SmartStop® Self Storage, a national chain of storage units, recently announced the sponsorship of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Shawn “The Great” Bunch. The three-year sponsorship will provide Bunch with financial support while he completes his training with the goal of becoming one of the top MMA athletes in the country. Bunch is currently competing in Bellator’s Bantamweight Division. In 2012 at Bellator 82, he made his professional and promotional debut against Chad Coon, which he won via unanimous decision. At Bellator 97, he defeated Russell Wilson via split decision. In 2012, he placed third in the World Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament. Bunch had his first defeat via TKO against Steve Garcia in October 2013. “Our sponsorship program targets up-and-coming, talented and driven athletes with the goal of helping them reach their fullest potential,” said H. Michael Schwartz, chairman and

CEO of Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a publicly registered REIT targeting the self-storage market under the SmartStop Self Storage brand name. “Shawn is not a typical MMA fighter, as he comes from a very high level of wrestling where he achieved greatness in the NCAA circuit and has represented the United States in the International Freestyle Wrestling Tournaments.” Bunch trains at The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Calif. The AKA gym was recently rated one of the top five training centers in the world. AKA provides world class instruction in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts and wrestling. This is not the first time SmartStop has sponsored an MMA athlete. Back in 2012, SmartStop sponsored Joe “The Hybrid” Duarte for more than two years. About SmartStop® Self Storage SmartStop® Self Storage offers affordable, accessible and secure storage units for residential and commercial customers. SmartStop offers secure interior and exterior units as well as outside storage areas for vehicles, RVs and boats. In addition to features such as keypad access, security gates and video surveillance, the facilities also utilize well trained on-site associates to provide customers with the highest standard of service in the industry. To view our properties and locations or to find a nearby storage facility, visit www.smartstopselfstorage.com. About Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. Strategic Storage Trust, Inc. (SSTI) is a publicly registered REIT targeting the self-storage market under the SmartStop® Self Storage brand name. The SSTI management team is comprised of industry veterans with extensive institutional experience in the acquisition and property management of self-storage properties. Since the launch of SSTI in 2008, the company’s portfolio of wholly-owned properties has expanded to include 122 properties in 17 states and Canada that are being branded as SmartStop® Self Storage. The portfolio includes approximately 77,000 self-storage units and 10.2 million rentable square feet of storage space. For more information about SSTI, please call 949-469-6600 or visit www.strategicstoragetrust.com]]>