Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, Potlatch is a Real Estate Investment Trust that is engaged in the ownership and management of timberland in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota.

FORBES: Potlatch Leaves Competition In The Dust With Robust Growth And Returns

CommonWealth's share price has underperformed the market, a fact analysts attribute to an acquisition spree and to its unusual management structure for real-estate investment trusts.

WSJ: Related and Corvex Target CommonWealth's Management

Comparisons with publicly traded real estate investment trusts are difficult because Hines uses its property-management business as a loss leader and makes virtually all its profits from appreciation in property values.

FORBES: Second Empire

Comparisons with publicly traded real estate investment trusts are difficult because Hines uses its property-management business as a loss leader and takes virtually all its profits from appreciation in property values.

FORBES: Second Empire

John Guinee, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, said Mr. Thomas has a reputation for being an aggressive deal maker and successful real-estate investment banker, so the move could mean a "more aggressive management" style in the future that includes more acquisitions and asset sales.

WSJ: Boston Properties Names Thomas CEO

"Stewart is moving IHOP out of the real estate business and back into the pan-cake business, " says Brian McMahon, president of Thornburg Investment Management.

FORBES: Breakfast Breakout

The Company's products and services include residential lending, commercial real estate lending, personal lending, private business banking, deposit services, trust services, brokerage services and investment management services.

FORBES: First Republic Bank

In addition, Silver Bay has entered into contribution and merger agreements through which it will acquire, concurrent with the closing of the offering, an initial portfolio of more than 3, 100 single-family residential properties through entities associated with Two Harbors Investment, a publicly traded REIT (TWO), and Provident Real Estate Advisors LLC, a private capital management firm, in exchange for equity interests in Silver Bay or its operating subsidiary, or cash.

FORBES: Silver Bay Realty Trust Announces Launch of IPO