Ventas, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of seniors housing and healthcare properties in the United States and Canada. As of December 31, 2008, this portfolio consisted of 513 assets, 248 seniors housing communities, 192 skilled nursing facilities, 41 hospitals and 32 medical office buildings (MOBs) and other properties in 43 states and two Canadian provinces. With the exception of seniors housing communities that are managed by Sunrise pursuant to long-term management agreements and the majority of the Company’s MOBs, it leases its properties to healthcare operating companies under triple-net or absolute-net leases, which require the tenants to pay all property-related expenses. In December 2008, Ventas, Inc. announced the sale of five seniors housing assets to affiliates of Emeritus Corporation. The assets are located in four states and contain 432 units.