Poptodorova will be granted 2,500 of our common shares of beneficial interest on the date of her first Board meeting attended. A summary of our currently effective trustee compensation is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated May 17, 2016 and is incorporated herein by reference.  There is no arrangement or understanding between Ms. Poptodorova and any other person pursuant to which she was selected as a Trustee. There are no transactions, relationships or agreements between Ms. Poptodorova and us that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act.
 In connection with her appointment, we entered into an indemnification agreement with Ms. Poptodorova, effective as of February 21, 2017, on substantially the same terms as the agreements previously entered into between us and each of our other Trustees.  We have previously filed a form of indemnification agreement entered into between us and our Trustees with us as Exhibit 10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 16, 2012, which form is incorporated herein by reference.75


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PART III

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

We have a Code of Conduct that applies to all our representatives, including our officers and Trustees, RMR Inc. and employeesRMR LLC, senior level officers of RMR LLC, senior level officers and directors of RMR Inc. and certain other officers and employees of RMR LLC. Our Code of Conduct is posted on our website, www.govreit.com. A printed copy of our Code of Conduct is also available free of charge to any person who requests a copy by writing to our Secretary, Government Properties Income Trust, Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300, Newton, MA 02458-1634. We intend to disclose any amendments or waivers to our Code of Conduct applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller (or any person performing similar functions) on our website.
The remainder of the information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement.
Item 11.  Executive Compensation
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement.
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Equity Compensation Plan Information.  We may grant common shares to our officers and other employees of RMR LLC under our 2009 Incentive Share Award Plan, or the 2009 Plan. In addition, each of our Trustees receives common shares as part of his or her annual compensation for serving as a Trustee and such shares are awarded under the 2009 Plan. The terms of awards made under the 2009 Plan are determined by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Trustees, at the time of the awards. The following table is as of December 31, 2016.2017.
Plan category 
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of outstanding options, 
warrants and rights
 
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options, warrants and rights
 
Number of securities remaining available
for future issuance under equity compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
  (a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders—securityholders—2009 Plan None. None. 
1,554,1051,493,119 (1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holderssecurityholders None. None. None.
Total None. None. 
1,554,1051,493,119 (1)

(1)
Consists of common shares available for issuance pursuant to the terms of the 2009 Plan.  Share awards that are repurchased or forfeited will be added to the common shares available for issuance under the 2009 Plan.

Payments by us to RMR LLC and RMR LLC employees are described in Notes 6, 7 and 11 to ourthe Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The remainder of the information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement.
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement.
Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement.

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PART IV
Item 15.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
The following consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Government Properties Income Trust are included on the pages indicated:
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions, or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.
(b)Exhibits
(b)    Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7

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4.8
8.1
10.1
10.2


10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
10.12
10.13
10.13
Voting and Standstill Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2014, among Cole Corporate Income Trust, Inc., the Company and American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 30, 2014.)
10.14
Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2015, among the Company, Lakewood Capital Partners, LP, the other parties named therein and, for the purpose of specified sections, Select Income REIT. (Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 28, 2015.)
12.1
21.1
23.1
23.2
31.1
31.2
31.3
31.4
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification. (Filed herewith.)
32.1
99.1
99.2
99.3
99.4

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101.1
The following materials from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162017 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) related notes to these financial statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail. (Filed herewith.)
(+) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.




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Item 16.  Form 10-K Summary
None.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Trustees and Shareholders of Government Properties Income Trust
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Government Properties Income Trust (the “Company”)Company) as of December 31, 20162017 and 2015, and2016, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. Our audits also included2017, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Itemitem 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). TheseIn our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and schedule arepresent fairly, in all material respects, the responsibilityfinancial position of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statementsCompany at December 31, 2017 and schedule based on our audits.2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We conducted our auditsalso have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 26, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includesmisstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supportingregarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An auditOur audits also includes assessingincluded evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement presentation.statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Government Properties Income Trust at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
As discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method for reporting discontinued operations effective July 1, 2014.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Government Properties Income Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 22, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 
 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2008.
Boston, Massachusetts
February 22, 201726, 2018
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Trustees and Shareholders of Government Properties Income Trust
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Government Properties Income Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016,2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control—IntegratedControl-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Government Properties Income Trust’s (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at item 15(a), and our report dated February 26, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management Report on Assessment of Internal Control Overover Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Government Properties Income Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 2016 consolidated financial statements of Government Properties Income Trust and our report dated February 22, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 
 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 22, 201726, 2018
 


F-2

Table of Contents

GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in thousands, except share data)

December 31,As of December 31, 
2016 20152017 2016 
ASSETS       
Real estate properties:       
Land$267,855
 $253,058
$627,108
 $267,855
 
Buildings and improvements1,620,905
 1,443,074
2,348,613
 1,620,905
 
Total real estate properties, gross1,888,760
 1,696,132
2,975,721
 1,888,760
 
Accumulated depreciation(296,804) (255,879)(341,848) (296,804) 
Total real estate properties, net1,591,956
 1,440,253
2,633,873
 1,591,956
 
Equity investment in Select Income REIT487,708
 491,369
467,499
 487,708
 
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures50,202
 
 
Assets of discontinued operations12,541
 12,468

 12,541
 
Assets of property held for sale
 3,098
Acquired real estate leases, net124,848
 118,267
351,872
 124,848
 
Cash and cash equivalents29,941
 8,785
16,569
 29,941
 
Restricted cash530
 1,022
3,111
 530
 
Rents receivable, net48,458
 45,269
61,429
 48,458
 
Deferred leasing costs, net21,079
 14,299
22,977
 21,079
 
Other assets, net68,005
 33,680
96,033
 68,005
 
Total assets$2,385,066
 $2,168,510
$3,703,565
 $2,385,066
 
       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY       
Unsecured revolving credit facility$160,000
 $117,000
$570,000
 $160,000
 
Unsecured term loans, net547,171
 546,490
547,852
 547,171
 
Senior unsecured notes, net646,844
 345,809
944,140
 646,844
 
Mortgage notes payable, net27,837
 136,299
183,100
 27,837
 
Liabilities of discontinued operations45
 54

 45
 
Liabilities of property held for sale
 43
Accounts payable and other liabilities54,019
 50,543
89,440
 54,019
 
Due to related persons3,520
 2,886
4,859
 3,520
 
Assumed real estate lease obligations, net10,626
 12,735
13,635
 10,626
 
Total liabilities1,450,062
 1,211,859
2,353,026
 1,450,062
 
       
Commitments and contingencies

 


 
 
       
Preferred units of limited partnership20,496
 
 
    
Shareholders’ equity:       
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value: 100,000,000 shares   
authorized, 71,177,906 and 71,126,308 shares issued and outstanding, respectively712
 711
Common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value: 150,000,000 and 100,000,000 shares    
authorized, respectively, 99,145,921 and 71,177,906 shares issued and outstanding, respectively991
 712
 
Additional paid in capital1,473,533
 1,472,482
1,968,217
 1,473,533
 
Cumulative net income96,329
 38,486
108,144
 96,329
 
Cumulative other comprehensive income (loss)26,957
 (14,867)
Cumulative other comprehensive income60,427
 26,957
 
Cumulative common distributions(662,527) (540,161)(807,736) (662,527) 
Total shareholders’ equity935,004
 956,651
1,330,043
 935,004
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$2,385,066
 $2,168,510
$3,703,565
 $2,385,066
 
See accompanying notes.

F-3

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
2016 2015 20142017 2016 2015
          
Rental income$258,180
 $248,549
 $251,031
$316,532
 $258,180
 $248,549
          
Expenses:          
Real estate taxes30,703
 29,906
 28,389
37,942
 30,703
 29,906
Utility expenses17,269
 17,916
 19,369
20,998
 17,269
 17,916
Other operating expenses54,290
 50,425
 45,982
65,349
 54,290
 50,425
Depreciation and amortization73,153
 68,696
 66,593
109,588
 73,153
 68,696
Loss on impairment of real estate
 
 2,016
9,490
 
 
Acquisition related costs1,191
 811
 1,344

 1,191
 811
General and administrative14,897
 14,826
 15,809
18,847
 14,897
 14,826
Total expenses191,503
 182,580
 179,502
262,214
 191,503
 182,580
          
Operating income66,677
 65,969
 71,529
54,318
 66,677
 65,969
Dividend income971
 811
 
1,216
 971
 811
Interest income158
 14
 69
1,962
 158
 14
Interest expense (including net amortization of debt premium and discounts          
and debt issuance costs of $2,832, $1,376 and $1,310, respectively)(45,060) (37,008) (28,048)
and debt issuance costs of $3,420, $2,832 and $1,376, respectively)(65,406) (45,060) (37,008)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt104
 34
 (1,307)(1,715) 104
 34
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock
 (12,368) 

 
 (12,368)
Net gain (loss) on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT86
 (42,145) (53)72
 86
 (42,145)
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment
 (203,297) 

 
 (203,297)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes     
and equity in earnings of investees22,936
 (227,990) 42,190
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes,     
equity in earnings of investees and gain on sale of real estate(9,553) 22,936
 (227,990)
Income tax expense (101) (86) (117)(101) (101) (86)
Equity in earnings of investees35,518
 18,640
 10,963
21,571
 35,518
 18,640
Income (loss) from continuing operations58,353
 (209,436) 53,036
11,917
 58,353
 (209,436)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations(589) (525) 3,498
173
 (589) (525)
Income (loss) before gain on sale of property57,764
 (209,961) 56,534
Gain on sale of property79
 
 
Income (loss) before gain on sale of real estate12,090
 57,764
 (209,961)
Gain on sale of real estate
 79
 
Net income (loss)57,843
 (209,961) 56,534
12,090
 57,843
 (209,961)
     
Other comprehensive income (loss)     
Other comprehensive income (loss):     
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment in available for sale securities30,465
 (9,391) 
24,042
 30,465
 (9,391)
Equity in unrealized gain (loss) of investees11,359
 (5,513) (12)9,428
 11,359
 (5,513)
Other comprehensive income (loss)41,824
 (14,904) (12)33,470
 41,824
 (14,904)
Comprehensive income (loss)$99,667
 $(224,865) $56,522
$45,560
 $99,667
 $(224,865)
          
Net income (loss)$12,090
 $57,843
 $(209,961)
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions(275) 
 
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders$11,815
 $57,843
 $(209,961)
     
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic)71,050
 70,700
 61,313
84,633
 71,050
 70,700
Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted)71,071
 70,700
 61,399
84,653
 71,071
 70,700
          
Per common share amounts:     
Income (loss) from continuing operations (basic)$0.82
 $(2.96) $0.87
Income (loss) from continuing operations (diluted)$0.82
 $(2.96) $0.86
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (basic and diluted)$(0.01) $(0.01) $0.06
Net income (loss) (basic and diluted)$0.81
 $(2.97) $0.92
Per common share amounts (basic and diluted):     
Income (loss) from continuing operations$0.14
 $0.82
 $(2.96)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations$
 $(0.01) $(0.01)
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders$0.14
 $0.81
 $(2.97)

See accompanying notes.

F-4

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in thousands)


Number of Shares Common Shares Additional Paid In Capital 
Cumulative
Net
Income (Loss)
 
Cumulative
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Cumulative
Common
Distributions
 TotalNumber of Shares Common Shares Additional Paid In Capital 
Cumulative
Net
Income (Loss)
 
Cumulative
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Cumulative
Common
Distributions
 Total
Balance at December 31, 201354,722,018
 $547
 $1,105,679
 $191,913
 $49
 $(308,513) $989,675
Issuance of shares, net15,563,559
 155
 350,558
 
 
 
 350,713
Share grants63,650
 1
 1,394
 
 
 
 1,395
Equity in unrealized loss of investees
 
 
 
 (12) 
 (12)
Net income
 
 
 56,534
 
 
 56,534
Distributions to common shareholders
 
 
 
 
 (100,856) (100,856)
Balance at December 31, 201470,349,227
 703
 1,457,631
 248,447
 37
 (409,369) 1,297,449
70,349,227
 $703
 $1,457,631
 $248,447
 $37
 $(409,369) $1,297,449
Issuance of shares, net723,222
 7
 14,039
 
 
 
 14,046
723,222
 7
 14,039
 
 
 
 14,046
Share grants65,600
 1
 984
 
 
 
 985
65,600
 1
 984
 
 
 
 985
Share repurchases(11,741) 
 (172) 
 
 
 (172)(11,741) 
 (172) 
 
 
 (172)
Equity in unrealized loss of investees
 
 
 
 (5,513) 
 (5,513)
 
 
 
 (5,513) 
 (5,513)
Unrealized loss on investment in available for sale of securities
 
 
 
 (9,391) 
 (9,391)
 
 
 
 (9,391) 
 (9,391)
Net loss
 
 
 (209,961) 
 
 (209,961)
Net loss available for common shareholders
 
 
 (209,961) 
 
 (209,961)
Distributions to common shareholders
 
 
 
 
 (130,792) (130,792)
 
 
 
 
 (130,792) (130,792)
Balance at December 31, 201571,126,308
 711
 1,472,482
 38,486
 (14,867) (540,161) 956,651
71,126,308
 711
 1,472,482
 38,486
 (14,867) (540,161) 956,651
Share grants65,900
 1
 1,388
 
 
 
 1,389
65,900
 1
 1,388
 
 
 
 1,389
Share repurchases(14,302) 
 (337) 
 
 
 (337)(14,302) 
 (337) 
 
 
 (337)
Equity in unrealized gain of investees
 
 
 
 11,359
 
 11,359

 
 
 
 11,359
 
 11,359
Unrealized gain on investment in available for sale of securities
 
 
 
 30,465
 
 30,465

 
 
 
 30,465
 
 30,465
Net income
 
 
 57,843
 
 
 57,843
Net income available for common shareholders
 
 
 57,843
 
 
 57,843
Distributions to common shareholders
 
 
 
 
 (122,366) (122,366)
 
 
 
 
 (122,366) (122,366)
Balance at December 31, 201671,177,906
 $712
 $1,473,533
 $96,329
 $26,957
 $(662,527) $935,004
71,177,906
 712
 1,473,533
 96,329
 26,957
 (662,527) 935,004
Issuance of shares, net27,907,029
 279
 493,587
       493,866
Share grants75,350
   1,361
 
 
 
 1,361
Share repurchases(14,364)   (264) 
 
 
 (264)
Equity in unrealized gain of investees
 
 
 
 9,428
 
 9,428
Unrealized gain on investment in available for sale of securities
 
 
 
 24,042
 
 24,042
Net income available for common shareholders
 
 
 11,815
 
 
 11,815
Distributions to common shareholders
 
 
 
 
 (145,209) (145,209)
Balance at December 31, 201799,145,921
 $991
 $1,968,217
 $108,144
 $60,427
 $(807,736) $1,330,043

See accompanying notes.


F-5

Table of Contents    
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
2016 2015 20142017 2016 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net income (loss)$57,843
 $(209,961) $56,534
$12,090
 $57,843
 $(209,961)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation42,489
 38,987
 37,671
52,427
 42,489
 38,987
Net amortization of debt premiums and discounts and debt issuance costs2,832
 1,376
 1,310
3,420
 2,832
 1,376
Gain on sale of real estate
 (79) 
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt(104) (34) 1,307
1,715
 (104) (34)
Straight line rental income(2,691) (3,978) (4,495)(5,582) (2,691) (3,978)
Amortization of acquired real estate leases29,003
 28,624
 27,713
56,174
 29,003
 28,624
Amortization of deferred leasing costs3,265
 2,349
 2,145
3,802
 3,265
 2,349
Other non-cash expenses, net284
 817
 2,181
300
 284
 817
Loss on impairment of real estate
 
 2,016
9,490
 
 
Increase in carrying value of asset held for sale
 
 (2,344)
Net gain on sale of properties(79) 
 (774)
Increase in carrying value of property included in discontinued operations(619) 
 
Equity in earnings of investees(35,518) (18,640) (10,963)(21,571) (35,518) (18,640)
Net (gain) loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT(86) 42,145
 53
(72) (86) 42,145
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock
 12,368
 

 
 12,368
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment
 203,297
 

 
 203,297
Distributions of earnings from Select Income REIT32,425
 21,882
 17,046
18,640
 32,425
 21,882
Change in assets and liabilities:          
Restricted cash492
 1,258
 (591)(1,563) 492
 1,258
Deferred leasing costs(10,196) (4,741) (3,326)(5,017) (10,196) (4,741)
Rents receivable1,670
 (2,729) (337)(4,990) 1,670
 (2,729)
Other assets25
 515
 (419)1,368
 25
 515
Accounts payable and accrued expenses1,970
 1,097
 6,400
11,696
 1,970
 1,097
Due to related persons634
 725
 (402)1,339
 634
 725
Net cash provided by operating activities124,258
 115,357
 130,725
133,047
 124,258
 115,357
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Real estate acquisitions and deposits(200,331) 
 (56,350)(1,188,030) (200,331) 
Real estate improvements(32,999) (19,163) (21,635)(45,940) (32,999) (19,163)
Investment in Select Income REIT
 (95,821) (689,969)
 
 (95,821)
Investment in The RMR Group Inc.
 (7,226) 

 
 (7,226)
Investment in Affiliates Insurance Company
 
 (825)
Distributions in excess of earnings from Select Income REIT17,910
 25,148
 3,594
32,192
 17,910
 25,148
Distributions in excess of earnings from our unconsolidated joint ventures482
 
 
Proceeds from sale of properties, net263
 30,460
 16,426
15,083
 263
 30,460
Net cash used in investing activities(215,157) (66,602) (748,759)(1,186,213) (215,157) (66,602)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: 
  
  
 
  
  
Repayment of mortgage notes payable(107,933) (48,908) (2,221)(11,909) (107,933) (48,908)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, after discounts297,954
 300,235
 
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net
 
 349,787
493,866
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes310,000
 
 347,217
Proceeds from unsecured term loans
 
 1,050,000
Repayment of unsecured term loans
 
 (850,000)
Borrowings on unsecured revolving credit facility399,000
 195,000
 344,500
645,000
 399,000
 195,000
Repayments on unsecured revolving credit facility(356,000) (78,000) (501,500)(235,000) (356,000) (78,000)
Payment of debt issuance costs(10,309) (21) (12,765)(4,644) (544) (21)
Repurchase of common shares(337) (172) 
(264) (337) (172)
Distributions to common shareholders(122,366) (121,660) (100,856)(145,209) (122,366) (121,660)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities112,055
 (53,761) 624,162
1,039,794
 112,055
 (53,761)
          
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents21,156
 (5,006) 6,128
(13,372) 21,156
 (5,006)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year8,785
 13,791
 7,663
29,941
 8,785
 13,791
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year$29,941
 $8,785
 $13,791
$16,569
 $29,941
 $8,785
See accompanying notes.


F-6

Table of Contents    
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
2016 2015 20142017 2016 2015
Supplemental cash flow information:          
Interest paid$41,139
 $35,500
 $21,334
$55,048
 $41,139
 $35,500
Income taxes paid$111
 $143
 $126
$117
 $111
 $143
Non-cash investing activities:          
Investment in The RMR Group Inc. paid in common shares$
 $13,545
 $
$
 $
 $13,545
Sale of property$3,600
 $
 $
Mortgage note receivable related to sale of property$(3,600) $
 $
Real estate acquisition funded by the assumption of mortgage debt$
 $
 $(97,524)
Sale of real estate$
 $3,600
 $
Mortgage note receivable related to sale of real estate$
 $(3,600) $
Distribution of The RMR Group Inc. common stock received from Select Income REIT$
 $5,244
 $
$
 $
 $5,244
Working capital assumed$(1,596) $
 $
Non-cash financing activities:          
Assumption of mortgage debt$
 $
 $97,524
$167,548
 $
 $
Distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock$
 $(9,132) $
$
 $
 $(9,132)
Preferred units of limited partnership issued$20,221
 $
 $
See accompanying notes.


F-7

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 


Note 1. Organization
Government Properties Income Trust, or the Company, we or us, is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, formed in 2009 under Maryland law.
As of December 31, 2016, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations,2017, we wholly owned 73108 properties (95(167 buildings), or our Properties,consolidated properties, located in 3130 states and the District of Columbia containing approximately 11.417.5 million rentable square feet and had a noncontrolling ownership interest in two unconsolidated joint ventures that own properties (three buildings) totaling an additional 0.4 million rentable square feet. As of December 31, 2016,2017, we also owned 24,918,421 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, or approximately 27.9%27.8%, of the then outstanding common shares of Select Income REIT, or SIR.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation.  These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of us and our subsidiaries, all of which are 100% owned directly or indirectly by us. All intercompany transactions and balances with or among our consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated.
Real Estate Properties.  We record our properties at cost and provide depreciation on real estate investments on a straight line basis over estimated useful lives generally ranging from 7 to 40 years.  In some circumstances, we engage independent real estate appraisal firms to provide market information and evaluations which are relevant to our purchase price allocations and determinations of useful lives; however, we are ultimately responsible for the purchase price allocations and determinations of useful lives.
We allocate the purchase prices of our properties to land, building and improvements based on determinations of the relative fair values of these assets assuming the properties are vacant. We determine the fair value of each property using methods similar to those used by independent appraisers. For properties qualifying as acquired businesses under Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations, weWe allocate a portion of the purchase price of our properties to above market and below market leases based on the present value (using an interest rate which reflects the risks associated with acquired in place leases at the time each property was acquired by us) of the difference, if any, between (i) the contractual amounts to be paid pursuant to the acquired in place leases and (ii) our estimates of fair market lease rates for the corresponding leases, measured over a period equal to the terms of the respective leases. We allocate a portion of the purchase price to acquired in place leases and tenant relationships based upon market estimates to lease up the property based on the leases in place at the time of purchase.  We allocate this aggregate value between acquired in place lease values and tenant relationships based on our evaluation of the specific characteristics of each tenant’s lease. However, we have not separated the value of tenant relationships from the value of acquired in place leases because such value and related amortization expense is immaterial to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In making these allocations, we consider factors such as estimated carrying costs during the expected lease up periods, including real estate taxes, insurance and other operating income and expenses and costs, such as leasing commissions, legal and other related expenses, to execute similar leases in current market conditions at the time a property was acquired by us. If the value of tenant relationships becomes material in the future, we may separately allocate those amounts and amortize the allocated amounts over the estimated life of the relationships. For transactions that qualify as business combinations, we allocate the excess, if any, of the consideration over the fair value of the assets acquired to goodwill.
We amortize capitalized above market lease values (included in acquired in place real estate leases in our consolidated balance sheets) and below market lease values (presented as assumed real estate lease obligations in our consolidated balance sheets) as a reduction or increase, respectively, to rental income over the terms of the associated leases. Such amortization resulted in net decreases to rental income of $2,764, $1,457 $1,155, and $868$1,157 during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. We amortize the value of acquired in place leases (included in acquired real estate leases in our consolidated balance sheets), exclusive of the value of above market and below market acquired in place leases, over the terms of the associated leases. Such amortization, which is included in depreciation and amortization expense, amounted to $53,410, $27,546, $27,467, and $26,844$27,467 during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. When a lease is terminated prior to its stated expiration, we write off the unamortized amounts relating to that lease.
Capitalized above market lease values were $39,261$46,096 and $37,875$39,261 as of December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $22,753$27,259 and $21,469,$22,753, respectively. Capitalized below market lease values were $20,603$25,973 and $25,553$20,603 as of December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $12,338 and $9,977, and $12,818, respectively. The value of acquired in place leases, exclusive of the value of above market and below market acquired in place leases, was $203,368 and $188,471 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $95,028 and


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

$86,610,The value of acquired in place leases, exclusive of the value of above market and below market acquired in place leases, was $472,928 and $203,368 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $139,893 and $95,028, respectively. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the weighted average amortization periods for capitalized above market leases, lease origination value and capitalized below market lease values were 4.44.0 years, 5.05.6 years and 6.75.7 years, respectively.  Future amortization of net intangible lease assets and liabilities, to be recognized over the current terms of the associated leases as of December 31, 20162017 are estimated to be $33,578 in 2017, $28,828$97,114 in 2018, $19,853$70,790 in 2019, $49,230 in 2019, $10,478 in 2020, $7,959$36,321 in 2021, $27,313 in 2022 and $13,526$58,263 thereafter.
We regularly evaluate whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred that could indicate an impairment in the value of long lived assets. If there is an indication that the carrying value of an asset is not recoverable, we estimate the projected undiscounted cash flows to determine if an impairment loss should be recognized. We determine the amount of any impairment loss by comparing the historical carrying value to estimated fair value. We estimate fair value through an evaluation of recent financial performance and projected discounted cash flows using standard industry valuation techniques. In addition to consideration of impairment upon the events or changes in circumstances described above, we regularly evaluate the remaining lives of our long lived assets. If we change our estimate of the remaining lives, we allocate the carrying value of the affected assets over their revised remaining lives.
Equity Method Investments. We account for our investments in Affiliates Insurance Company, or AIC, and SIR using the equity method of accounting. Significant influence is present through common representation on the boards of trustees or directors of us, AIC and SIR and our significant ownership interest in SIR. Our Managing Trustees areTrustee is also the managing trusteestrustee of SIR.  Our Managing Trustees are also directors, officers andTrustee as the current sole trustee of ABP Trust is the controlling shareholders (through ABP Trust)shareholder of The RMR Group Inc., or RMR Inc. He is also a director and officer of RMR Inc. Substantially all of the business of RMR Inc. is conducted by its majority owned subsidiary, The RMR Group LLC, or RMR LLC, which is our manager and the manager of us, AIC and SIR. Each of our Trustees is a director of AIC and one of our Independent Trustees is also an independent trustee of SIR. See Notes 7 and 12 for a further discussion of our investments in AIC and SIR.
In connection with the FPO Transaction, we acquired 50% and 51% interests in two unconsolidated joint ventures which own two properties (three buildings). The properties owned by these joint ventures are encumbered by an aggregate $82,000 of mortgage indebtedness. We do not control the activities that are most significant to these joint ventures and, as a result, we account for our investment in these joint ventures under the equity method of accounting. See Note 5 for a further discussion of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

We periodically evaluate our equity method investments for possible indicators of other than temporary impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable. These indicators may include the length of time and the extent to which the market value of our investment is below our carrying value, the financial condition of our investees, our intent and ability to be a long term holder of the investment and other considerations. If the decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary, we record an impairment charge to adjust the basis of the investment to its estimated fair value.  We recorded a $203,297 loss on impairment of our SIR investment in 2015. See Note 12 for more information on this impairment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash. Restricted cash consists of amounts escrowed for future real estate taxes, insurance, leasing costs, capital expenditures and debt service, as required by certain of our mortgage debts.
Revenue Recognition. We recognize rental income from operating leases that contain fixed contractual rent changes on a straight line basis over the term of the lease agreements. We increased rental income by $5,582, $2,691 $3,978 and $4,495$3,978 to record revenue on a straight line basis during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. Rents receivable include $21,686$27,267 and $18,995$21,686 of straight line rent receivables at December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively.
Certain of our leases with government tenants provide the tenant the right to terminate its lease if its respective legislature or other funding authority does not appropriate the funding necessary for the government tenant to meet its lease obligations; we have determined the fixed non-cancelable lease term of these leases to be the fully executed term of the lease

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

because we believe the occurrence of termination to be a remote contingency based on both our historical experience and our assessment of the likelihood of lease cancellation on a separate lease basis. 
Deferred Leasing Costs. Deferred leasing costs include brokerage, legal and other fees associated with our entering leases and we amortize those costs, which are included in depreciation and amortization expense, on a straight line basis over the terms of the respective leases. Deferred leasing costs totaled $28,039$32,990 and $20,300$28,039 at December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively, and accumulated amortization of deferred leasing costs totaled $6,960$10,013 and $6,001$6,960 at December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively. Future amortization of deferred leasing costs to be recognized during the current terms of our existing leases as of December 31, 2016,2017 are estimated to be $3,598 in 2017, $3,279$4,282 in 2018, $3,115$4,091 in 2019, $2,521$3,275 in 2020, $2,086$2,670 in 2021, $2,186 in 2022 and $6,480$6,473 thereafter.




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Available for Sale Securities. As of December 31, 2016,2017, we owned 1,214,225 common shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. Our investment in RMR Inc. is classified as an available for sale security. Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value based on their quoted market price at the end of each reporting period. Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities are recorded as a component of cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. As further described in Note 7, we initially acquired 1,541,201 shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. on June 5, 2015 for cash and share consideration of $17,462. We concluded, for accounting purposes, that the cash and share consideration we paid for our investment in these shares represented a discount to the fair value of these shares. We initially accounted for this investment under the cost method of accounting and recorded this investment at its estimated fair value of $39,833 as of June 5, 2015 using Level 3 inputs, as defined in the fair value hierarchy under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.  As a result, we recorded a liability for the amount by which the estimated fair value of these shares exceeded the price we paid for these shares. This liability is included in accounts payable and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. This liability is being amortized on a straight line basis through December 31, 2035 as an allocated reduction to our business management and property management fee expense. We amortized $1,087, $1,087 and $1,268$618 of this liability during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  These amounts are included in the net business management and property management fee amounts for such periods. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the remaining unamortized amount of this liability was $20,667.     $19,580. Future amortization of this liability as of December 31, 2017 is estimated to be $1,087 in 2018, $1,087 in 2019, $1,087 in 2020, $1,087 in 2021, $1,087 in 2022 and $14,145 thereafter.
We evaluate our investments in available for sale securities to determine if a decline in the fair value below our carrying value is other than temporary. We consider the severity and the duration of the decline, and our ability and intent to hold the investment until recovery when making this assessment. If a decline in fair value is determined to be other than temporary, an impairment loss equal to the difference between the investment’s carrying value and its fair value is recognized in earnings.
Debt Issuance Costs. Debt issuance costs include capitalized issuance or assumption costs related to borrowings, which are amortized to interest expense over the terms of the respective loans. Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization, for our revolving credit facility are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, debt issuance costs for our revolving credit facility were $5,234 and $5,234, respectively, and accumulated amortization of debt issuance costs for our revolving credit facility were $2,617$3,849 and $1,385,$2,617, respectively. Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization, for our unsecured term loans, senior unsecured notes and mortgage notes payable are presented as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability in our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization, for our unsecured term loans, senior unsecured notes, and mortgage notes payable totaled $14,725$15,750 and $6,026,$14,725, respectively. Future amortization of debt issuance costs to be recognized with respect to our revolving credit facility, unsecured term loans, senior unsecured notes and mortgage notes as of December 31, 20162017 are estimated to be $2,892 in 2017, $2,896$3,469 in 2018, $1,639$2,217 in 2019, $779$1,357 in 2020, $640$1,217 in 2021, $826 in 2022 and $8,496$8,049 thereafter.
Income Taxes. We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the IRC, and, accordingly, we generally will not be subject to federal income taxes provided we distribute our taxable income and meet certain other requirements to qualify as a REIT. We are, however, subject to certain state and local taxes.
Cumulative Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).Income. Cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) represents the unrealized gain (loss) on the RMR Inc. shares we own and our share of the cumulative comprehensive income (loss) of our equity method investees, SIR and AIC.  See Notes 2, 7 and 12 for further information regarding these investments.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Use of Estimates. Preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and related notes. The actual results could differ from these estimates.
Per Common Share Amounts. We calculate basic earnings per common share by dividing net income (loss) available for common shareholders by the weighted average number of our common shares of beneficial ownership, $.01 par value, or our common shares, outstanding during the period. We calculate diluted earnings per share using the more dilutive of the two class method or the treasury stock method.  Unvested share awards and other potentially dilutive common shares and the related impact on earnings, are considered when calculating diluted earnings per share.




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Segment Reporting. We operate in two business segments: direct ownership of real estate properties that are primarily leased to government tenants and our equity method investment in SIR.
Note 3.    Weighted Average Common Shares

The following table provides a reconciliation of the weighted average number of common shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31,For the Year Ended December 31,
2016 2015 20142017 2016 2015
Weighted average common shares for basic earnings per share71,050
 70,700
 61,313
84,633
 71,050
 70,700
Effect of dilutive securities: unvested share awards21
 
 86
20
 21
 
Weighted average common shares for diluted earnings per share71,071
 70,700
 61,399
84,653
 71,071
 70,700
Note 4.    RecentNew Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2016,2017, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2015-02,2017-01, ConsolidationClarifying the Definition of a Business. Among other things, thisThis update changes howprovides additional guidance on evaluating whether a transaction should be accounted for as an entity determines the primary beneficiaryacquisition (or disposal) of assets or of a variable interest entity. Thebusiness. This update defines three requirements for a set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a “set”) to be considered a business: inputs, processes and outputs. As a result of the implementation of this update, did not havecertain property acquisitions, which under previous guidance were accounted for as business combinations, are now accounted for as acquisitions of assets. In an impact in our consolidated financial statements.
On January 1, 2016, we adopted FASB ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires debt issuanceasset acquisition, certain acquisition costs are capitalized as opposed to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability, and FASB ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements —Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting, which addresses the presentation of debt issuance costs related to line of credit arrangements. The implementation of these updates resulted in the reclassification of certain of our capitalized debt issuance costs as an offset to the associated debt liability in our consolidated balance sheets. The classification of capitalized debt issuance costs related to our revolving credit facility remains unchanged in accordance with ASU No. 2015-15. As of December 31, 2015, debt issuance costs related to our unsecured term loans, senior unsecured notes and mortgage notes payable of $3,510, $2,172 and $344, respectively, were reclassified from assets to the associated debt liability in our consolidated balance sheets.
On January 1, 2016, we adopted FASB ASU No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which eliminates the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement period adjustments retrospectively. Instead, acquirers must recognize measurement period adjustments during the period in which they determine the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts they would have recorded inexpensed under previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The implementation of this update did not have an impact in our consolidated financial statements.guidance.

On December 31, 2016, we adopted FASB ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern: Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This update requires an entity to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or within one year after the financial statements are available to be issued when applicable) and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The implementation of this update did not have an impact in our consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers("ASU 2014-09"), which outlines a comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. ASU No. 2014-09 states that “an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.” While ASU No. 2014-09 specifically references contracts with customers, it may apply to certain other transactions such as the sale of real estate or equipment. In August 2015, the FASB provided for a one-year deferral of the effective date for ASU No. 2014-09, which is now effective for us beginning January 1, 2018. A substantial portion of our revenue consists of rental income from leasing arrangements, which is specifically excluded from ASU No. 2014-09. We are continuing to evaluatehave evaluated ASU No. 2014-09 (and related clarifying guidance issued by the FASB); however, we do and the adoption will not expect its adoption to have a significantmaterial impact on the amount or timing of our revenue recognition in theour consolidated financial statements with the exception of profit recognition on real estate sales. We




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

currently have recorded a deferred gain on sale of real estate of $712 that under current guidance would have beenbe recognized in 2021 or upon repayment of a promissory note we received in connection with the sale but will be recognized in its entirety upon adoption of ASU No. 2014-09. We currently expect to adopt the standard.standard using the modified retrospective approach.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which changes how entities measure certain equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the fair value option that are attributable to their own credit. This update is effective for all prospective interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted subject2017. We expect to certain conditions. Currently, changes in fair valuerecord an adjustment of these investments are recorded through other comprehensive income (loss). ASU No. 2016-01 states that these changes will be recorded through earnings. We are continuing$45,117 on January 1, 2018 to evaluate this guidance, but we expect the implementation of this guidance will affect howreclassify historical changes in the fair value of our available for sale securities we hold are presentedequity investments from other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Future changes in the fair value of our consolidated financial statements.equity investments will be recorded through earnings in accordance with ASU No. 2016-01.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation anddisclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e., lessees and lessors). ASU No. 2016-02 requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as eitherfinance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase of the leased asset by the lessee. This classificationwill determine whether the lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-linestraight line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is alsorequired to record a right of use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a termof 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. The new standard requires lessors to account for leases using anapproach that is substantially equivalent to existing guidance for sales type leases, direct financing leases and operating leases. ASU No. 2016-02 is effective forreporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the potential impact the adoption of ASU No.2016-02 will have in our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-09 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016. We do not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 to have a material impact in our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-CreditInstruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires that entities use a new forward looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowance for credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses is based upon historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessing the potential impact thatthe adoption of ASU No. 2016-13 will have in our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which clarifies how companies present and classify certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessingexpect this guidance will impact the potential impact thatclassification of distributions from our equity method investments. Upon adoption, of ASU No. 2016-15 will have in our consolidated financial statements.we expect to reclassify $2,945 and $2,956 from cash flow from investing activities to cash flow from operating activities for 2017 and 2016, respectively.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash, which clarifies howrequires companies should present restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Companies willto show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The new standard also requires a reconciliation of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related captions in the balance sheet.sheets. ASU No. 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessingyears and requires the potential impact thatusage of a retrospective transition method. Upon the adoption of ASU No. 2016-18, we will havepresent the changes in the total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017,statements of cash flows, whereas under the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifyingcurrent guidance we present the Definition of a Business, which provides additional guidance on evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or of a business. The update defines three requirements for a set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a “set”) to be considered a business: inputs, processes and outputs. ASU No. 2017-01 is effective for annual periods beginning after




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This update will be applied prospectively to any transactions occurring withinchanges during the period of adoption. We are currently assessing the impact of the update; however, subsequent to adoption we believe certain property acquisitions which under previous guidance would have been accounted for as business combinations will be accounted for as acquisitions of assets. In an acquisition of assets, certain acquisition costs are capitalized as opposed to expensed under business combination guidance.cash and cash equivalents only.

Note 5. Real Estate Properties
As of December 31, 2016,2017, we wholly owned 73108 properties (95(167 buildings), with an undepreciated carrying value of $1,888,760, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations with an undepreciated carrying value of $12,260.$2,975,721 and had a noncontrolling ownership interest in two unconsolidated joint ventures that own two properties (three buildings). We generally lease space at our properties on a gross lease or modified gross lease basis pursuant to fixed term contracts expiring between 20172018 and 2032.2034.  Our leases generally require us to pay all or some property operating expenses and to provide all or most property management services.  During the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, we entered into 6175 leases for 1,613,0411,604,783 rentable square feet including a 25,579 square foot expansion to be constructed at an existing property, for a weighted (by rentable square feet) average lease term of 8.67.6 years and we made commitments for approximately $38,489$18,249 of leasing related costs. As of December 31, 2016,2017, we have estimated unspent leasing related obligations of $26,459 plus we have committed to redevelop and expand an existing property at an estimated cost to complete of approximately $15,355.$31,310. During the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, we capitalized $52$511 of interest expense related to the redevelopment and expansion of thean existing property referenced above.property.

Our future minimum leaseFPO Transaction

On October 2, 2017, we completed our acquisition of First Potomac Realty Trust, or FPO, pursuant to merger transactions, as a result of which we acquired 35 office properties (72 buildings) with 6,028,072 rentable square feet, and FPO's 50% and 51% interests in two joint ventures that own two properties (three buildings) with 443,867 rentable square feet, or collectively, the FPO Transaction. The aggregate value we paid for FPO was $1,370,888, including $651,696 in cash to FPO's shareholders, the repayment of $483,000 of FPO corporate debt, the assumption of $167,548 of mortgage debt; this amount excludes the $82,000 of mortgage debt that encumber the two properties owned by the two joint ventures and the payment of certain transaction fees and expenses, net of FPO cash on hand. We financed the cash payments related to our properties, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, and estimated real estate tax and other expense reimbursements scheduled to be received during the current terms of the existing leases as of December 31, 2016 are as follows:
2017$242,867
2018219,676
2019190,106
2020140,014
2021118,815
Thereafter364,419
 $1,275,897
Certain of our government tenants have the right to terminate their leases before the lease term expires. As of December 31, 2016, excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, government tenants who currently represent approximately 6.6% of our total future minimum lease payments have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases before the stated terms of their leases expire. In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026 and 2027, early termination rights become exercisable by other government tenants who currently represent an additional approximately 1.8%, 1.8%, 7.3%, 12.8%, 1.3%, 4.6%, 2.8%, 3.7%, and 2.2% of our total future minimum lease payments, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2016, 15 of our government tenants have the currently exercisable right to terminate their leases if the respective legislature or other funding authority does not appropriate the funding necessary for the government tenant to meet its obligation. These 15 tenants represent approximately 18.8% of our total future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2016.FPO Transaction with


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

borrowings under our revolving credit facility and with cash on hand, including net proceeds from our public offerings of common shares and senior unsecured notes, as described further in Notes 9 and 11. We accounted for the FPO Transaction as an asset acquisition Our allocation of the purchase price was based on estimates of the relative fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities.

The following table summarizes the total consideration paid and the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the FPO Transaction:
Total Purchase Price:  
 Cash consideration $1,175,140
 Acquisition related costs 9,575
 Total cash consideration 1,184,715
 
Preferred units of limited partnership issued (1)
 20,221
 Acquired net working capital (1,596)
 Assumed mortgage notes 167,548
 Non-cash portion of purchase price 186,173
 Gross purchase price $1,370,888
    
Purchase Price Allocation:  
 Land $360,909
 Buildings and improvements 681,340
 
Acquired real estate leases (2)
 283,498
 Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures 51,305
 Cash 11,191
 Restricted cash 1,018
 Rents receivable 2,672
 Other assets 3,640
 Total assets 1,426,694
    
 
Mortgage notes payable (3)
 (167,936)
 
Assumed real estate lease obligations (2)
 (5,776)
 Accounts payable and accrued expenses (10,640)
 Rents collected in advance (1,436)
 Security deposits (4,849)
 Net assets acquired 1,204,936
    
 Assumed working capital (1,596)
 Assumed principal balance of debt 167,548
 Gross purchase price $1,370,888
    

(1)Pursuant to the terms of the FPO Transaction, each unit of limited partnership interest in FPO's operating partnership that was not liquidated on the closing date was exchanged on a one-for-one basis for 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units of the surviving subsidiary. As of December 31, 2017, there are 1,814 of 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units outstanding. Beginning on October of each year and ending January 15 of the following year, with the first such period beginning October 1, 2019, holders have the right to redeem their 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units for cash equal to $11.15 per unit. Beginning on April 1 of each year and ending June 30 of that year, with the first such period beginning April 1, 2018, we have the right to redeem all or any portion of the outstanding 5.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Units for cash at $11.15 per unit. As of December 31, 2017, the carrying value of

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

these Series A Cumulative Preferred Units was $20,496 and is recorded as temporary equity on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2017.

(2)As of the date acquired, the weighted average amortization periods for capitalized above market lease values, lease origination value and capitalized below market lease values were 3.2 years, 3.1 years and 3.8 years, respectively.

(3)Includes fair value adjustments totaling $388 on $167,936 principal amount of mortgage notes we assumed in connection with the FPO Transaction.

Pro Forma Information (Unaudited):

The following table presents our pro forma results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 as if the FPO Transaction and related financing activities had occurred on January 1, 2016. The historical FPO results of operations included in this pro forma financial information have been adjusted to remove the results of operations of properties and joint venture interests FPO sold from January 1, 2016 to October 2, 2017, the closing date of the FPO Transaction. The effect of these adjustments was to decrease pro forma rental income $804 and $17,810 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and to decrease net income (loss) $47,019 and $5,403 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

This pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what our actual financial position or results of operations would have been for the periods presented or for any future period. Differences could result from numerous factors, including future changes in our portfolio of investments, capital structure, property level operating expenses and revenues, including rents expected to be received on our existing leases or leases we may enter during and after 2018, changes in interest rates and other reasons. Actual future results are likely to be different from amounts presented in this pro forma financial information and such differences could be significant.
 Year Ended December 31,
 2017 2016
Rental income$437,101
 $412,245
Net income (loss)(25,898) 11,630
Net income (loss) per share$(0.26) $0.12

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized revenues of $36,722 and operating income of $3,230 from the consolidated properties acquired in the FPO Transaction and ($621) in equity in losses from our unconsolidated joint ventures acquired in the FPO Transaction.

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures

    We own interests in two joint ventures that own two properties (three buildings). We account for these investments under the equity method of accounting. As of December 31, 2017, our investment in unconsolidated joint ventures consisted of the following:
Joint Venture GOV Ownership GOV Carrying Value of Investment at December 31, 2017 Property Type Number of Buildings Location Square Feet
Prosperity Metro Plaza 51% $27,888
 Office 2 Fairfax, VA 328,456
1750 H Street, NW 50% 22,314
 Office 1 Washington, DC 115,411
Total   $50,202
   3   443,867
             


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

The following table provides a summary of the mortgage debt of our unconsolidated joint ventures:
Joint Venture 
 Interest Rate (1)
 Maturity Date Principal Balance at December 31, 2017
Prosperity Metro Plaza 4.09% 12/1/2029 $50,000
1750 H Street, NW 3.69% 8/1/2024 32,000
Weighted Average/Total 3.93%   $82,000
       

(1)Includes the effect of mark to market purchase accounting.

At December 31, 2017, the aggregate unamortized basis difference of our unconsolidated joint ventures of $8,933 is primarily attributable to the difference between the amount for which we purchased our interest in the joint ventures, including transaction costs, and the historical carrying value of the net assets of the joint ventures. This difference will be amortized over the remaining useful life of the related properties and included in the reported amount of equity in earnings of investees.
Other 2017 Acquisition Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we acquired one property (one building) located in Manassas, VA with 69,374 rentable square feet. This property was 100% leased to Prince William County on the date of acquisition. This transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition. The purchase price was $12,657, including capitalized acquisition costs of $37. Our allocation of the purchase price of this acquisition is based on the relative estimated fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities is presented in the table below.  
      Number           
      of       Buildings Other 
Acquisition     Properties/ Square Purchase   and Assumed 
Date Location Type Buildings Feet Price Land Improvements Assets 
Jan-17 Manassas, VA Office 1/1 69,374
 $12,657
 $1,562
 $8,253
 $2,842
 

In September 2017, we acquired transferable development rights that will allow us to expand a property we own in Washington, D.C. for a purchase price of $2,030, excluding acquisition costs.

2016 Acquisition Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we acquired three properties (five buildings) with a combined 830,185 rentable square feet and a land parcel adjacent to one of our existing properties for an aggregate purchase price of $199,031,$199,304, excluding acquisition costs. Our allocation of the purchase price of these acquisitions based on the estimated fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities is presented in the table below.
      Number              
      of       Buildings Other   Acquired
Acquisition     Properties/ Square Purchase   and Assumed Acquired Lease
Date Location Type Buildings Feet 
Price (1)
 Land Improvements Assets Leases Obligations
1/29/2016 
Sacramento, CA(2)
 Office 1 / 1 337,811
 $79,235
 $4,688
 $61,722
 $2,167
 $11,245
 $(587)
7/6/2016 
Atlanta, GA(3)
 Land  
 1,670
 1,670
 
 
 
 
12/20/2016 
Rancho Cordova, CA(2)(4)
 Office 1 / 1 82,896
 13,943
 1,465
 8,537
 
 3,941
 
12/22/2016 
Chantilly, VA(2)(4)
 Office 1 / 3 409,478
 104,183
 6,974
 74,116
 
 23,093
 
      3 / 5 830,185
 $199,031
 $14,797
 $144,375
 $2,167
 $38,279
 $(587)
            Number                 
      of       Buildings Other   Acquired
Acquisition     Properties/ Square Purchase   and Assumed Acquired Lease
Date Location Type Buildings Feet 
Price (1)
 Land Improvements Assets Leases Obligations
Jan-16 
Sacramento, CA (2)
 Office 1/1 337,811
 $79,508
 $4,688
 $61,995
 $2,167
 $11,245
 $(587)
Jul-16 
Atlanta, GA (3)
 Land  
 1,670
 1,670
 
 
 
 
Dec-16 
Rancho Cordova, CA (2)
 Office 1/1 82,896
 13,943
 1,466
 8,797
 
 3,680
 
Dec-16 
Chantilly, VA (2)
 Office 1/3 409,478
 104,183
 6,966
 74,214
 
 23,003
 
      3/5 830,185
 $199,304
 $14,790
 $145,006
 $2,167
 $37,928
 $(587)

(1)Excludes acquisition costs.
(2)Accounted for as a business combination. 
(3)On July 6, 2016, we acquired a land parcel adjacent to on our existing properties for $1,623. We accounted for this transaction as an asset acquisition and capitalized acquisition related costs of $47.
(4)The allocation of the purchase price is based on preliminary estimates and may change upon the completion of (i) third party valuations and (ii) our analysis of acquired in place lease and land and building valuations.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

2018 Disposition Activities
In August 2016,January 2018, we entered an agreement to acquire transferable development rights that would allow us to expand a property we own in Washington, D.C. for a purchase price of $2,030, excluding acquisition costs.

In January 2017, we acquiredsell an office property (one building) located in Manassas, VAMinneapolis, MN with 69,374193,594 rentable square feet for $20,000, excluding closing costs. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded a purchase price$9,260 loss on impairment of $13,200,real estate to reduce the carrying value of this property to its estimated fair value. This sale is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2018.

In February 2018, we entered an agreement to sell an office property (one building) located in Safford, AZ with 36,139 rentable square feet for $8,250, excluding acquisition relatedclosing costs. This sale is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2018.

In February 2018, we entered an agreement to sell an office property (one building) located in Sacramento, CA with 110,500 rentable square feet for $10,755, excluding closing costs. This sale is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2018.

Our pending acquisitionsdispositions are subject to conditions; accordingly, we cannot be sure that we will complete these acquisitionstransactions or that these acquisitionstransactions will not be delayed or the terms of these acquisitionstransactions will not change.

As part of our long term financing plans for the FPO Transaction and to reduce our financial leverage, we expect to dispose of certain additional properties. We are marketing or plan to market for sale 28 properties (61 buildings) including properties acquired as part of the FPO Transaction, with a carrying value of $658,190 as of December 31, 2017. We cannot be sure we will sell any properties or sell them for prices in excess of our carrying values.

2017 Disposition Activities - Continuing Operations

In October 2017, we sold one vacant office property (one building) located in Albuquerque, NM with 29,045 rentable square feet and a net book value of $1,885 as of the date of sale for $2,000, excluding closing costs. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded a $230 loss on impairment of real estate to reduce the carrying value of this property to its estimated fair value.

2017 Disposition Activities – ContinuingDiscontinued Operations

In August 2017, we sold one vacant office property (one building) in Falls Church, VA with 164,746 rentable square feet and a net book value of $12,901 as of the date of sale for $13,523, excluding closing costs. Results of operations for this property, which qualified as held for sale prior to our adoption in 2014 of ASU No. 2014-8, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, are classified as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded an adjustment of $619 to increase the carrying value of this property to its estimated fair value less costs to sell.

Summarized balance sheet and income statement information for this property is as follows:

Balance Sheets
  As of December 31,
  2016
Real estate properties, net $12,260
Other assets 281
Assets of discontinued operations $12,541
   
Other liabilities $45
Liabilities of discontinued operations $45


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Statements of Operations
  Year Ended December 31,
  2017 2016 2015
Rental income $17
 $68
 $114
Real estate taxes (88) (97) (92)
Utility expenses (97) (146) (161)
Other operating expenses (202) (300) (272)
General and administrative (76) (114) (114)
Increase in carrying value of property included in discontinued operations 619
 
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $173
 $(589) $(525)

2016 Disposition Activities

In July 2016, we sold an office property (one 1 building ) in Savannah, GA with 35,228 rentable square feet that had a net book value of $2,986 for $4,000, excluding closing costs. In connection with this sale, we provided $3,600 of mortgage financing to the buyer. The mortgage note requires interest to be paid at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 4.0%, subject to a minimum annual interest rate of 5.0%, and requires monthly payments of interest only until maturity on June 30, 2021. This sales transaction did not qualify for full gain recognition under GAAP and is being accounted for under the installment method. Accordingly, we recognized a gain on sale of real estate of $79 during the year ended December 31, 2016 and recorded a deferred gain of $712, which we currently expect to recognize when the mortgage note is repaid. The mortgage note receivable of $3,600, net of the $712 deferred gain, is included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheetsheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Operating leases

Our future minimum lease payments related to our consolidated properties and estimated real estate tax and other expense reimbursements scheduled to be received during the current terms of the existing leases as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:
2018$367,883
2019330,792
2020258,847
2021220,758
2022180,558
Thereafter564,621
 $1,923,459
Certain of our government tenants have the right to terminate their leases before the lease term expires. As of December 31, 2017, government tenants who currently represent approximately 4.5% of our total future minimum lease payments have currently exercisable rights to terminate their leases before the stated terms of their leases expire. In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, early termination rights become exercisable by other government tenants who currently represent an additional approximately 0.8%, 5.6%, 10.3%, 2.3%, 5.5%, 1.0%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 2.3% and 1.8% of our total future minimum lease payments, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, 26 of our government tenants have the currently exercisable right to terminate their leases if the respective legislature or other funding authority does not appropriate the funding necessary for the government tenant to meet its obligation. These 26 tenants represent approximately 11.7% of our total future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2017.
As part of the FPO Transaction, we assumed the lease for FPO's former corporate headquarters, which expires on January 31, 2021. We sublease a portion of the space, which sublease expires on January 31, 2021. Rent expense incurred under the lease, net of sublease revenue, was $374 for the year ended December 31, 2017.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

We classified this property as held for sale asFuture minimum rental payments due under the lease, net of June 30, 2016. The results of operations for this property were included in continuing operations in our consolidated financial statements up to the date of sale.  Summarized balance sheet information for the propertysubleased revenue, as of December 31, 2015 is2017 are summarized as follows:
  December 31,
  2015
Real estate properties, net $3,071
Rents receivable 1
Other assets 26
Assets of property held for sale $3,098
   
Other liabilities $43
Liabilities of property held for sale $43

Disposition Activities – Discontinued Operations
In March 2016, we entered an agreement to sell an office property (one building) in Falls Church, VA with 164,746 rentable square feet and a net book value of $12,282 at December 31, 2016.  The contract sales price is $13,148, excluding closing costs.  This sale is subject to conditions, and we cannot be sure that the sale of this property will occur, that the sale will not be delayed or that its terms will not change.

Results of operations for two properties (two buildings) we sold in 2014 and the Falls Church, VA property (one building) disclosed above, which qualified as held for sale prior to our adoption in 2014 of ASU No. 2014-8, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, are classified as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements. Summarized balance sheet and income statement information for the properties classified as discontinued operations is as follows:

Balance Sheets
  December 31, December 31,
  2016 2015
Real estate properties, net $12,260
 $12,260
Other assets 281
 208
Assets of discontinued operations $12,541
 $12,468
     
Other liabilities $45
 $54
Liabilities of discontinued operations $45
 $54
Statements of Operations
  Year Ended December 31,
  2016 2015 2014
Rental income $68
 $114
 $1,673
Real estate taxes (97) (92) (427)
Utility expenses (146) (161) (226)
Other operating expenses (300) (272) (459)
General and administrative (114) (114) (181)
Increase in carrying value of asset held for sale 
 
 2,344
Net gain on sale of properties 
 
 774
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $(589) $(525) $3,498
2018 $1,543
2019 1,584
2020 1,627
2021 139
  $4,893

Note 6. Business and Property Management Agreements with RMR LLC
We have no employees. The personnel and various services we require to operate our business are provided to us by RMR LLC. We have two agreements with RMR LLC to provide management services to us: (1) a business management




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

agreement, which relates to our business generally, and (2) a property management agreement, which relates to our property level operations. See Note 7 for further information regarding our relationship, agreements and transactions with RMR LLC.
Fees. Management Agreements with RMR LLC. Our management agreements with RMR LLC provide for an annual base management fee, an annual incentive management fee and property management and construction supervision fees, payable in cash:cash, among other terms:
Base Management Fee. The annual base management fee payable to RMR LLC by us for each applicable period is equal to the lesser of:

the sum of (a) 0.5% of the average aggregate historical cost of the real estate assets acquired from a REIT to which RMR LLC provided business management or property management services, or the Transferred Assets, plus (b) 0.7% of the average aggregate historical cost of our real estate investments excluding the Transferred Assets up to $250,000, plus (c) 0.5% of the average aggregate historical cost of our real estate investments excluding the Transferred Assets exceeding $250,000; and

the sum of (a) 0.7% of the average closing price per share of our common shares on the applicable stock exchange on which such shares are principally traded during such period, multiplied by the average number of our common shares outstanding during such period, plus the daily weighted average of the aggregate liquidation preference of each class of our preferred shares outstanding during such period, plus the daily weighted average of the aggregate principal amount of our consolidated indebtedness during such period, or, together, our Average Market Capitalization, up to $250,000, plus (b) 0.5% of our Average Market Capitalization exceeding $250,000.
The average aggregate historical cost of our real estate investments includes our consolidated assets invested, directly or indirectly, in equity interests in or loans secured by real estate and personal property owned in connection with such real estate (including acquisition related costs and costs which may be allocated to intangibles or are unallocated), all before reserves for depreciation, amortization, impairment charges or bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves; provided, however, we do not include our ownership of SIR common shares as part of our real estate investments for purposes of calculating our base management fee due to RMR LLC since SIR pays separate business management fees to RMR LLC.
Incentive Fee.Management Fee. The incentive management fee which may be earned by RMR LLC for an annual period is calculated as follows:

An amount, subject to a cap based on the value of our common shares outstanding, equal to 12% of the product of:

our equity market capitalization on the last trading day of the year immediately prior to the relevant three year measurement period (or, for purposes of calculating any incentive fee for 2015, our equity market capitalization on December 31, 2013), and


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

the amount (expressed as a percentage) by which the total returnsreturn per share, realized byas defined in the business management agreement and further described below, of our common shareholders (i.e., share price appreciation plus dividends) exceeds the total shareholder return of the SNL U.S. REIT Equity Index, (in each case subject to certain adjustments)or the benchmark return per share, for the relevant measurement period.

For purposes of the total return per share of our common shareholders, share price appreciation for a measurement period is determined by subtracting (1) the closing price of our common shares on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, on the last trading day of the year immediately before the first year of the measurement period from (2) the average closing price of our common shares on the 10 consecutive trading days having the highest average closing prices during the final 30 trading days in the last year of the measurement period.

The measurement periods are generally three year periods ending with the year for which the incentive fee is being calculated, with shorter periods applicable in the case of the calculation of the incentive management fee for 2015 (two years)(including the determinations of our equity market capitalization and 2014 (one year).the total return per share of our common shareholders) is subject to adjustments if additional common shares are issued during the measurement period.

The benchmark return per share is adjusted if our total return per share exceeds 12% per year in any measurement period and, generally, noNo incentive management fee is payable by us unless our total return per share during the measurement period is positive.

The measurement periods are three year periods ending with the year for which the incentive management fee is being calculated.

If our total return per share exceeds 12% per year in any measurement period, the benchmark return per share is adjusted to be the lesser of the total shareholder return of the SNL U.S. REIT Equity Index for such measurement period and 12% per year, or the adjusted benchmark return per share. In instances where the adjusted benchmark return per share applies, the incentive management fee will be reduced if our total return per share is between 200 basis points and 500 basis points below the SNL U.S. REIT Equity Index by a low return factor, as defined in the business management agreement, and there will be no incentive management fee paid if, in these instances, our total return per share is more than 500 basis points below the SNL U.S. REIT Equity Index.

The incentive management fee is subject to a cap. The cap is equal to the value of the number of our common shares which would, after issuance, represent 1.5% of the number of our common shares then outstanding multiplied by the average closing price of our common shares during the 10 consecutive trading days having the highest average closing prices during the final 30 trading days of the relevant measurement period.




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

IfIncentive management fees we paid to RMR LLC for any period may be subject to “clawback” if our financial statements for that period are restated due to material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirements under the securities laws as a result of the bad faith, fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence of RMR LLC for one or more periods in respectand the amount of which RMR LLC received an incentive management fee, the incentive management fee payable with respect to periods for which there has been a restatement shall be recalculated by, and approved by a majority vote of, our Independent Trustees, and RMR LLC may be required to pay us anwe paid was greater than the amount equal to the value in excess of that which RMR LLCwe would have receivedpaid based uponon the incentive management fee as recalculated, either in cash or our common shares.restated financial statements.

Property Management and Construction Supervision Fees.Fees. The property management fees payable to RMR LLC by us for each applicable period are equal to 3.0% of gross collected rents and the construction supervision fees payable to RMR LLC by us for each applicable period are equal to 5.0% of construction costs.
Pursuant to our business management agreement with RMR LLC, we recognized net business management fees of $12,464, $10,222 $9,934 and $10,226$9,934 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. The net business management fees we recognized are included in general and administrative expenses for these periods. The net business management fees we recognized for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 reflect a reduction of $603, $603 and $372, respectively, for the amortization of the liability we recorded in connection with the Up-C Transaction,our investment in RMR Inc., as further described in Note 2 under “Available for Sale Securities.7.
In accordance with the then applicable terms of our business management agreement, we issued 19,339 of our common shares to RMR LLC for the period from January 1, 2015 to May 31, 2015 and we issued 42,442 of our common shares to RMR LLC for the year ended December 31, 2014, in each case as payment for a part of the base business management fee we recognized.recognized for the applicable period. Beginning June 1, 2015, all management fees under our business

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

management agreement are paid in cash. No incentive management fee was payable to RMR LLC under our business management agreement for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 or 2014.2015. 
Pursuant to our property management agreement with RMR LLC, we recognized aggregate net property management and construction supervision fees of $11,566, $8,949 $7,977 and $8,203$7,977 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. The net property management and construction supervision fees we recognized for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 reflect a reduction of $484, $484 and 2014, respectively.$246, respectively, for the amortization of the liability we recorded in connection with our investment in RMR Inc., as further described in Note 2. These amounts are included in other operating expenses or have been capitalized, as appropriate, in our consolidated financial statements.
Expense Reimbursement. We are generally responsible for all of our operating expenses, including certain expenses incurred by RMR LLC on our behalf. Our property level operating expenses are generally incorporated into rents charged to our tenants, including certain payroll and related costs incurred by RMR LLC. We reimbursed RMR LLC $15,045, $12,276 $9,641 and $7,982$9,641 for property management related expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. These amounts are included in other operating expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for these periods. We are generally not responsible for payment of RMR LLC’s employment, office or administrative expenses incurred to provide management services to us, except for the employment and related expenses of RMR LLC’s employees assigned to work exclusively or partly at our properties, our share of the wages, benefits and other related costs of centralized accounting personnel and our share of RMR LLC’s costs for providing our internal audit function. Our Audit Committee appoints our Director of Internal Audit and our Compensation Committee approves the costs of our internal audit function. The amounts recognized as expense for internal audit costs were $276, $235 $252 and $286$252 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. These amounts are included in general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for these periods.

Term. Our management agreements with RMR LLC have terms that end on December 31, 2036,2037, and automatically extend on December 31st of each year for an additional year, so that the terms of our management agreements thereafter end on the 20th anniversary of the date of the extension.

Termination Rights. We have the right to terminate one or both of our management agreements with RMR LLC: (1) at any time on 60 days’ written notice for convenience, (2) immediately on written notice for cause, as defined therein, (3) on 60 days’ written notice given within 60 days after the end of an applicable calendar year for a performance reason, as defined therein, and (4) by written notice during the 12 months following a change of control of RMR LLC, as defined therein. RMR LLC has the right to terminate the management agreements for good reason, as defined therein.




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Termination FeeFee. . If we terminate one or both of our management agreements with RMR LLC for convenience, or if RMR LLC terminates one or both of our management agreements for good reason, we have agreed to pay RMR LLC a termination fee in an amount equal to the sum of the present values of the monthly future fees, as defined therein, for the terminated management agreement(s) for the term that was remaining prior to such termination, which, depending on the time of termination, would be between 19 and 20 years. If we terminate one or both of our management agreements with RMR LLC for a performance reason, we have agreed to pay RMR LLC the termination fee calculated as described above, but assuming a 10 year term was remaining prior to the termination. We are not required to pay any termination fee if we terminate our management agreements with RMR LLC for cause or as a result of a change of control of RMR LLC.

Transition ServicesServices. . RMR LLC has agreed to provide certain transition services to us for 120 days following an applicable termination by us or notice of termination by RMR LLC, including cooperating with us and using commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the orderly transfer of the management and real estate investment services provided under our business management agreement and to facilitate the orderly transfer of the management of the managed properties under our property management agreement, as applicable.

VendorsVendors. . Pursuant to our management agreements with RMR LLC, RMR LLC may from time to time negotiate on our behalf with certain third party vendors and suppliers for the procurement of goods and services to us. As part of this arrangement, we may enter agreements with RMR LLC and other companies to which RMR LLC

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

provides management services for the purpose of obtaining more favorable terms from such vendors and suppliers.

Investment Opportunities. Under our business management agreement with RMR LLC, we acknowledge that RMR LLC may engage in other activities or businesses and act as the manager to any other person or entity (including other REITs) even though such person or entity has investment policies and objectives similar to ours and we are not entitled to preferential treatment in receiving information, recommendations and other services from RMR LLC.

Note 7. Related Person Transactions
We have relationships and historical and continuing transactions with RMR LLC, RMR Inc. and others related to them. RMR LLC is a subsidiary of RMR Inc. OneOur Managing Trustee, Adam Portnoy, as the current sole trustee of our Managing Trustees,ABP Trust is the controlling shareholder of RMR Inc. and as the current sole trustee of ABP Trust beneficially owns all the class A membership units of RMR LLC not owned by RMR Inc. Adam Portnoy is athe managing director, president and chief executive officer and controlling shareholder (through ABP Trust) of RMR Inc. and an officer of RMR LLC.  OurBarry Portnoy was our other Managing Trustee Barry Portnoy, isand a managing director officer and controlling shareholder (through ABP Trust) of RMR Inc. and an officer of RMR LLC. ABP Trust is owned by Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy. Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy also own class A membership units of RMR LLC (through ABP Trust).Inc. until his death on February 25, 2018. Each of our executive officers is also an officer of RMR LLC. Our Independent Trustees also serve as independent directors or independent trustees of other companies to which RMR LLC or its affiliatessubsidiaries provide management services. BarryAdam Portnoy serves as a managing director or managing trustee of almost all of the public companies to which RMR LLC or its affiliatessubsidiaries provide management services and Adam Portnoy serves as a managing trustee of a majority of those companies.services. In addition, officers of RMR LLC and RMR Inc. serve as our officers and officers of other companies to which RMR LLC or its affiliatessubsidiaries provide management services. See Note 6 for further information regarding our relationship with RMR LLC.
Our Manager, RMR LLC. We have two agreements with RMR LLC to provide management services to us: (1) a business management agreement, which relates to our business generally, and (2) a property management agreement, which relates to our property level operations. See Note 6 for further information regarding our management agreements with RMR LLC.
Leases Withwith RMR LLC. We lease office space to RMR LLC in certain of our properties for RMR LLC’s property management offices. Pursuant to our lease agreements with RMR LLC, we recognized rental income from RMR LLC for leased office space of $303, $366 $341 and $61$341 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. Our office space leases with RMR LLC are terminable by RMR LLC if our management agreements with RMR LLC are terminated.
Share Awards to RMR LLC Employees. We have historically granted share awards to certain RMR LLC employees under our equity compensation plan. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, we awardedgranted annual share grantsawards of 57,350, 53,400 53,100 and 51,15053,100 of our common shares, respectively, to our officers and to other employees of RMR LLC, valued at $1,067, $1,183 $841 and $1,191,$841, respectively, based upon the closing price of our common shares on the applicable stock exchange on which our common shares were listed on the dates of grant. One fifth of these awards vested on the applicable grant datesdate and one fifth vests on each of the next four anniversaries of the grant dates.date. These awards to RMR LLC employees are in addition to the share awards granted to Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy, as our then Managing Trustees, and the fees we paid to RMR LLC. During 2016 and 2015,these periods, we purchased some of our common shares from our trustees and officers and certain other employees of RMR LLC in satisfaction of tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of our common shares. See Note 11 for further information regarding these purchases.




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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Acquisition of Interest in RMR LLC, Our Manager. On June 5, 2015, we and three other REITs to which RMR LLC provides management servicesmanaged REITs - Hospitality Properties Trust, SIR and Senior Housing Properties Trust, or collectively, the Other REITs - participated in a transaction, or the Up-C Transaction, by which we and the Other REITs each acquired shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc.The Up-C Transaction was completed pursuant to a transaction agreement by and among us, RMR LLC, itsABP Trust (RMR LLC’s then sole member, ABP Trust,member) and RMR Inc. and similar transaction agreements that each Other REIT entered into with RMR LLC, ABP Trust and RMR Inc. As part of the Up-C Transaction and concurrently with entering into the transaction agreements, on June 5, 2015, among other things:
We contributed 700,000 of our common shares and $3,917 in cash to RMR Inc. and RMR Inc. issued 1,541,201 shares of its class A common stock to us.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

We agreed to distribute approximately half of the shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. issued to us in the Up-C Transaction to our shareholders as a special distribution.

We entered into amended and restated business and property management agreements with RMR LLC which, among other things, amended the term, termination and termination fee provisions of those agreements. See Note 6 for further information regarding our management agreements with RMR LLC.

We entered into a registration rights agreement with RMR Inc. covering the shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. issued to us in the Up-C Transaction, pursuant to which we received demand and piggyback registration rights, subject to certain limitations.

We entered into a lock up and registration rights agreement with ABP Trust, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy pursuant to which they agreed not to transfer the 700,000 of our common shares ABP Trust received in the Up-C Transaction for a 10 year period ending on June 5, 2025 and we granted them certain registration rights, subject, in each case, to certain exceptions.
Each Other REIT participated in the Up-C Transaction in a similar manner. After giving effect to the Up-C Transaction, RMR LLC became a subsidiary of RMR Inc. and RMR Inc. became the managing member of RMR LLC.
Pursuant to the transaction agreements for the Up-C Transaction, on December 14, 2015, we distributed 768,032 shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. to our shareholders as a special distribution, which represented approximately half of the shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. issued to us in the Up-C Transaction; each Other REIT also distributed approximately half of the shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. issued to it in the Up-C Transaction to its respective shareholders. As a shareholder of SIR we received 441,056 class A common shares of RMR Inc. included in such shares that SIR distributed to its shareholders. RMR Inc. facilitated these distributions by filing a registration statement with the SEC to register the shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. being distributed and by listing those shares on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq. In connection with this distribution, we recognized a non-cash loss of $12,368 in the fourth quarter of 2015 as a result of the closing price of the class A common stock of RMR Inc. being lower than our carrying amount per share on the distribution date. See Notes 2 and 10 for information regarding the fair value of our investment in RMR Inc. as of December 31, 2016.2017.
Through their ownership of class A common stock of RMR Inc., class B-1 common stock of RMR Inc., class B-2 common stock of RMR Inc. and class A membership units of RMR LLC, as of December 31, 2016,2017, our then Managing Trustees, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy, in aggregate hold,held, directly and indirectly (including as trustees of ABP Trust), a 51.9% economic interest in RMR LLC and control 91.5%91.4% of the voting power of outstanding capital stock of RMR Inc. We currently hold 1,214,225 shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc., including 441,056 shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc. that SIR distributed to us as a result of our ownership of SIR common shares.
EQC.SIR. We were formerly a 100% owned subsidiary of Equity Commonwealth, or EQC. In 2009, we completed our initial public offering and ceased to be a majority owned subsidiary of EQC. One of our Managing Trustees, Adam Portnoy, was the president of EQC until May 23, 2014 and a managing trustee of EQC until March 25, 2014. Our other Managing Trustee, Barry Portnoy, was a managing trustee of EQC until March 25, 2014. RMR LLC generally provided business and property management services to EQC until September 30, 2014, when the applicable management agreements were terminated, except that RMR LLC provided management services to EQC in respect of EQC’s Australian assets and certain transition services to EQC until October 31, 2015.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

On July 8, 2014, we and RMR LLC entered into a stock purchase agreement, or the purchase agreement, with EQC, pursuant to which, on July 9, 2014, we acquired from EQC 21,500,000 SIR common shares, and RMR LLC acquired from EQC 500,000 SIR common shares. Our cash purchase price was equal to $677,500, or $31.51 per share, plus $11,300, or $0.53 per share, of accrued dividends as defined in the purchase agreement, for a total of $688,800, before acquisition related costs. RMR LLC purchased its 500,000 SIR common shares on the same terms, including for the same per share amounts that we paid. In addition, we and RMR LLC agreed, among other things, to indemnify EQC for certain claims related to the acquisition. In connection with the indemnity, we and RMR LLC entered into an allocation agreement with regard to our respective liabilities in the event of a claim for indemnification. 
On July 23, 2014, we and EQC agreed to terminate the provisions of a transaction agreement that we entered into in 2009 with EQC in connection with our initial public offering. The agreement had placed restrictions on both our and EQC’s investments in real property and provided certain rights of first refusal with respect to properties which we or EQC determined to divest. 
Since March 25, 2014, we have not considered EQC to be a related party.
SIR.We are SIR’s largest shareholder, owning approximately 27.9%27.8% of the outstanding SIR common shares as of December 31, 2016.2017. RMR LLC provides management services to both us and SIR. Our Managing Trustees,Trustee, Adam Portnoy, and Barry Portnoy, areis also the managing trusteestrustee of SIR. One of our Independent Trustees also serves as an independent trustee of SIR and our President and Chief Operating Officer also serves as the president and chief operating officer of SIR.
On February 28, 2015, we entered into a share purchase agreement, or the SIR Purchase Agreement, with Lakewood Capital Partners, LP, or Lakewood, and certain other related persons, or the Lakewood Parties, and, for the purpose of specified sections, SIR, pursuant to which, on March 4, 2015, we acquired from Lakewood 3,418,421 SIR common shares, representing approximately 3.9% of the then outstanding SIR common shares, for $95,203.
On February 28, 2015, our then Managing Trustees, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy, entered into similar separate share purchase agreements with the Lakewood Parties pursuant to which, on March 4, 2015, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy acquired 87,606 and 107,606 SIR common shares, respectively, from Lakewood and, on March 5, 2015, Adam Portnoy and Barry Portnoy each acquired 2,429 SIR common shares from William H. Lenehan, one of the Lakewood Parties.
AIC. We, ABP Trust, SIR and four other companies to which RMR LLC provides management services currently own AIC, an Indiana insurance company, in equal amounts and are parties to an amended and restateda shareholders agreement regarding AIC. All of our Trustees and all of the trustees and directors of the other AIC shareholders currently serve on the board of directors of AIC. RMR LLC provides management and administrative services to AIC pursuant to a management and administrative services

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

agreement with AIC. Pursuant to this agreement, AIC pays to RMR LLC a service fee equal to 3.0% of the total annual net earned premiums payable under then active policies issued or underwritten by AIC or by a vendor or an agent of AIC on its behalf or in furtherance of AIC’s business.
We and the other AIC shareholders participate in a combined property insurance program arranged and insured or reinsured in part by AIC. We paid aggregate annual premiums, including taxes and fees, of $1,032,$757, $1,032 and $1,277 and $526 in connection with this insurance program for the policy years ending June 30, 2018, 2017 2016 and 2015,2016, respectively, which amount for the current policy year ending June 30, 20172018 may be adjusted from time to time as we acquire andor dispose of properties that are included in this insurance program.
As of December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, our investment in AIC had a carrying value of $8,304, $7,235 $6,946 and $6,946, respectively. These amounts are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. We recognized income of $608, $137 $20 and $87$20 related to our investment in AIC for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively. These amounts are presented as equity in earnings of an investee in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Our other comprehensive income (loss) includes our proportionate part of unrealized gains (losses) on securities which are owned and held for sale by AIC of $461, $152 and ($20) and $2 related to our investment in AIC for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively.
Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance. We, RMR Inc., RMR LLC and certain other companies to which RMR LLC providesor its subsidiaries provide management services, including SIR, participate in a combined directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy. TheThis combined policy expires in September 2018.2019. We paid aggregate premiums of $91, $106 and $316 in 2017, 2016 and $529 in 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively, for these policies.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Note 8. Concentration
Tenant and Credit Concentration
We define annualized rental income as the annualized contractual base rents from our tenants pursuant to our lease agreements as of the measurement date, plus straight line rent adjustments and estimated recurring expense reimbursements to be paid to us, and excluding lease value amortization. The U.S. Government, 13 state governments, and threefive other government tenants combined were responsible for approximately 87.9%62.6%, 92.8%87.9% and 93.0%92.8% of our annualized rental income excluding properties classified as discontinued operations, as of December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, respectively. The U.S. Government is our largest tenant by annualized rental income and was responsible for approximately 60.6%43.5%, 67.0%60.6% and 69.0% of our annualized rental income, excluding properties classified as discontinued operations, as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Geographic Concentration
At December 31, 2016, our 73 properties (95 buildings), excluding one property (one building) classified as discontinued operations, were located in 31 states and the District of Columbia.  Properties located in California, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Georgia, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts were responsible for approximately 14.4%, 14.3%, 9.7%, 8.7%, 7.7%, 7.2% and 5.0%67.0% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Geographic Concentration
At December 31, 2017, our 108 wholly owned properties (167 buildings) were located in 30 states and the District of Columbia.  Consolidated properties located in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, California, Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts were responsible for approximately 23.2%, 17.7%, 14.9%, 9.6%, 5.6%, 4.4% and 3.2% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2017, respectively. Consolidated properties located in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market area were responsible for approximately 43.3% of our annualized rental income as of December 31, 2017.
Note 9.  Indebtedness
Our principal debt obligations at December 31, 20162017 were: (1) $160,000$570,000 of outstanding borrowings under our $750,000 unsecured revolving credit facility; (2) $550,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of term loans; (3) an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $660,000$960,000 of public issuances of senior unsecured notes; and (4) $27,508$183,147 aggregate principal amount of mortgage notes. 
Our $750,000 revolving credit facility, our $300,000 term loan and our $250,000 term loan are governed by a credit agreement, or our credit agreement, with a syndicate of institutional lenders that includes a number of features common to all of these credit arrangements. ThisOur credit agreement also includes a feature under which the maximum aggregate borrowing availability may be increased to up to $2,500,000 on a combined basis in certain circumstances.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Our $750,000 revolving credit facility is available for general business purposes, including acquisitions. The maturity date of our revolving credit facility is January 31, 2019 and, subject to the payment of an extension fee and meeting other conditions, we have an option to extend the stated maturity date of our revolving credit facility by one year to January 31, 2020.  We can borrow, repay and reborrow funds available under our revolving credit facility until maturity and no principal repayment is due until maturity. We are required to pay interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a premium, which was 125 basis points per annum at December 31, 20162017, on borrowings under our revolving credit facility.  We also pay a facility fee on the total amount of lending commitments under our revolving credit facility, which was 25 basis points per annum at December 31, 2016.2017. Both the interest rate premium and the facility fee are subject to adjustment based upon changes to our credit ratings. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the annual interest rate payable on borrowings under our revolving credit facility was 2.0%.  The2.7% and the weighted average annual interest rate for borrowings under our revolving credit facility was 1.7%2.4%, 1.5%1.7% and 1.7%1.5%,  respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014.2015.  As of December 31, 20162017 and February 21, 2017,23, 2018, we had $160,000$570,000 and $170,000$595,000 outstanding under our revolving credit facility, respectively.facility.
Our $300,000 unsecured term loan, which matures on March 31, 2020, is prepayable without penalty at any time.  We are required to pay interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a premium, which was 140 basis points per annum at December 31, 20162017, on the amount outstanding under our $300,000 term loan.  The interest rate premium is subject to adjustment based upon changes to our credit ratings.  As of December 31, 2016,2017, the annual interest rate for the amount outstanding under our $300,000 term loan was 2.2%3.0%.  The weighted average annual interest rate under our $300,000 term loan was 1.9%2.5%, 1.6%1.9% and 1.9%1.6%, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and for the period from November 21, 2014, the date we entered into the credit agreement, to December 31, 2014.respectively.
Our $250,000 unsecured term loan, which matures on March 31, 2022, is prepayable without penalty at any time. We are required to pay interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a premium, which was 180 basis points per annum as of December 31, 20162017, on the amount outstanding under our $250,000 term loan.  The interest rate premium is subject to adjustment based upon changes to our credit ratings.  As of December 31, 2016,2017, the annual interest rate for the amount outstanding under our $250,000 term loan was 2.6%3.4%.  The weighted average annual interest rate under our $250,000 term loan was 2.3%2.9%, 2.0%2.3% and 2.3%2.0%,

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

respectively,   for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Our credit agreement and senior unsecured notes indentures and their supplements provide for acceleration of payment of all amounts due thereunder upon the period from November 21, 2014,occurrence and continuation of certain events of default, such as, in the datecase of our credit agreement, a change of control of us, which includes RMR LLC ceasing to act as our business and property manager.  Our credit agreement and our senior unsecured notes indentures and their supplements also contain a number of covenants, including covenants that restrict our ability to incur debts, require us to maintain certain financial ratios and, in the case of our credit agreement, restrict our ability to make distributions under certain circumstances.  We believe we borrowedwere in compliance with the terms and conditions of the respective covenants under our $250,000 term loan, tocredit agreement and senior unsecured notes indentures and their supplements at December 31, 2014.2017.

On July 20, 2017, we issued $300,000 of 4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2022 in an underwritten public offering. The net proceeds from this offering of $295,399, after payment of the underwriters' discount and other offering expenses, were used to finance, in part, the FPO Transaction.

In May 2016, we issued $300,000 of 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2046 in an underwritten public offering. In June 2016, the underwriters exercised an option to purchase an additional $10,000 of these notes. The net proceeds from this offering of $299,691, after offering expenses, were used to repay all amounts then outstanding under our revolving credit facility and for general business purposes.purposes

As described in Note 5, in connection with the FPO Transaction we assumed five mortgage notes with an aggregate principal balance of $167,548. We recorded these mortgage notes at their estimated fair value aggregating $167,936 on the date of acquisition. These mortgage notes require quarterly paymentsare secured by five properties (five buildings). In November 2017, we repaid $10,000 of interest only through maturityprincipal of one of these mortgage notes as part of our assumption agreement with the lender. In connection with the FPO Transaction, we acquired FPO's 50% and may be repaid at par (plus accrued51% interests in two unconsolidated joint ventures with two mortgage notes with an aggregate principal balance of $82,000, which are encumbered by two properties (three buildings) owned by such joint ventures.

Concurrently with our entering into the FPO merger agreement, we entered a commitment letter with a group of institutional lenders for a 364-day senior unsecured bridge loan facility in an initial aggregate principal amount of up to $750,000. In July 2017, we and unpaid interest) on or after May 26, 2021. Our $350,000the lenders terminated this commitment letter and bridge loan facility as a result of 3.75%our

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

issuance of the senior unsecured notes due 2019 require semi-annual payments of interest only through maturitydescribed above and may be repaid at par (plus accrued and unpaid interest) on or after July 15, 2019 or before that date together with a make whole premium. Both issuancesthe proceeds from the sale of our senior notes are governed by an indenturecommon shares in July 2017 (see Note 11 for more information regarding this sale), and an applicable supplement.we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1,715.

Our credit agreement and senior unsecured notes indenture and its supplements provide for acceleration of payment of all amounts due thereunder upon the occurrence and continuation of certain events of default, such as, in the case of our credit agreement, a change of control of us, which includes RMR LLC ceasing to act as our business manager and property manager. Our senior unsecured notes indenture and its supplements and our credit agreement also contain a number of covenants, including covenants that restrict our ability to incur debts, require us to maintain certain financial ratios and, in the case of our credit agreement, restrict our ability to make distributions under certain circumstances.  We believe we were in compliance with the terms and conditions of the respective covenants under our senior unsecured notes indenture and its supplements and our credit agreement at December 31, 2016.
In February 2016, we repaid, at par, a $23,473 mortgage note requiring annual interest of 6.21% which was secured by one office property (one building) located in Landover, MD. This mortgage note was scheduled to mature in August 2016.  We recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $21 for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, which represented unamortized debt issuance costs related to this note.
 
In March 2016, we repaid, at par, an $83,000 mortgage note requiring annual interest of 5.55% which was secured by one office property (two buildings) located in Reston, VA.  This mortgage note was scheduled to mature in April 2016.  We recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of $125 for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, which represented the net unamortized debt premium and debt issuance costs related to this note.

At December 31, 2016, three2017, eight of our consolidated properties (three(eight buildings) with an aggregate net book value of $52,383$432,562 are encumbered by threeeight mortgages for an aggregate principal amount of $27,508.$183,147. Our mortgage notes are non-recourse, subject to certain limited exceptions and do not contain any material financial covenants.

None of our unsecured debt obligations require sinking fund payments prior to their maturity dates.

The required principal payments due during the next five years and thereafter under all our outstanding consolidated debt as of December 31, 20162017 are as follows:
Year Principal payment
  Principal payment
 
2017 $1,549
 
2018 1,671
  $3,672
 
2019 519,439
  931,541
 
2020 301,619
  338,433
 
2021 13,230
  14,420
 
2022 575,518
 
Thereafter 560,000
  399,563
 
 $1,397,508
(1) 
 $2,263,147
(1) 
   

(1)Total consolidated debt outstanding as of December 31, 2016,2017, net of unamortized premiums, discounts and certain issuance costs totaling $15,656$18,055 was $1,381,852.$2,245,092.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Note 10. Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities
The table below presents certain of our assets measured at fair value at December 31, 2016,2017, categorized by the level of inputs, as defined in the fair value hierarchy under GAAP, used in the valuation of each asset:

    Fair Value at Reporting Date Using    
    Quoted Prices in   Significant
  Estimated Active Markets for Significant Other Unobservable
  Fair Identical Assets Observable Inputs Inputs
Description Value (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3)
Recurring Fair Value Measurement Assets:        
Investment in RMR Inc. (1)
 $47,962
 $47,962
 $
 $
Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurement Assets:  
      
Property held for sale and classified as discontinued operations (2)
 $12,260
 $
 $
 $12,260
    Fair Value at Reporting Date Using    
    Quoted Prices in   Significant
  Estimated Active Markets for Significant Other Unobservable
  Fair Identical Assets Observable Inputs Inputs
Description Value (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3)
Recurring Fair Value Measurements Assets:        
Investment in RMR Inc. (1)
 $72,005
 $72,005
 $
 $
Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements Assets:  
      
One property (2)
 $19,667
 $
 $19,667
 $

(1)Our 1,214,225 shares of class A common stock of RMR Inc., which are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets, are reported at fair value which is based on quoted market prices (Level 1 inputs)inputs as defined in the fair value hierarchy under GAAP).  Our historical cost basis for these shares is $26,888 as of December 31, 2016.2017.  The net unrealized gain of $21,074$45,117 for these shares as of December 31, 20162017 is included in cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) in our consolidated balance sheets.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 


(2)
We estimated the fair value of thisa property we agreed to sell located in Minneapolis, MN at December 31, 20162017 based upon broker estimates of value less estimated sale coststhe selling price agreed to with a third party (Level 32 inputs as defined in the fair value hierarchy under GAAP).
See Note 5 for further details.

In addition to the assets described in the table above, our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, rents receivable, mortgage note receivable, accounts payable, a revolving credit facility, term loans, senior unsecured notes, mortgage notes payable, amounts due to related persons, other accrued expenses and security deposits.  At December 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, the fair values of our financial instruments approximated their carrying values in our consolidated financial statements due to their short term nature or variable interest rates, except as follows:
  As of December 31, 2016 As of December 31, 2015
  
Carrying  Amount (1) 
 Fair Value 
Carrying  Amount (1) 
 Fair Value
Senior unsecured notes, 3.75% interest rate, due in 2019 $346,952
 $354,078
 $345,809
 $351,692
Senior unsecured notes, 5.875% interest rate, due in 2046 299,892
 292,268
 
 
Mortgage note payable, 6.21% interest rate, due in 2016 (2) (3)       
 
 
 23,476
 24,038
Mortgage note payable, 5.55% interest rate, due in 2016 (2) (4)        
 
 
 83,375
 83,457
Mortgage note payable, 5.88% interest rate, due in 2021 (2)    
 13,841
 14,492
 14,045
 14,678
Mortgage note payable, 7.00% interest rate, due in 2019 (2)
 8,778
 9,188
 9,145
 9,645
Mortgage note payable, 8.15% interest rate, due in 2021 (2)          
 5,218
 5,575
 6,258
 6,711
  $674,681
 $675,601
 $482,108
 $490,221
  As of December 31, 2017 As of December 31, 2016
  
Carrying  Amount (1) 
 Fair Value 
Carrying  Amount (1) 
 Fair Value
Senior unsecured notes, 3.750% interest rate, due in 2019 $348,096
 $354,993
 $346,952
 $354,078
Senior unsecured notes, 5.875% interest rate, due in 2046 300,232
 320,416
 299,892
 292,268
Senior unsecured notes, 4.000% interest rate, due in 2022 295,812
 302,655
 
 
Mortgage note payable, 4.050% interest rate, due in 2030(2)(3)
 64,293
 65,198
 
 
Mortgage note payable, 5.720% interest rate, due in 2020(2)(3)
 36,085
 36,332
 
 
Mortgage note payable, 4.220% interest rate, due in 2022(2)(3)
 27,906
 28,432
 
 
Mortgage note payable, 4.800% interest rate, due in 2023(2)(3)
 25,501
 25,904
 
 
Mortgage note payable, 5.877% interest rate, due in 2021(2)
 13,620
 14,565
 13,841
 14,492
Mortgage note payable, 7.000% interest rate, due in 2019(2)
 8,391
 8,555
 8,778
 9,188
Mortgage note payable, 8.150% interest rate, due in 2021(2)
 4,111
 4,340
 5,218
 5,575
Mortgage note payable, 4.260% interest rate, due in 2020(2)(3)
 3,193
 3,216
 
 
  $1,127,240
 $1,164,606
 $674,681
 $675,601

(1)Carrying amount includes certain unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized premiums and discounts.

(2)We assumed these mortgages in connection with our acquisitions of the encumbered properties.  The stated interest rates for these mortgage debts are the contractually stated rates.  We recorded the assumed mortgages at estimated fair value on the date of acquisition and we are amortizing the fair value premiums, if any, to interest expense over the respective terms of the mortgages to reduce interest expense to the estimated market interest rates as of the date of acquisition.

(3)ThisIn connection with the FPO Transaction, we assumed five fixed rate mortgage note was repaid,notes with an aggregate principal balance of $167,548. We recorded these mortgage notes at par, in February 2016.
(4)This mortgage note was repaid, at par, in March 2016.their estimated fair value aggregating $167,936 on the date of acquisition.
 
We estimated the fair value of our senior unsecured notes due in 2019 and 2022 using an average of the bid and ask price of the notes as of the measurement date (Level 2 inputs as defined in the fair value hierarchy under GAAP). We estimated the fair value of our senior unsecured notes due in 2046 based on the closing price on Nasdaq (Level 1 inputs as defined in the fair value hierarchy under GAAP) as of the measurement date. We estimated the fair values of our mortgage notes payable by using discounted cash flow analyses and currently prevailing market terms as of the measurement date (Level 3 inputs as defined in

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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

the fair value hierarchy under GAAP).  Because Level 3 inputs are unobservable, our estimated fair value may differ materially from the actual fair value.

Note 11. Shareholders’ Equity
Common Share AwardsAwards:
We have common shares available for issuance under the terms of our 2009 Incentive Share Award Plan, or the 2009 Plan. As described in Note 7, we awardedgranted common sharesshare awards to our officers and certain other employees of RMR LLC in 2014, 20152017, 2016 and 2016.2015. We also awardedgranted each of our then six Trustees 3,000 common shares in 2017 with an aggregate value of $392 ($65 per Trustee), each of our then five Trustees 2,500 common shares in 2016 with an aggregate market value of $244 ($49 per Trustee), and each of our then five Trustees 2,500 common shares in 2015 with an aggregate market value of $247 ($49 per Trustee) and 2,500 common shares in 2014 with an aggregate market value of $318 ($64 per Trustee) as part of their annual compensation.  The values of the share grants were based upon the closing price of our common shares trading on Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, as applicable, on the date of grant. The common shares awarded to our

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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Trustees vested immediately. The common shares awardedgranted to our officers and certain other employees of RMR LLC vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the date of grant.
A summary of shares granted, forfeited, vested and vestedunvested under the terms of the 2009 Plan for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, is as follows:
 2016 2015 2014 2017 2016 2015
 Number of Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Number of Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Number of Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Number of Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Number of Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Number of Shares Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested shares, beginning of year 96,725
 $20.11 90,338
 $23.40 85,451
 $23.71 98,970
 $20.59 96,725
 $20.11 90,338
 $23.40
Shares granted 65,900
 21.66 65,600
 16.59 63,650
 23.70 75,350
 19.36 65,900
 21.66 65,600
 16.59
Shared forfeited or repurchased 
  (1,020) 23.41 
 
Shared forfeited 
  
  (1,020) 23.41
Shares vested (63,655) 20.97 (58,193) 21.20 (58,763) 24.17 (70,070) 20.80 (63,655) 20.97 (58,193) 21.20
Unvested shares, end of year 98,970
 $20.59 96,725
 $20.11 90,338
 $23.40 104,250
 $19.56 98,970
 $20.59 96,725
 $20.11
The 98,970104,250 unvested shares as of December 31, 20162017 are scheduled to vest as follows: 37,880shares in 2017,29,81040,120 shares in 2018, 20,60031,230 shares in 2019, and 10,68021,630 shares in 2020.2020 and11,270shares in 2021. These unvested shares are re-measured at fair value on a recurring basis using quoted market prices of the underlying shares. As of December 31, 2016,2017, the estimated future compensation expense for the unvested shares was $1,8871,933 based on the closing share price of our common shares on Nasdaq on December 31, 20162017 of $19.07.18.54. The weighted average period over which the compensation expense will be recorded is approximately 21 months. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014,2015, we recorded $1,371, $9321,377, $1,371 and $1,165,932, respectively, of compensation expense related to the 2009 Plan.  At December 31, 2016,2017, 1,554,1051,493,119 of our common shares remained available for issuance under the 2009 Plan.
DistributionsDistributions:
Cash distributions per share paid or payable by us to our common shareholders for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 20142015 were $1.72.$1.72 per share or $145,209, $122,366 and $121,660, respectively. As described in Note 7, on December 14, 2015, we distributed 768,032, or 0.0108 of a share for each of our common shares, of RMR Inc. shares of class A common stock we owed to our common shareholders as a special distribution. This distribution resulted in a taxable in-kind distribution of $0.1284 for each of our common shares. The characterization of our distributions paid in 2017 was 50.65% ordinary income and 49.35% return of capital. The characterization of our distributions paid in 2016 was 62.74% ordinary income, 36.21% return of capital and 1.05% qualified dividend. The characterization of our distributions paid in 2015 was 47.44% ordinary income, 37.12% return of capital, 12.90% capital gain, 1.61% IRC Section 1250 gain and 0.93% qualified dividend. The characterization of our distributions paid in 2014 was 55.12% ordinary income, 41.94% return of capital, 2.94% IRC Section 1250 gain.  
On January 13, 2017,19, 2018, we declared a dividend payable to common shareholders of record on January 23, 201729, 2018 in the amount of $0.43 per share, or $30,607.$42,633. We expect to pay this distribution on or about February 23, 201726, 2018 using cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.
Sale of Shares:

On July 5, 2017, we sold 25,000,000 of our common shares at a price of $18.50 per share in an underwritten public offering. On August 3, 2017, we sold 2,907,029 of our common shares at a price of $18.50 per share pursuant to an overallotment option granted to the underwriters for the July offering. The aggregate net proceeds from these sales of $493,866, after payment of the underwriters' discount and other offering expenses, were used to finance, in part, the FPO Transaction.

2017 and 2018 Share Purchases:
On May 17, 2017, we withheld 450 of our common shares awarded to one of our Trustees to fund that Trustee's resulting minimum required tax withholding obligation. The aggregate value of the withheld shares was $10, which is reflected as a decrease to shareholders' equity in our consolidated balance sheets.

During 2017, we purchased 13,914 of our common shares valued at a weighted average price per share of $18.30, based on the closing price of our common shares on Nasdaq, on the date of purchase, from our officers and certain other

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

employees of RMR LLC in satisfaction of tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of our common shares.

In January 2018, we purchased 617 of our common shares valued at a price per share of $18.54, based on the closing price of our common shares on Nasdaq, on the date of purchase, from a former officer of RMR LLC in satisfaction of tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of our common shares.

2016 Share RepurchasesPurchases:

In September 2016, we purchased an aggregate of 14,302 of our common shares valued at an average price per common share of $23.54 per common share, based on the closing price of our common shares on Nasdaq on the dates of repurchase,purchase, from our officers and certain other employees of RMR LLC in satisfaction of tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of our common shares. In September 2015, we purchased an aggregate of 10,721 of our common shares valued at $16.12 per common share, the closing price of our common shares on the NYSE on that day, from our officers and certain other employees of RMR LLC in satisfaction of tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of our common shares.
Cumulative Other Comprehensive Income (Loss(Loss)
Cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) represents the unrealized gain (loss) on the RMR Inc. shares we own and our share of the comprehensive income (loss) of our equity method investees, SIR and AIC. The following table presents a roll forward ofchanges in the amounts we recognized in cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 2015 and 2014:2015:
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investment in
Available for
Sale Securities
 
Equity in
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) of
Investees
 Total
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investment in
Available for
Sale Securities
 
Equity in
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) of
Investees
 Total
Balance at December 31, 2013$
 $49
 $49
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
 37
 37
Amounts reclassified from cumulative other     
comprehensive loss to net income (1)

 (49) (49)
Net current period other comprehensive loss
 (12) (12)
Balance at December 31, 2014
 37
 37
$
 $37
 $37
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications(9,391) (5,592) (14,983)(9,391) (5,592) (14,983)
Amounts reclassified from cumulative other          
comprehensive loss to net income (1)

 79
 79

 79
 79
Net current period other comprehensive loss(9,391) (5,513) (14,904)(9,391) (5,513) (14,904)
Balance at December 31, 2015(9,391) (5,476) (14,867)(9,391) (5,476) (14,867)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications30,465
 11,254
 41,719
30,465
 11,254
 41,719
Amounts reclassified from cumulative other          
comprehensive income to net income (1)

 105
 105

 105
 105
Net current period other comprehensive income30,465
 11,359
 41,824
30,465
 11,359
 41,824
Balance at December 31, 2016$21,074
 $5,883
 $26,957
21,074
 5,883
 26,957
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications24,042
 9,462
 33,504
Amounts reclassified from cumulative other     
comprehensive income to net income (loss) (1)

 (34) (34)
Net current period other comprehensive income24,042
 9,428
 33,470
Balance at December 31, 2017$45,116
 $15,311
 $60,427
(1)Amounts reclassified from cumulative other comprehensive income (loss) is included in equity in earnings of investees in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

Note 12. Equity Investment in Select Income REIT
As described in Note 7, as of December 31, 2016,2017, we owned 24,918,421, or approximately 27.9%27.8%, of the then outstanding SIR common shares.  SIR is a REIT which primarily owns single tenant, net leased properties.
We account for our investment in SIR under the equity method.  Under the equity method, we record our proportionate share of SIR’s net income as equity in earnings of an investee in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).  During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and the period from July 9, 2014, the date of our initial investment in SIR, to December 31, 2014, we recorded $21,584, $35,381 $21,882 and $17,113$21,882 of equity in earnings of SIR, respectively. Our other comprehensive income (loss) includes our proportionate share of SIR’s unrealized gains (losses) of $11,207, ($5,493) and ($14) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the period from July 9, 2014 to December 31, 2014, respectively.

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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

other comprehensive income (loss) includes our proportionate share of SIR’s unrealized gains (losses) of $8,967, $11,207 and ($5,493) for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The cost of our investments in SIR exceeded our proportionate share of SIR’s total shareholders’ equity book value on their dates of acquisition by an aggregate of $166,272. As required under GAAP, we were amortizing this difference to equity in earnings of investees over the average remaining useful lives of the real estate assets and intangible assets and liabilities owned by SIR as of the respective dates of our acquisitions. This amortization decreased our equity in the earnings of SIR by $4,742 for the year ended December 31, 2015. We recorded a loss on impairment of $203,297 of our SIR investment during the second quarter of 2015 resulting in the carrying value of our SIR investment being less than our proportionate share of SIR’s total shareholders’ equity book value as of June 30, 2015. As a result, the previous basis difference was eliminated and as of December 31, 2017, we are accreting a basis difference of ($87,137) to earnings over the estimated remaining useful lives of the real estate assets and intangible assets and liabilities owned by SIR as of June 30, 2015.  This accretion increased our equity in the earnings of SIR by $2,944 and $2,956 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016,2017, our investment in SIR had a carrying value of $487,708$467,499 and a market value, based on the closing price of SIR common shares on Nasdaq on December 31, 2016,29, 2017, of $627,944.$626,200. We periodically evaluate our equity investment in SIR for possible indicators of other than temporary impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the investment might not be recoverable.  These indicators may include the length of time the market value of our investment is below our cost basis, the financial condition of SIR, our intent and ability to be a long term holder of the investment and other considerations.  If the decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary, we may record an impairment charge to adjust the basis of the investment to its fair value.

During years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we received cash distributions from SIR totaling $50,832, $50,335 and $47,030, respectively. In addition, during the period from July 9, 2014 toyear ended December 31, 2014,2015, we received from SIR a non-cash distribution of 441,056 shares of RMR Inc. class A common stock valued at $5,244.
During years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, SIR issued 59,502, 65,900 29,414,279 and 67,94729,414,279 common shares, respectively. We recognized a gain (loss) on issuance of shares by SIR of $72, $86 ($42,145) and ($53)42,145), respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and the period from July 9, 2014 to December 31, 2014 as a result of the per share issuance price of these SIR common shares being above (below) the then average per share carrying value of our SIR common shares.
 
The cost of our investments in SIR exceeded our proportionate share of SIR’s total shareholders’ equity book value on their dates of acquisition by an aggregate of $166,272. As required under GAAP, we were amortizing this difference to equity in earnings of investees over the average remaining useful lives of the real estate assets and intangible assets and liabilities owned by SIR as of the respective dates of our acquisitions.  This amortization decreased our equity in the earnings of SIR by $4,742 and $6,237 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  We recorded a loss on impairment of $203,297 of our SIR investment during the second quarter of 2015 resulting in the carrying value of our SIR investment being less than our proportionate share of SIR’s total shareholders’ equity book value as of June 30, 2015.  As a result, the previous basis difference was eliminated and as of December 31, 2016, we are accreting a basis difference of ($90,186) to earnings over the estimated remaining useful lives of the real estate assets and intangible assets and liabilities owned by SIR as of June 30, 2015.  This accretion increased our equity in the earnings of SIR by $2,956 and $1,480 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
During years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the period from July 9, 2014 to December 31, 2014, we received cash distributions from SIR totaling $50,335, $47,030 and $20,640, respectively. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2015, we received from SIR a non-cash distribution of 441,056 shares of RMR Inc. class A common stock valued at $5,244.
The following presents summarized financial data of SIR as reported in SIR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, or the SIR Annual Report, includes the financial position and results of operations for periods prior to July 9, 2014 (the date on which we acquired our initial interest in SIR).Report. References in our consolidated financial statements to the SIR Annual Report are included as references to the source of the data only, and the information in the SIR Annual Report is not incorporated by reference into our consolidated financial statements.

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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 December 31, December 31, As of December 31,
 2016 2015 2017 2016
Real estate properties, net $3,899,792
 $3,954,889
 $3,905,616
 $3,899,792
Properties held for sale 5,829
 
Acquired real estate leases, net 506,298
 566,195
 477,577
 506,298
Cash and cash equivalents 22,127
 17,876
 658,719
 22,127
Rents receivable, net 124,089
 99,307
 127,672
 124,089
Other assets, net 87,376
 46,078
 127,617
 87,376
Total assets $4,639,682
 $4,684,345
 $5,303,030
 $4,639,682
        
Unsecured revolving credit facility $327,000
 $303,000
 $
 $327,000
ILPT revolving credit facility 750,000
 
Unsecured term loan, net 348,373
 347,876
 348,870
 348,373
Senior unsecured notes, net 1,430,300
 1,426,025
 1,777,425
 1,430,300
Mortgage notes payable, net 245,643
 286,706
 210,785
 245,643
Assumed real estate lease obligations, net 77,622
 86,495
 68,783
 77,622
Other liabilities 136,782
 137,283
 155,348
 136,782
Shareholders' equity 2,073,962
 2,096,960
 1,991,819
 2,073,962
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $4,639,682
 $4,684,345
 $5,303,030
 $4,639,682

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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 



Consolidated Statements of Income

 Year Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
 2016 2015 2014 2017 2016 2015
Rental income $387,015
 $364,139
 $189,743
 $392,285
 $387,015
 $364,139
Tenant reimbursements and other income 74,992
 64,226
 32,937
 75,818
 74,992
 64,226
Total revenues 462,007
 428,365
 222,680
 468,103
 462,007
 428,365
Real estate taxes 42,879
 37,460
 22,202
 44,131
 42,879
 37,460
Other operating expenses 52,957
 41,953
 18,597
 55,567
 52,957
 41,953
Depreciation and amortization 133,762
 122,906
 41,054
 137,672
 133,762
 122,906
Acquisition related costs 306
 21,987
 7,348
Acquisition and transaction related costs 1,075
 306
 21,987
General and administrative 28,602
 25,859
 14,881
 54,818
 28,602
 25,859
Write-off of straight line rents receivable, net 12,517
 5,484
 
Loss on asset impairment 5,484
 
 
 4,047
 
 
Loss on impairment of real estate assets 229
 
 
Total expenses 263,990
 250,165
 104,082
 310,056
 263,990
 250,165
Operating income 198,017
 178,200
 118,598
 158,047
 198,017
 178,200
Dividend income 1,268
 1,666
 
 1,587
 1,268
 1,666
Interest expense (82,620) (73,885) (12,974) (92,870) (82,620) (73,885)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt 
 (6,845) 243
Loss on distribution of The RMR Group Inc. common stock 
 (23,717) 
Income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of an investee and gain on sale of property 116,665
 75,419
 105,867
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 
 
 (6,845)
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock 
 
 (23,717)
Income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of an investee 66,764
 116,665
 75,419
Income tax expense (448) (515) (175) (466) (448) (515)
Equity in earnings of an investee 137
 20
 87
 608
 137
 20
Net income before gain on sale of property 116,354
 74,924
 105,779
Gain on sale of property 
 
 116
Net income 116,354
 74,924
 105,895
 66,906
 116,354
 74,924
Net income allocated to noncontrolling interest (33) (176) 
 
 (33) (176)
Net income attributed to SIR $116,321
 $74,748
 $105,895
 $66,906
 $116,321
 $74,748
            
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic) 89,304
 86,699
 55,964
 89,351
 89,304
 86,699
Weighted average common shares outstanding (diluted) 89,324
 86,708
 56,035
 89,370
 89,324
 $86,708
Net income attributed to SIR per common share (basic and diluted) $1.30
 $0.86
 $1.89
 $0.75
 $1.30
 $0.86





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GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Note 13. Segment Information
We operate in two separate reportable business segments: direct ownership of real estate properties that are primarily leased to government tenants and our equity method investment in SIR:
 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2017
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Rental income$258,180
 $
 $
 $258,180
$316,532
 $
 $
 $316,532
Expenses:              
Real estate taxes30,703
 
 
 30,703
37,942
 
 
 37,942
Utility expenses17,269
 
 
 17,269
20,998
 
 
 20,998
Other operating expenses54,290
 
 
 54,290
65,349
 
 
 65,349
Depreciation and amortization73,153
 
 
 73,153
109,588
 
 
 109,588
Acquisition related costs1,191
 
 
 1,191
Loss on impairment of real estate9,490
 
 
 9,490
General and administrative
 
 14,897
 14,897

 
 18,847
 18,847
Total expenses176,606
 
 14,897
 191,503
243,367
 
 18,847
 262,214
              
Operating income (loss)81,574
 
 (14,897) 66,677
73,165
 
 (18,847) 54,318
Dividend income
 
 971
 971

 
 1,216
 1,216
Interest income124
 
 34
 158
196
 
 1,766
 1,962
Interest expense(2,375) 
 (42,685) (45,060)(3,209) 
 (62,197) (65,406)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt104
 
 
 104
Net gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT
 86
 
 86
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and       
equity in earnings (losses) of investees79,427
 86
 (56,577) 22,936
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
 
 (1,715) (1,715)
Gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT
 72
 
 72
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes,       
equity in earnings (losses) of investees and gain on sale of real estate70,152
 72
 (79,777) (9,553)
Income tax expense
 
 (101) (101)
 
 (101) (101)
Equity in earnings of investees
 35,381
 137
 35,518
Equity in earnings (losses) of investees(621) 21,584
 608
 21,571
Income (loss) from continuing operations79,427
 35,467
 (56,541) 58,353
69,531
 21,656
 (79,270) 11,917
Loss from discontinued operations(589) 
 
 (589)
Income (loss) before gain on sale of property78,838
 35,467
 (56,541) 57,764
Gain on sale of property79
 
 
 79
Income from discontinued operations173
 
 
 173
Net income (loss)$78,917
 $35,467
 $(56,541) $57,843
69,704
 21,656
 (79,270) 12,090
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions
 
 (275) (275)
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders$69,704
 $21,656
 $(79,545) $11,815
              
As of December 31, 2016As of December 31, 2017
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Total Assets$1,807,560
 $487,708
 $89,798
 $2,385,066
$3,138,764
 $467,499
 $97,302
 $3,703,565

F-28F-32

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

 Year Ended December 31, 2015 Year Ended December 31, 2016
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Rental income$248,549
 $
 $
 $248,549
$258,180
 $
 $
 $258,180
              
Expenses:        
  
  
  
Real estate taxes29,906
 
 
 29,906
30,703
 
 
 30,703
Utility expenses17,916
 
 
 17,916
17,269
 
 
 17,269
Other operating expenses50,425
 
 
 50,425
54,290
 
 
 54,290
Depreciation and amortization68,696
 
 
 68,696
73,153
 
 
 73,153
Acquisition related costs561
 
 250
 811
1,191
 
 
 1,191
General and administrative
 
 14,826
 14,826

 
 14,897
 14,897
Total expenses167,504
 
 15,076
 182,580
176,606
 
 14,897
 191,503
       
Operating income (loss)81,045
 
 (15,076) 65,969
81,574
 
 (14,897) 66,677
Dividend income
 
 811
 811

 
 971
 971
Interest income10
 
 4
 14
124
 
 34
 158
Interest expense(7,908) 
 (29,100) (37,008)(2,375) 
 (42,685) (45,060)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt34
 
 
 34
104
 
 
 104
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock
 
 (12,368) (12,368)
Net loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT
 (42,145) 
 (42,145)
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment
 (203,297) 
 (203,297)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and       
equity in earnings of investees73,181
 (245,442) (55,729) (227,990)
Net gain on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT
 86
 
 86
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, 
  
  
  
equity in earnings (losses) of investees and gain on sale of real estate79,427
 86
 (56,577) 22,936
Income tax expense
 
 (86) (86)
 
 (101) (101)
Equity in earnings of investees
 18,620
 20
 18,640

 35,381
 137
 35,518
Income (loss) from continuing operations73,181
 (226,822) (55,795) (209,436)79,427
 35,467
 (56,541) 58,353
Loss from discontinued operations(525) 
 
 (525)(589) 
 
 (589)
Income (loss) before gain on sale of real estate78,838
 35,467
 (56,541) 57,764
Gain on sale of real estate79
 
 
 79
Net income (loss)$72,656
 $(226,822) $(55,795) $(209,961)78,917
 35,467
 (56,541) 57,843
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions
 
 
 
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders$78,917
 $35,467
 $(56,541) $57,843
              
As of December 31, 2015As of December 31, 2016
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Investment
in Real Estate
 
Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Total Assets$1,639,462
 $491,369
 $37,679
 $2,168,510
$1,807,560
 $487,708
 $89,798
 $2,385,066


F-29F-33

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

 Year ended December 31, 2014
 Investment Investment     Year Ended December 31, 2015
 in Real Estate in SIR Corporate Consolidated Investment
in Real Estate
 Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Rental income  $251,031
 $
 $
 $251,031
 $248,549
 $
 $
 $248,549
                
Expenses:                
Real estate taxes 28,389
 
 
 28,389
 29,906
 
 
 29,906
Utility expenses 19,369
 
 
 19,369
 17,916
 
 
 17,916
Other operating expenses 45,982
 
 
 45,982
 50,425
 
 
 50,425
Depreciation and amortization 66,593
 
 
 66,593
 68,696
 
 
 68,696
Loss on impairment of real estate 2,016
 
 
 2,016
Acquisition related costs 1,344
 
 
 1,344
 561
 
 250
 811
General and administrative 
 
 15,809
 15,809
 
 
 14,826
 14,826
Total expenses 163,693
 
 15,809
 179,502
 167,504
 
 15,076
 182,580
                
Operating income (loss) 87,338
 
 (15,809) 71,529
 81,045
 
 (15,076) 65,969
Interest and other income 
 
 69
 69
Dividend income 
 
 811
 811
Interest income 10
 
 4
 14
Interest expense (7,820) 
 (20,228) (28,048) (7,908) 
 (29,100) (37,008)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 
 
 (1,307) (1,307)
Loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT 
 (53)   (53)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and        
equity in earnings of investees 79,518
 (53) (37,275) 42,190
Gain on early extinguishment of debt 34
 
 
 34
Loss on distribution to common shareholders of The RMR Group Inc. common stock     (12,368) (12,368)
Net loss on issuance of shares by Select Income REIT 
 (42,145) 
 (42,145)
Loss on impairment of Select Income REIT investment 
 (203,297) 
 (203,297)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes,        
equity in earnings (losses) of investees and gain on sale of real estate 73,181
 (245,442) (55,729) (227,990)
Income tax expense 
 
 (117) (117) 
 
 (86) (86)
Equity in earnings of investees 
 10,876
 87
 10,963
 
 18,620
 20
 18,640
Income (loss) from continuing operations 79,518
 10,823
 (37,305) 53,036
 73,181
 (226,822) (55,795) (209,436)
Income from discontinued operations 3,498
 
 
 3,498
Loss from discontinued operations (525) 
 
 (525)
Net income (loss) $83,016
 $10,823
 $(37,305) $56,534
 72,656
 (226,822) (55,795) (209,961)
        
Preferred units of limited partnership distributions 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders $72,656
 $(226,822) $(55,795) $(209,961)
 As of December 31, 2014        
 Investment Investment     As of December 31, 2015
 in Real Estate in SIR Corporate Consolidated Investment
in Real Estate
 Investment
in SIR
 Corporate Consolidated
Total Assets $1,713,361
 $680,137
 $26,410
 $2,419,908
 $1,639,462
 $491,369
 $37,679
 $2,168,510


F-30F-34

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Note 14. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of our unaudited quarterly results of operations for 20162017 and 2015.2016.
20162017
First
Quarter
 Second
Quarter
 Third
Quarter
 Fourth
Quarter
First
Quarter
 
Second
Quarter
 
Third
Quarter
 
Fourth
Quarter
Rental income$63,611
 $64,061
 $64,478
 $66,030
$69,296
 $69,887
 $70,179
 $107,170
Net income17,387
 16,813
 11,578
 12,065
Net income per common share (basic and diluted)0.24
 0.24
 0.16
 0.17
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders per common share$7,415
 $11,677
 $10,989
 $(18,266)
Net income (loss) available for common shareholders per common share (basic and diluted)$0.10
 $0.16
 $0.11
 $(0.18)
Common distributions declared0.43
 0.43
 0.43
 0.43
$0.43
 $0.43
 $0.43
 $0.43

20152016
First
Quarter
 Second
Quarter
 Third
Quarter
 Fourth
Quarter
First
Quarter
 Second
Quarter
 Third
Quarter
 Fourth
Quarter
Rental income$62,659
 $62,113
 $62,092
 $61,685
$63,611
 $64,061
 $64,478
 $66,030
Net income (loss)(33,370) (191,163) 16,911
 (2,339)
Net income (loss) per common share (basic and diluted)(0.47) (2.71) 0.24
 (0.03)
Net income available for common shareholders$17,387
 $16,813
 $11,578
 $12,065
Net income available for common shareholders per common share (basic and diluted)$0.24
 $0.24
 $0.16
 $0.17
Common distributions declared (1)
0.43
 0.43
 0.43
 0.56
$0.43
 $0.43
 $0.43
 $0.43

(1)The fourth quarter of 2015 includes a non-cash distribution of $0.13 per share related to the distribution of RMR Inc. shares to our shareholders on December 14, 2015.



F-31F-35

Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 20162017
(dollars in thousands)


      Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period         Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period   
Property Location Encumbrances Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (1)(2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
Property Location 
Encumbrances (1)
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
1131 Clayton Street Montgomery, AL $
 $920
 $9,084
 $16
 $
 $920
 $9,100
 $10,020
 $(1,251) 6/22/2011 2007131 Clayton Street Montgomery, AL $
 $920
 $9,084
 $29
 $
 $920
 $9,113
 $10,033
 $(1,479) 6/22/2011 2007
24344 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 
 1,374
 11,658
 
 
 1,374
 11,658
 13,032
 (874) 12/17/2013 20094344 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 
 1,374
 11,658
 
 
 1,374
 11,658
 13,032
 (1,166) 12/17/2013 2009
315451 North 28th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 
 1,917
 7,416
 67
 
 1,917
 7,483
 9,400
 (434) 9/10/2014 199615451 North 28th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 
 1,917
 7,416
 456
 
 1,917
 7,872
 9,789
 (628) 9/10/2014 1996
4711 14th Avenue Safford, AZ 
 460
 11,708
 265
 
 460
 11,973
 12,433
 (1,924) 6/16/2010 1992711 S 14th Avenue Safford, AZ 
 460
 11,708
 348
 
 460
 12,056
 12,516
 (2,232) 6/16/2010 1992
55045 East Butler Street Fresno, CA 
 7,277
 61,118
 58
 
 7,277
 61,175
 68,452
 (21,968) 8/29/2002 19715045 East Butler Street Fresno, CA 
 7,276
 61,118
 58
 
 7,276
 61,176
 68,452
 (23,497) 8/29/2002 1971
610949 N. Mather Boulevard Rancho Cordova, CA 
 562
 16,923
 100
 
 562
 17,023
 17,585
 (1,341) 10/30/2013 201210949 N. Mather Boulevard Rancho Cordova, CA 
 562
 16,923
 101
 
 562
 17,024
 17,586
 (1,769) 10/30/2013 2012
711020 Sun Center Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 
 1,465
 8,537
 
 
 1,465
 8,537
 10,002
 
 12/20/2016 198311020 Sun Center Drive Rancho Cordova, CA 
 1,466
 8,797
 408
 
 1,466
 9,205
 10,670
 (237) 12/20/2016 1983
8801 K Street Sacramento, CA 
 4,688
 61,722
 3,368
 
 4,688
 65,090
 69,778
 (1,425) 1/29/2016 1989801 K Street Sacramento, CA 
 4,688
 61,995
 4,915
 
 4,688
 66,910
 71,598
 (3,608) 1/29/2016 1989
99800 Goethe Road Sacramento, CA 
 1,550
 12,263
 1,520
 
 1,550
 13,783
 15,333
 (2,773) 12/23/2009 19939800 Goethe Road Sacramento, CA 
 1,550
 12,263
 949
 
 1,550
 13,212
 14,762
 (2,598) 12/23/2009 1993
109815 Goethe Road Sacramento, CA 
 1,450
 9,465
 1,523
 
 1,450
 10,988
 12,438
 (1,444) 9/14/2011 19929815 Goethe Road Sacramento, CA 
 1,450
 9,465
 1,523
 
 1,450
 10,988
 12,438
 (1,731) 9/14/2011 1992
11Capitol Place Sacramento, CA 
 2,290
 35,891
 5,695
 
 2,290
 41,586
 43,876
 (6,858) 12/17/2009 1988Capitol Place Sacramento, CA 
 2,290
 35,891
 7,032
 
 2,290
 42,923
 45,213
 (8,331) 12/17/2009 1988
124181 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 
 5,250
 10,549
 3,737
 
 5,250
 14,286
 19,536
 (2,738) 7/16/2010 19814181 Ruffin Road San Diego, CA 
 5,250
 10,549
 4,294
 
 5,250
 14,843
 20,093
 (3,332) 7/16/2010 1981
134560 Viewridge Road San Diego, CA 
 4,269
 18,316
 2,795
 
 4,347
 21,033
 25,380
 (9,234) 3/31/1997 19964560 Viewridge Road San Diego, CA 
 4,269
 18,316
 4,195
 
 4,347
 22,433
 26,780
 (9,882) 3/31/1997 1996
14Sky Park Centre San Diego, CA 
 685
 5,530
 1,689
 
 685
 7,219
 7,904
 (2,205) 6/24/2002 19869174 Sky Park Centre San Diego, CA 
 685
 5,530
 2,653
 
 685
 8,183
 8,868
 (2,684) 6/24/2002 1986
15Turning Basin Business Park Stockton, CA 
 563
 5,469
 
 
 563
 5,469
 6,032
 (604) 7/20/2012 2012603 San Juan Avenue Stockton, CA 
 563
 5,470
 
 
 563
 5,470
 6,033
 (741) 7/20/2012 2012
1616194 West 45th Street Golden, CO 
 495
 152
 6,457
 
 495
 6,608
 7,103
 (3,121) 3/31/1997 199716194 West 45th Street Golden, CO 
 494
 152
 6,495
 
 494
 6,647
 7,141
 (3,316) 3/31/1997 1997
1712795 West Alameda Parkway Lakewood, CO 5,218
 2,640
 23,777
 1,045
 
 2,640
 24,822
 27,462
 (4,303) 1/15/2010 198812795 West Alameda Parkway Lakewood, CO 4,111
 2,640
 23,777
 1,065
 
 2,640
 24,842
 27,482
 (4,931) 1/15/2010 1988
18Corporate Center Lakewood, CO 
 2,887
 27,538
 3,850
 
 2,887
 31,386
 34,273
 (10,667) 10/11/2002 1980Corporate Center Lakewood, CO 
 2,887
 27,537
 3,898
 
 2,887
 31,435
 34,322
 (11,581) 10/11/2002 1980
1920 Massachusetts Avenue Washington, DC 
 12,005
 51,528
 20,952
 
 12,228
 72,261
 84,489
 (31,369) 3/31/1997 199620 Massachusetts Avenue Washington, DC 
 12,009
 51,528
 21,245
 
 12,231
 72,551
 84,782
 (33,237) 3/31/1997 1996
20625 Indiana Avenue Washington, DC 
 26,000
 25,955
 5,799
 
 26,000
 31,754
 57,754
 (5,233) 8/17/2010 1989625 Indiana Avenue Washington, DC 
 26,000
 25,955
 6,555
 
 26,000
 32,510
 58,510
 (6,374) 8/17/2010 1989
217850 Southwest 6th Court Plantation, FL 
 4,800
 30,592
 383
 
 4,800
 30,975
 35,775
 (4,421) 5/12/2011 199911 Dupont Circle, NW Washington, DC 64,293
 28,255
 44,743
 1,299
 
 28,255
 46,042
 74,297
 (316) 10/2/2017 1974
228900 Grand Oak Circle Tampa, FL 8,778
 1,100
 11,773
 169
 
 1,100
 11,942
 13,042
 (1,866) 10/15/2010 19941211 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 27,906
 30,388
 24,667
 220
 
 30,388
 24,887
 55,275
 (176) 10/2/2017 1967
23181 Spring Street NW Atlanta, GA 
 5,718
 20,017
 131
 
 5,718
 20,147
 25,865
 (2,210) 7/25/2012 20071401 K Street, NW Washington, DC 25,501
 29,215
 34,656
 1,194
 
 29,215
 35,850
 65,065
 (291) 10/2/2017 1929
24Corporate Square Atlanta, GA 
 3,996
 29,762
 9,952
 
 3,996
 39,714
 43,710
 (10,410) 7/16/2004 1967440 First Street, NW Washington, DC 
 27,903
 38,624
 683
 
 27,903
 39,307
 67,210
 (241) 10/2/2017 1982
25Executive Park Atlanta, GA 
 1,521
 11,826
 3,869
 
 1,521
 15,695
 17,216
 (4,478) 7/16/2004 1972500 First Street, NW Washington, DC 
 30,478
 15,660
 
 
 30,478
 15,660
 46,138
 (112) 10/2/2017 1969
26One Georgia Center Atlanta, GA 
 10,250
 27,933
 882
 
 10,250
 28,815
 39,065
 (3,759) 9/30/2011 1968840 First Street, NE Washington, DC 36,085
 42,727
 73,249
 
 
 42,727
 73,249
 115,976
 (458) 10/2/2017 2003
274712 Southpark Boulevard Ellenwood, GA 
 1,390
 19,635
 35
 
 1,390
 19,670
 21,060
 (2,168) 7/25/2012 20057850 Southwest 6th Court Plantation, FL 
 4,800
 30,592
 383
 
 4,800
 30,975
 35,775
 (5,224) 5/12/2011 1999
28South Vinnell Way Boise, ID 
 3,390
 29,026
 793
 
 3,390
 29,819
 33,209
 (3,252) 9/11/2012 1996; 1997; 20028900 Grand Oak Circle Tampa, FL 8,391
 1,100
 11,773
 169
 
 1,100
 11,942
 13,042
 (2,169) 10/15/2010 1994


S-1


Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 20162017
(dollars in thousands)


      Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period         Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period   
Property Location Encumbrances Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (1)(2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
Property Location 
Encumbrances (1)
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
292020 S. Arlington Heights Arlington Heights, IL 
 1,450
 13,160
 926
 
 1,450
 14,086
 15,536
 (2,591) 12/29/2009 1988181 Spring Street NW Atlanta, GA $
 5,717
 $20,017
 136
 $
 5,717
 20,153
 25,871
 (2,719) 7/25/2012 2007
30Intech Park Indianapolis, IN 
 4,170
 68,888
 2,886
 
 4,170
 71,774
 75,944
 (9,620) 10/14/2011 2000; 2001; 2008Corporate Square Atlanta, GA 
 3,996
 29,762
 27,321
 
 3,996
 57,083
 61,079
 (11,541) 7/16/2004 1967
31400 State Street Kansas City, KS 
 640
 9,932
 3,108
 
 640
 13,040
 13,680
 (1,992) 6/16/2010 1971Executive Park Atlanta, GA 
 1,521
 11,826
 4,003
 
 1,521
 15,829
 17,350
 (5,127) 7/16/2004 1972
327125 Industrial Road Florence, KY 
 1,698
 11,722
 17
 
 1,698
 11,739
 13,437
 (1,174) 12/31/2012 1980One Georgia Center Atlanta, GA 
 10,250
 27,933
 3,581
 
 10,250
 31,514
 41,764
 (4,576) 9/30/2011 1968
33251 Causeway Street Boston, MA 
 5,100
 17,293
 1,336
 
 5,100
 18,629
 23,729
 (2,858) 8/17/2010 19874712 Southpark Boulevard Ellenwood, GA 
 1,390
 19,635
 74
 
 1,390
 19,709
 21,099
 (2,661) 7/25/2012 2005
3475 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 
 1,050
 31,086
 132
 
 1,050
 31,218
 32,268
 (5,168) 5/24/2010 20081185, 1249 & 1387 S. Vinnell Way Boise, ID 
 3,390
 29,026
 802
 
 3,390
 29,828
 33,218
 (4,059) 9/11/2012 1996; 1997; 2002
3525 Newport Avenue Quincy, MA 
 2,700
 9,199
 809
 
 2,700
 10,008
 12,708
 (1,391) 2/16/2011 19852020 S. Arlington Heights Arlington Heights, IL 
 1,450
 13,160
 730
 
 1,450
 13,890
 15,340
 (2,746) 12/29/2009 1988
36One Montvale Avenue Stoneham, MA 
 1,670
 11,035
 1,599
 
 1,670
 12,634
 14,304
 (1,941) 6/16/2010 1945Intech Park Indianapolis, IN 
 4,170
 68,888
 3,822
 
 4,170
 72,710
 76,880
 (11,657) 10/14/2011 2000; 2001; 2008
374201 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, MD 
 901
 8,097
 3,472
 
 901
 11,568
 12,469
 (4,103) 10/15/1998 1989400 State Street Kansas City, KS 
 640
 9,932
 4,599
 
 640
 14,531
 15,171
 (2,559) 6/16/2010 1971
3820400 Century Boulevard Germantown, MD 
 2,306
 9,890
 538
 
 2,347
 10,386
 12,733
 (5,023) 3/31/1997 19957125 Industrial Road Florence, KY 
 1,698
 11,722
 81
 
 1,698
 11,803
 13,501
 (1,468) 12/31/2012 1980
393300 75th Avenue Landover, MD 
 4,110
 36,371
 607
 
 4,110
 36,978
 41,088
 (6,311) 2/26/2010 1985251 Causeway Street Boston, MA 
 5,100
 17,293
 1,752
 
 5,100
 19,045
 24,145
 (3,427) 8/17/2010 1987
401401 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 
 3,248
 29,258
 15,797
 
 3,248
 45,058
 48,306
 (15,204) 2/2/1998 198675 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 
 1,050
 31,086
 159
 
 1,050
 31,245
 32,295
 (5,970) 5/24/2010 2008
412115 East Jefferson Street Rockville, MD 
 3,349
 11,152
 271
 
 3,349
 11,423
 14,772
 (939) 8/27/2013 198125 Newport Avenue Quincy, MA 
 2,700
 9,199
 1,297
 
 2,700
 10,496
 13,196
 (1,662) 2/16/2011 1985
42Rutherford Business Park Windsor Mill, MD 
 1,598
 10,219
 
 
 1,598
 10,219
 11,817
 (1,043) 11/16/2012 1972One Montvale Avenue Stoneham, MA 
 1,670
 11,035
 2,095
 
 1,670
 13,130
 14,800
 (2,308) 6/16/2010 1945
43Meadows Business Park Woodlawn, MD 
 3,735
 21,509
 902
 
 3,735
 22,411
 26,146
 (3,232) 2/15/2011 1973Annapolis Commerce Center Annapolis, MD 
 4,057
 7,665
 
 
 4,057
 7,665
 11,722
 (55) 10/2/2017 1989
4411411 E. Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI 
 630
 18,002
 23
 
 630
 18,025
 18,655
 (3,001) 4/23/2010 20094201 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, MD 
 901
 8,097
 3,976
 
 901
 12,073
 12,974
 (4,520) 10/15/1998 1989
45330 South Second Avenue Minneapolis, MN 
 3,991
 18,186
 9,534
 
 3,991
 27,719
 31,710
 (4,474) 7/16/2010 1980Ammendale Commerce Center Beltsville, MD 
 4,879
 9,498
 
 
 4,879
 9,498
 14,377
 (70) 10/2/2017 1987
46Rosedale Corporate Plaza Roseville, MN 
 672
 6,045
 1,465
 
 672
 7,510
 8,182
 (2,915) 12/1/1999 1987Indian Creek Technology Park Beltsville, MD 
 8,796
 12,093
 24
 
 8,796
 12,117
 20,913
 (86) 10/2/2017 1988
471300 Summit Street Kansas City, MO 
 2,776
 12,070
 227
 
 2,776
 12,297
 15,073
 (1,303) 9/27/2012 1998Gateway 270 West Clarksburg, MD 
 12,104
 9,688
 
 
 12,104
 9,688
 21,792
 (64) 10/2/2017 2002
484241-4300 NE 34th Street Kansas City, MO 
 1,443
 6,193
 2,930
 
 1,780
 8,786
 10,566
 (3,654) 3/31/1997 1995Hillside Center Columbia, MD 
 3,437
 4,228
 
 
 3,437
 4,228
 7,665
 (25) 10/2/2017 2001
491220 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 
 440
 25,458
 48
 
 440
 25,506
 25,946
 (2,820) 7/25/2012 2009Snowden Center Columbia, MD 
 7,955
 10,128
 54
 
 7,955
 10,182
 18,137
 (63) 10/2/2017 1982
5010-12 Celina Avenue Nashua, NH 
 3,000
 14,052
 439
 
 3,000
 14,491
 17,491
 (2,642) 8/31/2009 1979TenThreeTwenty Columbia, MD 
 3,126
 16,361
 118
 
 3,126
 16,479
 19,605
 (103) 10/2/2017 1982
5150 West State Street Trenton, NJ 
 5,000
 38,203
 1,864
 
 5,000
 40,067
 45,067
 (5,918) 12/30/2010 198920400 Century Boulevard Germantown, MD 
 2,305
 9,890
 1,282
 
 2,347
 11,130
 13,477
 (5,296) 3/31/1997 1995
52435 Montano Boulevard Albuquerque, NM 
 710
 1,651
 57
 
 710
 1,708
 2,418
 (271) 7/16/2010 1986Cloverleaf Center Germantown, MD 
 11,890
 4,639
 
 
 11,890
 4,639
 16,529
 (39) 10/2/2017 2000
53138 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 
 4,405
 18,899
 5,010
 
 4,485
 23,829
 28,314
 (10,308) 3/31/1997 19943300 75th Avenue Landover, MD 
 4,110
 36,371
 1,045
 
 4,110
 37,416
 41,526
 (7,271) 2/26/2010 1985
54Airline Corporate Center Colonie, NY 
 790
 6,400
 13
 
 790
 6,413
 7,203
 (720) 6/22/2012 20041401 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 
 3,248
 29,258
 16,534
 
 3,248
 45,792
 49,040
 (17,237) 2/2/1998 1986
555000 Corporate Court Holtsville, NY 
 6,530
 17,711
 2,179
 
 6,530
 19,890
 26,420
 (2,585) 8/31/2011 20002115 East Jefferson Street Rockville, MD 
 3,349
 11,152
 328
 
 3,349
 11,480
 14,829
 (1,229) 8/27/2013 1981
56305 East 46th Street New York, NY 
 36,800
 66,661
 3,596
 
 36,800
 70,257
 107,057
 (9,436) 5/27/2011 1928Metro Park North Rockville, MD 
 11,159
 7,624
 
 
 11,159
 7,624
 18,783
 (59) 10/2/2017 2001


S-2


Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 20162017
(dollars in thousands)


      Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period         Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period   
Property Location Encumbrances Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (1)(2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
Property Location 
Encumbrances (1)
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
574600 25th Avenue Salem, OR 
 6,510
 17,973
 4,187
 
 6,510
 22,160
 28,670
 (3,264) 12/20/2011 1957Redland 520/530 Rockville, MD 
 12,714
 61,377
 1,217
 
 12,714
 62,594
 75,308
 (384) 10/2/2017 2008
58Synergy Business Park Columbia, SC 
 1,439
 11,143
 4,751
 
 1,439
 15,894
 17,333
 (3,108) 5/10/2006; 9/17/2010 1982; 1985Redland 540 Rockville, MD 
 10,740
 17,714
 2,028
 
 10,740
 19,742
 30,482
 (111) 10/2/2017 2003
59One Memphis Place Memphis, TN 
 1,630
 5,645
 2,421
 
 1,630
 8,066
 9,696
 (1,168) 9/17/2010 1985Rutherford Business Park Windsor Mill, MD 
 1,598
 10,219
 10
 
 1,598
 10,229
 11,827
 (1,299) 11/16/2012 1972
60701 Clay Road Waco, TX 
 2,030
 8,708
 2,779
 
 2,060
 11,457
 13,517
 (4,675) 12/23/1997 1997Meadows Business Park Woodlawn, MD 
 3,735
 21,509
 2,187
 
 3,735
 23,696
 27,431
 (3,907) 2/15/2011 1973
6114660, 14672 & 14668 Lee Road Chantilly, VA 
 6,974
 74,116
 
 
 6,974
 74,116
 81,090
 
 12/22/2016 1998; 2002; 200611411 E. Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI 
 630
 18,002
 358
 
 630
 18,360
 18,990
 (3,460) 4/23/2010 2009
62Enterchange at Meadowville Chester, VA 
 1,478
 9,594
 256
 
 1,478
 9,850
 11,328
 (813) 8/28/2013 1999330 2nd Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 
 3,991
 18,186
 (4,246) (9,260) 1,489
 16,442
 17,931
 
 7/16/2010 1980
633920 Pender Drive Fairfax, VA 
 2,963
 12,840
 11
 
 2,963
 12,852
 15,815
 (883) 3/21/2014 1981Rosedale Corporate Plaza Roseville, MN 
 672
 6,045
 1,505
 
 672
 7,550
 8,222
 (3,194) 12/1/1999 1987
64Pender Business Park Fairfax, VA 13,841
 2,529
 21,386
 189
 
 2,529
 21,575
 24,104
 (1,773) 11/4/2013 20001300 Summit Street Kansas City, MO 
 2,776
 12,070
 253
 
 2,776
 12,323
 15,099
 (1,614) 9/27/2012 1998
651759 & 1760 Business Center Drive Reston, VA 
 9,066
 78,658
 1,906
 
 9,066
 80,564
 89,630
 (5,137) 5/28/2014 19874241-4300 NE 34th Street Kansas City, MO 
 1,443
 6,193
 3,851
 
 1,780
 9,707
 11,487
 (3,893) 3/31/1997 1995
669960 Mayland Drive Richmond, VA 
 2,614
 15,930
 1,244
 
 2,614
 17,174
 19,788
 (1,066) 5/20/2014 19941220 Echelon Parkway Jackson, MS 
 440
 25,458
 48
 
 440
 25,506
 25,946
 (3,459) 7/25/2012 2009
67Aquia Commerce Center Stafford, VA 
 2,090
 7,465
 730
 
 2,090
 8,195
 10,285
 (1,070) 6/22/2011 1988; 199910-12 Celina Avenue Nashua, NH 
 3,000
 14,052
 1,545
 
 3,000
 15,597
 18,597
 (2,956) 8/31/2009 1979
6865 Bowdoin Street S. Burlington, VT 
 700
 8,416
 120
 
 700
 8,536
 9,236
 (1,439) 4/9/2010 200950 West State Street Trenton, NJ 
 5,000
 38,203
 2,620
 
 5,000
 40,823
 45,823
 (6,948) 12/30/2010 1989
69840 North Broadway Everett, WA 
 3,360
 15,376
 1,346
 
 3,360
 16,722
 20,082
 (1,933) 6/28/2012 1985138 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 
 4,405
 18,899
 5,226
 
 4,485
 24,045
 28,530
 (11,064) 3/31/1997 1994
70Stevens Center Richland, WA 
 3,970
 17,035
 1,606
 
 4,042
 18,569
 22,611
 (8,640) 3/31/1997 1995Airline Corporate Center Colonie, NY 
 790
 6,400
 32
 
 790
 6,432
 7,222
 (881) 6/22/2012 2004
7111050 West Liberty Drive Milwaukee, WI 
 945
 4,539
 103
 
 945
 4,642
 5,587
 (645) 6/9/2011 20065000 Corporate Court Holtsville, NY 
 6,530
 17,711
 2,477
 
 6,530
 20,188
 26,718
 (3,183) 8/31/2011 2000
722029 Stonewall Jackson Drive Falling Waters, WV 
 906
 3,886
 270
 
 922
 4,140
 5,062
 (2,005) 3/31/1997 1993305 East 46th Street New York, NY 
 36,800
 66,661
 4,438
 
 36,800
 71,099
 107,899
 (11,212) 5/27/2011 1928
735353 Yellowstone Road Cheyenne, WY 
 1,915
 8,217
 531
 
 1,950
 8,713
 10,663
 (4,218) 3/31/1997 19954600 25th Avenue Salem, OR 
 6,510
 17,973
 4,278
 
 6,510
 22,251
 28,761
 (4,066) 12/20/2011 1957
 $27,837
 $266,943
 $1,464,432
 $157,385
 $
 $267,855
 $1,620,905
 $1,888,760
 $(296,804) 
Assets Discontinued Operations                        
745600 Columbia Pike Falls Church, VA 
 3,519
 15,098
 4,065
 (10,423) 3,044
 9,216
 12,260
 
 3/31/1997 1993Synergy Business Park Columbia, SC 
 1,439
 11,143
 4,803
 
 1,439
 15,946
 17,385
 (3,718) 5/10/2006;9/17/2010 1982; 1985
 $27,837
 $270,462
 $1,479,530
 $161,450
 $(10,423) $270,899
 $1,630,121
 $1,901,020
 $(296,804) 
75One Memphis Place Memphis, TN 
 1,630
 5,645
 2,508
 
 1,630
 8,153
 9,783
 (1,434) 9/17/2010 1985
76701 Clay Road Waco, TX 
 2,030
 8,708
 2,555
 
 2,060
 11,233
 13,293
 (4,708) 12/23/1997 1997
7714660, 14672 & 14668 Lee Road Chantilly, VA 
 6,966
 74,214
 294
 
 6,966
 74,508
 81,474
 (1,856) 12/22/2016 1998; 2002; 2006
781408 Stephanie Way Chesapeake, VA 
 1,403
 2,555
 
 
 1,403
 2,555
 3,958
 (21) 10/2/2017 1998
791434 Crossways Chesapeake, VA 
 3,617
 19,527
 276
 
 3,617
 19,803
 23,420
 (135) 10/2/2017 1998
801441 Crossways Boulevard Chesapeake, VA 
 2,485
 10,189
 
 
 2,485
 10,189
 12,674
 (73) 10/2/2017 1988
81535 Independence Parkway Chesapeake, VA 3,193
 2,465
 5,801
 
 
 2,465
 5,801
 8,266
 (41) 10/2/2017 1987
82Crossways Chesapeake, VA 
 6,522
 40,267
 
 
 6,522
 40,267
 46,789
 (318) 10/2/2017 1989
83Crossways II Chesapeake, VA 
 1,633
 8,035
 153
 
 1,633
 8,188
 9,821
 (57) 10/2/2017 1989
84Greenbrier Circle Corporate Center Chesapeake, VA 
 4,489
 15,149
 14
 
 4,489
 15,163
 19,652
 (126) 10/2/2017 1981

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Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 2017
(dollars in thousands)


       Initial Cost to Company Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition   Cost amount carried at Close of Period      
 Property Location 
Encumbrances (1)
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
  Impairments/
Writedowns
 Land Buildings
and
Equipment
 
Total (2)
 
Accumulated
Depreciation
(3)
 Date(s)
Acquired
 Original
Construction
Date(s)
85Greenbrier Technology Center I Chesapeake, VA 
 2,514
 6,102
 
 
 2,514
 6,102
 8,616
 (51) 10/2/2017 1987
86Greenbrier Technology Center II Chesapeake, VA 
 2,084
 5,581
 3
 
 2,084
 5,584
 7,668
 (47) 10/2/2017 1987
87Greenbrier Towers Chesapeake, VA 
 3,437
 11,241
 27
 
 3,437
 11,268
 14,705
 (94) 10/2/2017 1985
88Enterchange at Meadowville Chester, VA 
 1,478
 9,594
 283
 
 1,478
 9,877
 11,355
 (1,060) 8/28/2013 1999
893920 Pender Drive Fairfax, VA 13,620
 2,963
 12,840
 12
 
 2,963
 12,852
 15,815
 (1,204) 3/21/2014 1981
90Pender Business Park Fairfax, VA 
 2,529
 21,386
 193
 
 2,529
 21,579
 24,108
 (2,312) 11/4/2013 2000
913201 Jermantown Road Fairfax, VA 
 5,991
 25,619
 329
 
 5,991
 25,948
 31,939
 (213) 10/2/2017 1984
927987 Ashton Avenue Manassas, VA 
 1,562
 8,253
 333
 
 1,562
 8,586
 10,148
 (210) 1/3/2017 1989
93Gateway II Norfolk, VA 
 1,194
 1,563
 
 
 1,194
 1,563
 2,757
 (13) 10/2/2017 1984
94Norfolk Business Center Norfolk, VA 
 2,134
 5,430
 
 
 2,134
 5,430
 7,564
 (45) 10/2/2017 1985
95Norfolk Commerce Park II Norfolk, VA 
 3,116
 10,709
 34
 
 3,116
 10,743
 13,859
 (76) 10/2/2017 1990
961759 & 1760 Business Center Drive Reston, VA 
 9,066
 78,658
 2,413
 
 9,066
 81,071
 90,137
 (7,185) 5/28/2014 1987
971775 Wiehle Avenue Reston, VA 
 4,138
 26,120
 29
 
 4,138
 26,149
 30,287
 (163) 10/2/2017 2001
989960 Mayland Drive Richmond, VA 
 2,614
 15,930
 1,844
 
 2,614
 17,774
 20,388
 (1,550) 5/20/2014 1994
99Aquia Commerce Center Stafford, VA 
 2,090
 7,465
 730
 
 2,090
 8,195
 10,285
 (1,308) 6/22/2011 1988; 1999
100Atlantic Corporate Park Sterling, VA 
 5,752
 29,323
 
 
 5,752
 29,323
 35,075
 (183) 10/2/2017 2008
101Sterling Business Park Lots 8 & 9 Sterling, VA 
 9,178
 44,324
 
 
 9,178
 44,324
 53,502
 (277) 10/2/2017 2016
102Sterling Park Business Center Sterling, VA 
 18,935
 21,191
 63
 
 18,935
 21,254
 40,189
 (154) 10/2/2017 1990
10365 Bowdoin Street S. Burlington, VT 
 700
 8,416
 120
 
 700
 8,536
 9,236
 (1,656) 4/9/2010 2009
104840 North Broadway Everett, WA 
 3,360
 15,376
 1,829
 
 3,360
 17,205
 20,565
 (2,504) 6/28/2012 1985
105Stevens Center Richland, WA 
 3,970
 17,035
 2,431
 
 4,042
 19,394
 23,436
 (9,176) 3/31/1997 1995
10611050 West Liberty Drive Milwaukee, WI 
 945
 4,539
 103
 
 945
 4,642
 5,587
 (763) 6/9/2011 2006
107882 TJ Jackson Drive Falling Waters, WV 
 906
 3,886
 282
 
 922
 4,152
 5,074
 (2,110) 3/31/1997 1993
1085353 Yellowstone Road Cheyenne, WY 
 1,915
 8,217
 550
 
 1,950
 8,732
 10,682
 (4,438) 3/31/1997 1995


 
 $183,100
 $628,698
 $2,153,005
 $194,018
 $(9,260) $627,108
 $2,348,613
 $2,975,721
 $(341,848) 
 
____________________
(1) Represents mortgage debt, net of the unamortized balance of the fair value adjustments and debt issuance costs totaling $329.$47.
(2) Excludes value of real estate intangibles. Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is approximately $2,223,207.$3,911,604.
(3) Depreciation on building and improvements is provided for periods ranging up to 40 years and on equipment up to 12 years. 






S-4


Table of Contents
GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
SCHEDULE III
REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
December 31, 20162017
(dollars in thousands)


Analysis of the carrying amount of real estate properties and accumulated depreciation:
Real Estate Properties Accumulated DepreciationReal Estate Properties Accumulated Depreciation
Balance at December 31, 2013$1,568,562
 $187,635
Additions151,316
 37,671
Loss on asset impairment(7,058) (5,071)
Disposals(444) (444)
Reclassification of assets held for sale(29,896) 
Balance at December 31, 20141,682,480
 219,791
$1,682,480
 $219,791
Additions19,622
 38,987
19,622
 38,987
Disposals(2,624) (2,624)(2,624) (2,624)
Reclassification of assets held for sale(3,346) (275)(3,346) (275)
Balance at December 31, 20151,696,132
 255,879
1,696,132
 255,879
Additions194,107
 42,404
194,107
 42,404
Disposals(1,479) (1,479)(1,479) (1,479)
Balance at December 31, 2016$1,888,760
 $296,804
1,888,760
 296,804
Additions1,100,138
 45,315
Loss on asset impairment(9,490) 
Disposals(3,687) (271)
Balance at December 31, 2017$2,975,721
 $341,848


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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST 
 By:/s/ David M. Blackman 
  
David M. Blackman
President and Chief Operating Officer
 
    
 Dated: February 22, 201726, 2018 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
   
SignatureTitleDate
/s/ David M. BlackmanPresident and Chief Operating OfficerFebruary 22, 201726, 2018
David M. Blackman
   
/s/ Mark L. KleifgesChief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)February 22, 201726, 2018
Mark L. Kleifges
   
/s/ Adam D. PortnoyManaging TrusteeFebruary 22, 201726, 2018
Adam D. Portnoy
   
/s/ Barry M. PortnoyBarbara D. GilmoreManagingIndependent TrusteeFebruary 22, 201726, 2018
Barry M. PortnoyBarbara D. Gilmore
   
/s/ John L. HarringtonIndependent TrusteeFebruary 22, 201726, 2018
John L. Harrington
   
/s/ Barbara D. GilmoreElena PoptodorovaIndependent TrusteeFebruary 22, 201726, 2018
Barbara D. GilmoreElena Poptodorova
   
/s/ Jeffrey P. SomersIndependent TrusteeFebruary 22, 201726, 2018
Jeffrey P. Somers



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