Specimen Certificate for Common Shares of Beneficial Interest of Great Lakes REIT

Summary

This document is a specimen certificate representing ownership of common shares of beneficial interest in Great Lakes REIT, a real estate investment trust formed in Maryland. It certifies the holder's ownership of fully paid shares, subject to the company's Declaration of Trust and Bylaws. The certificate outlines transfer procedures, ownership restrictions to maintain REIT status, and the rights associated with different share classes. It must be properly endorsed and registered to be valid. Shareholders may request copies of governing documents and details about share rights from the company.

EX-4.1 4 a2072907zex-4_1.txt SPEC. OF CERT. REP. COMMON SHARES Exhibit 4.1 [Specimen of certificate representing Common Shares of Beneficial Interest] COMMON SHARES OF ] COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST BENEFICIAL INTEREST $.01 PAR VALUE $0.01 PAR VALUE Number Shares - ------ ------ GREAT LAKES REIT Formed Under the Laws of the State of Maryland See Reverse for Important Notice on Transfer Restrictions and Other Information Cusip 390752 10 3 This certifies that __________________________________ is the record holder of __________________________ fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value per share, of Great Lakes REIT, a real estate investment trust formed under the laws of the State of Maryland (the "Company") transferable on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares evidenced hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Company (the "Declaration of Trust") and the Bylaws of the Company and any amendments thereto. This Certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and the Registrar. In Witness Whereof, the Company has caused this Certificate to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers. Dated: Great Lakes REIT Trust Seal Maryland Countersigned and Registered: /s/ Richard A. May American Stock Transfer & Trust Company Chairman of the Board Transfer Agent and Registrar /s/ Richard L. Rasley By Secretary Authorized Signature [Reverse of Certificate] IMPORTANT NOTICE THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST ("SHARES") OF MORE THAN ONE CLASS, CONSISTING OF COMMON SHARES AND ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF PREFERRED SHARES. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE THE PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ANY CLASS OF THE PREFERRED SHARES BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF SUCH CLASS OF PREFERRED SHARES. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO ANY SHAREHOLDER MAKING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR, A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S DECLARATION OF TRUST AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, CONVERSION OR OTHER RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS, RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS AS TO DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF REDEMPTION OF THE SHARES OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE COMPANY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE AND, IF THE COMPANY IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY PREFERRED OR SPECIAL CLASS IN SERIES, (i) THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND (ii) THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF SUBSEQUENT SERIES. REQUESTS FOR SUCH WRITTEN STATEMENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE. THE COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON BENEFICIAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPANY'S MAINTENANCE OF ITS STATUS AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE SET FORTH IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BYLAWS OF THE COMPANY, COPIES OF WHICH WILL BE FURNISHED TO EACH SHAREHOLDER ON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE. REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The following abbreviations when used in the inscription on the face of this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties JT TEN -as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________________ Custodian _____________ (Cust) (Minor) under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _______________________ (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto [Please insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee] __________ [Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of Assignee] Common Shares of Beneficial Interest represented by this Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________________ Attorney to transfer the said shares on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated ________________ Signature Signature NOTICE: The signature(s) to this Assignment must correspond with the name(s) as written upon the face of the Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. Signature(s) Guaranteed: By The Signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee Medallion Program), pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-15.