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Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 28,November 15, 2018

Registration No. 333-                        333-227616


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



Pre-effective Amendment No. 3
to

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



GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES INCOME TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



 Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 6798
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
 26-4273474
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 300
Newton, Massachusetts 02458-1634
(617) 219-1440

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Mark L. Kleifges
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Government Properties Income Trust
Two Newton Place
255 Washington Street, Suite 300
Newton, Massachusetts 02458-1634
(617) 219-1440

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)



 Copies to:

 

Howard E. Berkenblit
Lindsey A. Getz
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 338-2800

 

Eric G. Orlinsky
Jacqueline A. Brooks
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP
500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 900
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 332-8688

 

Margaret R. Cohen
Angela Gomes
Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP
500 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 573-4800



          Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective and upon consummation of the Merger described herein.

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

          If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

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

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ý Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o

Emerging growth company o

          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 pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. o

          If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

          Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) o

          Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third Party Tender Offer) o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities
to Be Registered

Amount to be
Registered

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price

Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01 per share

93,132,549(1)N/A$1,915,933,547(2)$238,533.73(3)

(1)
Represents the maximum number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, or GOV Common Shares, of Government Properties Income Trust, or GOV, estimated to be issuable upon the consummation of the merger described herein. The number of GOV Common Shares being registered is based on (a) 89,550,528 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, or SIR Common Shares, of Select Income REIT, or SIR, outstanding as of September 28, 2018, and (b) the exchange ratio of 1.04 GOV Common Shares for each SIR Common Share.

(2)
Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(f)(1) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices for SIR Common Shares as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC on September 24, 2018 ($21.395 per share), multiplied by the estimated maximum number of shares (89,550,528) that may be exchanged or converted for the securities being registered.

(3)
The registration fee for the securities registered hereby has been calculated pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Securities Act.




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

   


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Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to the securities offered by this joint proxy statement/prospectus has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy these securities be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This joint proxy statement/prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION—DATED SEPTEMBER 28,NOVEMBER 15, 2018


LOGOLOGO
 
LOGOLOGO

MERGER PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

           The boards of trustees of Government Properties Income Trust, or GOV, and Select Income REIT, or SIR, each a Maryland real estate investment trust, have approved an agreement and plan of merger, dated as of September 14, 2018, as it may be amended from time to time, or the Merger Agreement, by and among GOV, GOV MS REIT, a Maryland real estate investment trust and a wholly owned subsidiary of GOV, or GOV Merger Sub, and SIR. Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, SIR has agreed to merge with and into GOV Merger Sub, or the Merger, with GOV Merger Sub as the surviving entity in the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, GOV expects GOV Merger Sub to merge with and into GOV, with GOV as the surviving entity, and GOV will change its name to "Office Properties Income Trust".

           Upon the effectiveness of the Merger, SIR shareholders will be entitled to receive 1.04 newly issued common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share, of GOV, or GOV Common Shares, for each common share of beneficial interest of SIR, par value $.01 per share, or SIR Common Shares, they own immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, or the exchange ratio. The exchange ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted to reflect market price fluctuations in either SIR Common Shares or GOV Common Shares prior to the closing of the Merger. GOV Common Shares and SIR Common Shares are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, under the ticker symbol "GOV" and "SIR,""SIR", respectively. Following the merger of GOV Merger Sub with and into GOV, GOV will change its ticker symbol to "OPI".

           Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, prior to the effective time of the Merger, GOV will sell, for cash consideration, all of the 24,918,421 SIR Common Shares owned by GOV. Also, pursuant to the terms and subject to certain conditions of the Merger Agreement, SIR will declare and pay apro rata distribution to its shareholders of the 45,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share, of SIR's majority owned consolidated subsidiary, Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or ILPT, owned by SIR at least one business day prior to the closing date of the Merger, or the ILPT Distribution.

           Based on the $16.89 closing price of GOV Common Shares on Nasdaq on September 14, 2018, the last trading day before the public announcement of the Merger, the exchange ratio represented approximately $17.57 in GOV Common Shares for each SIR Common Share. Based on the $$9.03 closing price of GOV Common Shares on Nasdaq on ,November 14, 2018, the latest practicable trading date before the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, the exchange ratio represented approximately $$9.39 in GOV Common Shares for each SIR Common Share. The Merger consideration that existing SIR shareholders will be entitled to receive upon completion of the Merger will be in addition to the common shares of beneficial interest of ILPT they receive in the ILPT Distribution.The value of the Merger consideration will fluctuate with changes in the market price of GOV Common Shares. We urge you to obtain current market quotations of GOV Common Shares and SIR Common Shares.

           GOV and SIR will each hold special meetings of their respective shareholders on , 201December 20, 2018 in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or, collectively, the Transactions.

           Based upon the number of SIR Common Shares outstanding as of ,November 14, 2018, we anticipate that GOV will issue approximately 93,132,549 GOV Common Shares in connection with the Merger. On September 14, 2018, the GOV board of trustees approved an amendment to GOV's declaration of trust increasing GOV's authorized common shares from 150 million GOV Common Shares to 200 million GOV Common Shares (which amendment will take effect upon execution by GOV and filing with, and acceptance for record by, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland).

           Upon consummation of the Merger, based upon the number of GOV Common Shares and SIR Common Shares outstanding as of the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, we estimate that the GOV shareholders immediately prior to the Merger (in their capacities as such) will own approximately 51.6% of the GOV Common Shares outstanding as a result of the Merger and the SIR shareholders immediately prior to the Merger (in their capacities as such) will own approximately 48.4% of the GOV Common Shares outstanding as a result of the Merger, in each case without taking into account whether any of those GOV shareholders were also SIR shareholders at that time.

           At the special meeting of shareholders of GOV, GOV shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to approve the issuance of GOV Common Shares in the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or the GOV Share Issuance Proposal, and (ii) a proposal to approve the adjournment of the GOV special meeting from time to time, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies in favor of the GOV Share Issuance Proposal if there are insufficient votes at the time of such adjournment to approve such proposal, or the GOV Adjournment Proposal.

           At the special meeting of shareholders of SIR, SIR shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to which SIR is a party, or the SIR Merger Proposal, and (ii) a proposal to approve the adjournment of the SIR special meeting from time to time, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies in favor of the SIR Merger Proposal, if there are insufficient votes at the time of such adjournment to approve the SIR Merger Proposal, or the SIR Adjournment Proposal.

           Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, SIR will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, declare and, at least one business day prior to the closing date of the Merger, pay apro rata distribution to its shareholders of the 45,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share, of SIR's majority owned consolidated subsidiary, Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or ILPT, owned by SIR, or the ILPT Distribution.

           Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of GOV Common Shares or SIR Common Shares you own. The record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the GOV and SIR special meetings is October 1, 2018. The Merger cannot be completed without the approval of both GOV shareholders and SIR shareholders. Please read carefully this joint proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety. The obligations of GOV and SIR to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. More information about GOV, SIR, the special meetings, the Merger Agreement, and the Merger and the other Transactions is included in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. You should also consider carefully the risks that are described in the "Risk Factors" section, beginning on page 43.

           Whether or not you plan to attend the GOV and/or SIR special meeting(s), please submit your proxy as soon as possible to make sure that your GOV Common Shares and/or SIR Common Shares are represented at the applicable special meeting.

           The GOV board of trustees recommends that GOV shareholders vote "FOR" the GOV Share Issuance Proposal, which approval is necessary to consummate the Merger, and "FOR" the GOV Adjournment Proposal.

           The SIR board of trustees recommends that SIR shareholders vote "FOR" the SIR Merger Proposal, which approval is necessary to consummate the Merger, and "FOR" the SIR Adjournment Proposal.

           We join our respective boards of trustees in their recommendation and look forward to the successful combination of GOV and SIR.

Sincerely, Sincerely,

LOGO


LOGO

Mark L. Kleifges

 

John C. Popeo
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Government Properties Income Trust Select Income REIT

           Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this joint proxy statement/prospectus or determined that this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

           This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated November     , 2018 and is first being mailed to GOV shareholders and SIR shareholders on or about November     , 2018.


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LOGO

Government Properties Income Trust

Two Newton Place
255 Washington Street, Suite 300
Newton, Massachusetts 02458
(617) 219-1440

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held On , 201  December 20, 2018

Dear Shareholders of Government Properties Income Trust:

        We are pleased to invite you to attend a special meeting of shareholders of Government Properties Income Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or GOV. The meeting, or the GOV special meeting, will be held at Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 100, Newton, Massachusetts 02458, on , 201  ,December 20, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., local time, to consider and vote upon the following matters:

        The approval by GOV shareholders of the GOV Share Issuance Proposal is a condition to the completion of the Merger. If the GOV Share Issuance Proposal is not approved, the Merger and certain of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not occur.

        Please refer to the attached joint proxy statement/prospectus for further information with respect to the business to be transacted at the GOV special meeting.

        Holders of record of GOV Common Shares at the close of business on October 1, 2018 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the GOV special meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the GOV special meeting.

        To be approved, the GOV Share Issuance Proposal and the GOV Adjournment Proposal require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes cast by holders of outstanding GOV Common Shares entitled to vote at the GOV special meeting on such proposals.


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        Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the GOV special meeting in person, we encourage you to vote your GOV Common Shares as promptly as possible by: (1) accessing the Internet website specified on your proxy card; (2) calling the toll-free number specified on your proxy card; or (3) signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, so that your GOV Common Shares may be represented and voted at the GOV special meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions on the voting instruction card furnished by your broker, bank or other nominee.

By Order of the Board of Trustees,

LOGO

Jennifer B. Clark
Secretary

November     , 2018
Newton, Massachusetts


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LOGO

Select Income REIT
Two Newton Place
255 Washington Street, Suite 300
Newton, Massachusetts 02458
(617) 796-8303

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held On ,December 20, 2018

Dear Shareholders of Select Income REIT:

        We are pleased to invite you to attend a special meeting of shareholders of Select Income REIT, a Maryland real estate investment trust, or SIR. The meeting, or the SIR special meeting, will be held at Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 100, Newton, Massachusetts 02458, on , 201  ,December 20, 2018, at 3:00 p.m., local time, to consider and vote upon the following matters:

        The approval by SIR shareholders of the SIR Merger Proposal is a condition to the completion of the Merger. If the SIR Merger Proposal is not approved, the Merger and certain of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not occur.

        Please refer to the attached joint proxy statement/prospectus for further information with respect to the business to be transacted at the SIR special meeting.

        Holders of record of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of SIR, or SIR Common Shares, at the close of business on October 1, 2018 are entitled to notice of, and to vote on, all proposals at the SIR special meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the SIR special meeting.

        To be approved, the SIR Merger Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding SIR Common Shares at the SIR special meeting on such proposal. To be approved, the SIR Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of at


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least a majority of all the votes cast by holders of outstanding SIR Common Shares entitled to vote at the SIR special meeting on such proposal.

        Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the SIR special meeting in person, we encourage you to vote your SIR Common Shares as promptly as possible by: (1) accessing the Internet website specified on your proxy card; (2) calling the toll-free number specified on your proxy card; or (3) signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, so that your SIR Common Shares may be represented and voted at the SIR special meeting. If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, please follow the instructions on the voting instruction card furnished by your broker, bank or other nominee.

By Order of the Board of Trustees,

LOGO

Jennifer B. Clark
Secretary

November     , 2018
Newton, Massachusetts


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        This joint proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference important business and financial information about GOV and SIR from other documents that are not included in or delivered with this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon your request. You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company at the following addresses and telephone numbers:

Government Properties Income Trust
Two Newton Place
255 Washington Street, Suite 300
Newton, Massachusetts 02458
(617) 219-1440
Attn.: Investor Relations
 Select Income REIT
Two Newton Place
255 Washington Street, Suite 300
Newton, Massachusetts 02458
(617) 796-8303
Attn.: Investor Relations

or


GRAPHIC

Morrow Sodali LLC
470 West Avenue
Stamford, Connecticut 06902
Shareholders Call Toll Free: (800) 662-5200
Banks and Brokers Call Collect: (203) 658-9400

        If you would like to request any documents, please do so by , 201  ,December 13, 2018, in order to receive them before the special meetings.

        For a more detailed description of the information incorporated by reference in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and how you may obtain it, see "Where You Can Find More Information."


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ABOUT THIS JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

        This joint proxy statement/prospectus, which forms part of a registration statement on Form S-4, or the Form S-4, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by GOV (File No. 333-            ),333-227616), constitutes a prospectus of GOV under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, with respect to the GOV Common Shares to be issued in the Merger, or the GOV Share Issuance. This document also constitutes a joint proxy statement of GOV and SIR under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. It also constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the GOV and SIR special meetings.

        You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated November     , 2018 and you should assume that the information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate only as of such date or as of such other date specified herein.

        You should not construe the contents of this joint proxy statement/prospectus as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your own legal, tax, financial or other professional advisors. All summaries of, and references to, the agreements governing the terms of the transactions described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus are qualified by the full copies of and complete text of such agreements in the forms attached hereto as annexes, which are also available on the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System of the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

        We use certain defined terms throughout this joint proxy statement/prospectus that have the following meanings:


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        This joint proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding GOV has been provided by GOV and information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding SIR has been provided by SIR.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 Page 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

  1 

SUMMARY

  
9
 

TheInformation about the Companies

  9 

The Combined Company

  10 

The Merger and the Merger Agreement

  11 

The ILPT Distribution

  12 

Registration Agreement

  1213 

Management Agreements

  13 

Recommendations of the GOV Board of Trustees

  13 

Recommendations of the SIR Board of Trustees

  13 

Risks Relating to the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  1314 

Shareholders Entitled to Vote; Votes Required

  15 

Opinion of Financial Advisor to the GOV Special Committee

  16 

Opinion of Financial Advisor to the SIR Special Committee

  16 

Interests of GOV and SIR Trustees, Executive Officers and Manager in the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  17 

Listing of GOV Common Shares to be Issued in the Merger

  18 

No Shareholder Appraisal Rights in the Merger

18

Litigation Related to the Merger and the Other Transactions

  18 

Conditions to Completion of the Merger

  18 

Regulatory Approvals

  19 

No Solicitation; Change in Recommendation

  19 

Trustees and Management of the Combined Company

  20 

Expected Timing of the Merger

  20 

Termination of the Merger Agreement

  20 

Termination Fees and Expenses

  21 

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger

  2122 

Accounting Treatment of the Merger

  2122 

The GOV Special Meeting

  22 

The SIR Special Meeting

  2223 

Comparison of Rights of GOV Shareholders and SIR Shareholders

  23 

Selected Historical Financial Information of GOV

  23 

Selected Historical Financial Information of SIR

  26 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information

  29 

Unaudited Comparative Per Share Information

  40 

Comparative GOV and SIR Market Price and Distribution Information

  41 

RISK FACTORS

  
43
 

Risks Relating to the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  43 

Risks Relating to GOV after Consummation of the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  49 

Risks Relating to Taxation

  52 

Risks Relating to an Investment in GOV Common Shares Following the Merger

  53 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

  
5556
 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANIES

  
5758
 

Government Properties Income Trust

  5758 

Select Income REIT

  5758 

The Combined Company

  58

Property Portfolio Information

59 

i


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 Page 

Property Portfolio Information

60

DESCRIPTION OF GOV COMMON SHARES

  
64
 

Shares Authorized

  64 

GOV Common Shares

  64 

Power to Reclassify GOV Common Shares, Increase Authorized Shares and Issue Additional Shares

  64 

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Shares

  65 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

  67 

Listing

  68 

ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS IN THE GOVGOV'S DECLARATION OF TRUST, ANDTHE GOV BYLAWS AND UNDER MARYLAND LAW

  
69

Business Combinations

69

Control Share Acquisitions

69

Anti-Takeover Effect of GOV's Declaration of Trust, the GOV Bylaws and Maryland Law

70 

THE GOV SPECIAL MEETING

  
72
 

Date, Time and Place

  72 

Purpose of the GOV Special Meeting

  72 

Recommendations of the GOV Board of Trustees

  72 

GOV Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote

  72 

Quorum

  72 

Required Vote

  73 

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

  73 

Shares Held in Street Name

  73 

Voting of Proxies

  73 

Revocability of Proxies or Voting Instructions

  74 

Tabulation of the Vote

  74 

Solicitation of Proxies

  74 

GOV PROPOSALS

  
75
 

GOV Proposal 1: The GOV Share Issuance Proposal

  75 

GOV Proposal 2: The GOV Adjournment Proposal

  76 

THE SIR SPECIAL MEETING

  
77
 

Date, Time and Place

  77 

Purpose of the SIR Special Meeting

  77 

Recommendations of the SIR Board of Trustees

  77 

SIR Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote

  77 

Quorum

  77 

Required Vote

  78 

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

  78 

Shares Held in Street Name

  78 

Voting of Proxies

  78 

Revocability of Proxies or Voting Instructions

  79 

Tabulation of the Vote

  79 

Solicitation of Proxies

  79 

SIR PROPOSALS

  
80
 

SIR Proposal 1: The SIR Merger Proposal

  80 

SIR Proposal 2: The SIR Adjournment Proposal

  81 

ii



Page

THE MERGER

  
82
 

Background of the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  82 

Recommendation of the GOV Board of Trustees and its Reasons for the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  93 

ii


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Page

Recommendation of the SIR Board of Trustees and its Reasons for the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  100 

Opinion of Financial Advisor to the GOV Special Committee

  106 

Opinion of Financial Advisor to the SIR Special Committee

  116 

Certain Prospective Financial Information of GOV

  124125 

Certain Prospective Financial Information of SIR Excluding ILPT

  127128 

Interests of GOV and SIR Trustees, Executive Officers and Manager in the Merger and the otherOther Transactions

  130 

Trustees and Management of the Combined Company

  132133 

Treatment of Unvested SIR Share Awards in the Merger

  133 

Regulatory Approvals

  133134 

Accounting Treatment of the Merger

  133134 

Exchange of Shares in the Merger

  133134 

Distributions

  134 

Listing of GOV Common Shares to be Issued in the Merger

  134135 

De-Listing and De-Registration of SIR Common Shares

  134135 

No Appraisal

  134135

Litigation Related to the Merger and the Other Transactions

135 

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

  
135136
 

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

  
142143
 

Form of the Merger

  142143 

Merger Consideration

  142143 

Treatment of Unvested SIR Share Awards in the Merger

  143144 

Closing; Effective Time of the Merger

  143144 

Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

  143144 

Exchange of Shares in the Merger

  144145 

Withholding

  144145

Treatment of ILPT

145 

Representations and Warranties of GOV, GOV Merger Sub and SIR

  144146 

Definition of "Material Adverse Effect"

  145146 

Covenants and Agreements

  146147 

Conditions to Completion of the Merger

  157158 

Termination of the Merger Agreement

  159160 

Termination Fees and Expenses

  160162 

Amendment, Extension and Waiver of the Merger Agreement

  161162 

Governing Law

  161162 

Specific Performance; Remedies

  161162 

THE ILPT DISTRIBUTION

  
162163
 

REGISTRATION AGREEMENT

  
162163
 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

  
162163
 

NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS

  
166167
 

COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF GOV SHAREHOLDERS AND SIR SHAREHOLDERS

  
166

FUTURE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS


167

GOV 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals

167

SIR 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals

167

LEGAL MATTERS


168

EXPERTS


168
 

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 Page 

ARBITRATION AND EXCLUSIVE FORUM

168

FUTURE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS


170

GOV 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals

170

SIR 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals

170

LEGAL MATTERS


171

EXPERTS


171

OTHER MATTERS

  168
171
 

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

  
169172
 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

  
169172
 

ANNEX A: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

  
A-1
 

ANNEX B: OPINION OF CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. 

  
B-1
 

ANNEX C: OPINION OF UBS SECURITIES LLC

  
C-1
 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

        The following are some questions that you may have regarding the proposals being considered at the GOV and SIR special meetings and brief answers to those questions. You should carefully read this joint proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety, including the Annexes, and the other documents to which this joint proxy statement/prospectus refers or incorporates by reference, because the information in this section may not provide all the information that might be important to you.

Q.    What is the proposed transaction?

A.
GOV and SIR have agreed to combine pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

Q.    What will I receive in the proposed transaction?

A.
In the Merger, SIR shareholders will be entitled to receive 1.04, or the exchange ratio, newly issued GOV Common Shares, for each SIR Common Share that they own immediately prior to the Effective Time. The exchange ratio is fixed and will not be adjusted to reflect market price fluctuations in either SIR Common Shares or GOV Common Shares prior to the closing of the Merger. The Merger Consideration that existing SIR shareholders will be entitled to receive upon completion of the Merger will be in addition to the ILPT Common Shares that they receive in the ILPT Distribution.

Q.    What happens if the market price of GOV Common Shares or SIR Common Shares changes before the closing of the Merger?

A.
The terms of the Merger remain the same. No change will be made to the exchange ratio if the market price of GOV Common Shares or SIR Common Shares changes before the Merger. Because the exchange ratio is fixed, the value of the consideration to be received by SIR shareholders in the Merger will depend on the market price of GOV Common Shares at the time of the Merger.

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Q.    Why am I receiving this joint proxy statement/prospectus?

A.
The Merger cannot be completed unless:

GOV shareholders vote to approve the proposal, or the GOV Share Issuance Proposal, to authorize the issuance of GOV Common Shares to SIR shareholders, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, or the GOV Share Issuance;Agreement; and

SIR shareholders vote to approve the proposal, or the SIR Merger Proposal, to approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to which SIR is a party.

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Q.    Why is GOV proposing the Merger?

A.
The GOV board of trustees approved the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions to which GOV is a party and recommended that GOV shareholders approve the GOV Share Issuance Proposal based on a number of strategic and financial benefits to GOV, including the opportunity to create a combined company with enhanced portfolio scale, quality and diversification, which the GOV board of trustees believes will be a leading national office REIT with an enhanced occupancy rate and a portfolio of high credit quality tenants. The GOV board of trustees also believes that as a result of the combined company's larger size and scale and enhanced financial metrics, the combined company will have improved financial strength and flexibility and an improved growth outlook. Additionally, the GOV board of trustees believes the simplified corporate structure of the combined company following the Merger and its focus on office properties will provide greater business clarity to investors and increase shareholder value. To review the reasons of the GOV board of trustees for the Merger in greater detail, see "The Merger—Recommendation of the GOV Board of Trustees and its Reasons for the Merger and the otherOther Transactions" beginning on page 93 of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Merger poses risks to GOV and GOV's shareholders and GOV and GOV's shareholders may not realize the benefits of the Merger and the other Transactions. See "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Merger and the otherOther Transactions" beginning on page 43 of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

Q.    Why is SIR proposing the Merger?

A.
The SIR board of trustees approved the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions to which SIR is a party and recommended that SIR shareholders approve the SIR Merger Proposal based on a number of strategic and financial benefits, including the premium SIR shareholders will be entitled to receive in the Merger and the value and opportunity to participate directly in the growth of ILPT through the direct ownership of ILPT Common Shares which SIR shareholders receive in the ILPT Distribution. SIR shareholders will also participate directly in the growth of the combined company through their continued ownership of approximately 48.4% of the combined company immediately following the Merger, which the SIR board of trustees believes will be a leading national office REIT with an enhanced occupancy rate and a portfolio of

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Q.    When and where will the special meetings be held?

A.
The GOV special meeting will be held at Two Newton Place, 255 Washington Street, Suite 100, Newton, Massachusetts 02458, on , 201  ,December 20, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., local time.

Q.    How do I vote?

A.
GOV. If you were a holder of record of GOV Common Shares as of the close of business on October 1, 2018, the record date for the GOV special meeting, or the GOV Record Date, you may vote on the applicable proposals by:

accessing the Internet website specified on your proxy card;

calling the toll-free number specified on your proxy card;

signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided; or

attending the special meeting and voting in person.

Q.    What am I being asked to vote upon?

A.
GOV. GOV shareholders are being asked to vote to approve the GOV Share Issuance Proposal and a proposal to adjourn the GOV special meeting from time to time, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies in favor of the GOV Share Issuance Proposal if there are

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