Exhibit 3.1

 

CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 18 – GLOBAL INCORPORATED

 

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

 

FIRST :  CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 18 – GLOBAL INCORPORATED, a Maryland corporation (the “ Corporation ”), desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect and as hereinafter amended.

 

SECOND :  The following provisions are all the provisions of the charter currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

The name of the corporation (which is hereinafter called the “ Corporation ”) is:

 

CORPORATE PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 18 – GLOBAL INCORPORATED

 

ARTICLE II

 

PURPOSES AND POWERS

 

The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in any lawful act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in business as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute (the “ Code ”)) for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.

 

ARTICLE III

 

PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT

 

The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o CSC – Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 Saint Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, Maryland  21202.  The name and address of the resident agent of the Corporation are CSC — Lawyers Incorporating Service Company, 7 Saint Paul Street, Suite 1660, Baltimore, Maryland  21202.  The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

DEFINITIONS

 

As used in the Charter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:

 

Acquisition Expenses .  The term “Acquisition Expenses” shall mean, to the extent not paid or to be paid by the seller, lessee, borrower or any other party involved in the transaction, those expenses, including, but not limited to, legal fees and expenses, travel and communications expenses, costs of appraisals, nonrefundable option payments on Investments not acquired, accounting fees and expenses, title insurance, and miscellaneous expenses related to selection, acquisition and origination of

 

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Investments, whether or not a particular Investment ultimately is made.  Acquisition Expenses shall not include Acquisition Fees.

 

Acquisition Fee .  The term “Acquisition Fee” shall mean the total of all fees and commissions (including any interest thereon) paid by the Corporation or its subsidiaries to any party in connection with the making of Investments, including, without limitation, the purchase, development or construction of Properties.  A Development Fee or Construction Fee paid to a Person not affiliated with the Sponsor in connection with the actual development or construction of a project after acquisition of the Property by the Corporation shall not be deemed an Acquisition Fee.  Included in the computation of such fees or commissions shall be any real estate commission, selection fee, Development Fee or Construction Fee (other than as described above), non-recurring management fees, loan fees, points or any fee of a similar nature, however designated.  Acquisition Fees shall include Subordinated Acquisition Fees, unless the context otherwise requires.  Acquisition Fees shall not include Acquisition Expenses.

 

Adjusted Net Income .  The term “Adjusted Net Income” shall mean for any period, the total consolidated revenues recognized in such period by the Corporation, less the total consolidated expenses of the Corporation recognized in such period, excluding additions to reserves for depreciation and amortization, bad debts or other similar non-cash reserves; provided , however , that Adjusted Net Income for purposes of calculating total allowable Operating Expenses under the 2%/25% Guidelines shall exclude any gains, losses or writedowns from the sale of the Corporation’s assets.

 

Advisor or Advisors .  The term “Advisor” or “Advisors” shall mean the Person or Persons, if any, appointed, employed or contracted with by the Corporation pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof and responsible for directing or performing the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation, including any Person to whom the Advisor subcontracts all or substantially all of such functions.

 

Advisory Agreement .  The term “Advisory Agreement” shall mean the agreement between the Corporation and the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor will direct or perform the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation.

 

Affiliate or Affiliated .  The term “Affiliate” or “Affiliated” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding, with the power to vote, ten percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (ii) any Person ten percent or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with the power to vote, by such other Person; (iii) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; or (v) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.

 

Aggregate Share Ownership Limit .  The term “Aggregate Share Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding Shares, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.1.8 of the Charter.

 

Appraised Value .  The term “Appraised Value” shall mean value according to an appraisal made by an Independent Appraiser, which may take into consideration any factor deemed appropriate by such Independent Appraiser, including, but not limited to, current market and property conditions, any unique attributes of the Investment operations, current and anticipated income and expense trends, the terms and conditions of any lease of a relevant property, the quality of any lessee’s, borrower’s or other counter-party’s credit and the conditions of the credit markets.  The Appraised Value of a Property may be greater than the construction cost or the replacement cost of the Property.

 

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Average Invested Assets .  The term “Average Invested Assets” shall mean the average during any period of the aggregate book value of the Corporation’s Investments, before deducting reserves for depreciation, bad debts, impairments, amortization and all other non-cash reserves, computed by taking the average of such values at the end of each month during such period.

 

Beneficial Ownership .  The term “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code.  The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Board or Board of Directors .  The term “Board” or “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Business Day .  The term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Bylaws .  The term “Bylaws” shall mean the Bylaws of the Corporation, as amended from time to time.

 

Charitable Beneficiary .  The term “Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean one or more beneficiaries of the Charitable Trust as determined pursuant to Section 6.2.6, provided that each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

 

Charitable Trust .  The term “Charitable Trust” shall mean any trust provided for in Section 6.2.1.

 

Charitable Trustee .  The term “Charitable Trustee” shall mean the Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and a Prohibited Owner, that is appointed by the Corporation to serve as trustee of the Charitable Trust.

 

Charter .  The term “Charter” shall mean the charter of the Corporation.

 

Class A Common Stock .  The term “Class A Common Stock” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.

 

Class C Common Stock .  The term “Class C Common Stock” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.

 

Code .  The term “Code” shall have the meaning as provided in Article II herein.

 

Commencement of the Initial Public Offering .  The term “Commencement of the Initial Public Offering” shall mean the date that the Securities and Exchange Commission declares effective the registration statement filed under the Securities Act for the Initial Public Offering.

 

Common Share Ownership Limit .  The term “Common Share Ownership Limit” shall mean 9.8% (in value or in number of Common Shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding Common Shares, or such other percentage determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 6.1.8 of the Charter.

 

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Common Shares .  The term “Common Shares” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.

 

Competitive Real Estate Commission .  The term “Competitive Real Estate Commission” shall mean a real estate or brokerage commission paid for the purchase or sale of a Property that is reasonable, customary and competitive in light of the size, type and location of the Property.

 

Construction Fee .  The term “Construction Fee” shall mean a fee or other remuneration for acting as general contractor and/or construction manager to construct improvements, supervise and coordinate projects or to provide major repairs or rehabilitations on a Property.

 

Constructive Ownership .  The term “Constructive Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person, whether the interest in Shares is held directly or indirectly (including by a nominee), and shall include interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code.  The terms “Constructive Owner,” “Constructively Owns” and “Constructively Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Contract Purchase Price .  The term “Contract Purchase Price” shall mean the amount actually paid or allocated to the purchase, development, construction or improvement of an Investment or, in the case of an originated Loan, the principal amount of such Loan, in each case exclusive of Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses.

 

Contract Sales Price .  The term “Contract Sales Price” shall mean the total consideration received by the Corporation for the sale of an Investment.

 

Corporation .  The term “Corporation” shall have the meaning as provided in Article I herein.

 

Dealer Manager Fees .  The term “dealer manager fees” shall mean the dealer manager fees on the Class A common stock and the Class C common stock payable to the Dealer Manager as described in the Prospectus.

 

Development Fee .  The term “Development Fee” shall mean a fee for the packaging of a Property, including the negotiation and approval of plans, and undertaking to assist in obtaining zoning and necessary variances and necessary financing for a specific Property, either initially or at a later date.

 

Director .  The term “Director” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 7.1 herein.

 

Disposition Fee .  The term “Disposition Fee” shall mean the fee paid to the Advisor or an Affiliate under the Advisory Agreement for property disposition services.

 

Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees .  The term “distribution and shareholder servicing fees” shall mean the distribution and shareholder servicing fees on the Class C common stock payable to the Dealer Manager as described in the Prospectus.

 

Distributions .  The term “Distributions” shall mean any distributions under the MGCL of money or other property, pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof, by the Corporation to owners of Shares, including distributions that may constitute a return of capital for federal income tax purposes.

 

Excepted Holder .  The term “Excepted Holder” shall mean a Stockholder for whom an Excepted Holder Limit is created by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.1.7.

 

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Excepted Holder Limit .  The term “Excepted Holder Limit” shall mean, provided that the affected Excepted Holder agrees to comply with the requirements established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.1.7 and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.1.8, the percentage limit established by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 6.1.7.

 

Excess Amount .  The term “Excess Amount” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 8.10 herein.

 

Exchange Act .  The term “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.

 

FINRA .  The term “FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Gross Proceeds .  The term “Gross Proceeds” shall mean the aggregate purchase price of all Shares sold for the account of the Corporation through an Offering, without deduction for Selling Commissions, volume discounts, any marketing support and due diligence expense reimbursement or Organization and Offering Expenses in any Offering.

 

Indemnitee .  The term “Indemnitee” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 12.2.1(b) herein.

 

Independent Appraiser .  The term “Independent Appraiser” shall mean a qualified appraiser of real estate of the type held by the Corporation as determined by the Board, who has no material current or prior business or personal relationship with the Advisor or the Directors and who is engaged to a substantial extent in the business of rendering opinions regarding the value of assets of the type held by the Corporation.  Membership in a nationally recognized appraisal society such as the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers or the Society of Real Estate Appraisers shall be conclusive evidence of such qualification (but not of independence).

 

Independent Director .  The term “Independent Director” shall mean a Director who is not on the date of determination, and within the last two years from the date of determination has not been, directly or indirectly associated with the Sponsor or the Advisor by virtue of (i) ownership of an interest in the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates, other than the Corporation, (ii) employment by the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates, (iii) service as an officer or director of the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates, other than as a Director of the Corporation, (iv) performance of services, other than as a Director, for the Corporation, (v) service as a director or trustee of more than three REITs organized by the Sponsor or advised by the Advisor, or (vi) maintenance of a material business or professional relationship with the Sponsor, the Advisor or any of their Affiliates.  A business or professional relationship is considered “material” per se if the aggregate gross revenue derived by the Director from the Sponsor, the Advisor and their Affiliates exceeds five percent of either the Director’s annual gross revenue, derived from all sources during either of the last two years or the Director’s net worth on a fair market value basis.  In addition, (x) a Director’s ownership of Shares or of shares of stock of another REIT organized by the Sponsor or advised by the Advisor for which the Director has served or is serving as a member of the board of directors and (y) indirect ownership of an immaterial amount of stock of the Sponsor (for example, through ownership of a widely diversified mutual fund) shall be deemed not to be an interest prohibited by clause (i) of this definition.  An indirect association with the Sponsor or the Advisor shall include circumstances in which a Director’s spouse, parent, child, sibling, mother— or father-in-law, son— or daughter-in-law or brother— or sister-in-law is or has been associated with the Sponsor, the Advisor, any of their Affiliates or the Corporation.

 

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Initial Date .  The term “Initial Date” shall mean the date on which Shares are first issued in the Initial Public Offering.

 

Initial Investment .  The term “Initial Investment” shall mean that portion of the initial capitalization of the Corporation contributed by the Sponsor or its Affiliates pursuant to Section II.A. of the NASAA REIT Guidelines.

 

Initial Public Offering .  The term “Initial Public Offering” shall mean the Corporation’s first Offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act.

 

Investment .  The term “Investment” shall mean an investment made by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in a Property, Loan or other asset that is consistent with the investment objectives and policies of the Corporation.

 

Joint Ventures .  The term “Joint Ventures” shall mean those joint venture or partnership arrangements in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is a co-venturer or general partner established to acquire or hold Investments.

 

Leverage .  The term “Leverage” shall mean the aggregate amount of indebtedness of the Corporation for money borrowed (including purchase money mortgage loans) outstanding at any time, both secured and unsecured.

 

Listing .  The term “Listing” shall mean the listing of the Common Shares on a national securities exchange or the quotation of the Common Shares by The NASDAQ Stock Market.  Upon such Listing, the Common Shares shall be deemed Listed.

 

Loans .  The term “Loans” shall mean the notes and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations acquired, originated or entered into, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation as lender, noteholder, participant, note purchaser or other capacity, including but not limited to first or subordinate mortgage loans, construction loans, development loans, loan participation, B notes, loans secured by capital stock or any other assets or form of equity interest and any other type of loan or financial arrangement, such as providing or arranging for letters of credit, providing guarantees of obligations to third parties, or providing commitments for loans.  The term “Loans” shall not include leases which are not recognized as leases for federal income tax reporting purposes.

 

Market Price .  The term “Market Price” on any date shall mean, with respect to any class or series of outstanding Shares, the Closing Price for such Shares on such date.  The “Closing Price” on any date shall mean the last sale price for such Shares, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, for such Shares, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE or, if such Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the NYSE, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if such Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by FINRA’s OTC Bulletin Board quotation system or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if such Shares are not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such Shares selected by the Board of Directors or, in the event that no trading price is available for such Shares, the fair market value of Shares, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

 

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MGCL .  The term “MGCL” shall mean the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time.

 

NASAA REIT Guidelines .  The term “NASAA REIT Guidelines” shall mean the Statement of Policy Regarding Real Estate Investment Trusts published by the North American Securities Administrators Association on May 7, 2007 and in effect on the Initial Date.

 

Net Assets .  The term “Net Assets” shall mean the total assets of the Corporation (other than intangibles) valued at cost, before deducting depreciation, reserves for bad debts or other non-cash reserves, less total liabilities, calculated quarterly by the Corporation on a basis consistently applied.

 

Net Asset Value per share of Class A Common Stock . The term “Net Asset Value per share of Class A Common Stock” shall mean the net asset value of the Corporation allocable to the shares of Class A Common Stock, calculated by the Advisor as described in the Prospectus, as may be amended from time to time, divided by the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Net Asset Value per share of Class C Common Stock . The term “Net Asset Value per share of Class C Common Stock” shall mean the net asset value of the Corporation allocable to the shares of Class C Common Stock, calculated by the Advisor as described in the Prospectus, as may be amended from time to time, divided by the number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock.

 

Non-Compliant Tender Offer .  The term “Non-Compliant Tender Offer” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 11.7 herein.

 

NYSE .  The term “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Offering .  The term “Offering” shall mean the offering of Shares pursuant to a Prospectus.

 

Operating Expenses .  The term “Operating Expenses” shall mean all consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses paid or incurred by the Corporation, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles, except the following (insofar as they would otherwise be considered operating, general and administrative expenses under generally accepted accounting principles):  (i) interest and discounts and other cost of borrowed money; (ii) taxes (including state, Federal and foreign income tax, property taxes and assessments, franchise taxes and taxes of any other nature); (iii) expenses of raising capital, including Organization and Offering Expenses, printing, engraving, and other expenses, and taxes incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Corporation’s Shares and Securities; (iv) Acquisition Expenses, real estate commissions on resale of property and other expenses connected with the acquisition, disposition, origination, ownership and operation of Investments, including the costs of foreclosure, insurance premiums, legal services, brokerage and sales commissions, and the maintenance, repair and improvement of Property; (v) Acquisition Fees or Disposition Fees payable to the Advisor or any other party; (vi) Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Fees payable to the Dealer Manager; (vii) distributions paid by the Operating Partnership to the special general partner under the agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership in respect of gains realized on dispositions of Investments and other capital transactions; (viii) amounts paid to effect a redemption or repurchase of the special general partner interest held by the special general partner pursuant to the agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership; and (ix) non-cash items, such as depreciation, amortization, depletion, and additions to reserves for depreciation, amortization, depletion, losses and bad debts.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Operating Expenses shall include asset management fees and any loan refinancing fee and, solely for the purposes of determining compliance with the 2%/25% Guideline, distributions of available cash generated by operations and investments made by the Operating Partnership to the special general partner pursuant to

 

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the agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include distributions described in clauses (vii) and (viii) of this definition.

 

Operating Partnership .  The term “Operating Partnership” or “OP” shall mean CPA:18 Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, through which the Corporation may own Investments.

 

Organization and Offering Expenses .  The term “Organization and Offering Expenses” shall mean those expenses payable by the Corporation and the OP in connection with the formation, qualification and registration of the Corporation and in marketing and distributing Shares including, but not limited to such expenses as:  (i) the preparation, printing, filing and delivery of any registration statement or Prospectus (including any amendments thereof or supplements thereto) and the preparing and printing of contractual agreements among the Corporation, the OP, dealer managers and selected dealers (including copies thereof); (ii) the preparing and printing of the Charter and Bylaws, other solicitation material and related documents and the filing and/or recording of such documents necessary to comply with the laws of the State of Maryland for the formation of a corporation and thereafter for the continued good standing of a corporation; (iii) the qualification or registration of the Shares under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws; (iv) any escrow arrangements, including any compensation to an escrow agent; (v) the filing fees payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission and to FINRA; (vi) reimbursement for the reasonable and identifiable out-of-pocket expenses of the dealer managers and the selected dealers, including the cost of their counsel; (vii) the fees of the Corporation’s counsel and accountants; (viii) all advertising expenses incurred in connection with an Offering, including the cost of all sales literature and the costs related to investor and broker/dealer sales and information meetings and marketing incentive programs; and (ix) Selling Commissions, Dealer Manager Fees, selected dealer fees, marketing fees, incentive fees and due diligence fees incurred in connection with the sale of the Shares.

 

Person .  The term “Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, limited liability company, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and a group to which an Excepted Holder Limit applies.

 

Preferred Shares .  The term “Preferred Shares” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.1 herein.

 

Prohibited Owner .  The term “Prohibited Owner” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer, any Person who, but for the provisions of Article VI herein, would Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in violation of Section 6.1.1, and, if appropriate in the context, shall also mean any Person who would have been the record owner of Shares that the Prohibited Owner would have so owned.

 

Property or Properties .  The term “Property” or “Properties” shall mean, as the context requires, the Corporation’s partial or entire interest in real property (including leasehold interests) and personal or mixed property connected therewith.  A definitive arrangement which obligates the Corporation to acquire a Property shall be treated as a Property.

 

Prospectus .  The term “Prospectus” shall mean any prospectus or offering document pursuant to which the Corporation offers Shares in a public or private offering, as the same may at any time and from time to time be amended or supplemented, after the effective date of the registration statement in which it is included.

 

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Reinvestment Plan .  The term “Reinvestment Plan” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 5.10 herein.

 

REIT .  The term “REIT” shall mean a corporation, trust, association or other legal entity (other than a real estate syndication) that is engaged primarily in investing in equity interests in real estate (including fee ownership and leasehold interests) or in loans secured by real estate or both as defined pursuant to the REIT Provisions of the Code.

 

REIT Provisions of the Code .  The term “REIT Provisions of the Code” shall mean Sections 856 through 860 of the Code and any successor or other provisions of the Code relating to REITs (including provisions as to the attribution of ownership of beneficial interests therein) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Restriction Termination Date .  The term “Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day after the Initial Date on which the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with the restrictions and limitations on Beneficial Ownership, Constructive Ownership and Transfers of Shares set forth herein is no longer required in order for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT.

 

Roll-Up Entity .  The term “Roll-Up Entity” shall mean a partnership, REIT, corporation, trust or similar entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed Roll-Up Transaction.

 

Roll-Up Transaction .  The term “Roll-Up Transaction” shall mean a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion or consolidation either directly or indirectly of the Corporation and the issuance of securities of a Roll-Up Entity to the holders of Common Shares.  Such term does not include:

 

(a)                                a transaction involving securities of the Roll-Up Entity that have been for at least 12 months Listed on a national securities exchange or a cash election; or

 

(b)                               a transaction involving the conversion to corporate, trust or association form of only the Corporation, if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in any of the following:

 

(i)                                   voting rights of the holders of Common Shares;

 

(ii)                               the term of existence of the Corporation;

 

(iii)                           Sponsor or Advisor compensation; or

 

(iv)                           the Corporation’s investment objectives.

 

Securities .  The term “Securities” shall mean any of the following issued by the Corporation, as the text requires:  Shares, any other stock, shares or other evidences of equity or beneficial or other interests, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in, temporary or interim certificates for, receipts for, guarantees of, or warrants, options or rights to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

 

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Securities Act .  The term “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.  Reference to any provision of the Securities Act shall mean such provision as in effect from time to time, as the same may be amended, and any successor provision thereto, as interpreted by any applicable regulations as in effect from time to time.

 

Selling Commissions .  The term “selling commissions” shall mean the selling commissions on the Class A common stock and the Class C common stock payable to the Dealer Manager as described in the Prospectus.

 

Shares .  The term “Shares” shall mean shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or series, including Common Shares or Preferred Shares.

 

Sponsor .  The term “Sponsor” shall mean any Person which (i) is directly or indirectly instrumental in organizing, wholly or in part, the Corporation, (ii) will control, manage or participate in the management of the Corporation and any affiliate of such Person, (iii) takes the initiative, directly or indirectly, in founding or organizing the Corporation, either alone or in conjunction with one or more other Persons, (iv) receives a material participation in the Corporation in connection with the founding or organizing of the business of the Corporation, in consideration of services or property, or both services and property, (v) has a substantial number of relationships and contacts with the Corporation, (vi) possesses significant rights to control Properties, (vii) receives fees for providing services to the Corporation which are paid on a basis that is not customary in the industry, or (viii) provides goods or services to the Corporation on a basis which was not negotiated at arm’s-length with the Corporation.  The term “Sponsor” does not include any Person whose only relationship with the Corporation is that of an independent property manager and whose only compensation is as such, or wholly independent third parties such as attorneys, accountants and underwriters whose only compensation is for professional services.

 

Stockholder List .  The term “Stockholder List” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 11.5 herein.

 

Stockholders .  The term “Stockholders” shall mean the holders of record of the Shares as maintained in the books and records of the Corporation or its transfer agent.

 

Subordinated Acquisition Fee .  The term “Subordinated Acquisition Fee” shall mean the subordinated fee payable to the Advisor or an Affiliate under the Advisory Agreement for property acquisition services.

 

Termination Date .  The term “Termination Date” shall mean the date of termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

Total Investment Cost .  The term “Total Investment Cost” with regard to any Investment shall mean, an amount equal to the sum of the Contract Purchase Price of such Investment plus the Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses paid in connection with such Investment.

 

Transfer .  The term “Transfer” shall mean any issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, as well as any other event that causes any Person to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares or the right to vote or receive dividends on Shares, or any agreement to take any such actions or cause any such events, including (a) the granting or exercise of any option (or any disposition of any option), (b) any disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Shares or any interest in Shares or any exercise of any such conversion or exchange right and (c) Transfers of interests in other entities that result in changes in Beneficial Ownership or

 

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Constructive Ownership of Shares; in each case, whether voluntary or involuntary, whether owned of record, Constructively Owned or Beneficially Owned and whether by operation of law or otherwise.  The terms “Transferring” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

2%/25% Guideline .  The term “2%/25% Guideline” shall have the meaning as provided in Section 8.10 herein.

 

Unimproved Real Property .  The term “Unimproved Real Property” shall mean Property in which the Corporation has an equity interest that was not acquired for the purpose of producing rental or other operating income, that has no development or construction in process and for which no development or construction is planned, in good faith, to commence within one year.

 

ARTICLE V

 

STOCK

 

Section 5.1       Authorized Shares .  The Corporation has authority to issue 450,000,000 Shares, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (“ Common Shares ”), 320,000,000 of which are classified as shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Class A Common Stock ”) and 80,000,000 of which are classified as shares of Class C Common Stock (the “ Class C Common Stock ”), and 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.001 par value per share (“ Preferred Shares ”).  The aggregate par value of all authorized Shares having par value is $450,000.00.  All Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable when issued.  If Shares of one class are classified or reclassified into Shares of another class pursuant to this Article V, the number of authorized Shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of Shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of Shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of Shares of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of Shares set forth in the first sentence of this Section 5.1.  The Board of Directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without any action by the Stockholders, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of Shares or the number of Shares of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.

 

Section 5.2       Common Shares .

 

Section 5.2.1    Common Shares Subject to Terms of Preferred Shares .  The Common Shares shall be subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Shares.

 

Section 5.2.2    Description .  Subject to the provisions of Article VI and except as may otherwise be specified in the Charter, each Common Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote per share on all matters upon which Stockholders are entitled to vote pursuant to Section 11.2 hereof.  The Board may classify or reclassify any unissued Common Shares from time to time into one or more classes or series of Shares; provided , however , that the voting rights per Share (other than any publicly held Share) sold in a private offering shall not exceed the voting rights which bear the same relationship to the voting rights of a publicly held Share as the consideration paid to the Corporation for each privately offered Share bears to the book value of each outstanding publicly held Share.

 

Section 5.2.3    Rights Upon Liquidation .  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any distribution of the assets of the Corporation, the aggregate assets available for distribution to holders of the Common Shares shall be determined in accordance with applicable law.  The holder of each share of Class A Common Stock shall be

 

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entitled to be paid, out of the assets of the Corporation that are legally available for distribution to the Stockholders, a liquidation payment equal to the Net Asset Value per share of Class A Common Stock and the holder of each share of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to be paid, out of the assets of the Corporation that are legally available for distribution to the Stockholders, a liquidation payment equal to the Net Asset Value per share of Class C Common Stock; provided , however , that if the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay in full the above described liquidation payments, then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock ratably in the same proportion as the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full.

 

Section 5.2.4    Voting Rights .  Except as may be provided otherwise in the Charter, and subject to the express terms of any series of Preferred Shares, each holder of a Common Share shall vote together with the holders of all other Common Shares, and the holders of the Common Shares shall have the exclusive right to vote on all matters (as to which a common stockholder shall be entitled to vote pursuant to applicable law) at all meetings of the Stockholders; provided, however , that with respect to any matter that would only have a material adverse effect on the rights of a particular class of Common Shares, only the holders of such affected class of Common Shares shall have the right to vote.

 

Section 5.3       Preferred Shares .  The Board may classify any unissued Preferred Shares and reclassify any previously classified but unissued Preferred Shares of any series from time to time, into one or more classes or series of Shares; provided , however , that the voting rights per Share (other than any publicly held Share) sold in a private offering shall not exceed the voting rights which bear the same relationship to the voting rights of a publicly held Share as the consideration paid to the Corporation for each privately offered Share bears to the book value of each outstanding publicly held Share.

 

Section 5.4       Classified or Reclassified Shares .  Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified Shares of any class or series, the Board by resolution shall:  (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of Shares; (b) specify the number of Shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the provisions of Article VI and subject to the express terms of any class or series of Shares outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.  Any of the terms of any class or series of Shares set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the Charter (including determinations by the Board or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of Shares is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other charter document.

 

Section 5.5       Dividends and Distributions .  The Board of Directors may from time to time authorize the Corporation to declare and pay to Stockholders such dividends or other Distributions, in cash or other assets of the Corporation or in securities of the Corporation or from any other source as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.  The Board of Directors shall endeavor to authorize the Corporation to declare and pay such dividends and Distributions as shall be necessary for the Corporation to qualify as a REIT under the Code so long as such qualification, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, is in the best interest of the Corporation; however, Stockholders shall have no right to any dividend or other Distribution unless and until authorized by the Board and declared by the Corporation.

 

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The exercise of the powers and rights of the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall be subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares at the time outstanding.  The receipt by any Person in whose name any Shares are registered on the records of the Corporation or by his or her duly authorized agent shall be a sufficient discharge for all dividends or other Distributions payable or deliverable in respect of such Shares and from all liability to see to the application thereof.  Distributions in kind shall not be permitted, except for distributions of readily marketable securities, distributions of beneficial interests in a liquidating trust established for the dissolution of the Corporation and the liquidation of its assets in accordance with the terms of the Charter or distributions in which (i) the Board advises each Stockholder of the risks associated with direct ownership of the property, (ii) the Board offers each Stockholder the election of receiving such in-kind distributions, and (iii) in-kind distributions are made only to those Stockholders that accept such offer.

 

Section 5.6       Charter and Bylaws .  The rights of all Stockholders and the terms of all Shares are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws.

 

Section 5.7       No Issuance of Share Certificates .  Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Corporation shall not issue stock certificates.  A Stockholder’s investment shall be recorded on the books of the Corporation.  To transfer his or her Shares, a Stockholder shall submit an executed form to the Corporation, which form shall be provided by the Corporation upon request.  Such transfer will also be recorded on the books of the Corporation.  With respect to any Shares that are issued without certificates, and upon request by a Stockholder, the Corporation will provide the Stockholder with information concerning his or her rights with regard to such Shares, as required by the Bylaws and the MGCL or other applicable law.

 

Section 5.8       Suitability of Stockholders .  Upon the Commencement of the Initial Public Offering and until Listing, the following provisions shall apply:

 

Section 5.8.1    Investor Suitability Standards .  Subject to suitability standards established by individual states, to become a Stockholder in the Corporation, if such prospective Stockholder is an individual (including an individual beneficiary of a purchasing Individual Retirement Account), or if the prospective Stockholder is a fiduciary (such as a trustee of a trust or corporate pension or profit sharing plan, or other tax-exempt organization, or a custodian under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act), such individual or fiduciary, as the case may be, must represent to the Corporation, among other requirements as the Corporation may require from time to time:

 

(a)        that such individual (or, in the case of a fiduciary, that the fiduciary account or the donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the Shares) has a minimum annual gross income of $70,000 and a net worth (excluding home, furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $70,000; or

 

(b)        that such individual (or, in the case of a fiduciary, that the fiduciary account or the donor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the Shares) has a net worth (excluding home, furnishings and automobiles) of not less than $250,000.

 

Section 5.8.2    Determination of Suitability of Sale .  The Sponsor and each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Corporation shall make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of Common Shares by a Stockholder is a suitable and appropriate investment for such Stockholder.  In making this determination, the Sponsor and each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Corporation shall ascertain that the prospective Stockholder:  (a) meets the minimum income and net worth standards established for the Corporation; (b) can reasonably benefit from the Corporation based on the prospective

 

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Stockholder’s overall investment objectives and portfolio structure; (c) is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the prospective Stockholder’s overall financial situation; and (d) has apparent understanding of (1) the fundamental risks of the investment; (2) the risk that the Stockholder may lose the entire investment; (3) the lack of liquidity of the Common Shares; (4) the restrictions on transferability of the Common Shares; and (5) the tax consequences of the investment.

 

The Sponsor and each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Corporation shall make this determination with respect to each prospective Stockholder on the basis of information it has obtained from such prospective Stockholder.  Relevant information for this purpose will include at least the age, investment objectives, investment experience, income, net worth, financial situation, and other investments of the prospective Stockholder, as well as any other pertinent factors.

 

The Sponsor and each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Corporation shall maintain records of the information used to determine that an investment in Common Shares is suitable and appropriate for a Stockholder.  The Sponsor and each Person selling Common Shares on behalf of the Corporation shall maintain these records for at least six years.

 

Section 5.8.3    Minimum Investment and Transfer .  Subject to certain individual state requirements and the issuance of Common Shares under the Reinvestment Plan, no initial sale or transfer of Common Shares will be permitted of less than $2,000.

 

Section 5.9       Repurchase of Shares .  The Board may establish, from time to time, a program or programs by which the Corporation voluntarily repurchases Shares from its Stockholders; provided , however , that such repurchase does not impair the capital or operations of the Corporation.  The Sponsor, the Advisor, members of the Board or any Affiliates thereof may not receive any fees arising out of the repurchase of Shares by the Corporation.

 

Section 5.10     Distribution Reinvestment Plans .  The Board may establish, from time to time, a Distribution reinvestment plan or plans (each, a “ Reinvestment Plan ”).  Under any such Reinvestment Plan, (i) all material information regarding Distributions to the Stockholders and the effect of reinvesting such Distributions, including the tax consequences thereof, shall be provided to the Stockholders at least annually, and (ii) each Stockholder participating in such Reinvestment Plan shall have a reasonable opportunity to withdraw from the Reinvestment Plan at least annually after receipt of the information required in clause (i) above.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

 

Section 6.1       Shares .

 

Section 6.1.1    Ownership Limitations .  During the period commencing on the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, but subject to Section 6.3:

 

(a)        Basic Restrictions .

 

(i)         (1) No Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, (2) no Person, other than an Excepted Holder, shall Beneficially Own or

 

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Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of the Common Share Ownership Limit and (3) no Excepted Holder shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of the Excepted Holder Limit for such Excepted Holder.

 

(ii)        No Person shall Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares to the extent that such Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares would result in the Corporation being “ closely held ” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year), or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including, but not limited to, Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership that would result in the Corporation owning (actually or Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation from such tenant would cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code).

 

(iii)       Any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in Shares being Beneficially Owned by less than 100 Persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

 

(b)        Transfer in Trust .  If any Transfer of Shares occurs which, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning or Constructively Owning Shares in violation of Section 6.1.1(a)(i) or (ii),

 

(i)         then that number of Shares the Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of which otherwise would cause such Person to violate Section 6.1.1(a)(i) or (ii) (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described in Section 6.2, effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of such Transfer, and such Person shall acquire no rights in such Shares; or

 

(ii)        if the transfer to the Charitable Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence would not be effective for any reason to prevent the violation of Section 6.1.1(a)(i) or (ii), then the Transfer of that number of Shares that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Section 6.1.1(a)(i) or (ii) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

 

To the extent that, upon a transfer of Shares pursuant to this Section 6.1.1(b), a violation of any provision of this Article VI would nonetheless be continuing (for example where the ownership of Shares by a single Charitable Trust would violate the 100 stockholder requirement applicable to REITs), then Shares shall be transferred to that number of Charitable Trusts, each having a distinct Charitable Trustee and a Charitable Beneficiary or Beneficiaries that are distinct from those of each other Charitable Trust, such that there is no violation of any provision of this Article VI.

 

Section 6.1.2    Remedies for Breach .  If the Board of Directors or its designee (including any duly authorized committee of the Board) shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place that results in a violation of Section 6.1.1(a) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive

 

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Ownership of any Shares in violation of Section 6.1.1(a) (whether or not such violation is intended), the Board of Directors or its designee shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer or other event, including, without limitation, causing the Corporation to redeem Shares, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer or other event; provided , however , that any Transfers or attempted Transfers or other events in violation of Section 6.1.1(a) shall automatically result in the transfer to the Charitable Trust described above, and, where applicable, such Transfer (or other event) shall be void ab initio as provided above irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors or its designee.

 

Section 6.1.3    Notice of Restricted Transfer .  Any Person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares that will or may violate Section 6.1.1(a), or any Person who would have owned Shares that resulted in a transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.1.1(b), shall immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event, or in the case of such a proposed or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days’ prior written notice, and shall provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer on the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

Section 6.1.4    Owners Required To Provide Information .  From the Initial Date and prior to the Restriction Termination Date:

 

(a)        every owner of more than five percent (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding Shares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, shall give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such owner, the number of Shares Beneficially Owned and a description of the manner in which such Shares are held.  Each such owner shall provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, the Common Share Ownership Limit and the other restrictions set forth herein; and

 

(b)        each Person who is a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of Shares and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Shares for a Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner shall provide to the Corporation such information as the Corporation may request, in good faith, in order to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to comply with requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

 

Section 6.1.5    Remedies Not Limited .  Subject to Section 7.10, nothing contained in this Section 6.1 shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its Stockholders in preserving the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

Section 6.1.6    Ambiguity .  In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Section 6.1, Section 6.2 or any definition contained in Article IV, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it.  In the event Section 6.1 or 6.2 requires an action by the Board of Directors and the Charter fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the

 

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action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Article IV or Sections 6.1 or 6.2.  Absent a decision to the contrary by the Board of Directors (which the Board may make in its sole and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth in Section 6.1.2) acquired Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of Shares in violation of Section 6.1.1, such remedies (as applicable) shall apply first to the Shares which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the Persons who actually own such Shares based upon the relative number of the Shares held by each such Person.

 

Section 6.1.7    Exceptions .

 

(a)        Subject to Section 6.1.1(a)(ii), the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt (prospectively or retroactively) a Person from the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and the Common Share Ownership Limit, as the case may be, and may establish or increase an Excepted Holder Limit for such Person if:

 

(i)         the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain that no individual’s Beneficial Ownership or Constructive Ownership of such Shares will violate Section 6.1.1(a)(ii);

 

(ii)        such Person does not and represents that it will not own, actually or Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the Corporation (or a tenant of any entity owned or controlled by the Corporation) that would cause the Corporation to own, actually or Constructively, more than a 9.9% interest (as set forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably necessary to ascertain this fact (for this purpose, a tenant from whom the Corporation (or an entity owned or controlled by the Corporation) derives (and is expected to continue to derive) a sufficiently small amount of revenue such that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, rent from such tenant would not adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to qualify as a REIT, shall not be treated as a tenant of the Corporation); and

 

(iii)       such Person agrees that any violation or attempted violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Sections 6.1.1 through 6.1.6) will result in such Shares being automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust in accordance with Sections 6.1.1(b) and 6.2.

 

(b)        Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Section 6.1.7(a), the Board of Directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT.  Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling or opinion, the Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such exception.

 

(c)        Subject to Section 6.1.1(a)(ii), an underwriter which participates in a public offering or a private placement of Shares (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares (or

 

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securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) in excess of the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, the Common Share Ownership Limit or both such limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering or private placement.

 

(d)        The Board of Directors may only reduce the Excepted Holder Limit for an Excepted Holder:  (1) with the written consent of such Excepted Holder at any time, or (2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements and undertakings entered into with such Excepted Holder in connection with the establishment of the Excepted Holder Limit for that Excepted Holder.  No Excepted Holder Limit shall be reduced to a percentage that is less than the Common Share Ownership Limit.

 

Section 6.1.8    Increase or Decrease in Aggregate Share Ownership and Common Share Ownership Limits .  Subject to Section 6.1.1(a)(ii), the Board of Directors may from time to time increase the Common Share Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for one or more Persons and decrease the Common Share Ownership Limit and the Aggregate Share Ownership Limit for all other Persons; provided , however , that the decreased Common Share Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit will not be effective for any Person whose percentage ownership in Shares is in excess of such decreased Common Share Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit until such time as such Person’s percentage of Shares equals or falls below the decreased Common Share Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit, but any further acquisition of Shares in excess of such percentage ownership of Shares will be in violation of the Common Share Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit and, provided further , that the new Common Share Ownership Limit and/or Aggregate Share Ownership Limit would not allow five or fewer Persons to Beneficially Own more than 49.9% in value of the outstanding Shares.

 

Section 6.1.9    Legend .  Any certificate representing Shares shall bear substantially the following legend:

 

The Shares represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on Beneficial Ownership and Constructive Ownership and Transfer for the purpose, among others, of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust (a “ REIT ”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).  Subject to certain further restrictions and except as expressly provided in the Charter, (i) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Common Shares in excess of 9.8% (in value or number of Shares) of the outstanding Common Shares unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (ii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess of 9.8% of the value of the total outstanding Shares, unless such Person is an Excepted Holder (in which case the Excepted Holder Limit shall be applicable); (iii) no Person may Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares that would result in the Corporation being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT; and (iv) any Transfer of Shares that, if effective, would result in Shares being Beneficially Owned by less than 100 Persons (as determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code) shall be void ab initio , and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.  Any Person who Beneficially Owns or Constructively Owns or attempts to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares which cause or will cause a Person to Beneficially Own or Constructively Own Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations must immediately notify the Corporation in writing (or, in the case of an attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice).  If any of the restrictions on transfer or ownership as set forth in (i), (ii) or (iii) above are violated, the Shares in excess or in violation of the above limitations will be automatically transferred to a Charitable Trust for the benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries.  In addition, the Corporation may redeem Shares upon the terms and conditions specified by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion if the Board of Directors determines that

 

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ownership or a Transfer or other event may violate the restrictions described above.  Furthermore, upon the occurrence of certain events, attempted Transfers in violation of the restrictions described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above may be void ab initio .  All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Charter, as the same may be amended from time to time, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer and ownership, will be furnished to each holder of Shares on request and without charge.  Requests for such a copy may be directed to the Secretary of the Corporation at its principal office.

 

Instead of the foregoing legend, the certificate may state that the Corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a Stockholder on request and without charge.  In the case of uncertificated Shares, the Corporation will send the holder of such Shares, on request and without charge, a written statement of the information otherwise required on certificates.

 

Section 6.2       Transfer of Shares in Trust .

 

Section 6.2.1    Ownership in Trust .  Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in Section 6.1.1(b) that would result in a transfer of Shares to a Charitable Trust, such Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee as trustee of a Charitable Trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries.  Such transfer to the Charitable Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 6.1.1(b).  The Charitable Trustee shall be appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the Corporation and any Prohibited Owner.  Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Corporation as provided in Section 6.2.6.

 

Section 6.2.2    Status of Shares Held by the Charitable Trustee .  Shares held by the Charitable Trustee shall continue to be issued and outstanding Shares.  The Prohibited Owner shall have no rights in the Shares held by the Charitable Trustee.  The Prohibited Owner shall not benefit economically from ownership of any Shares held in trust by the Charitable Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends or other Distributions and shall not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the Shares held in the Charitable Trust.

 

Section 6.2.3    Dividend and Voting Rights .  The Charitable Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other Distributions with respect to Shares held in the Charitable Trust, which rights shall be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.  Any dividend or other Distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee shall be paid by the recipient of such dividend or other Distribution to the Charitable Trustee upon demand and any dividend or other Distribution authorized but unpaid shall be paid when due to the Charitable Trustee.  Any dividends or other Distributions so paid over to the Charitable Trustee shall be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary.  The Prohibited Owner shall have no voting rights with respect to Shares held in the Charitable Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee, the Charitable Trustee shall have the authority (at the Charitable Trustee’s sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a Prohibited Owner prior to the discovery by the Corporation that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the Charitable Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided , however , that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Charitable Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VI, until the Corporation has received notification that Shares have been transferred into a Charitable Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other

 

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Stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of Stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of Stockholders.

 

Section 6.2.4    Sale of Shares by Charitable Trustee .  Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Corporation that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trust, the Charitable Trustee shall sell the Shares held in the Charitable Trust to a Person, designated by the Charitable Trustee, whose ownership of the Shares will not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Section 6.1.1(a).  Upon such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Shares sold shall terminate and the Charitable Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner and to the Charitable Beneficiary as provided in this Section 6.2.4.  The Prohibited Owner shall receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the Shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the Shares in connection with the event causing the Shares to be held in the Charitable Trust ( e.g. , in the case of a gift, devise or other such transaction), the Market Price of the Shares on the day of the event causing the Shares to be held in the Charitable Trust and (2) the price per share received by the Charitable Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the Shares held in the Charitable Trust.  The Charitable Trustee may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other Distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Charitable Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2.3 of this Article VI.  Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner shall be immediately paid to the Charitable Beneficiary.  If, prior to the discovery by the Corporation that Shares have been transferred to the Charitable Trustee, such Shares are sold by a Prohibited Owner, then (i) such Shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Charitable Trust and (ii) to the extent that the Prohibited Owner received an amount for such Shares that exceeds the amount that such Prohibited Owner was entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 6.2.4, such excess shall be paid to the Charitable Trustee upon demand.

 

Section 6.2.5    Purchase Right in Shares Transferred to the Charitable Trustee .  Shares transferred to the Charitable Trustee shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the Charitable Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of such devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer.  The Corporation may reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other Distributions which have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the Charitable Trustee pursuant to Section 6.2.3 of this Article VI.  The Corporation may pay the amount of such reduction to the Charitable Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.  The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the Charitable Trustee has sold the Shares held in the Charitable Trust pursuant to Section 6.2.4.  Upon such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the Shares sold shall terminate and the Charitable Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Prohibited Owner.

 

Section 6.2.6    Designation of Charitable Beneficiaries .  By written notice to the Charitable Trustee, the Corporation shall designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary of the interest in the Charitable Trust such that (i) Shares held in the Charitable Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Section 6.1.1(a) in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each such organization must be described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and contributions to each such organization must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code.

 

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Section 6.3       NYSE Transactions .  Nothing in this Article VI shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system.  The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article VI and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article VI.

 

Section 6.4       Enforcement .  The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article VI.

 

Section 6.5       Non-Waiver .  No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

 

Section 6.6       Non-Compliant Tender Offers .  No Stockholder may transfer any Shares held by such Stockholder to a Person making a Non-Compliant Tender Offer unless such Stockholder shall have first offered such Shares to the Corporation at the tender offer price offered in such Non-Compliant Tender Offer.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING
AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE
CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 7.1       Number of Directors .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The number of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Directors ”) shall be five, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the Bylaws; provided , however , that, upon Commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the total number of Directors shall not be fewer than three.  Upon Commencement of the Initial Public Offering, a majority of the Board will be Independent Directors except for a period of up to 90 days after the death, removal or resignation of an Independent Director pending the election of such Independent Director’s successor.  The names of the Directors who shall serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

 

Trevor P. Bond

Marshall E. Blume

Elizabeth P. Munson

Richard J. Pinola

James D. Price

 

These Directors may increase the number of Directors and fill any vacancy, whether resulting from an increase in the number of Directors or otherwise, on the Board of Directors prior to the first annual meeting of Stockholders in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

The Corporation elects, at such time as it becomes eligible to make the election provided for under Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, that, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors in office, even if the remaining Directors do not constitute a quorum, and any Director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Independent Directors shall nominate replacements for vacancies among the

 

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Independent Directors’ positions, provided , however , that if there are no Independent Directors, the Directors shall nominate replacements for vacancies among the Independent Directors.

 

Section 7.2       Experience .  Each Director shall have at least three years of relevant experience demonstrating the knowledge and experience required to successfully acquire and manage the type of assets being acquired by the Corporation.  At least one of the Independent Directors shall have three years of relevant real estate experience.

 

Section 7.3       Committees .  The Board may establish such committees as it deems appropriate, in its discretion, provided that the majority of the members of each committee are Independent Directors.

 

Section 7.4       Term .  Except as may otherwise be provided in the terms of any Preferred Shares issued by the Corporation, each Director shall hold office for one year, until the next annual meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.  Directors may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms.

 

Section 7.5       Fiduciary Obligations .  The Directors serve in a fiduciary capacity to the Corporation and have a fiduciary duty to the Stockholders, including a specific fiduciary duty to supervise the relationship of the Corporation with the Advisor.

 

Section 7.6       Extraordinary Actions .  Notwithstanding any provision of law permitting or requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of Shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of Shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

Section 7.7       Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance .  The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into Shares of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (including as compensation for the Independent Directors or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter or the Bylaws.  The issuance of Preferred Shares shall also be approved by a majority of Independent Directors not otherwise interested in the transaction, who shall have access at the Corporation’s expense to the Corporation’s legal counsel or to independent legal counsel.

 

Section 7.8       Preemptive Rights and Appraisal Rights .  Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified Shares pursuant to Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract approved by the Board of Directors, no holder of Shares shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional Shares or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell.  Holders of Shares shall not be entitled to exercise any rights of an objecting stockholder provided for under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Directors, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of Shares, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such Shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.

 

Section 7.9       Determinations by Board .  The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with the Charter, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of Shares:  the review and ratification of the Charter by a majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the

 

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Independent Directors, at or prior to the first meeting of the Board of Directors; the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of Shares or the payment of other Distributions on Shares; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other cash flow, funds from operations, net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other Distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of Shares; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation or any Shares; the number of Shares of any class of the Corporation; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; the application of any provision of the Charter in the case of any ambiguity, including, without limitation:  (i) any provision of the definitions of any of the following:  Affiliate, Independent Director and Sponsor, (ii) which amounts paid to the Advisor or its Affiliates are property-level expenses connected with the ownership of real estate interests, loans or other property, (iii) which expenses are excluded from the definition of Operating Expenses and (iv) whether expenses qualify as Organization and Offering Expenses; any conflict between the MGCL and the provisions set forth in the NASAA REIT Guidelines; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation or required or permitted by applicable law, the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Directors; provided , however , that any determination by the Board of Directors as to any of the preceding matters shall not render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination and no Director shall be liable for making or failing to make such a determination; and provided , further , that to the extent the Board determines that the MGCL conflicts with the provisions set forth in the NASAA REIT Guidelines, the NASAA REIT Guidelines control to the extent any provisions of the MGCL are not mandatory.

 

Section 7.10     REIT Qualification .  If the Corporation elects to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a REIT, the Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT; however, the Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporation’s REIT election pursuant to Section 856(g) of the Code if a majority of the directors not otherwise interested in the transaction conclude that a failure to effect such a revocation or termination could result in material adverse tax consequences to the Corporation or its Stockholders.  The Board of Directors also may determine that compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers set forth in Article VI is no longer required for REIT qualification.

 

Section 7.11     Removal of Directors .  Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Shares to elect or remove one or more Directors, any Director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of Directors at a meeting called for the purpose of removing the Director, and the notice of that meeting must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes of the meeting, is the proposed removal of the Director.

 

Section 7.12     Board Action with Respect to Certain Matters .  A majority of the Independent Directors must approve any Board action to which the following sections of the NASAA REIT Guidelines apply:  II.A., II.C., II.F., II.G., IV.A., IV.B., IV.C., IV.D., IV.E., IV.F., IV.G., V.E., V.H., V.J., VI.A., VI.B.4, and VI.G.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

ADVISOR

 

Section 8.1       Appointment and Initial Investment of Advisor .  The Board is responsible for setting the general policies of the Corporation, including written policies on investments and borrowing, and for the general supervision of its business conducted by officers, agents, employees, advisors or independent contractors of the Corporation.  However, the Board is not required personally to conduct the business of the Corporation, and it may (but need not) appoint, employ or contract with any Person (including a Person Affiliated with any Director) as an Advisor and may grant or delegate such authority to the Advisor as the Board may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or desirable.  The term of retention of any Advisor shall not exceed one year, although there is no limit to the number of times that a particular Advisor may be retained.  The Advisor or its Affiliates have made an Initial Investment of $200,000 in the Corporation.  The Advisor or any such Affiliate may not sell this Initial Investment while the Advisor or its Affiliate remains a Sponsor but may transfer the Initial Investment to other Affiliates.

 

Section 8.2       Supervision of Advisor .  The Board shall review and evaluate the qualifications of the Advisor before entering into, and shall evaluate the performance of the Advisor before renewing, an Advisory Agreement, and the criteria used in such evaluation shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board.  The Board may exercise broad discretion in allowing the Advisor to administer and regulate the operations of the Corporation, to act as agent for the Corporation, to execute documents on behalf of the Corporation and to make executive decisions that conform to general policies and principles established by the Board.  The Board shall monitor the Advisor to assure that the administrative procedures, operations and programs of the Corporation are in the best interests of the Stockholders and are fulfilled.  The Independent Directors are responsible for reviewing the fees and expenses of the Corporation at least annually or with sufficient frequency to determine that the expenses incurred are reasonable in light of the investment performance of the Corporation, its Net Assets, its Adjusted Net Income and the fees and expenses of other comparable unaffiliated REITs.  Each such determination shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board.  The Independent Directors also will be responsible for reviewing, from time to time and at least annually, the performance of the Advisor and determining that compensation to be paid to the Advisor is reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services performed and the investment performance of the Corporation and that the provisions of the Advisory Agreement are being carried out.  Specifically, the Independent Directors will consider factors such as (i) the amount of the fee paid to the Advisor in relation to the size, composition and performance of the Net Assets, (ii) the success of the Advisor in generating opportunities that meet the investment objectives of the Corporation, (iii) rates charged to other REITs and to investors other than REITs by advisors performing the same or similar services, (iv) additional revenues realized by the Advisor and its Affiliates through their relationship with the Corporation, including loan administration, underwriting or broker commissions, servicing, engineering, inspection and other fees, whether paid by the Corporation or by others with whom the Corporation does business, (v) the quality and extent of service and advice furnished by the Advisor, (vi) the performance of the Assets, including income, conservation or appreciation of capital, frequency of problem investments and competence in dealing with distress situations, and (vii) the quality of the Corporation’s portfolio relative to the investments generated by the Advisor for its own account.  The Independent Directors may also consider all other factors that they deem relevant, and the findings of the Independent Directors on each of the factors considered shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board.  The Board shall determine whether any successor Advisor possesses sufficient qualifications to perform the advisory function for the Corporation and whether the compensation provided for in its contract with the Corporation is justified.

 

Section 8.3       Fiduciary Obligations .  The Advisor shall have a fiduciary responsibility and duty to the Corporation and to the Stockholders.

 

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Section 8.4       Affiliation and Functions .  The Board, by resolution or in the Bylaws, may provide guidelines, provisions or requirements concerning the affiliation and functions of the Advisor.

 

Section 8.5       Termination .  A majority of the Independent Directors may terminate the Advisory Agreement on 60 days’ written notice without cause or penalty, and, in such event, the Advisor will cooperate with the Corporation and the Board in making an orderly transition of the advisory function.

 

Section 8.6       Disposition Fee on Sale of Property .  If the Advisor, any Director, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof provides a substantial amount of services in the effort to sell an Investment, then such Person may receive a fee in the amount equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the Competitive Real Estate Commission (if applicable) or (ii) three percent of the Contract Sales Price.  Total brokerage commissions (including real estate brokerage commissions) payable to all Persons shall not exceed the lesser of (a) the Competitive Real Estate Commission or (b) an amount equal to six percent of the Contract Sales Price.

 

Section 8.7       Incentive Fees .  The Corporation may pay the Advisor or an Affiliate of the Advisor an interest in the gain from the sale of Investments, provided the amount or percentage of such interest is reasonable.  Such an interest in gain from the sale of Investments shall be considered presumptively reasonable if it does not exceed 15% of the balance of such net proceeds remaining after payment to Stockholders, in the aggregate, of an amount equal to 100% of the invested capital (through liquidity or Distributions), plus a six percent cumulative annual return.  In the case of multiple Advisors, such Advisor and any of their Affiliates shall be allowed such fees provided such fees are distributed by a proportional method reasonably designed to reflect the value added to the Corporation’s assets by each respective Advisor or any Affiliate.  For these purposes, Stockholders will be deemed to have been provided with liquidity if the Shares are Listed, if Shares can be repurchased through the Corporation’s repurchase plan on a quarterly basis without delay or some other liquidity device has been provided which enables Stockholders to receive cash or marketable securities for their Shares no less frequently than quarterly.  The return requirement will be deemed satisfied if the total Distributions paid by the Corporation equals or exceeds 100% of the capital raised by the Corporation (less any amounts distributed from the sale or refinancing of any Investment).  The market value will be calculated on the basis of the average market value of the Shares over the 30 trading days beginning 180 days after the Shares are first listed on a stock exchange or listed or included for quotation.

 

Section 8.8       Limitation on Organization and Offering Expenses .  The Organization and Offering Expenses shall be reasonable and shall in no event exceed an amount equal to 15% of the proceeds raised in the initial Offering.  To the extent that all Organizational and Offering Expenses (excluding Selling Commissions and fees paid and expenses reimbursed to selected dealers) paid directly by the Corporation and its subsidiaries exceed (A) 4% of the Gross Proceeds if the Gross Proceeds are less than $500 million, (B) 2% of the Gross Proceeds if the Gross Proceeds are $500 million or more but less than $750 million, or (C) 1.5% of the Gross Proceeds if the Gross Proceeds are $750 million or more, the excess above the applicable percentage shall be paid by the Advisor.

 

Section 8.9       Limitation on Acquisition Fees and Expenses .  The total of all Acquisition Fees and Acquisition Expenses shall be reasonable and shall not exceed an amount equal to six percent of the aggregate Contract Purchase Price of all Investments, measured for the period beginning with the initial acquisition of an Investment and ending (i) on December 31 of the year in which the Corporation has invested 90% of the net proceeds of its initial Offering (excluding the net proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to the Reinvestment Plan), and (ii) on each December 31 thereafter, unless a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in any transaction approves the excess as being commercially competitive, fair and reasonable to the Corporation.  In the

 

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event that the Sponsor holds an Investment on an interim basis on behalf of the Corporation, all profits and losses generated from that Investment during the interim period will be paid to the Corporation.

 

Section 8.10     Reimbursement for Total Operating Expenses .  If Operating Expenses during the 12-month period ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Corporation exceed the greater of (i) two percent of the Average Invested Assets during the same 12-month period or (ii) 25% of the Adjusted Net Income of the Corporation during the same 12-month period (the “ 2%/25% Guideline ”), then subject to the following sentence, such excess amount shall be the sole responsibility of the Advisor and neither the Operating Partnership nor the Corporation shall be liable for payment therefor or if the Advisor has received reimbursement for the excess amount, the Advisor shall reimburse the Corporation within 60 days after the end of the 12-month period the amount by which the aggregate annual expenses paid or incurred by the Corporation exceed the above described limitations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Advisor becomes responsible for any excess amount as provided in the foregoing sentence, if a majority of the Independent Directors finds such excess amount or a portion thereof justified based on such unusual and non-recurring factors as they deem sufficient, the Operating Partnership shall reimburse the Advisor in future quarters for the full amount of such excess amount, or any portion thereof, but only to the extent such reimbursement would not cause the Operating Expenses to exceed the 2%/25% Guideline in the 12-month period ending on the last day of such quarter.  In no event shall the Operating Expenses payable by the Operating Partnership in any 12-month period ending at the end of a fiscal quarter exceed the 2%/25% Guideline.  Within 60 days after the end of any 12-month period referred to in the foregoing for which Operating Expenses (for the 12 months then ended) do exceed the 2%/25% Guideline and the Independent Directors determine that such excess Operating Expenses are justified, there shall be sent to the Stockholders a written disclosure of such fact, together with an explanation of the factors the Independent Directors considered in ascertaining that such excess Operating Expenses were justified.  Additionally, such information shall be reflected in the minutes of the meetings of the Board.  All figures used in the foregoing computation shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied in a consistent basis.

 

Section 8.11     Reimbursement Limitation .  The Corporation shall not reimburse the Advisor or its Affiliates for services for which the Advisor or its Affiliates are entitled to compensation in the form of a separate fee.

 

Section 8.12     Other Activities of the Advisor .  The Advisor shall not be restricted to administering the investment activities of the Corporation as its sole and exclusive function and may have other business interests and may engage in other activities similar or in addition to those relating to the Corporation, including the performance of services and advice to other Persons (including other REITs) and the management of other investments (including investments of the Advisor and its Affiliates).  The Directors may request the Advisor to engage in other activities which complement the Investments, and the Advisor may receive compensation or commissions for those activities from the Corporation or other Persons.  Nothing herein shall limit or restrict the right of any director, officer, employee or shareholder of the Advisor, whether or not also a Director, officer or employee of the Company, to engage in any other business or to render services of any kind to any other partnership, corporation, firm, individual, trust or association.  The Advisor with or without remuneration may render advice and service to Persons involved with Investments.  Except as provided in the Advisory Agreement, neither the Advisor nor any Affiliate of the Advisor shall be obligated generally to present any particular investment opportunity to the Corporation even if the opportunity is of character which, if presented to the Corporation, could be taken by the Corporation.  In the event that the Advisor or its Affiliates is presented with a potential investment which might be made by the Corporation or any wholly-owned subsidiary corporation and by another investment entity which the Advisor or its Affiliates advises or manages, the Advisor shall determine the allocation of such potential investment in a fair and reasonable manner and pursuant to procedures approved by a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND LIMITATIONS

 

Section 9.1       Review of Objectives .  The Independent Directors shall review the investment policies of the Corporation with sufficient frequency (not less often than annually) to determine that the policies being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests of its Stockholders.  Each such determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the meetings of the Board.

 

Section 9.2       Certain Permitted Investments .  The following provisions shall apply:

 

(a)        The Corporation may invest in Investments.

 

(b)        The Corporation may invest in Joint Ventures with the Sponsor, the Advisor, one or more Directors or any Affiliate thereof, only if a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction, approve such investment as being fair and reasonable to the Corporation and on substantially the same terms and conditions as those received by the other joint venturers.

 

(c)        The Corporation may not invest in equity securities unless a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction, approve such investment as being fair, competitive, and commercially reasonable to the Corporation.

 

Section 9.3       Investment Limitations .  In addition to other investment restrictions imposed by the Board from time to time, consistent with the Corporation’s objective of qualifying as a REIT, the following shall apply to the Corporation’s investments:

 

(a)        Not more than ten percent of the Corporation’s total assets shall be invested in Unimproved Real Property or mortgage loans on Unimproved Real Property.

 

(b)        The Corporation shall not invest in commodities or commodity futures contracts.  This limitation is not intended to apply to future contracts, when used solely for hedging purposes in connection with the Corporation’s ordinary business of investing in real estate assets and mortgages.

 

(c)        The Corporation shall not invest in or make any mortgage loan unless an appraisal is obtained concerning the underlying property except for those loans insured or guaranteed by a government or government agency.  In cases in which a majority of Independent Directors so determine, and in all cases in which the transaction is with the Advisor, the Sponsor, any Director, or any Affiliate thereof, such appraisal of the underlying property must be obtained from an Independent Appraiser.  Such appraisal shall be maintained in the Corporation’s records for at least five years and shall be available for inspection and duplication by any holder of Common Shares for a reasonable charge.  In addition to the appraisal, a mortgagee’s or owner’s title insurance policy or commitment as to the priority of the mortgage or condition of the title must be obtained.

 

(d)        The Corporation shall not make or invest in any mortgage loan, including a construction loan, on any one property if the aggregate amount of all mortgage loans

 

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outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Corporation, would exceed an amount equal to 85% of the appraised value of the property as determined by appraisal unless substantial justification exists because of the presence of other underwriting criteria.  For purposes of this subsection, (i) investments in commercial mortgage backed securities shall be deemed not to be an investment in mortgage loans and (ii) the “aggregate amount of all mortgage loans outstanding on the property, including the loans of the Corporation” shall include all interest (excluding contingent participation in income and/or appreciation in value of the mortgaged property), the current payment of which may be deferred pursuant to the terms of such loans, to the extent that deferred interest on each loan exceeds five percent per annum of the principal balance of the loan.

 

(e)        The Corporation shall not invest in indebtedness secured by a mortgage on real property which is subordinate to the lien or other indebtedness of the Advisor, any Director, the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Corporation.

 

(f)        The Corporation shall not issue (A) equity Securities redeemable solely at the option of the holder (except that Stockholders may offer their Common Shares to the Corporation pursuant to any repurchase plan adopted by the Board on terms outlined in the Prospectus relating to any Offering, as such plan is thereafter amended in accordance with its terms); (B) debt Securities unless the historical debt service coverage (in the most recently completed fiscal year) as adjusted for known changes is sufficient to properly service that higher level of debt, as determined by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer of the Corporation; (C) equity Securities on a deferred payment basis or under similar arrangements; or (D) options or warrants to the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof except on the same terms as such options or warrants, if any, are sold to the general public.  Options or warrants may be issued to Persons other than the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof, but not at exercise prices less than the fair market value of the underlying Securities on the date of grant and not for consideration (which may include services) that in the judgment of the Independent Directors has a market value less than the value of such option or warrant on the date of grant.  Options or warrants issuable to the Advisor, the Directors, the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof shall not exceed ten percent of the outstanding Shares on the date of grant.  The voting rights per Share (other than any publicly held Share) sold in a private offering shall not exceed the voting rights which bear the same relationship to the voting rights of a publicly held Share as the consideration paid to the Corporation for each privately offered Share bears to the book value of each outstanding publicly held Share.

 

(g)        The consideration paid for an Investment by the Corporation shall ordinarily be based on the fair market value thereof, as determined by a majority of the Directors (or of the members of a duly authorized committee thereof) or the Advisor’s investment committee.  If a majority of the Independent Directors on the Board of Directors or such duly authorized committee determine, or if the Investment is acquired from the Advisor, a Director, the Sponsor or their Affiliates, such fair market value shall be determined by a qualified Independent Appraiser selected by such Independent Directors.

 

(h)        The aggregate Leverage shall be reasonable and shall be reviewed by the Board at least quarterly.  The maximum amount of such Leverage shall not exceed the lesser of 75% of the total costs of the Corporation’s investment or 300% of its Net Assets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Leverage may exceed such limit if any excess in

 

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borrowing over such level is approved by a majority of the Independent Directors.  Any such excess borrowing shall be disclosed to Stockholders in the next quarterly report of the Corporation following such borrowing, along with justification for such excess.

 

(i)                                   The Corporation will continually review its investment activity to attempt to ensure that it is not classified as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(j)                                   The Corporation will not make any investment that the Corporation believes will be inconsistent with its objectives of qualifying and remaining qualified as a REIT unless and until the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that REIT qualification is not in the best interests of the Corporation.

 

(k)                               The Corporation shall not invest in real estate contracts of sale unless such contracts of sale are in recordable form and appropriately recorded in the chain of title.

 

ARTICLE X

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

Section 10.1                   Sales and Leases to the Corporation .  The Corporation may purchase or lease an asset or assets from the Sponsor, the Advisor, a Director or any Affiliate thereof upon a finding by a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction that such transaction is fair and reasonable to the Corporation and at a price to the Corporation no greater than the cost of the asset to such Sponsor, Advisor, Director or Affiliate, or, if the price to the Corporation is in excess of such cost, that substantial justification for such excess exists and such excess is reasonable.  In no event shall the purchase price paid by the Corporation for any such asset exceed the asset’s current Appraised Value.

 

Section 10.2                   Sales and Leases to the Sponsor, Advisor, Directors or Affiliates .  The Advisor, the Sponsor, a Director or any Affiliate thereof may purchase or lease Assets from the Corporation if a majority of Directors (including a majority of Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in the transaction determine that the transaction is fair and reasonable to the Corporation.

 

Section 10.3                   Other Transactions .

 

(a)                                     The Corporation shall not make Loans to the Sponsor, the Advisor, a Director or any Affiliates thereof except Loans pursuant to Section 9.3(c) hereof or Loans to wholly owned subsidiaries of the Corporation.  The Sponsor, the Advisor, the Directors and any Affiliates thereof shall not make Loans to the Corporation, or to joint ventures in which the Corporation is a co-venturer, unless approved by a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in such transaction as fair, competitive, and commercially reasonable, and no less favorable to the Corporation than comparable loans between unaffiliated parties.

 

(b)                                    The Corporation shall not engage in any other transaction with the Sponsor, the Advisor, a Director or any Affiliates thereof unless a majority of the Directors (including a majority of the Independent Directors) not otherwise interested in such transaction approve such transaction as fair and reasonable to the Corporation and

 

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on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Corporation than those available from unaffiliated third parties.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 11.1                   Meetings .  There shall be an annual meeting of the Stockholders, to be held on such date and at such time and place as shall be determined by or in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws, at which the Directors shall be elected and any other proper business may be conducted; provided that such annual meeting will be held upon reasonable notice and within a reasonable period (not less than 30 days) following delivery of the annual report.  The Board of Directors (including the Independent Directors) shall take reasonable steps to ensure that this requirement is met.  The holders of a majority of Shares entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at an annual meeting at which a quorum is present, may, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, vote to elect the Directors.  A quorum shall be the presence in person or by proxy of Stockholders entitled to cast at least 50% of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter.  Special meetings of Stockholders may be called in the manner provided in the Bylaws, including by the chairman of the board, the president, the chief executive officer, a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the Independent Directors, and shall be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of Stockholders upon written request of Stockholders entitled to cast not less than ten percent of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on such matter.  Notice of any special meeting of Stockholders shall be given as provided in the Bylaws.  If the meeting is called by the secretary upon the written request of Stockholders as described in this Section 11.1, notice of the special meeting shall be sent to all Stockholders within ten days of the receipt of the written request and the special meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in the Stockholder request not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days after the delivery of the notice; provided , however , that if no time or place is so specified in the Stockholder request, at such time and place convenient to the Stockholders.  If there are no Directors, the officers of the Corporation shall promptly call a special meeting of the Stockholders entitled to vote for the election of successor Directors.  Any meeting may be adjourned and reconvened as the Board may determine or as otherwise provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 11.2                   Voting Rights of Stockholders .  Subject to the provisions of any class or series of Shares then outstanding and the mandatory provisions of any applicable laws or regulations, the Stockholders shall be entitled to vote only on the following matters:  (a) election or removal of Directors, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, as provided in Sections 11.1, 7.4 and 7.11 hereof; (b) amendment of the Charter, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board, as provided in Article XIII hereof; (c) dissolution of the Corporation, without the necessity for concurrence by the Board; (d) merger or consolidation of the Corporation, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets; and (e) such other matters with respect to which the Board of Directors has adopted a resolution declaring that a proposed action is advisable and directing that the matter be submitted to the Stockholders for approval or ratification.  Except with respect to the foregoing matters, no action taken by the Stockholders at any meeting shall in any way bind the Board.  Without the approval of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote on the matter, the Board may not (i) amend the Charter to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stockholders; (ii) amend provisions of the Charter relating to director qualifications, fiduciary duties, liability and indemnification, conflicts of interest, investment policies or investment restrictions; (iii) liquidate or dissolve the Corporation other than before the initial investment in property; (iv) sell all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets other than in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted by law; or (v) cause the merger or similar reorganization of the Corporation except as permitted by law.

 

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Section 11.3                   Voting Limitations on Shares Held by the Advisor, Directors and Affiliates .  With respect to Shares owned by the Advisor, any Director, or any of their Affiliates, neither the Advisor, nor such Director(s), nor any of their Affiliates may vote or consent on matters submitted to the Stockholders regarding the removal of the Advisor, such Director(s) or any of their Affiliates or any transaction between the Corporation and any of them.  In determining the requisite percentage in interest of Shares necessary to approve a matter on which the Advisor, such Director(s) and any of their Affiliates may not vote or consent, any Shares owned by any of them shall be deemed not entitled to cast votes on the matter and shall not be included in making such determination.

 

Section 11.4                   Right of Inspection .  Any Stockholder and any designated representative thereof shall be permitted access to the records of the Corporation to which it is entitled under applicable law at all reasonable times, and may inspect and copy any of them for a reasonable charge.  Inspection of the Corporation’s books and records by the office or agency administering the securities laws of a jurisdiction shall be provided upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours.

 

Section 11.5                   Access to Stockholder List .  An alphabetical list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Stockholders, along with the number of Shares held by each of them (the “ Stockholder List ”), shall be maintained as part of the books and records of the Corporation and shall be available for inspection by any Stockholder or the Stockholder’s designated agent at the home office of the Corporation upon the request of the Stockholder only if the Stockholder represents to the Corporation that the list will not be used to pursue commercial interests of the Stockholder unrelated to the Stockholder’s interest in the Corporation.  If the representation is not included with the request, the Corporation will mail a copy of the representation within five days.  The Corporation will mail a list of the names and addresses of all Stockholders within 10 days (or five days if the Stockholder first requests a copy of the representation and returns it within 30 days) of the receipt of the request and the representation and the payment for cost of postage and duplication.  The Stockholder List shall be updated at least quarterly to reflect changes in the information contained therein.  The copy of the Stockholder List shall be printed in alphabetical order, on white paper, and in a readily readable type size (in no event smaller than ten-point type).  The Corporation may impose a reasonable charge for expenses incurred in reproduction pursuant to the Stockholder request.  A Stockholder may request a copy of the Stockholder List in connection with matters relating to Stockholders’ voting rights, and the exercise of Stockholder rights under federal proxy laws.

 

If the Advisor or the Board neglects or refuses to exhibit, produce or mail a copy of the Stockholder List as requested, the Advisor and/or the Board, as the case may be, shall be liable to any Stockholder requesting the Stockholder List for the costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by that Stockholder for compelling the production of the Stockholder List, and for actual damages suffered by any Stockholder by reason of such refusal or neglect.  It shall be a defense that the actual purpose and reason for the requests for inspection or for a copy of the Stockholder List is to secure the Stockholder List or other information for the purpose of selling the Stockholder List or copies thereof, or of using the same for a commercial purpose other than in the interest of the applicant as a Stockholder relative to the affairs of the Corporation.  The remedies provided hereunder to Stockholders requesting copies of the Stockholder List are in addition, to and shall not in any way limit, other remedies available to Stockholders under federal law, or the laws of any state.

 

Section 11.6                   Reports .  For each fiscal year after the Commencement of the Initial Public Offering, the Directors, including the Independent Directors, shall take reasonable steps to insure that the Corporation shall cause to be prepared and mailed or delivered to each Stockholder as of a record date after the end of the fiscal year and each holder of other publicly held Securities, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which it relates, an annual report that shall include:  (i) financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which are audited and reported on

 

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by independent certified public accountants; (ii) the ratio of the costs of raising capital during the period to the capital raised; (iii) the aggregate amount of advisory fees and the aggregate amount of other fees paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by the Corporation and including fees or charges paid to the Advisor and any Affiliate of the Advisor by third parties doing business with the Corporation; (iv) the Operating Expenses of the Corporation, stated as a percentage of Average Invested Assets and as a percentage of its Adjusted Net Income; (v) a report from the Independent Directors that the policies being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests of its Stockholders and the basis for such determination; and (vi) separately stated, full disclosure of all material terms, factors and circumstances surrounding any and all transactions involving the Corporation, Directors, Advisors, Sponsors and any Affiliate thereof occurring in the year for which the annual report is made, and the Independent Directors shall be specifically charged with a duty to examine and comment in the report on the fairness of such transactions.

 

Section 11.7                   Tender Offers .  If any Person makes a tender offer, including, without limitation, a “mini-tender” offer, such Person must comply with all of the provisions set forth in Regulation 14D of the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, disclosure and notice requirements, that would be applicable if the tender offer was for more than five percent of the outstanding Shares; provided , however , that, unless otherwise required by the Exchange Act, such documents are not required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any such Person must provide notice to the Corporation at least ten business days prior to initiating any such tender offer.  Any Person who initiates a tender offer without complying with the provisions set forth above (a “ Non-Compliant Tender Offer ”), shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Corporation in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 11.7, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with the review of all documents related to such tender offer.  In addition, the Corporation may seek injunctive relief, including, without limitation, a temporary or permanent restraining order, in connection with any Non-Compliant Tender Offer.  This Section 11.7 shall be of no force or effect with respect to any Shares that are then Listed.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

LIABILITY LIMITATION AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 12.1                   Limitation of Stockholder Liability .  No Stockholder shall be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to the Corporation by reason of his or her being a Stockholder, nor shall any Stockholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any Person in connection with the Corporation’s assets or the affairs of the Corporation by reason of his or her being a Stockholder.

 

Section 12.2                   Limitation of Director and Officer Liability; Indemnification .

 

Section 12.2.1       Limitation of Director and Officer Liability .

 

(a)                                     Subject to any limitations set forth under Maryland law or in paragraph (b) below, no Director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its Stockholders for money damages.  Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 12.2.1(a), nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 12.2.1(a), shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

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(b)                               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) above, the Corporation shall not provide that a Director, the Advisor or any Affiliate of the Advisor (the “ Indemnitee ”) be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Corporation, unless all of the following conditions are met:

 

(i)                                   The Indemnitee has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Corporation.

 

(ii)                               The Indemnitee was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Corporation.

 

(iii)                           Such liability or loss was not the result of (A) negligence or misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is a Director (other than an Independent Director), the Advisor or an Affiliate of the Advisor or (B) gross negligence or willful misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is an Independent Director.

 

(iv)                           Such agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of Net Assets and not from the Stockholders.

 

Section 12.2.2       Indemnification .

 

(a)                                Subject to any limitations set forth under Maryland law or in paragraph (b) or (c) below, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (i) any individual who is a present or former Director or officer of the Corporation or a non-Director member of the investment committee and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity, (ii) any individual who, while a Director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of such corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (iii) the Advisor or any of its Affiliates acting as an agent of the Corporation.  The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided to a Director or officer hereby shall vest immediately upon election of such Director or officer.  The Corporation may, with the approval of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to a Person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.  The Board may take such action as is necessary to carry out this Section 12.2.2(a).  No amendment of the Charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the right of indemnification provided hereunder with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

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(b)                               Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) above, the Corporation shall not provide for indemnification of an Indemnitee for any liability or loss suffered by such Indemnitee unless all of the following conditions are met:

 

(i)                                   The Indemnitee has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Corporation.

 

(ii)                               The Indemnitee was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Corporation.

 

(iii)                           Such liability or loss was not the result of (A) negligence or misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is a Director (other than an Independent Director), the Advisor or an Affiliate of the Advisor or (B) gross negligence or willful misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is an Independent Director.

 

(iv)                           Such indemnification is recoverable only out of Net Assets and not from the Stockholders.

 

(c)                                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) of this Section 12.2.2, the Corporation shall not provide indemnification for any loss, liability or expense arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by an Indemnitee unless one or more of the following conditions are met:  (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations as to the Indemnitee, (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the Indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the Indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which Securities were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

 

Section 12.3                   Payment of Expenses .  The Corporation may pay or reimburse reasonable legal expenses and other costs incurred by an Indemnitee in advance of final disposition of a proceeding only if all of the following are satisfied:  (i) the proceeding relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) the Indemnitee provides the Corporation with written affirmation of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation as authorized by Section 12.2 hereof, (iii) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not a Stockholder or, if by a Stockholder of the Corporation acting in his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such advancement, and (iv) the Indemnitee provides the Corporation with a written agreement to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Corporation, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee did not comply with the requisite standard of conduct and is not entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 12.4                   Express Exculpatory Clauses in Instruments .  Neither the Stockholders nor the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation shall be liable under any written instrument creating an obligation of the Corporation by reason of their being Stockholders, Directors, officers,

 

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employees or agents of the Corporation, and all Persons shall look solely to the Corporation’s assets for the payment of any claim under or for the performance of that instrument.  The omission of the foregoing exculpatory language from any instrument shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such instrument and shall not render any Stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent liable thereunder to any third party, nor shall the Directors or any officer, employee or agent of the Corporation be liable to anyone as a result of such omission.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to the Charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any Shares.  All rights and powers conferred by the Charter on Stockholders, Directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation.  Except for those amendments permitted to be made without Stockholder approval under Maryland law or by specific provision in the Charter, any amendment to the Charter shall be valid only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter, including without limitation, (1) any amendment which would adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stockholders and (2) any amendment to Sections 7.2, 7.5 and 7.11 of Article VII, Article IX, Article X, Article XII and Article XIV hereof and this Article XIII (or any other amendment of the Charter that would have the effect of amending such sections).

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

ROLL-UP TRANSACTIONS

 

Section 14.1                   Roll-Up Transactions .  In connection with any proposed Roll-Up Transaction, an appraisal of all of the Corporation’s assets shall be obtained from a competent Independent Appraiser.  If the appraisal will be included in a prospectus used to offer the securities of a Roll-Up Entity, the appraisal shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states as an exhibit to the registration statement for the offering.  The Corporation’s assets shall be appraised on a consistent basis, and the appraisal shall be based on the evaluation of all relevant information and shall indicate the value of the assets as of a date immediately prior to the announcement of the proposed Roll-Up Transaction.  The appraisal shall assume an orderly liquidation of the assets over a twelve-month period.  The terms of the engagement of the Independent Appraiser shall clearly state that the engagement is for the benefit of the Corporation and the Stockholders.  A summary of the appraisal, indicating all material assumptions underlying the appraisal, shall be included in a report to Stockholders in connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction.  In connection with a proposed Roll-Up Transaction, the Person sponsoring the Roll-Up Transaction shall offer to holders of Common Shares who vote against the proposed Roll-Up Transaction the choice of:

 

(a)                                accepting the securities of a Roll-Up Entity offered in the proposed Roll-Up Transaction; or

 

(b)                               one of the following:

 

(i)                                   remaining as Stockholders and preserving their interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or

 

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(ii)                               receiving cash in an amount equal to the Stockholder’s pro rata share of the appraised value of the net assets of the Corporation.

 

Section 14.2                   Limitations on Roll-Up Transactions .  The Corporation is prohibited from participating in any proposed Roll-Up Transaction:

 

(a)                                that would result in the holders of Common Shares having voting rights in a Roll-Up Entity that are less than the rights provided for in Sections 11.1 and 11.2 hereof;

 

(b)                               that includes provisions that would operate as a material impediment to, or frustration of, the accumulation of Shares by any purchaser of the securities of the Roll-Up Entity (except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of the Roll-Up Entity), or which would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the Roll-Up Entity on the basis of the number of Shares held by that investor;

 

(c)                                in which investor’s rights to access of records of the Roll-Up Entity will be less than those described in Sections 11.4 and 11.5 hereof; or

 

(d)                               in which any of the costs of the Roll-Up Transaction would be borne by the Corporation if the Roll-Up Transaction is rejected by the holders of Common Shares.

 

THIRD :  The amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation as hereinabove set forth has been duly advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

 

FOURTH :  The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

 

FIFTH :  The name and address of the Corporation’s current resident agent is as set forth in Article III of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

 

SIXTH :  The number of directors of the Corporation and the names of those currently in office are as set forth in Article VII of the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter.

 

SEVENTH :  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation had authority to issue immediately prior to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation was 25,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share.  The aggregate par value of all shares of stock having par value was $25.00.

 

EIGHTH :  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation is 450,000,000, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, 320,000,000 of which are classified as shares of Class A Common Stock and 80,000,000 of which are classified as shares of Class C Common Stock, and 50,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.001 par value per share.  The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $450,000.00.

 

NINTH :  The undersigned acknowledges these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the

 

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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.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 5th day of April, 2013.

 

ATTEST:		CORPORATION PROPERTY ASSOCIATES 18 – GLOBAL INCORPORATED
/s/ Susan C. Hyde		/s/ Trevor P. Bond	(SEAL)
Name: Susan C. Hyde		Name: Trevor P. Bond
Title: Secretary		Title: Chief Executive Officer