TCT Town & Country Trust

BALTIMORE, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Town and Country Trust (NYSE:TCT), a multifamily real estate investment trust, announced that its Board of Trustees has determined that the definitive offer of Oriole Partnership received by TCT on February 2, 2006 is a superior transaction to the merger contemplated by TCT's merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition GP LLC, Magazine Acquisition LP and Magazine Acquisition LLC (collectively, "Magazine Acquisition"). On February 2, 2006, Oriole Partnership made an offer to acquire TCT for $36.00 per share or limited partnership interest of TCT's operating partnership, plus a pro-rata payment in respect of TCT dividends as contemplated by the current merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition. TCT is currently party to a merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition providing for the acquisition of TCT by Magazine Acquisition. TCT's merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition provides for a payment of $33.90 per share or common unit, plus a pro-rata payment in respect of TCT dividends. TCT has called a special meeting of shareholders to be held on March 9, 2006 at which TCT will seek shareholder approval of the agreement and plan of merger with Magazine Acquisition and the transactions contemplated thereby. Under the terms of TCT's merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition, following the determination by the board that Oriole Partnership's offer is a superior transaction, Magazine Acquisition has three business days, or until 11:59 p.m. on February 7, 2006, to match Oriole Partnership's offer before TCT's Board of Trustees can change its recommendation with respect to the Magazine Acquisition transaction or terminate the merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition to enter into an agreement with a third party relating to such superior proposal. Oriole Partnership's offer will remain open for acceptance by TCT until 1:00 p.m. on February 8, 2006. Oriole Partnership has previously announced that it anticipates that the proposed transaction will close in the first quarter of 2006. Oriole Partnership's definitive offer contemplates that any definitive agreement that may be entered into with TCT will have a termination date of July 1, 2006. TCT cautioned that no assurances can be given that the Oriole Partnership offer will result in a transaction with Oriole Partnership, at the price set forth in its offer or otherwise. TCT's Board of Trustees continues to recommend the existing merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition and the merger agreement with Magazine Acquisition continues to be in effect. ABOUT THE TOWN AND COUNTRY TRUST TCT is a multifamily real estate investment trust that owns and operates 38 apartment communities with 13,183 apartment homes in the Mid-Atlantic states and Florida. Additional information regarding TCT can be found on TCT's web site at http://www.tctrust.com/. MORE INFORMATION In connection with TCT's solicitation of proxies with respect to the meeting of shareholders called in connection with the proposed merger with Magazine Acquisition, TCT has filed with the SEC a definitive proxy statement which was mailed to shareholders on or around January 30, 2006. SHAREHOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT DISTRIBUTED TO SHAREHOLDERS BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain, free-of- charge, a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/. Shareholders may also obtain a free-of-charge copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents by directing a request by mail or telephone to The Town and Country Trust, 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Attention: Secretary, telephone: (410) 539-7600, or from TCT's website at http://www.tctrust.com/. TCT and certain of its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of TCT in favor of the proposed merger with Magazine Acquisition. Information regarding the persons who may be considered "participants" in the solicitation of proxies, including their beneficial ownership of TCT common stock as of January 26, 2005, is set forth in TCT's definitive proxy statement as filed with the SEC. Information regarding the trustees and executive officers of TCT is included in its definitive proxy statements for its 2005 Annual Meetings filed with the SEC in March 2005 and may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/ or at TCT's website at http://www.tctrust.com/. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: DATASOURCE: The Town and Country Trust CONTACT: Harvey Schulweis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Town and Country Trust, +1-212-407-2170, Joseph Calabrese of Financial Relations Board +1-212-827-3772 Web site: http://www.tctrust.com/

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