UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
December 30, 2020
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
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Maryland |
06-0868496 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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(Commission File Number) |
1-12879 |
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641 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York |
10022 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
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Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code |
(212) 218-7910 |
GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2 (b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4 (c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share |
INDT |
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As disclosed below, INDUS Realty Trust, Inc. (f/k/a Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc.), a Maryland corporation (“INDUS”), became the successor to Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Griffin DE”, and collectively with INDUS, the “Registrant”), on December 30, 2020. This Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) is being filed for the purpose of establishing INDUS as the successor issuer pursuant to Rule 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and to timely disclose events required to be disclosed on Form 8-K.
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
As further described in Item 3.03 below, Griffin DE consummated a reincorporation merger (the “Reincorporation Merger”) with and into Griffin Industrial Maryland, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of INDUS (“Griffin MD Sub”), with Griffin MD Sub surviving the Reincorporation Merger as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of INDUS, pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into by and among Griffin DE, INDUS and Griffin MD Sub on October 16, 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”), which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference. The effective time and date of the Reincorporation Merger was 12:01 p.m., Eastern time, on December 30, 2020 (the “Effective Time”). As a result of the Reincorporation Merger, the Registrant is now a Maryland corporation, and Griffin DE has ceased to exist. In addition, at the Effective Time, INDUS, as the parent of the surviving entity, changed its name from “Griffin Industrial Maryland, Inc.” to “Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc.” As discussed in Item 5.03 below, effective on December 31, 2020, INDUS then changed its name from “Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc.” to “INDUS Realty Trust, Inc.” The Reincorporation Merger will not, in and of itself, result in any change in the business, management, location of the principal executive offices, assets, liabilities or stockholders’ equity of INDUS, other than the interposition of INDUS, a holding company, above Griffin MD Sub, the surviving entity. In addition, INDUS will continue to operate the business of Griffin DE as it existed immediately prior to the Reincorporation Merger, and the directors and officers of Griffin DE immediately prior to the Reincorporation Merger will serve as the directors and officers of INDUS.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
In connection with the Reincorporation Merger, Griffin MD Sub assumed all of Griffin DE’s obligations, including, but not limited to, all of Griffin DE’s obligations under its $19.5 million revolving credit line and $15.0 million acquisition credit line with Webster Bank and its mortgage loans. For more information concerning the assumed obligations, see Notes 5 and 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements including in the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2019, as updated in Notes 5 and 6 in each of the Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 29, 2020, May 31, 2020 and August 31, 2020.
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
At the Effective Time, Griffin DE changed its state of incorporation from Delaware to Maryland through the Reincorporation Merger. The Reincorporation Merger was consummated pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference. On November 30, 2020, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of Griffin DE approved the Reincorporation Merger via written consent.
At the Effective Time, (i) each outstanding share of common stock of Griffin DE automatically converted into one share of common stock of INDUS, and (ii) each outstanding option, warrant and other right to purchase shares of common stock of Griffin DE converted into an option, warrant or other right, as applicable, to acquire an equal number of shares of common stock of INDUS upon the same terms and conditions as existed immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Pursuant to Rule 12g-3 under the Exchange Act, the shares of common stock of INDUS, as successor issuer, are deemed registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. The shares of common stock of INDUS continue to be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “INDT”.
Prior to the Effective Time, the rights of stockholders of Griffin DE were governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law and Griffin DE’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Griffin DE Charter”) and Amended and Restated By-laws. As a result of the Reincorporation Merger, holders of shares of Griffin DE’s common stock are now holders of shares of INDUS’s common stock, and their rights as stockholders are governed by the Maryland General Corporation Law and INDUS’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended (the “INDUS Charter”) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “INDUS Bylaws”). Certain rights of the Registrant’s stockholders were changed as a result of the Reincorporation Merger. A more detailed description of the changes to the rights of the Registrant’s stockholders is contained in the section entitled “Proposal for Reincorporation in Maryland, through and Including a Merger with and into the Company’s Indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, Griffin Industrial Maryland, LLC – Comparison of Delaware Organizational Documents and DGCL to Maryland Organizational Documents and MGCL” in the Registrant’s definitive consent solicitation statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 28, 2020, which description is incorporated herein by reference. The INDUS Charter and the INDUS Bylaws are attached as Exhibits 3.1 through 3.3 and Exhibit 3.4, respectively, to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.
Additionally, certain share ownership and transfer provisions are included in the INDUS Charter, which provisions are substantially identical to the provisions that were included as part of an amendment to the Griffin DE Charter that was approved at Griffin DE’s annual meeting of stockholders on May 7, 2020 in connection with the Registrant’s anticipated election to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for federal tax purposes commencing with the taxable year beginning January 1, 2021. A more detailed description of these provisions is contained in the section entitled “Proposal IV. Amendments to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation – Ownership and Transfer Restrictions” in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
In connection with the Reincorporation Merger, the board of directors of INDUS (the “Board”) approved indemnification agreements in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 that INDUS has entered into with its current directors and executive officers, effective as of December 30, 2020. These agreements, among other things, require INDUS to, subject to certain limitations, indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, including indemnification of expenses such as reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and costs, penalties and any other disbursements or expenses incurred by the director or executive officer in connection with prosecuting, defending or preparing to prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding, including any action, suit or other proceeding brought by or in right of INDUS, arising as a result of the person’s service as a director or executive officer.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
Subsequent to the Reincorporation Merger, the Board adopted Articles of Amendment (the “Articles of Amendment”) of INDUS to change its name from “Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc.” to “INDUS Realty Trust, Inc.” (the “Name Change”). The Articles of Amendment were filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on December 30, 2020 and became effective on December 31, 2020. The Board also reflected the Name Change in the INDUS Bylaws, which took effect upon the effectiveness of the Articles of Amendment. The Articles of Amendment and the INDUS Bylaws are filed as Exhibits 3.3 and 3.4, respectively, to this Current Report and are incorporated herein by reference.
In connection with the Name Change, INDUS changed the ticker symbol for its common stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC to “INDT”.
INDUS also changed its corporate website address to www.indusrt.com. The information contained on INDUS’s website is not incorporated by reference into this Current Report, and any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, INDUS’s website should not be considered a part of this Current Report.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD.
On January 4, 2021, INDUS issued a press release announcing the completion of the Reincorporation Merger, the name change from Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. to INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., the change of the Company’s ticker symbol on The Nasdaq Stock Market from “GRIF” to INDT,” that INDUS will elect to be taxed as a real estate investment trust beginning on January 1, 2021 and that INDUS intends to declare a dividend in the near future in order to distribute its accumulated earnings and profits based on its taxable results through December 31, 2020.
A copy of INDUS’s January 4, 2021 press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The information contained and referenced in this Item 7.01, including the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1, is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. The information in this Item 7.01 shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or into any filing or other document pursuant to the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in any such filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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Exhibit 2.1*: |
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Exhibit 3.1: |
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Exhibit 3.2: |
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Exhibit 3.3*: |
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Exhibit 3.4*: |
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Exhibit 10.1*: |
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Exhibit 99.1: |
Registrant’s January 4, 2021 press release (attached hereto) |
Exhibit 104: |
The cover page from this Current Report, formatted in Inline XBRL. |
* Filed herewith.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This Current Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements include INDUS’s beliefs and expectations regarding future events or conditions including, without limitation, statements regarding INDUS’s business following the Reincorporation Merger. Although INDUS believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. The projected information disclosed herein is based on assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by INDUS as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of INDUS and which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Other important factors that could affect the outcome of the events set forth in these statements are described in the Registrant’s SEC filings, including the “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections in the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019 and the “Risk Factors” section in the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2020. INDUS disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this Current Report except as required by law.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Anthony J. Galici |
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Anthony J. Galici |
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Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
Date: January 4, 2021
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Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER ("Merger Agreement") dated as of October 16, 2020, is entered into by and among Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Griffin Delaware"), Griffin Industrial Maryland, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Griffin Maryland") and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffin Delaware, and Griffin Industrial Maryland, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (“Griffin Maryland Sub”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffin Maryland.
RECITALS
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the premises and the agreements set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Griffin Maryland, Griffin Maryland Sub and Griffin Delaware hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Merger.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Merger Agreement, Griffin Delaware will merge with and into Griffin Maryland Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffin Maryland, and Griffin Delaware will cease to exist and Griffin Maryland Sub will be the surviving entity (the "Merger"). Griffin Maryland Sub is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Entity." Provided the conditions set forth in Section 9 of this Merger Agreement have been satisfied or waived, Griffin Delaware and Griffin Maryland Sub will, at such time as they deem advisable, cause a Certificate of Merger (the "Certificate of Merger") to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware as provided in Section 264 of the Delaware Code and Articles of Merger (the "Articles of Merger") to be filed with, and accepted for record by, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT") as provided for in the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act (the “Maryland Code”). The Merger will become effective as of the later to occur of the filing of a Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of Delaware and the acceptance for record of the Articles of Merger by the SDAT, or such later time as is specified in the Certificate of Merger and Articles of Merger (not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date the Articles of Merger are accepted for record by the SDAT) (the "Effective Time"). The parties intend by this Merger Agreement to effect a "reorganization" under Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”).
Section 2. Manner and Basis of Converting Shares.
Griffin Maryland is the sole member of Griffin Maryland Sub, owning a 100% interest therein. Griffin Maryland has authority to issue fifteen million (15,000,000) shares of capital stock, including ten million (10,000,000) shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share ("Maryland Common Stock"), and five million (5,000,000) shares of preferred stock having a par value of $0.01 per share ("Maryland Preferred Stock"). As of the date of this Merger Agreement, 100 shares of Maryland Common Stock were issued and outstanding, all of which are owned by Griffin Delaware, and no shares of Maryland Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Griffin Delaware has authority to issue fifteen million (15,000,000) shares of capital stock, including ten million (10,000,000) shares of common stock having a par value of $0.01 per share ("Delaware Common Stock"), and five million (5,000,000) shares of preferred stock having a par value of $0.01 per share ("Delaware Preferred Stock"). As of the date of this Merger Agreement, 6,270,826 shares of Delaware Common Stock were issued, of which 5,657,302 were outstanding, and no shares of Delaware Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding.
At the Effective Time, (a) each issued and outstanding share of Delaware Common Stock will immediately be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Maryland Common Stock without an exchange of certificates or any action on the part of the stockholders thereof; (b) the 100 shares of Maryland Common Stock owned by Griffin Delaware, that will then be owned by Griffin Maryland Sub by virtue of the Merger, will be cancelled and retired and resume the status of authorized and unissued shares, and any capital represented by such shares will be eliminated; and (c) each share of Delaware Common Stock held in Griffin Delaware's treasury, will be cancelled and retired without payment of any consideration therefor and will cease to exist. Griffin Maryland will continue to own a 100% interest in the Surviving Entity.
Section 3. Options.
At the Effective Time, Griffin Maryland will assume and continue all of Griffin Delaware's equity incentive plans and agreements, including but not limited to the Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. 2009 Stock Option Plan, the Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. and Griffin Industrial, LLC 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “2020 Equity Plan”), and the outstanding and unexercised portions of all stock options to buy Delaware Common Stock will become stock options to buy the same number of shares of Maryland Common Stock with no other changes in the terms and conditions of such stock options, including exercise prices, and effective upon the Effective Time, Griffin Maryland hereby assumes the outstanding and unexercised portions of such stock options and the obligations of Griffin Delaware with respect thereto. At the Effective Time, Griffin Maryland Sub will assume and continue all of Griffin Industrial, LLC’s rights and obligations under the 2020 Equity Plan. At the Effective Time, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Maryland Common Stock that may be available for issuance pursuant to incentive stock options (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.422-2) under the 2020 Equity Plan equals 300,000, and the following individuals will be eligible to receive incentive stock options under the 2020 Equity Plan: employees of Griffin Maryland, any of Griffin Maryland’s present or future “parent corporations” or “subsidiary corporations” as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the IRC, respectively, or any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive incentive stock options under the IRC.
Section 4. Stock Certificates.
Upon and after the Effective Time, all of the outstanding certificates which prior to that time represented shares of Delaware Common Stock will be deemed for all purposes to represent and certify ownership of the shares of Maryland Common Stock into which the shares of Griffin Delaware represented by such certificates have been converted as herein provided. The registered owner on the books and records of Griffin Delaware or its transfer agent of any such outstanding stock certificate will, until such certificate is surrendered for transfer or conversion or otherwise accounted for to Griffin Maryland or its transfer agent, have and be entitled to exercise
any voting and other rights with respect to, and to receive any dividend and other distributions upon, such shares of Maryland Common Stock.
Section 5. Governing Documents.
The Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement of Griffin Maryland Sub in effect at the Effective Time will be the Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement of Griffin Maryland Sub as the Surviving Entity until further amended in accordance with their terms and the Maryland Code.
Section 6. Sole Member and Officers.
The sole member and officers, respectively, of Griffin Maryland Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the sole member and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Entity thereafter, without change, until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier dissolution or death (as applicable), resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Entity’s Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement.
Section 7. Effect of the Merger.
The Merger shall have the effects specified in the Delaware Code and the Maryland Code and, upon the effectiveness of the Merger, the Surviving Entity shall possess all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of a public as well as of a private nature, and shall be subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties, of each of Griffin Delaware and Griffin Maryland Sub; and all such rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each of Griffin Delaware and Griffin Maryland Sub, and all property, real, personal and mixed of each of Griffin Delaware and Griffin Maryland Sub, and all debts due to either Griffin Delaware or Griffin Maryland Sub on whatever account, shall be vested in the Surviving Entity; and all such rights, privileges, powers, franchises, property and other interests of each of Griffin Delaware and Griffin Maryland Sub shall be thereafter as effectually the property of the Surviving Entity as they were of either Griffin Delaware or Griffin Maryland Sub, and the title to any real estate vested by deed or otherwise in either Griffin Delaware or Griffin Maryland Sub shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Merger; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of either Griffin Delaware or Griffin Maryland Sub shall be preserved unimpaired and all debts, liabilities and duties of either Griffin Delaware or Griffin Maryland Sub shall thenceforth attach to the Surviving Entity, and may be enforced against the Surviving Entity to the same extent as if such debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.
Section 8. Further Assurances.
Each of Griffin Maryland Sub, Griffin Maryland and Griffin Delaware will execute or cause to be executed all documents and will take or cause to be taken all actions and do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under the laws of the states of Delaware and Maryland to consummate and effect the Merger and further the purpose of this Merger Agreement.
Section 9. Conditions.
Consummation of the Merger and related transactions is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:
Section 10. Termination; Amendment.
This Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned or deferred by any of Griffin Maryland, Griffin Maryland Sub or Griffin Delaware by appropriate resolution of the board of directors of either Griffin Maryland or Griffin Delaware or the sole member of Griffin Maryland Sub at any time prior to the Effective Time notwithstanding approval of this Merger Agreement by the stockholders of Griffin Delaware if circumstances arise which, in the opinion of the board of directors of Griffin Delaware or Griffin Maryland or the sole member of Griffin Maryland Sub make the Merger inadvisable or such deferral of the time of consummation of the Merger advisable. Subject to applicable law and subject to the rights of the stockholders to approve any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the stockholders, this Merger Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented by written agreement of the parties hereto at any time prior to the Effective Time with respect to any of the terms contained herein.
Section 11. Governing Law.
This Merger Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the States of Delaware and Maryland.
Section 12. Change of Name.
At the Effective Time, Griffin Maryland will change its name to Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Plan of Merger has been executed and attested to by the persons indicated below as of the date first set forth above.
GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL MARYLAND, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
By: /s/ Michael Gamzon
Name: Michael Gamzon
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Anthony Galici
Name: Anthony Galici
Title: Secretary
GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL MARYLAND, LLC,
a Maryland limited liability company
By: Griffin Industrial Maryland, Inc.
Its Sole Member
By: /s/ Michael Gamzon
Name: Michael Gamzon
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Anthony Galici
Name: Anthony Galici
Title: Secretary
GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Michael Gamzon
Name: Michael Gamzon
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Anthony Galici
Name: Anthony Galici
Title: Secretary
[Signature Page to Merger Agreement]
Exhibit 3.3
GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:
FIRST: Article II of the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) is hereby amended to change the name of the Corporation to:
INDUS Realty Trust, Inc.
SECOND: The foregoing amendment to the Charter was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and was limited to a change expressly authorized by Section 2-605(a)(1) of the Maryland General Corporation Law without action by the stockholders.
THIRD: These Articles of Amendment shall become effective at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on December 31, 2020.
FOURTH: The undersigned acknowledges these Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its President and Chief Executive Officer and attested by its Secretary this 30th day of December 2020.
ATTEST:GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.
/s/ Anthony J. Galici_____________By: /s/ Michael S. Gamzon_________________
Name: Anthony J. GaliciName: Michael S. Gamzon
Title: SecretaryTitle: President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 3.4
INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.
Section 2.ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.PLACE. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a)General. The Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.
(b)Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings. (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.
(2)In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.
(3)The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.
(4)In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b).
(5)If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting from time to time without acting on the matter. Any request
for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.
(6)The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
(7)For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Section 4.NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless a stockholder at such address objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.
Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.
Section 5.ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and, within each rank, in their order of seniority, the secretary, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the secretary, an assistant secretary or an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the
Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. Even if present at the meeting, the person holding the office named herein may delegate to another person the power to act as chairman or secretary of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance or participation at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (d) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed and when announcement of the results should be made; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (g) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (h) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with any rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 6.QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting.
The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.
Section 7.VOTING. A nominee for director shall be elected as a director only if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast for and against such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. However, directors shall be elected by a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present for which (i) the secretary of the Corporation receives notice that a stockholder has nominated an individual for election as a director in compliance with the requirements of advance notice of stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 11 of this Article II of these Bylaws, and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the close of business on the tenth day before the date of filing of the definitive proxy statement of the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission and, as a result of which, the number of nominees is greater than the number of directors to be elected at the meeting. Each share entitles the holder thereof to vote for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the holder is entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter or by these Bylaws. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.
Section 8.PROXIES. A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may cast votes in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by applicable law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 9.VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member, manager, general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other
person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any trustee or fiduciary, in such capacity, may vote stock registered in such trustee’s or fiduciary’s name, either in person or by proxy.
Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.
The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or appropriate. On receipt by the secretary of the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
Section 10.INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
Section 11. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.
(a)Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 11(a).
(2)For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in connection with the Corporation’s first annual meeting or in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the
tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(3)Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:
(i)as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act;
(ii)as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom;
(iii)as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,
(A)the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,
(B)the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,
(C)whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities and
(D)any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;
(iv)as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee,
(A)the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and
(B)the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;
(v)the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal; and
(vi)to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business.
(4)Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a written undertaking executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) that such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (b) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request by the stockholder providing the notice, and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Corporation are traded).
(5)Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(6)For purposes of this Section 11, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.
(b)Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting and, except as contemplated by and in accordance with the next two sentences of this Section 11(b), no stockholder may nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors or make a proposal of other business to be considered at a special meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each
individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c)General. (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11.
(2)Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11.
(3)For purposes of this Section 11, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(4)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, any proxy statement filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 11 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.
(5)Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder giving notice as provided for in this Section 11 does not appear in person or by proxy at such annual or special meeting to present each nominee for election as a director or the proposed business, as applicable, such matter shall not be considered at the meeting.
Section 12.CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any successor statute (the “MGCL”), shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the
Corporation. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1.GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.NUMBER, TENURE AND RESIGNATION. A majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.
Section 3.ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 4.SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the time and place of any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 5.NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
Section 6.QUORUM. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors is present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a specified group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group.
The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.
Section 7.VOTING. The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.
Section 8.ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer or, in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or, in the absence of the president, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 9.TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 10.CONSENT BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 11. VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all of the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.
Section 12.COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 13.RELIANCE. Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.
Section 14.RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify any act, omission, failure to act or determination made not to act (an “Act”) by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the Act and, if so ratified,
such Act shall have the same force and effect as if originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders. Any Act questioned in any proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and such ratification shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned Act.
Section 15.CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS. Any director, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.
Section 16.EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 16 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1.NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and one or more other committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member.
Section 2.POWERS. The Board of Directors may delegate to any committee appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, any committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority to one or more subcommittees, composed of one or more directors, as the committee deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
Section 3.MEETINGS. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide.
Section 4.TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 5.CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if
a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.
Section 6.VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to appoint the chair of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1.GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief investment officer, a chief financial officer, a chief operating officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or appropriate. The officers of the Corporation, including any officers elected to fill a vacancy among the officers, shall be elected by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or the president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or any other officers. Each officer shall for the term specified by the Board of Directors or appointing officer or, if no such term is specified, serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
Section 2.REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.
Section 3.VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.
Section 4.CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate the chairman of the board as an executive or non-executive chairman. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.
Section 5.CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 6.PRESIDENT. In the absence of a chief executive officer, the president shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 7.CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 8.CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief investment officer. The chief investment officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 9.VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 10.SECRETARY. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.
Section 11.TREASURER. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors and in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.
The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 12.CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 13.ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.
Section 14.COMPENSATION. The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section 1.CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by an authorized person.
Section 2.CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.
ARTICLE VII
STOCK
Section 1.CERTIFICATES. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in any manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no difference in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.
Section 2.TRANSFERS. All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.
The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
Section 3.REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors or an officer of the Corporation has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.
Section 4.FIXING OF RECORD DATE. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such record date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.
When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if postponed or adjourned, except if the meeting is postponed or adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting shall be determined as set forth herein.
Section 5.STOCK LEDGER. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.
Section 6.FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional shares of stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of units consisting of different securities of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1.AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.
Section 2.CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividend or other distribution, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its sole discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such
other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
ARTICLE X
SEAL
Section 1.SEAL. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words “Incorporated Maryland.” The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.
Section 2.AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XI
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in Section 1-101(p) of the MGCL, or any successor provision thereof, (b) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, other than actions arising under federal securities laws, (c) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the stockholders of the Corporation, (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or the Charter or these Bylaws, or (e) any other action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland unless the Corporation consents in writing to such court.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, and new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors. In addition, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, and new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation, without the approval of the Board of
Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Exhibit 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the ____ day of ___________, 20___, by and between INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and ________________________ (“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as [a director] [and] [an officer] of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of such service;
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity, the Company has agreed to indemnify Indemnitee and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and
WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
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641 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10022
or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC.
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
INDEMNITEE:
____________________________________
Name:
Address:
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EXHIBIT A
AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED
To: The Board of Directors of INDUS Realty Trust, Inc.
Re: Affirmation and Undertaking
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement dated the _____ day of ______________, 20____, by and between INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the “Proceeding”).
Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.
I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity. I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all times, insofar as I was involved as [a director] [and] [an officer] of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was unlawful.
In consideration of the advance by the Company for Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “Advanced Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this ___ day of ____________________, 20____.
Name: _____________________________
Exhibit 99.1
NEWS FROM:
INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC.
(formerly GRIFFIN INDUSTRIAL REALTY, INC.)
CONTACT:
Anthony Galici
Chief Financial Officer
(860) 286-1307
agalici@indusrt.com
Ashley Pizzo
Director, IR & Capital Markets
(212) 218-7914
apizzo@indusrt.com
GRIFFIN ANNOUNCES CORPORATE UPDATES AND NEW NAME
● | Completion of Maryland reincorporation |
● | Name change from Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. to INDUS Realty Trust, Inc. and change in trading symbol from “GRIF” to “INDT” |
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REIT conversion effective January 1, 2021
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK (January 4, 2021) Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc. (Formerly Nasdaq: GRIF) announced the following corporate updates concerning its reincorporation as a Maryland corporation, the adoption of a new name and trading symbol and the start of operations as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) on January 1, 2021.
“I am excited to announce the completion of a number of strategic milestones as we start the new year,” said Michael Gamzon, President & Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to operating as a REIT under our new corporate identity, INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., and embarking on the next phase of our growth.”
Completion of Maryland Reincorporation
On December 30, 2020, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Griffin Industrial Realty, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Griffin DE” or the “Predecessor Company”), Griffin Industrial Maryland, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the Predecessor Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary (“Griffin MD”), and Griffin Industrial Maryland, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffin MD (“Griffin MD Sub”), the Predecessor Company merged with and into Griffin MD Sub (the “Reincorporation Merger”), with Griffin MD Sub surviving as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffin MD, on the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement.
As a result of the Reincorporation Merger, each outstanding share of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Predecessor Company was converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Griffin MD.
Name Change and Update to NASDAQ Trading Symbol
On December 30, 2020, the Board of Directors of Griffin MD, adopted an amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to change the name of Griffin MD to INDUS Realty Trust, Inc. (“INDUS” or the “Company”). The Certificate of Amendment was filed with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation on December 30, 2020, and it became effective on December 31, 2020. The Board of Directors of Griffin MD also amended and restated the by-laws and corporate governance documents of Griffin MD to reflect the name change to INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., effective upon the effectiveness of the Certificate of Amendment.
Beginning on January 4, 2021, the common stock of the Company will be listed for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol “INDT”, rather than “GRIF”, its former trading symbol under the Predecessor Company.
Concurrent with the name and trading symbol change, the Company has also updated its website address from www.griffinindustrial.com to www.indusrt.com.
REIT Election and Related Items
Beginning on January 1, 2021, INDUS will elect to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “REIT Conversion”) and generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes to the extent the Company timely distributes its taxable income, if any, to its stockholders. In connection with the REIT Conversion and as previously announced, INDUS intends to declare a dividend in the near future in order to distribute the Company’s accumulated earnings and profits based on the Company’s taxable results through December 31, 2020.
About INDUS
INDUS Realty Trust, Inc. is a real estate business principally engaged in developing, acquiring, managing and leasing industrial/warehouse properties. INDUS owns 41 buildings totaling approximately 4.6 million square feet (4.2 million of which is industrial/warehouse space) in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida in addition to over 3,400 acres of undeveloped land.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This Press Release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include INDUS’s beliefs and expectations regarding future events or conditions including, without limitation, the Company’s future growth and operations as a
REIT, including future dividend payments. Although INDUS believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. The projected information disclosed herein is based on assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by INDUS as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of INDUS and which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Other important factors that could affect the outcome of the events set forth in these statements are described in INDUS’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections in INDUS’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019 and the “Risk Factors” section in INDUS’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2020. INDUS disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release except as required by law.