SUNSTONE HOTEL INVESTORS, INC. $150,000,000 of Common Stock EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.2

SUNSTONE HOTEL INVESTORS, INC.

$150,000,000 of Common Stock

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Dated: February 20, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EXHIBITS

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Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

$150,000,000 of Common Stock

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

February 20, 2014

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Sunstone Hotel Partnership, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Operating Partnership”), confirm their agreement (this “Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith  Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), as follows:

SECTION 1.  Description of Securities.

Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company may issue and sell through Merrill Lynch, acting as agent and/or principal, shares (the “Securities”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate sale price of up to $150,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 regarding the number and aggregate sale price of the Securities issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and Merrill Lynch shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.  The issuance and sale of the Securities through Merrill Lynch will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue the Securities. The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell Securities directly to Merrill Lynch as principal it will enter into a separate written agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”), in substantially the form of Exhibit H attached hereto, containing the terms and conditions of such sale. References to “this Agreement” or to matters contained “herein” or “hereunder,” or words of similar import, mean this Equity Distribution Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement.

The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-193311), including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Securities to be issued from time to time

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by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”).  The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement.  The Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch, for use by Merrill Lynch, copies of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Securities.  The “Registration Statement”, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto at such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act (“Rule 430B”); provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of the Registration Statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, including the exhibits and schedules thereto at such time, the documents and information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B.  The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is herein called the “Prospectus.”  Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.  For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR.

The Company and the Operating Partnership have also entered into a separate equity distribution agreement (the “Alternative Distribution Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Alternative Placement Agent”). The aggregate offering price of the Securities that may be sold pursuant to this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum Amount.

SECTION 2.  Placements.

Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Securities hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify Merrill Lynch by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Securities to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of Securities to be issued (the

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“Placement Securities”), the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Securities that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters is attached hereto as Exhibit A.  The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from Merrill Lynch set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto, as such Exhibit B may be amended from time to time.  If Merrill Lynch wishes to accept such proposed terms included in the Placement Notice (which it may decline to do so for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, Merrill Lynch will, prior to 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the business day following the business day on which such Placement Notice is delivered to Merrill Lynch, issue to the Company a notice by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and Merrill Lynch set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto) setting forth the terms that Merrill Lynch is willing to accept.  Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or Merrill Lynch until the Company delivers to Merrill Lynch an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”), which email shall be addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and Merrill Lynch set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto.  The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by the Company of Merrill Lynch’s acceptance of the terms of the Placement Notice or upon receipt by Merrill Lynch of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Placement Securities has been sold, (ii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph, the Company terminates the Placement Notice, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 13 or (v) either party shall have suspended the sale of the Placement Securities in accordance with Section 4 below.  The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to Merrill Lynch in connection with the sale of the Placement Securities shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto.  It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor Merrill Lynch will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Securities unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to Merrill Lynch and either (i) Merrill Lynch accepts the terms of such Placement Notice or (ii) where the terms of such Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and herein.  In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) will control.

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SECTION 3.  Sale of Placement Securities by Merrill Lynch.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a), Merrill Lynch, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Placement Securities up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).  Merrill Lynch will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Securities hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Securities sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to Merrill Lynch pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by Merrill Lynch (as set forth in Section 6(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales.  Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), Merrill Lynch may sell Placement Securities by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the NYSE, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker.  Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), Merrill Lynch may also sell Placement Securities by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to in privately negotiated transactions.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that Merrill Lynch will be successful in selling the Placement Securities, and (ii) Merrill Lynch will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell the Placement Securities for any reason other than a failure by Merrill Lynch to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Securities as required under this Section 3.  For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which shares of Common Stock are purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.

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SECTION 4.  Suspension of Sales.  The Company or Merrill Lynch may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto), suspend any sale of Placement Securities by Merrill Lynch; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Securities sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice or any Placement Securities sold under the Alternative Distribution Agreement.  Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Exhibit B attached hereto, as such Exhibit B may be amended from time to time.

SECTION 5.  Representations and Warranties.

(a)                                 Representations and Warranties by the Company and the Operating Partnership.  Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to Merrill Lynch as of the date hereof and as of each Representation Date (as defined below) on which a certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) of this Agreement, as of each Applicable Time and as of each Settlement Date (as defined below), and agrees with Merrill Lynch, as follows:

(1)                                 Compliance with Registration Requirements.  The Securities have been duly registered under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.  The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, or, with respect to any registration statement to be filed to register the offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), will be filed with the Commission and become effective under the Securities Act no later than 10:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the date of determination of the public offering price for the Securities, and no stop order preventing or suspending the use of any base prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.

At the respective times each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became or becomes effective and as of the date hereof, the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act.  The conditions for the use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, and the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)).  The Registration Statement, as of the date hereof and

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each effective date with respect thereto, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, and at each Applicable Time and Settlement Date, as the case may be, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein.  For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be Merrill Lynch’s name (the “Merrill Lynch Information”).

The copies of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, any other preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered and to be delivered to Merrill Lynch (electronically or otherwise) in connection with the offering of the Securities were and will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus relating to the Securities, as of its issue date and as of each Applicable Time and Settlement Date, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any incorporated document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified, or included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by Merrill Lynch specifically for use therein.

At the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), at the time the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, including not having been and not being was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act; and, without limitation to the foregoing, the Company has at all relevant times met, meets and will at all relevant times meet the

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requirements of Rule 164 for the use of a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby.

Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus heretofore filed, when it was filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and any further documents so filed and incorporated after the date of this Agreement will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; no such document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and no such document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

(2)                                 Prior Written Communications.  Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 of the Securities Act and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, including without limitation the legending requirement.

(3)                                 Independent Accountants.  Ernst & Young LLP, who audited the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act.

(4)                                 Financial Statements.  The financial statements and schedules, and any historical operating and financial data, including the notes thereto, filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the combined financial position of the entities presented therein, as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified.  Such financial statements and schedules have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis through the periods specified, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto.  The financial statements of the businesses or properties acquired or proposed to be acquired, if any, included in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein, have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis and otherwise have been prepared in accordance with the applicable financial statement requirements of Rule 3-05 or Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X with respect to real estate operations acquired or to be acquired.  In addition, any pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto set forth in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and

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guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein; other than as set forth therein, the Company is not required to include any financial statements or schedules or pro forma financial statements or schedules in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or any document required to be filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.

(5)                                 Absence of Certain Changes.  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends, or as required to maintain the Company’s status as a REIT (as defined below); and (iii) there has not been any change in the capital stock or members equity, as applicable, (except pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Prospectus) or material change in short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries

(6)                                 Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary (as defined below) has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree; and, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, earnings, properties, assets, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(7)                                 Good Standing of the Company.  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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(8)                                 Good Standing of Subsidiaries.  Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission) (each a “Significant Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”), which includes, without limitation, the entities listed on Exhibit D hereto, has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation with the power and authority (corporate and otherwise) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests of each of its subsidiaries has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company or the Operating Partnership directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity, none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any subsidiary of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such subsidiary.  As of the date of this Agreement, the only subsidiaries of the Company are (a) the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit I hereto and (b) certain other subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission.

(9)                                 Capitalization.  The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof under “Description of Our Capital Stock” and “Description of the Securities We May Offer” as set forth in the Prospectus.  The shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.  None of the shares of capital stock outstanding on the date hereof was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

(10)                          Authorization of Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(11)                          Binding Obligation.  Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by Merrill Lynch, this Agreement is the legally valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Operating Partnership, enforceable against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, and except to the extent that the indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by U.S. federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.

(12)                          Authorization and Description of Securities.  The Securities to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to Merrill Lynch pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the

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Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims and the issuance of such Securities will not be subject to any preemptive or similar right.  The certificates to be used to evidence the Securities will be in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and will be in proper form and will comply in all material respects with all applicable legal requirements, the requirements of the charter and bylaws of the Company and the requirements of the NYSE.  No holder of the Securities will be subject to personal liability solely by reason of being such a holder.

(13)                          Operating Partnership Managing Member.  The Company is the sole managing member of the Operating Partnership.  The limited liability company agreement of the Operating Partnership and the aggregate percentage interests of the Company and the members in the Operating Partnership conform to the description set forth in the Prospectus.

(14)                          Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in (i) violation of its organizational documents, or (ii) default (whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both) in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any lease, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, operating agreement, property management agreement, franchise agreement, joint venture agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except in the case of clause (ii) to the extent that such default is disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement do not and will not, (A) conflict with, or result in any breach of, or constitute a default under nor constitute any event which (with notice, lapse of time, or both) would constitute a breach of or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under (i) any provisions of the charter or bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any provision of any license, lease, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, credit, operating agreement, property management agreement, franchise agreement, joint venture agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, (iii) any law or regulation binding upon or applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or (iv) any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (B) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in the case described in clause (B) of this sentence for liens, charges, claims and encumbrances in connection with certain indebtedness described in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(a)(vii) hereto.  As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the

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holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary.

(15)                          Absence of Labor Dispute.  No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, is imminent; and the Company and the Operating Partnership are not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of their principal suppliers or contractors which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(16)                          Absence of Proceedings; Accuracy of Exhibits.  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (i) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the documents incorporated therein and are not so described, or (ii) which might materially or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.  There are no affiliate transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, statutes, regulations, contracts, licenses, agreements, leases or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so described or filed as required.

(17)                          Possession of Intellectual Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess use rights, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, except such as the failure to own, possess or be able to acquire on reasonable terms would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(18)                          Absence of Further Requirements.  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any governmental body or agency or body or any court is required for the execution, delivery, performance or consummation by each of the Company and the Operating Partnership of its obligations under this Agreement, except such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, qualifications or registration as (i) have been obtained and made under the Securities Act, or (ii) as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states.

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(19)                          Obligations to Issue Securities.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and except for (A) the Common Stock, or other securities reserved for issuance in connection with the Company’s 2004 long-term incentive plan and senior management incentive plan described in the Prospectus (inclusive of 200,000 stock options), and (B) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of currently outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, no shares of capital stock are reserved for any purpose.  Except as described in the immediately preceding sentence, there are no outstanding (x) securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for (at the election of the holder thereof) any capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests, as the case may be, in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (y) options, rights (preemptive or otherwise) or warrants to purchase or subscribe for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company, or (z) obligations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue any such securities, options, rights or warrants.

(20)                          No Integration.  There has been no sale, offer for sale, solicitation of an offer to buy or negotiation in respect of any security that would be integrated with the offering of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration of such securities under the Securities Act.

(21)                          Possession of Licenses and Permits.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any U.S. federal, state or local law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, required in order to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, except to the extent that any failure to have any such licenses, authorizations, consents or approvals, to make any such filings or to obtain any such authorizations, consents or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, in default under, or has received any notice regarding a possible violation, default or revocation of any such license, authorization, consent or approval or any U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or any subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(22)                          Title to Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all real property described in the Prospectus as owned by them (the “Company Properties”), and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any Company Property, buildings and equipment held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries and described in the Prospectus are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases (such leases, the “Company Leases”) with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of

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such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default under any of the Company Leases, relating to, or any of the mortgages or other security documents or other agreements encumbering or otherwise recorded against, the Company Properties that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries knows of any event, which but for the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default under any of such documents or agreements that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(23)                          Title Insurance.  The Company or its subsidiaries have either (i) an owner’s or leasehold title insurance policy, from a nationally recognized title insurance company licensed to issue such policy, on each Company Property that insures the fee or leasehold interest, as the case may be, in the Company Properties, which policies include only commercially reasonable exceptions, and with coverage in amounts at least equal to amounts that are generally deemed in the Company’s industry to be commercially reasonable in the markets where the Company Properties are located, or (ii) one or more lender’s title insurance policies insuring the lien of the mortgages encumbering the Company Properties with coverage, in the aggregate, equal to the maximum aggregate principal amount of indebtedness incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries and secured by the Company Properties, except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(24)                          Code Compliance.  Each of the Company Properties complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to access to the Company Properties), except for such failures to comply that would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowledge of any pending or threatened condemnation proceeding, zoning change or other proceeding or action that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(25)                          Loans.  The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all of their mortgage loans and all covenants therein, financial and otherwise, except for such failures to comply (i) as are disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or (ii) that would not in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(26)                          Property Improvement Plans.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance with all property improvement plans required by franchisors, except for such failures to comply that would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(27)                          Investment Company Act.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, or after giving effect to the sale of the Securities to Merrill Lynch as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds” will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act.

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(28)                          Environmental Laws.  Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(29)                          Absence of Registration Rights.  There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.

(30)                          Registration of Securities.  The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and the Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

(31)                          Tax Returns.  The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested extensions thereof, except where the failure so to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes required to be paid by them and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such tax, assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and except for such taxes, assessments, fines or penalties the nonpayment of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(32)                          Insurance.  The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are

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engaged, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus .

(33)                          Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain and have maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The Company and its subsidiaries employ and have employed disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

(34)                          Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or the Operating Partnership or any of the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with which any of them is required to comply, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(35)                          Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder by Merrill Lynch as principal or agent for the Company, other than the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by Merrill Lynch.

(36)                          Actively Traded Security.  The Common Stock is an “actively traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

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(37)                          Absence of Manipulation.  Other than excepted activity pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company and the Operating Partnership have not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(38)                          Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership, any significant subsidiary of the Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on their behalf or any of their subsidiaries is aware of, or has taken, any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in the furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, the Operating Partnership and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure continued compliance therewith.

(39)                          Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and each significant subsidiary of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, the Operating Partnership or any significant subsidiary of the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, the Operating Partnership, and each significant subsidiary of the Company is threatened.

(40)                          OFAC.  None of the Company, the Operating Partnership, any significant subsidiary of the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, the Operating Partnership and each significant subsidiary of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any significant subsidiary of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company, the Operating Partnership and each significant subsidiary of the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture

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partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(41)                          Related Party Transactions.  There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other person that are required to be described in the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

(42)                          ERISA Liabilities.  The Company and the Operating Partnership, as applicable, do not have, and do not anticipate incurring, any liabilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), or Section 4975 of the Code.

(43)                          Plan Assets.  The assets of the Company and its subsidiaries do not constitute “plan assets” of an ERISA regulated employee benefit plan.

(44)                          No Other Contracts.  Except for any discounts and commissions payable by the Company to Merrill Lynch or the Alternative Placement Agent in connection with the offering of the Securities contemplated herein or as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has incurred any liability for any brokerage commission, finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby.

(45)                          Proprietary Trading by Merrill Lynch.  The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge and agree that Merrill Lynch has informed the Company that Merrill Lynch may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell shares of Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, and shall be under no obligation to purchase Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by Merrill Lynch in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable); provided, that no such purchase or sales shall take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except (i) as agreed by Merrill Lynch in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) or (ii) to the extent Merrill Lynch may engage in sales of Placement Securities purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity).

(46)                          REIT Qualification.  The Company is organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Company’s proposed method of operations will enable it to satisfy the requirements for such qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code.

(47)                          Material Contracts.  Except as otherwise disclosed in any press release or filing made with the Commission, the Company and the Operating Partnership, as applicable, have not sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the material contracts or agreements referred to, described in

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or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, including, without limitation, any ground lease, franchise agreement or management agreement with respect to the Company Property, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, or, to the Company’s or the Operating Partnership’s knowledge, any other party to such contract or agreement.

(48)                          Independent Directors.  (i) The members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company are “independent directors” within the meaning of the listing standards and rules of the NYSE, and with respect to the Audit Committee, the Commission, (ii) all of the members of the Audit Committee are financially literate within the meaning of the listing standards and rules of the NYSE, and (iii) at least one member of the Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert,” within the meaning of Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Commission.

(49)                          Proceeds.  None of the proceeds received from the offering will be used to further any action in violation or contravention of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 or otherwise violate or contravene the rules, regulations or policies of the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.

(b)                                                   Certificates.  Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to Merrill Lynch or to counsel for Merrill Lynch shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to Merrill Lynch as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 6.  Sale and Delivery to Merrill Lynch; Settlement.

(a)                                 Sale of Placement Securities.  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon Merrill Lynch’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice or upon receipt by Merrill Lynch of an Acceptance, as the case may be, and unless the sale of the Placement Securities described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Merrill Lynch, for the period specified in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Securities up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).  The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that Merrill Lynch will be successful in selling Placement Securities, (ii) Merrill Lynch will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Securities for any reason other than a failure by Merrill Lynch to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Securities as required under this Section 6 and (iii) Merrill Lynch shall be under no obligation to purchase Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by Merrill Lynch in the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).

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(b)                                 Settlement of Placement Securities.  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), settlement for sales of Placement Securities will occur on the third (3rd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”).  The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Securities sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by Merrill Lynch at which such Placement Securities were sold, after deduction for (i) Merrill Lynch’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to Merrill Lynch hereunder pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

(c)                                  Delivery of Placement Securities.  On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Securities being sold by crediting Merrill Lynch’s or its designee’s account (provided Merrill Lynch shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (the “Custodian”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form.  On each Settlement Date, Merrill Lynch will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date.  The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Securities on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 10(a) hereof, it will (i) hold Merrill Lynch harmless against any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense whatsoever (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent and (ii) pay to Merrill Lynch any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

(d)                                 Denominations; Registration.  Certificates for the Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as Merrill Lynch may request in writing at least one full business day before the Settlement Date.  The certificates for the Securities will be made available for examination and packaging by Merrill Lynch in The City of New York not later than noon (New York time) on the business day prior to the Settlement Date. The Company shall deliver the Securities, if any, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless Merrill Lynch shall otherwise instruct.

(e)                                  Limitations on Offering Size.  Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Securities, if after giving effect to the sale of such Securities, the aggregate offering price of the Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Securities under the Alternative Distribution Agreement, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement, (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company and notified to Merrill Lynch in writing.  Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Securities pursuant to

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this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company and notified to Merrill Lynch in writing.  Further, under no circumstances shall the aggregate offering price of Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreement, including any separate underwriting or similar agreement covering principal transactions described in Section 1 of this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreement, exceed the Maximum Amount.

(f)                                   Black-out Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not offer or sell, or instruct Merrill Lynch to offer or sell, any Securities through Merrill Lynch as agent (and, by notice to Merrill Lynch given by telephone (confirmed promptly by telecopy or email), shall cancel any instructions for any such offer or sale of any Securities prior to the commencement of the periods referenced below), and Merrill Lynch shall not be obligated to make any such offer or sale of Securities, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information or (ii) except as provided in Section 6(f)(1) hereof, at any time from and including the date on which the Company issues a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other operating results for a fiscal period or periods (each, an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K (a “Filing Time”) that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same fiscal period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement.

(1)                                 If the Company wishes to offer or sell Securities to Merrill Lynch as agent at any time during the period from and including an Earnings Announcement through and including the time that is 24 hours after the corresponding Filing Time, the Company shall first (i) prepare and deliver to Merrill Lynch (with a copy to counsel to Merrill Lynch) a Current Report on Form 8-K that includes substantially the same financial and related information that was included in such Earnings Announcement (other than any earnings projections and similar forward-looking data and officers’ quotations) (each, an “Earnings 8-K”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Merrill Lynch, (ii) provide Merrill Lynch with the officers’ certificate, opinions and letters of counsel and accountants’ letter specified in Section 7(o), (p) and (q), respectively, hereof, (iii) afford Merrill Lynch the opportunity to conduct a due diligence review in accordance with Section 7(m) hereof prior to filing such Earnings 8-K and (iv) file such Earnings 8-K with the Commission, then the provision of clause (ii) of Section 6(f) shall not be applicable for the period from and after the time at which the foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied (or, if later, the time that is 24 hours after the time that the relevant Earnings Announcement was first publicly released) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the Filing Time of the relevant Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be.  For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that (A) the delivery of any officers’ certificate, opinion or letter of counsel or accountants’ letter pursuant to this Section 6(f) shall not relieve the Company from any of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the case may be, including, without limitation, the obligation to deliver officers’ certificates, opinions and letters of counsel and accountants’ letters as provided in Section 7(o), (p) and (q), respectively, hereof, and (B)

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this Section 6(f) shall in no way affect or limit the operation of clause (i) of Section 6(f) hereof, which shall have independent application.

SECTION 7.  Covenants of the Company.  Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, covenants with Merrill Lynch as follows:

(a)                                 Registration Statement Amendments; Payment of Fees.  After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Securities is required to be delivered by Merrill Lynch under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify Merrill Lynch promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any comment letter from the Commission or any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon Merrill Lynch’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in Merrill Lynch’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Securities by Merrill Lynch (provided, however, that the failure of Merrill Lynch to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect Merrill Lynch’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Securities or a security convertible into the Placement Securities unless a copy thereof has been submitted to Merrill Lynch within a reasonable period of time before the filing and Merrill Lynch has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of Merrill Lynch to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect Merrill Lynch’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Securities Act).

(b)                                 Notice of Commission Stop Orders.  The Company will advise Merrill Lynch, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any other order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement or if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.  The Company will make every

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reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, the suspension of any qualification of the Securities for offering or sale and any loss or suspension of any exemption from any such qualification, and if any such stop order is issued or any such suspension or loss occurs, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(c)                                  Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), except for those documents available via EDGAR, in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities and at such locations as Merrill Lynch may from time to time reasonably request.  The copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto furnished to Merrill Lynch will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d)                                 Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  If at any time when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be delivered in connection with a pending sale of the Placement Securities (including, without limitation, pursuant to Rule 172), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for Merrill Lynch or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify Merrill Lynch to suspend the offering of Placement Securities during such period and the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as Merrill Lynch may reasonably request.  If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted, conflicts or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or included, includes or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify Merrill Lynch to suspend the offering of Placement Securities during such period and the Company will, subject to Section 7(a) hereof, promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(e)                                  Blue Sky and Other Qualifications.  The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with Merrill Lynch, to qualify the Placement Securities for offering and sale, or to

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obtain an exemption for the Securities to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as Merrill Lynch may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Securities (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.  In each jurisdiction in which the Placement Securities have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Securities (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).

(f)                                   Rule 158.  The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to Merrill Lynch the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

(g)                                  Use of Proceeds.  The Company and the Operating Partnership will use the net proceeds received from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h)                                 Listing.  During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities is required to be delivered by Merrill Lynch under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Securities (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Securities to be listed on the NYSE.

(i)                                     Filings with the NYSE.  The Company will timely file with the NYSE all material documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have or will issue securities that are traded on the NYSE.

(j)                                    Reporting Requirements.  The Company, during any period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

(k)                                 Notice of Other Sales.  From the time the Company issues a Placement Notice until the settlement of sales of all Placement Securities remaining under such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Company will not, without (i) giving Merrill Lynch at least three (3)  business days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale and (ii) Merrill Lynch suspending activity under this program for such period of time as requested by the Company or as deemed appropriate by Merrill Lynch in light of the proposed sale, (A) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option

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or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with Common Stock, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing (other than a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, a registration statement on Form S-8 or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) or (B) enter into any swap or other agreement or any transaction that transfers in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (w) the payment of stock dividends in the ordinary course of business, (x) the Common Stock to be offered and sold through Merrill Lynch or the Alternative Placement Agent pursuant to this Agreement or the Alternative Distribution Agreement, (y) Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan as it may be amended or replaced from time to time and (z) equity incentive awards approved by the Board of Directors or the compensation committee thereof or the issuance of Common Stock upon exercise thereof.

(l)                                     Change of Circumstances.  The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Securities, advise Merrill Lynch promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to Merrill Lynch pursuant to this Agreement.

(m)                             Due Diligence Cooperation.  The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by Merrill Lynch or its agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as Merrill Lynch may reasonably request.

(n)                                 Disclosure of Sales.  The Company will disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the number of Placement Securities sold through Merrill Lynch and the Alternative Placement Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to Merrill Lynch and the Alternative Placement Agent with respect to such Placement Securities.

(o)                                 Representation Dates; Certificate.  On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:

(1)                                 each time the Company:

(i)                                     files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities or amends or supplements the Registration Statement (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Securities) or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of

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documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities;

(ii)                                  files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;

(iii)                               files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

(iv)                              files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release, to “furnish” information pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or in connection with a previously-announced acquisition) under the Exchange Act; and

(2)                                 at any other time reasonably requested by Merrill Lynch (each such date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (1)(i) through (iv) and any time of request pursuant to this Section 7(o) shall be a “Representation Date”),

the Company shall furnish Merrill Lynch with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F within three (3) Trading Days of any Representation Date.  The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(o) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date; provided, however, that such waiver shall not apply for any Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Securities following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Merrill Lynch with a certificate under this Section 7(o), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or Merrill Lynch sells any Placement Securities, the Company shall provide Merrill Lynch with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, dated the date of the Placement Notice.

(p)                                 Legal Opinions.  On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and within three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to Merrill Lynch the written opinions of Latham & Watkins LLP and Venable LLP (collectively, “Company Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to Merrill Lynch, in form and substance satisfactory to Merrill Lynch and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibits E-1, E-2, E-3, and E-4, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent Representation Dates, counsel may furnish Merrill Lynch with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that Merrill Lynch may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(p) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

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(q)                                 Comfort Letter.  On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and within three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause its independent accountants (and any other independent accountants whose report is included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) to furnish Merrill Lynch letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to Merrill Lynch, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

(r)                                    Opinion of Counsel for Merrill Lynch.  On or prior to the date that the first Securities are sold pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and within three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F for which no waiver is applicable, Merrill Lynch shall have received the favorable written opinion or opinions of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, counsel for Merrill Lynch, dated such date, with respect to such matters as the Merrill Lynch may reasonably request.

(s)                                   Market Activities.  The Company and the Operating Partnership will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement other than Merrill Lynch; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase its Common Stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act; and provided further, that no such bids or purchases shall be made by the Company during the three (3) Trading Days before or after any sale of any Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

(t)                                    Compliance with Laws.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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(u)                                 Investment Company Act.  The Company will take such steps as shall be necessary to reasonably ensure that neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership shall become an “investment company” as such term is defined under the Investment Company Act.

(v)                                 Securities Act and Exchange Act.  The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

(w)                               No Offer to Sell.  Other than a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) approved in advance in writing by the Company and Merrill Lynch in its capacity as principal or agent hereunder, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than Merrill Lynch in its capacity as such) will not, directly or indirectly, make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any free writing prospectus relating to the Securities to be sold by Merrill Lynch as principal or agent hereunder.

(x)                                 Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company and its subsidiaries will use their best efforts to comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(y)                                 Regulation M.  If the Company has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Company or the Common Stock, it shall promptly notify Merrill Lynch and sales of the Placement Securities under this Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party.

(z)                                  REIT Treatment.  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to meet the requirements to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code.

SECTION 8.  Payment of Expenses.

(a)         Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the word processing, printing and delivery to Merrill Lynch of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Placement Securities to Merrill Lynch, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities to Merrill Lynch, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the qualification or exemption of the Placement Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for Merrill Lynch in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky survey and any supplements thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to Merrill Lynch of copies of any permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by Merrill

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Lynch to investors, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to Merrill Lynch of copies of the Blue Sky survey and any Canadian “wrapper” and any supplements thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of the Custodian and the transfer agent and registrar for the Securities, (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel to Merrill Lynch in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Securities on the NYSE, (xi) the reasonable disbursements of counsel for Merrill Lynch in connection with copying and delivery of closing documents delivered by the Company or the Company’s accountants or counsel (including any local counsel) and (xii) if Securities having an aggregate offering price of $15,000,000 or more have not been offered and sold under this Agreement and the Alternative Distribution Agreement collectively by the twelve month anniversary of this Agreement (or such earlier date at which the Company terminates this Agreement) (the “Determination Date”), the Company shall reimburse Merrill Lynch for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of a single counsel for Merrill Lynch incurred by Merrill Lynch in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Merrill Lynch Expenses”); provided, however, that the Merrill Lynch Expenses shall not exceed an aggregate amount under this Agreement of $30,000. The Merrill Lynch Expenses shall be due and payable by the Company to Merrill Lynch within five (5) business days of the Determination Date.

(b)                                 Termination of Agreement.  If this Agreement is terminated by Merrill Lynch in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 or Section 13(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse Merrill Lynch for all of the Merrill Lynch Expenses up to an aggregate amount of $30,000, unless Securities having an aggregate offering price of $15,000,000 or more have been offered and sold under this Agreement prior to termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 9.  Conditions of Merrill Lynch’s Obligations.  The obligations of Merrill Lynch hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership contained in this Agreement or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a)                                 Effectiveness of Registration Statement.  The Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of Placement Securities issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices (each as amended by a corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and (ii) the sale of all Placement Securities contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice (each as amended by a corresponding Acceptance, if applicable).

(b)                                 No Material Notices.  None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii)

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the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c)                                  No Misstatement or Material Omission.  Merrill Lynch shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in Merrill Lynch’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in Merrill Lynch’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(d)                                 Material Changes.  Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

(e)                                  Opinion of Counsel for Company.  Merrill Lynch shall have received the favorable opinions of Company Counsel, required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(p) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(p).

(f)                                   Representation Certificate.  Merrill Lynch shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(o).

(g)                                  Accountant’s Comfort Letter.  Merrill Lynch shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(q) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(q).

(h)                                 Approval for Listing.  The Placement Securities shall either have been (i) approved for listing on NYSE, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Securities on NYSE at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

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(i)                                     No Suspension.  Trading in the Securities shall not have been suspended on the NYSE.

(j)                                    Additional Documents.  On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(o), counsel for Merrill Lynch shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, contained in this Agreement.

(k)                                 Securities Act Filings Made.  All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

(l)                                     Termination of Agreement.  If any condition specified in this Section 9 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by Merrill Lynch by notice to the Company, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 8 hereof and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Sections 5, 10, 11, 12 and 22 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10.  Indemnification.

(a)                                 Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Merrill Lynch, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act), and each person, if any, who controls Merrill Lynch within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

(i)                                     against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of any offering of Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

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(ii)                                  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 11 below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

(iii)                               against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Merrill Lynch Information.

(b)                                 Indemnification by Merrill Lynch.  Merrill Lynch agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section 10, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Merrill Lynch Information.

(c)                                  Actions against Parties; Notification.  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  Counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected as follows: counsel to Merrill Lynch and each person, if any, who controls Merrill Lynch within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall be selected by Merrill Lynch; and counsel to the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall be selected by the Company.  An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.  In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own

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counsel for Merrill Lynch and each person, if any, who controls Merrill Lynch within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, in each case in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 10 or Section 11 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)                                 Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.  If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 10(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

SECTION 11.  Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 10 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Merrill Lynch on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of Merrill Lynch on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions.

The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Merrill Lynch on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total commissions received by Merrill Lynch, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

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The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and Merrill Lynch on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by Merrill Lynch and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and Merrill Lynch agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 11.  The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 11 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11, Merrill Lynch shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which Merrill Lynch has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 11, each person, if any, who controls Merrill Lynch within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as Merrill Lynch, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

SECTION 12.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Merrill Lynch or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of the Securities to Merrill Lynch.

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SECTION 13.  Termination of Agreement.

(a)                                 Termination; General.  Merrill Lynch may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of Merrill Lynch, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, (iii) if trading in the Placement Securities has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange, the NYSE or the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or in Europe, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

(b)                                 Termination by the Company.  Subject to Section 13(f), the Company shall have the right, by giving three (3) days’ notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in their sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.

(c)                                  Termination by Merrill Lynch.  Subject to Section 13(f), Merrill Lynch shall have the right, by giving three (3) days’ notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement.

(d)                                 Automatic Termination.  Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 13, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Securities through Merrill Lynch or the Alternative Placement Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Alternative Placement Agreement with an aggregate sale price equal to the amount set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement.

(e)                                  Continued Force and Effect.  This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 13(a), (b), (c) or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties.

(f)                                   Effectiveness of Termination.  Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by Merrill Lynch or the Company, as the case may be.  If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Securities, such Placement Securities shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

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(g)                                  Liabilities.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 13, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 8 hereof, and except that, in the case of any termination of this Agreement, Section 5, Section 10, Section 11, Section 12, and Section 22 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 14.  Notices.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to Merrill Lynch shall be directed to Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, NY 10036, Fax: (646) 855-3073, Attention: Syndicate Department, with a copy to: Fax: (212) 901-7860, Attention: ECM Legal; notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., 120 Vantis, Suite 350, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, attention of Legal Department, Fax: (949) 330-4090.

SECTION 15.  Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Merrill Lynch, the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than Merrill Lynch, the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 10 and 11 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of Merrill Lynch, the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from Merrill Lynch shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 16.  Adjustments for Stock Splits.  The parties acknowledge and agree that all stock-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Securities.

SECTION 17.  Governing Law and Time.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 18.  Effect of Headings.  The Section and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 19.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute

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one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile or e-mail transmission.

SECTION 20.  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

“Applicable Time” means the time of each sale of any Securities or any securities pursuant to this Agreement.

“Capital Stock” means any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other capital stock of the Company.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“EDGAR” means the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles.

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, and all free writing prospectuses that are listed in Exhibit G hereto, in each case in the form furnished (electronically or otherwise) to Merrill Lynch for use in connection with the offering of the Securities.

“Lien” means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

“Preferred Stock” means the Company’s 8.0% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

“Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any bond, note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.

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“Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B,” “Rule 433” and “Rule 462(b)” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) for the purpose of registering any of the Securities under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the Rule 430A Information.

“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Securities by Merrill Lynch outside of the United States.

SECTION 21.  Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of Merrill Lynch, and Merrill Lynch represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by Merrill Lynch or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.  For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit G hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

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SECTION 22.  Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.  Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership, severally and not jointly, acknowledges and agrees that:

(a)                                 Merrill Lynch is acting solely as agent and/or principal in connection with the public offering of the Securities and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and Merrill Lynch, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not Merrill Lynch has advised or is advising the Company on other matters, and Merrill Lynch has no obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

(b)                                 the public offering price of the Securities set forth in this Agreement was not established by Merrill Lynch;

(c)                                  it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(d)                                 Merrill Lynch has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

(e)                                  it is aware that Merrill Lynch and its respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and Merrill Lynch has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

(f)                                   it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against Merrill Lynch for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that Merrill Lynch shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company.

[Signature Page Follows.]

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between Merrill Lynch and the Company in accordance with its terms.

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

Subject:  Equity Distribution—Placement Notice

Ladies & Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement between Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the “Company”), Sunstone Hotel Partnership, LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) dated February 20, 2014 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that Merrill Lynch sell up to [·] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price of $[·] per share.

[ADDITIONAL SALES PARAMETERS MAY BE ADDED, SUCH AS THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH SALES ARE REQUESTED TO BE MADE, SPECIFIC DATES THE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD ON, THE MANNER IN WHICH SALES ARE TO BE MADE BY MERRILL LYNCH, AND/OR THE CAPACITY IN WHICH MERRILL LYNCH MAY ACT IN SELLING SHARES (AS PRINCIPAL, AGENT, OR BOTH)]

A-1