Mission West Properties, Inc. engages in the acquisition, marketing, leasing, and management of research and development properties, primarily in the Silicon Valley portion of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of December 31, 2006, it owned or managed 107 properties, totaling approximately 7.7 million rentable square feet of research and development properties through limited partnerships. Mission West Properties qualifies as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.