WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE:DEA), a fully integrated real estate investment trust focused primarily on the acquisition, development and management of Class A commercial properties leased to the U.S. Government, announced today that it has commenced a public offering of an aggregate of 6,126,967 shares of its common stock, consisting of 3,800,000 shares offered directly by the Company, 1,500,000 shares offered on a forward basis in connection with the forward sales agreements described below, and 826,967 shares offered by certain selling stockholders. The Company expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 919,045 shares of common stock offered by the Company at the public offering price.
The Company intends to contribute the net proceeds from this offering to its operating partnership, which intends to use a portion of the net proceeds to fund the previously announced pending acquisition of a four-property portfolio. The balance of the net proceeds, if any, may be used to repay borrowings outstanding under the Company’s senior unsecured revolving credit facility, to fund other potential acquisition opportunities, for general corporate purposes, or a combination of the foregoing.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of its common stock by the selling stockholders in this offering.
Citigroup, Jefferies, Raymond James and RBC Capital Markets are acting as joint book-runners for this offering.
In connection with the offering of shares of its common stock on a forward basis, the Company expects to enter into separate forward sales agreements with each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC, or their affiliates, referred to in this capacity as the forward purchasers. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies LLC, either directly or as agents for their respective affiliated forward purchasers, are, at the Company’s request, borrowing from third parties and selling to the underwriters an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, in connection with the forward sales agreements.
Pursuant to the terms of the forward sales agreements, and subject to its right to elect cash or net share settlement, the Company intends to issue and sell, upon physical settlement of such forward sales agreements, up to an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of common stock to the forward purchasers.
The Company expects to physically settle the forward sales agreements and receive proceeds, subject to certain adjustments, from the sale of its shares of common stock upon one or more such physical settlements within approximately six months from the date of the prospectus supplement relating to the offering.
About Easterly Government Properties, Inc.
Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (NYSE:DEA) is based in Washington, D.C., and focuses primarily on the acquisition, development and management of Class A commercial properties that are leased to the U.S. Government. Easterly’s experienced management team brings specialized insight into the strategy and needs of mission-critical U.S. Government agencies for properties leased through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). For further information on the Company and its properties, please visit www.easterlyreit.com.
