STOCK TITAN

[8-K] City Office REIT, Inc. Reports Material Event

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

City Office REIT (CIO) has disclosed additional information regarding its pending merger transaction, including details about shareholder litigation and the merger negotiation process. The company faces two lawsuits (Johnson v. City Office REIT and Thompson v. City Office REIT) alleging omissions in the proxy statement. During the deal process, multiple parties including Morning Calm conducted due diligence and property tours across Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa, and Phoenix markets.

The merger agreement includes typical provisions like "no-shop" clauses, requirements for debt financing cooperation, and conditions around property dispositions. JLL Securities conducted a valuation analysis using a Gordon Growth Method with 1.25-1.75% perpetuity growth rates and 7.2-8.2% discount rates, yielding an implied equity value range of $606-752 million.

Notably, Raymond James, which is advising on the transaction, disclosed potential conflicts of interest, including prior business relationships with Morning Calm Parent that generated $435,000 in fees, and senior deal team members having approximately $600,000 invested in Morning Calm-affiliated funds.

City Office REIT (CIO) ha reso note ulteriori informazioni sulla sua operazione di fusione in sospeso, includendo dettagli su contenziosi degli azionisti e sul processo di negoziazione della fusione. L'azienda è coinvolta in due cause (Johnson v. City Office REIT e Thompson v. City Office REIT) che presumono omissioni nel verbale informativo. Durante il processo dell'accordo, diverse parti, tra cui Morning Calm, hanno effettuato due diligence e tour delle proprietà nei mercati di Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa e Phoenix.

L'accordo di fusione prevede disposizioni tipiche come clausole di "no-shop", requisiti di cooperazione per il finanziamento del debito e condizioni relative alle cessioni di proprietà. JLL Securities ha effettuato un'analisi di valutazione utilizzando un metodo di crescita a perpetuità Gordon con tassi di crescita perpetua dello 1,25-1,75% e tassi di sconto del 7,2-8,2%, che hanno fornito un intervallo di valore azionario implicito di 606-752 milioni di dollari.

Notevole è che Raymond James, che sta fornendo consulenza sull'operazione, ha divulgato potenziali conflitti di interesse, inclusi rapporti commerciali pregressi con Morning Calm Parent che hanno generato 435.000 dollari di remunerazioni, e i membri senior del team della trattativa hanno circa 600.000 dollari investiti in fondi affiliati Morning Calm.

City Office REIT (CIO) ha divulgado información adicional sobre su operación de fusión en curso, incluyendo detalles sobre litigio de accionistas y el proceso de negociación de la fusión. La empresa enfrenta dos demandas (Johnson v. City Office REIT y Thompson v. City Office REIT) que alegan omisiones en el folleto. Durante el proceso de la transacción, varias partes, entre ellas Morning Calm, realizaron due diligence y recorridos por las propiedades en los mercados de Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa y Phoenix.

El acuerdo de fusión incluye disposiciones típicas como cláusulas de "no shop" (no negociación), requisitos de cooperación para el financiamiento de la deuda y condiciones relacionadas con las disposiciones de propiedades. JLL Securities llevó a cabo un análisis de valoración utilizando un método de crecimiento Gordon con tasas de crecimiento perpetuo del 1,25-1,75% y tasas de descuento del 7,2-8,2%, obteniendo un rango de valor de equidad implícito de 606-752 millones de dólares.

Notablemente, Raymond James, que asesora en la operación, divulgó posibles conflictos de interés, incluyendo relaciones comerciales previas con Morning Calm Parent que generaron 435.000 dólares en comisiones, y que los miembros senior del equipo de trato tenían aproximadamente 600.000 dólares invertidos en fondos afiliados a Morning Calm.

City Office REIT (CIO)는 보류 중인 합병 거래에 대한 추가 정보를 공개했으며, 주주 소송 및 합병 협상 프로세스에 대한 세부 정보를 포함합니다. 회사는 프록시 성명서의 누락을 주장하는 두 건의 소송(Johson v. City Office REIT 및 Thompson v. City Office REIT)에 직면해 있습니다. 거래 과정에서 Morning Calm을 포함한 다수의 당사자가 댈러스, 롤리, 올랜도, 탬파 및 피닉스 시장에서 실사 및 부동산 방문을 수행했습니다.

합병 계약에는 “노샵(no-shop)” 조항, 부채 조달 협력 요건, 부동산 양도와 관련된 조건과 같은 전형적인 조항이 포함됩니다. JLL Securities는 Gordon 성장법을 사용한 평가 분석을 수행했으며, 영구 성장률 1.25-1.75%, 할인율 7.2-8.2%를 적용하여 내재적 주식가치 범위를 6억 6천만 달러에서 7억 5천 2백만 달러로 제시했습니다.

거래를 자문하는 라몬드 제임스(Raymond James)는 Morning Calm Parent와의 이전 거래 관계에서 435,000달러의 수수료를 발생시켰다는 등 이해상충 가능성을 공개했으며, 거래 팀의 고위 구성원들이 Morning Calm 계열 펀드에 약 60만 달러를 투자하고 있었습니다.

City Office REIT (CIO) a divulgué des informations supplémentaires concernant sa transaction de fusion en cours, y compris des détails sur les litiges des actionnaires et le processus de négociation de la fusion. L’entreprise est confrontée à deux poursuites (Johnson v. City Office REIT et Thompson v. City Office REIT) alléguant des omissions dans le prospectus. Pendant le processus de l’accord, plusieurs parties, dont Morning Calm, ont effectué une due diligence et des visites de propriétés sur les marchés de Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa et Phoenix.

L’accord de fusion comprend des dispositions typiques telles que des clauses de « no-shop », des exigences de coopération pour le financement de la dette et des conditions liées aux cessions de propriétés. JLL Securities a effectué une analyse de valorisation en utilisant une méthode de croissance Gordon avec des taux de croissance perpétuelle de 1,25-1,75% et des taux d’actualisation de 7,2-8,2%, ce qui donne une fourchette de valeur actionnariale implicite de 606 à 752 millions de dollars.

Notamment, Raymond James, qui conseille sur la transaction, a divulgué d’éventuels conflits d’intérêts, notamment des relations commerciales antérieures avec Morning Calm Parent qui ont généré 435 000 dollars de frais, et les membres seniors de l’équipe de dénouement ayant environ 600 000 dollars investis dans des fonds affiliés à Morning Calm.

City Office REIT (CIO) hat zusätzliche Informationen zu seiner laufenden Fusions-transaktion offengelegt, einschließlich Details zu Aktionärsklagen und dem Verhandlungsprozess der Fusion. Das Unternehmen sieht sich zwei Klagen gegenüber (Johnson v. City Office REIT und Thompson v. City Office REIT), die Unterlassungen im Proxy-Statement vorwerfen. Während des Geschäftsvorgangs führten mehrere Parteien, darunter Morning Calm, Due Diligence und Besichtigungen von Immobilien in den Märkten Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa und Phoenix durch.

Der Fusionsvertrag enthält typische Bestimmungen wie No-Shop-Klauseln, Anforderungen an die Zusammenarbeit bei der Fremdfinanzierung und Bedingungen in Bezug auf Immobilienverkäufe. JLL Securities führte eine Bewertungsanalyse durch, die eine Gordon-WachstumsMethode mit perpetuitätswachstumsraten von 1,25-1,75% und Diskontierungsraten von 7,2-8,2% verwendete und einen impliziten Eigenkapitalwertbereich von 606-752 Millionen Dollar ergab.

Bemerkenswert ist, dass Raymond James, der bei der Transaktion berät, potenzielle Interessenkonflikte offengelegt hat, einschließlich früherer Geschäftsbeziehungen mit Morning Calm Parent, die Gebühren in Höhe von 435.000 USD generierten, und dass leitende Teammitglieder des Deals etwa 600.000 USD in Morning Calm-verbundene Fonds investiert haben.

City Office REIT (CIO) كشفت عن معلومات إضافية بخصوص صفقتها المزمعة للاندماج، بما في ذلك تفاصيل عن الدعاوى المرفوعة ضد المساهمين وعملية تفاوض الدمج. تواجه الشركة دعويين قضائيتين (Johnson v. City Office REIT و Thompson v. City Office REIT) تزعم وجود نقائص في بيان التوكيلات. أثناء عملية الصفقة، أجرت عدة أطراف بما في ذلك Morning Calm فحصًا دقيقًا وجولات عقارية عبر أسواق دالاس ورالي وأورلاندو وتامبا وفينيكس.

يشمل اتفاق الدمج بنوداً نموذجية مثل بنود "لا-شوب" والالتزامات بالتعاون في تمويل الدين وشروط حول تصرفات الممتلكات. أجرت JLL Securities تحليل تقييم باستخدام طريقة Gordon للنمو مع معدلات نمو دائمة بين 1.25-1.75% ومعدلات خصم بين 7.2-8.2%، مما أسفر عن نطاق قيمة حقوق الملكية المفترض بين 606-752 مليون دولار.

ومن الجدير بالذكر أن Raymond James، التي تقدم المشورة في الصفقة، كشفت عن صراعات مصالح محتملة، بما في ذلك العلاقات التجارية السابقة مع Morning Calm Parent التي وفرت رسوماً قدرها 435,000 دولار، وأن أعضاء فريق الصفقة الكبار استثمروا نحو 600,000 دولار في صناديق Morning Calm التابعة.

City Office REIT (CIO) 已披露关于其 pending merger transaction 的额外信息,其中包括股东诉讼和合并谈判过程的细节。该公司正面临两起诉讼(Johnson v. City Office REIT 和 Thompson v. City Office REIT),指控 proxy statement 存在 omissions。在交易过程中,包括 Morning Calm 在内的多方对达拉斯、罗利、奥兰多、坦帕和凤凰城市场进行了尽职调查和地产考察。

合并协议包含典型条款,如“no-shop”条款、债务融资合作的要求,以及关于物业处置的条件。JLL Securities 使用 Gordon Growth Method 进行评估分析,永久增长率为 1.25-1.75%,贴现率为 7.2-8.2%,得出隐含的股本价值区间为 6.06-7.52 亿美元。

值得注意的是,负责该交易的 Raymond James 披露了潜在的利益冲突,包括与 Morning Calm Parent 以前的业务关系曾产生 43.5 万美元的费用,以及交易团队高级成员在 Morning Calm 相关基金中投资约 60 万美元。

Positive
  • Multiple parties conducted property tours and due diligence, suggesting a competitive sale process
  • Detailed valuation analysis by JLL Securities provides transparent pricing framework
  • Management agreements settled with clear termination at closing, removing post-merger uncertainty
Negative
  • Two shareholder lawsuits filed challenging proxy statement disclosures
  • Raymond James advisors have significant conflicts of interest through investments in Morning Calm funds
  • Complex closing conditions including lender consents required

Insights

Multiple bidders and property tours suggest competitive sale process, though conflicts of interest warrant scrutiny

The merger process included engagement with multiple potential buyers, including property tours across five major markets and detailed management discussions. The no-shop provisions and termination fee structures are standard for public REIT transactions, providing reasonable deal protection while maintaining board flexibility.

Raymond James's disclosed conflicts, including significant team member investments in Morning Calm funds and prior business relationships, could raise questions about advisory objectivity. However, the presence of multiple bidders and comprehensive due diligence process suggests a thorough market check was conducted.

Shareholder litigation and disclosure claims present typical merger execution risks

The two disclosed lawsuits alleging proxy statement omissions represent common merger litigation risk. While such suits rarely prevent deal closure, they can impact timing and may require supplemental disclosures. The company's statement that it may not disclose additional similar demands suggests confidence in current disclosure levels.

City Office REIT (CIO) ha reso note ulteriori informazioni sulla sua operazione di fusione in sospeso, includendo dettagli su contenziosi degli azionisti e sul processo di negoziazione della fusione. L'azienda è coinvolta in due cause (Johnson v. City Office REIT e Thompson v. City Office REIT) che presumono omissioni nel verbale informativo. Durante il processo dell'accordo, diverse parti, tra cui Morning Calm, hanno effettuato due diligence e tour delle proprietà nei mercati di Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa e Phoenix.

L'accordo di fusione prevede disposizioni tipiche come clausole di "no-shop", requisiti di cooperazione per il finanziamento del debito e condizioni relative alle cessioni di proprietà. JLL Securities ha effettuato un'analisi di valutazione utilizzando un metodo di crescita a perpetuità Gordon con tassi di crescita perpetua dello 1,25-1,75% e tassi di sconto del 7,2-8,2%, che hanno fornito un intervallo di valore azionario implicito di 606-752 milioni di dollari.

Notevole è che Raymond James, che sta fornendo consulenza sull'operazione, ha divulgato potenziali conflitti di interesse, inclusi rapporti commerciali pregressi con Morning Calm Parent che hanno generato 435.000 dollari di remunerazioni, e i membri senior del team della trattativa hanno circa 600.000 dollari investiti in fondi affiliati Morning Calm.

City Office REIT (CIO) ha divulgado información adicional sobre su operación de fusión en curso, incluyendo detalles sobre litigio de accionistas y el proceso de negociación de la fusión. La empresa enfrenta dos demandas (Johnson v. City Office REIT y Thompson v. City Office REIT) que alegan omisiones en el folleto. Durante el proceso de la transacción, varias partes, entre ellas Morning Calm, realizaron due diligence y recorridos por las propiedades en los mercados de Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa y Phoenix.

El acuerdo de fusión incluye disposiciones típicas como cláusulas de "no shop" (no negociación), requisitos de cooperación para el financiamiento de la deuda y condiciones relacionadas con las disposiciones de propiedades. JLL Securities llevó a cabo un análisis de valoración utilizando un método de crecimiento Gordon con tasas de crecimiento perpetuo del 1,25-1,75% y tasas de descuento del 7,2-8,2%, obteniendo un rango de valor de equidad implícito de 606-752 millones de dólares.

Notablemente, Raymond James, que asesora en la operación, divulgó posibles conflictos de interés, incluyendo relaciones comerciales previas con Morning Calm Parent que generaron 435.000 dólares en comisiones, y que los miembros senior del equipo de trato tenían aproximadamente 600.000 dólares invertidos en fondos afiliados a Morning Calm.

City Office REIT (CIO)는 보류 중인 합병 거래에 대한 추가 정보를 공개했으며, 주주 소송 및 합병 협상 프로세스에 대한 세부 정보를 포함합니다. 회사는 프록시 성명서의 누락을 주장하는 두 건의 소송(Johson v. City Office REIT 및 Thompson v. City Office REIT)에 직면해 있습니다. 거래 과정에서 Morning Calm을 포함한 다수의 당사자가 댈러스, 롤리, 올랜도, 탬파 및 피닉스 시장에서 실사 및 부동산 방문을 수행했습니다.

합병 계약에는 “노샵(no-shop)” 조항, 부채 조달 협력 요건, 부동산 양도와 관련된 조건과 같은 전형적인 조항이 포함됩니다. JLL Securities는 Gordon 성장법을 사용한 평가 분석을 수행했으며, 영구 성장률 1.25-1.75%, 할인율 7.2-8.2%를 적용하여 내재적 주식가치 범위를 6억 6천만 달러에서 7억 5천 2백만 달러로 제시했습니다.

거래를 자문하는 라몬드 제임스(Raymond James)는 Morning Calm Parent와의 이전 거래 관계에서 435,000달러의 수수료를 발생시켰다는 등 이해상충 가능성을 공개했으며, 거래 팀의 고위 구성원들이 Morning Calm 계열 펀드에 약 60만 달러를 투자하고 있었습니다.

City Office REIT (CIO) a divulgué des informations supplémentaires concernant sa transaction de fusion en cours, y compris des détails sur les litiges des actionnaires et le processus de négociation de la fusion. L’entreprise est confrontée à deux poursuites (Johnson v. City Office REIT et Thompson v. City Office REIT) alléguant des omissions dans le prospectus. Pendant le processus de l’accord, plusieurs parties, dont Morning Calm, ont effectué une due diligence et des visites de propriétés sur les marchés de Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa et Phoenix.

L’accord de fusion comprend des dispositions typiques telles que des clauses de « no-shop », des exigences de coopération pour le financement de la dette et des conditions liées aux cessions de propriétés. JLL Securities a effectué une analyse de valorisation en utilisant une méthode de croissance Gordon avec des taux de croissance perpétuelle de 1,25-1,75% et des taux d’actualisation de 7,2-8,2%, ce qui donne une fourchette de valeur actionnariale implicite de 606 à 752 millions de dollars.

Notamment, Raymond James, qui conseille sur la transaction, a divulgué d’éventuels conflits d’intérêts, notamment des relations commerciales antérieures avec Morning Calm Parent qui ont généré 435 000 dollars de frais, et les membres seniors de l’équipe de dénouement ayant environ 600 000 dollars investis dans des fonds affiliés à Morning Calm.

City Office REIT (CIO) hat zusätzliche Informationen zu seiner laufenden Fusions-transaktion offengelegt, einschließlich Details zu Aktionärsklagen und dem Verhandlungsprozess der Fusion. Das Unternehmen sieht sich zwei Klagen gegenüber (Johnson v. City Office REIT und Thompson v. City Office REIT), die Unterlassungen im Proxy-Statement vorwerfen. Während des Geschäftsvorgangs führten mehrere Parteien, darunter Morning Calm, Due Diligence und Besichtigungen von Immobilien in den Märkten Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa und Phoenix durch.

Der Fusionsvertrag enthält typische Bestimmungen wie No-Shop-Klauseln, Anforderungen an die Zusammenarbeit bei der Fremdfinanzierung und Bedingungen in Bezug auf Immobilienverkäufe. JLL Securities führte eine Bewertungsanalyse durch, die eine Gordon-WachstumsMethode mit perpetuitätswachstumsraten von 1,25-1,75% und Diskontierungsraten von 7,2-8,2% verwendete und einen impliziten Eigenkapitalwertbereich von 606-752 Millionen Dollar ergab.

Bemerkenswert ist, dass Raymond James, der bei der Transaktion berät, potenzielle Interessenkonflikte offengelegt hat, einschließlich früherer Geschäftsbeziehungen mit Morning Calm Parent, die Gebühren in Höhe von 435.000 USD generierten, und dass leitende Teammitglieder des Deals etwa 600.000 USD in Morning Calm-verbundene Fonds investiert haben.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 7, 2025

 

 

City Office REIT, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   001-36409   98-1141883

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

666 Burrard Street  
Suite 3210  
Vancouver, British Columbia   V6C 2X8
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (604) 806-3366

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbols

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value   CIO   New York Stock Exchange
6.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share   CIO.PrA   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging 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. ☐

 

 
 


Item 8.01

Other Events.

As previously disclosed, on July 23, 2025, City Office REIT, Inc. (NYSE: CIO) (the “Company”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, MCME Carell Holdings, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Parent”), and MCME Carell Merger Sub, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, upon the closing of the transaction, the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”), with Merger Sub surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

The Company filed a definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 8, 2025, for the solicitation of proxies in connection with the special meeting of the Company’s stockholders to be held on October 16, 2025, seeking the requisite vote of the Company’s stockholders on matters necessary to complete the Merger. The Company commenced mailing of the Proxy Statement to its stockholders on or about September 8, 2025.

Since entering into the Merger Agreement, the Company has received, to its knowledge, thirteen demand letters from purported stockholders of the Company (the “Demand Letters”). Further, two complaints have been filed by purported stockholders of the Company in the New York Supreme Court (the “Complaints”). The Complaints are captioned as Eric Johnson vs. City Office REIT, Inc., et. al (Case No. 655681/2025) and Andrew Thompson v. City Office REIT, Inc., et. al (Case No. 655671/2025). The Complaints each name the Company and the members of its board of directors as defendants. The Demand Letters and Complaints assert that purportedly material information is omitted from the Proxy Statement. It is possible that additional or similar demand letters may be received by the Company, or that complaints making similar allegations may be filed naming the Company, the members of its board of directors and/or any other parties to the Merger as defendants. Absent new or different allegations that are material or a disclosure obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, the Company will not necessarily disclose such additional demands or complaints.

The Company believes that the disclosures set forth in the Proxy Statement comply fully with applicable law and exchange rules, that no further disclosure beyond that already contained in the Proxy Statement is required under applicable law or exchange rules and that the allegations asserted in the Demand Letters and the Complaints are entirely without merit. However, in order to moot these disclosure claims, to avoid nuisance, cost and distraction and to preclude any efforts to delay the closing of the Merger, and without admitting any culpability, liability or wrongdoing and without admitting the relevance or materiality of such disclosures, the Company is voluntarily supplementing the Proxy Statement with the supplemental disclosures set forth below (the “Supplemental Disclosures”). Nothing in the Supplemental Disclosures shall be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under applicable laws of any of the disclosures set forth herein. To the contrary, each of the Company and the other defendants specifically denies all allegations in the Demand Letters and the Complaints that any additional disclosure was or is required.

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES TO PROXY STATEMENT

The following supplemental information should be read in conjunction with the Proxy Statement, which should be read in its entirety and is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, along with periodic reports and other information the Company files with the SEC. To the extent that the information set forth herein differs from or updates information contained in the Proxy Statement, the information set forth herein shall supersede or supplement the information in the Proxy Statement. All page and paragraph references are to pages and paragraphs in the Proxy Statement, and terms used below, unless otherwise defined, have the meanings set forth in the Proxy Statement. The information contained herein speaks only as of October 7, 2025, unless the information indicates another date. New text within restated language from the Proxy Statement is highlighted with bold, underlined text and removed language within restated language from the Proxy Statement is indicated by strikethrough text.


The disclosure under the heading “The Merger—Background of the Merger” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the second full paragraph on page 29 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

On May 21, 2024, the Board held a meeting, which the Company’s senior management attended, to further discuss the April 22 Proposal and the Company’s entry into a non-disclosure agreement with Bidder A, as well as an update on Bidder A’s access to a virtual data room (the “VDR”) containing due diligence materials regarding the business and operations of the Company. The Board unanimously approved entry into a non-disclosure agreement with Bidder A. The Board expressed support for management to meet with other potential acquirors based on JLL Securities’ market intelligence during this period. The Board noted that in recent years, there were limited groups interested in the office building space due to the impact of COVID-19. Later that day a non-disclosure agreement was entered into between the Company, Bidder A and Bidder A’s financial partner, a significant real estate investor, that Bidder A had identified as the primary source of equity financing for the proposed transaction. The non-disclosure agreement contained customary standstill restrictions and did not contain a “don’t ask-don’t waive” standstill provision prohibiting Bidder A from requesting that the Board or the Company release it from its standstill obligations. Over the next two weeks, Bidder A conducted a due diligence review of the Company.

The disclosure under the heading “The Merger—Background of the Merger” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the first full paragraph on page 31 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

Between July 22 and August 22, 2024, the Company had discussions with 11 possible investors, including Bidder A, and entered into non-disclosure agreements with five additional parties, including Morning Calm, each with the aim of exploring various Strategic Alternatives. Such non-disclosure agreements did not contain a “don’t ask-don’t waive” standstill provision prohibiting the possible investors from requesting that the Board or the Company release them from their standstill obligations. The Company advised such parties that letters of intent and indications of interest were to be submitted by the first week of September. During this period, Morning Calm and Bidder A (who each had previously signed a non-disclosure agreement) and three other counterparties toured various Company properties in Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa, and Phoenix as well as conducted detailed asset review calls with the Company’s management and senior market leaders.

The disclosure under the heading “The Merger—Background of the Merger” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the paragraph on page 35-36 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

Between June 10, 2025 and July 23, 2025, DLA Piper and Gibson Dunn exchanged several drafts of the proposed Merger Agreement and the parties’ respective management teams and representatives of each of their respective legal and financial advisors engaged in extensive negotiations regarding the terms of the proposed Merger Agreement and other related transaction documents, including regarding (a) the representations and warranties to be made by the parties, (b) our obligations with respect to the operation of our business during the period between the signing of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger, (c) the scope of the restrictions applicable to actions taken by us during the period between the signing of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger (including the provisions related to our ability to pay regular quarterly dividends to holders of our Common Stock during the period between the signing of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger), (d) elements surrounding the “no-shop” provisions related to our obligations to not solicit competing acquisition proposals after the signing of the Merger Agreement, (e) our obligations to cooperate with Parent’s debt financing and assumption efforts, (f) our obligations to cooperate with Parent’s exploration of potential property dispositions, (g) the remedies available to each party under the Merger Agreement, including the triggers and magnitude of the termination fee payable to Parent and reverse termination fee payable to us (and the terms of the limited guarantee of certain payment obligations by Elliott), (h) the requisite closing conditions, including certain lender consents, and (i) the proposed timing for the closing of the Merger, among other items. Morning Calm’s proposal did not include a proposal regarding the participation or employment of the Company’s management in the combined company, nor was it conditioned on any such participation or employment, nor have there been any subsequent negotiations related to any such participation or employment. As of the date hereof, Morning Calm and the Company’s management have agreed that management’s employment shall terminate as of the closing of the Merger.


The disclosure under the heading “Opinion of JLL Securities—Discounted Cash Flow Analysis” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the second full paragraph on page 48 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

JLL Securities performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the Company by calculating the estimated present value as of June 30, 2025, of the standalone unlevered, free cash flows that the Company was forecasted to generate during the six-month period ending December 31, 2025 and the twelve-month periods ending December 31, 2026 through December 31, 2030, adjusted for the Phoenix Asset Sale, according to the Projections prepared by the Company management through the 2030 calendar year. For additional information regarding the Projections, please see the section of this proxy statement titled “Projections.” JLL Securities calculated terminal values for the Company using the Gordon Growth Method by applying a selected range of perpetuity growth rates of 1.25% to 1.75%, to the Company’s standalone terminal unlevered free cash flows based on its professional judgment and expertise, taking into consideration the market expectations regarding long-term growth of office real estate in the Company’s markets which yielded a mid-point terminal value of $709 million. The unlevered free cash flows and terminal values were then discounted to present value June 30, 2025 using a selected range of discount rates of 7.2% to 8.2% (reflecting JLL Securities’ analysis of the Company’s weighted average cost of capital, determined using the “Capital Asset Pricing Model” and based on information provided to JLL Securities by Company management and other considerations that JLL Securities deemed relevant in its professional judgment and experience, taking into account certain metrics including levered and unlevered betas for a comparable group of companies). An implied per share equity value reference range for the Company was then calculated based on the estimated present value of the Company’s future unlevered free cash flows as provided by the management of the Company and terminal value per share ranging between $606 million and $752 million, less the Company’s outstanding liabilities (as adjusted for the Phoenix Asset Sale), including secured mortgage debt, balance on an unsecured credit facility and term loan, the liquidation preference of Preferred Stock outstanding and net tangible liabilities, plus cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $454 million, divided by the total number of fully diluted shares of common stock outstanding equal to approximately 42 million, as provided by Company management.

The disclosure under the heading “Opinion of JLL Securities— Comparable Public Companies Analysis” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the first full paragraph on page 49 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

JLL Securities reviewed publicly available financial and stock market information of the Company and the following four selected companies that JLL Securities viewed as generally comparable to the Company, based on, but not limited to, the following qualities: (i) focus on office investment; (ii) focus on similar geographic markets, i.e., non-gateway; (iii) small- or mid-cap company value; (iv) well-covered by research analysts; and (v) proven public market liquidity, collectively referred to as the “selected REITs”:

 

 

Cousins Properties Incorporated

 

 

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

 

 

Piedmont Realty Trust, Inc.

 

 

Brandywine Realty Trust

 

Public Peers

   EV / ‘26E
EBITDA
   P / ‘26E FFO    P/(D) to NAV   Implied Cap
Rate

Cousins Properties Incorporated (CUZ)

   12.2x    9.9x    (5.8%)   7.9%

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (HIW)

   12.5x    8.6x    (4.0%)   8.6%

Piedmont Realty Trust, Inc. (PDM)

   10.6x    5.0x    (29.3%)   10.1%

Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN)

   11.2x    5.7x    (47.9%)   11.6%


The disclosure under the heading “Opinion of Raymond James— Material Financial Analyses” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the second and third full paragraph on page 55 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

 

Selected Companies Analysis. Raymond James analyzed the relative valuation multiples of four publicly traded domestic real estate investment trusts with market capitalizations below $5 billion that it deemed relevant and for which future financial estimates were publicly available. The selected publicly traded companies are below:

 

 

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

 

 

Brandywine Realty Trust

 

 

Piedmont Realty Trust Inc.

 

 

Franklin Street Properties Corp.

Raymond James calculated and sourced from Wall Street research analysts various financial multiples for each company, including (i) net operating income divided by the implied real estate value of such company using the most recent closing price of the common stock of each selected company, which we refer to as the Implied Cap Rate, (ii) the per share price divided by the consensus funds from operations, which we refer to as the FFO Multiple, estimated for calendar years ending December 31, 2025 and 2026, which we refer to as 2025E and 2026E, respectively, as well as (iii) the per share price divided by the consensus adjusted funds from operations, which we refer to as the AFFO Multiple, 2025E and 2026E. The estimates published by Wall Street research analysts were not prepared in connection with the Merger or at the request of Raymond James and may or may not prove to be accurate. The selected publicly traded companies, as well as their related percentages and multiples, are set forth below:

 

Company

  

Implied Cap

 

FFO Multiple

  

AFFO Multiple

     Rate   2025E    2026E    2025E    2026E

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

   8.5%   9.1x    8.6x    14.9x    14.7x

Brandywine Realty Trust

   11.6%   6.9x    5.9x    12.0x    9.0x

Piedmont Realty Trust Inc.

   10.0%   5.3x    5.3x    11.5x    13.0x

Franklin Street Properties Corp.

   11.3%   18.2x    20.5x    NMF    NMF

Raymond James reviewed the high and the low relative valuation multiples of the selected public companies and compared them to corresponding valuation multiples for the Company implied by the Common Stock Merger Consideration. Raymond James excluded Franklin Street Properties Corp. from the FFO multiples and AFFO multiples set forth below because it is covered by just one analyst and that its AFFO estimates are negative for 2025E and 2026E. The results of the selected public companies analysis are summarized below:

The disclosure under the heading “Opinion of Raymond James— Material Financial Analyses” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the third and fourth full paragraph on page 56 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

The discounted cash flow analysis was based on the Projections. Consistent with the periods included in the Projections, Raymond James used calendar year 2030 as the final year for the analysis and applied a range of terminal cap rates from 9.0% to 11.0% (which range was selected based on the professional judgment and experience of Raymond James), to calendar year 2030 unlevered free cash flow in order to derive a range of terminal values for the Company in 2030. The implied terminal value for the Company in 2030 based on a terminal cap rate of 10.0% was approximately $824 million.

The projected unlevered free cash flows and terminal values were discounted using rates ranging from 8.0% to 10.0%, which reflected the weighted average after-tax cost of debt and equity capital associated with executing the Company’s business plan. The present value of the implied terminal value for the Company in 2030 based on a terminal cap rate of 10.0% was approximately $512 million. The resulting range of present enterprise values was adjusted by the Company’s current capitalization and divided by fully diluted shares outstanding in 2030 of approximately 43 million based on vesting in order to arrive at a range of present values per share. Raymond James reviewed the range of per share prices derived in the discounted cash flow analysis and compared them to the price per share implied by the Common Stock Merger Consideration. The results of the discounted cash flow analysis are summarized below:


The disclosure under the heading “Opinion of Raymond James— Material Financial Analyses” is hereby supplemented by amending and restating the first and second full paragraph on page 58 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

During the two years preceding the date of Raymond James’s written opinion, Raymond James provided certain investment banking services to Morning Calm Parent for which Raymond James received fees set forth below and Raymond James is a lender to the Company for which it received fees of less than $100,000, but has not provided any investment banking, financial advisory or lending services to Elliott in the last two years for which it has been paid any fees. In addition, Raymond James was then-currently engaged by the Company in connection with an at-the-market offering for which Raymond James had not received any compensation and by Morning Calm Parent in connection with sourcing debt capital in connection with a real estate project for which Raymond James received approximately $435,000 in compensation. In addition, a senior member of the Raymond James deal team representing the Company in connection with the Merger has invested approximately $600,000 in funds affiliated with Morning Calm Parent and another senior member of the Raymond James deal team is a co-investor in a building managed by funds affiliated with Morning Calm Parent. Raymond James may provide investment banking, financial advisory and other financial services to the Company and/or Parent or other participants in the Merger in the future, for which Raymond James may receive compensation.

Raymond James is actively involved in the investment banking business and regularly undertakes the valuation of investment securities in connection with public offerings, private placements, business combinations and similar transactions. In the ordinary course of business, Raymond James may trade in the securities of the Company for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. Raymond James may provide investment banking, financial advisory and other financial services to the Company, Elliott, Morning Calm and/or Parent or other participants in the Merger in the future, for which Raymond James may receive compensation.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the Merger, the Company filed the Proxy Statement with the SEC. The Company commenced mailing of the Proxy Statement to its stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the Merger on or about September 8, 2025. This report is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or for any other document that the Company may file with the SEC and send to its stockholders in connection with the Merger. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO AND ANY DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER. The Proxy Statement, the preliminary proxy statement, and other relevant materials in connection with the Merger and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.cioreit.com.

Participants in Solicitation

The directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of the Company in favor of the proposed Merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of the Company in connection with the proposed Merger are set forth in the Proxy Statement and the other relevant documents filed or to be filed with the SEC. You can find information about the Company’s executive officers and directors in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Form 10-K”) as filed with the SEC on February 20, 2025.


Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K (“Current Report”) contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained in this Current Report, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and as such are based upon the Company’s current beliefs as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “approximately,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “hypothetical,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” or other similar words or expressions.

There can be no assurance that actual results of forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the consummation of the proposed Merger, will be those anticipated by the Company. Forward-looking statements presented in this Current Report on Form 8-K are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Many factors, including the following, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements set forth in this Current Report: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement or the pending Pima Center disposition; the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against the Company and others following announcement of the Merger Agreement; the inability to complete the proposed Merger due to the failure to satisfy the conditions to the Merger, including obtaining the approval of the Company’s shareholders and other closing conditions more fully described in the Merger Agreement; risks that the proposed Merger disrupts current plans and operations of the Company; potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the proposed Merger; legislative, regulatory and economic developments; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations due to the proposed Merger; the effect of the announcement of the proposed Merger and the pending Pima Center disposition on the Company’s relationships with tenants, operating results and business generally, changes in global, regional or local political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors described in the Company’s news releases and filings with the SEC, including but not limited to those described in the Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and in the Company’s subsequent reports filed with the SEC, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company’s assumptions prove to be incorrect, the Company’s actual results may vary in material respects from what it may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that you should not place undue reliance on any of its forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this Current Report speaks only as of the date of this Current Report. Factors or events that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are free from errors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

            CITY OFFICE REIT, INC.
Date: October 7, 2025     By:  

/s/ Anthony Maretic

            Name:   Anthony Maretic
            Title:   Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

FAQ

What are the key terms of the City Office REIT (CIO) merger agreement?

The merger agreement includes standard 'no-shop' provisions, requirements for debt financing cooperation, property disposition exploration, and specific closing conditions including lender consents. The exact termination fee amounts were not disclosed in this filing.

What valuation methods were used to evaluate City Office REIT (CIO)?

JLL Securities used the Gordon Growth Method with 1.25-1.75% perpetuity growth rates and 7.2-8.2% discount rates, resulting in an implied equity value range of $606-752 million.

What litigation risks face the City Office REIT merger?

Two lawsuits have been filed (Johnson v. City Office REIT and Thompson v. City Office REIT) alleging material omissions in the proxy statement. The company notes additional similar demands or complaints may be received.

Are there any conflicts of interest in the City Office REIT merger advisory team?

Yes. Raymond James disclosed that senior deal team members have invested ~$600,000 in Morning Calm-affiliated funds, and the firm previously earned $435,000 in fees from Morning Calm Parent.
City Office Reit Inc

NYSE:CIO

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