UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 27, 2014

 

Washington Prime Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Indiana

 

001-14469

 

04-6268599

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

File Number)

 

Identification No.)

 

7315 Wisconsin Avenue

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (240) 630-0000

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

ITEM 1.01.  ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

On May 27, 2014, Washington Prime Group Inc. (the “ Company ”) and Washington Prime Group, L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) entered into a separation and distribution agreement with Simon Property Group, Inc. (“ SPG ”) and Simon Property Group, L.P., pursuant to which SPG agreed to transfer certain assets and liabilities to the Company (the “ Separation ”) and distribute 100% of the outstanding shares of WPG to the SPG shareholders in a tax-free distribution (the “ Distribution ”). The Distribution was made on May 28, 2014 to SPG shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 16, 2014 (the “ Record Date ”).  As a result of the Distribution, the Company is now an independent public company trading under the symbol “WPG” on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

In connection with the Separation, the Company and its subsidiaries entered into several agreements with Simon Property Group, Inc. (“ SPG ”) on May 28, 2014, including the following agreements:

 

·                   Transition Services Agreement

·                   Tax Matters Agreement

·                   Employee Matters Agreement

 

In addition, on May 15, 2014, the Partnership entered into a Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement (the “ Credit Agreement ”) with certain lenders.

 

The information statement (the “ Information Statement ”) filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 20, 2014 provides a description of the terms of each of the above agreements, and each of the above agreements are also filed as exhibits to this Form 8-K.

 

ITEM 2.03                                   CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT.

 

The disclosures set forth in Item 1.01 related to the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by this reference. On May 27 and 28, 2014, the Partnership, as borrower, drew down an aggregate $500,000,000 on the senior unsecured term loan facility and $100,835,000 on the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement.

 

ITEM 5.01                                   CHANGE IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.

 

On May 28, 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”), the previously announced spin-off of the Company from SPG was completed.  One Company common share was distributed to stockholders of record of SPG for every two shares of SPG common stock held of record as of the close of business on the Record Date.  The Company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”) under the ticker symbol “WPG”.  The Company is now an independent publicly traded company.

 

ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.

 

On May 6, 2014, Marvin L. White was appointed to the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Washington Prime Group Inc. (the “ Company ”).  Mr. White also serves on the Audit Committee of the Board.

 

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On May 27, 2014, Louis G. Conforti, Robert J. Laikin, Mark Ordan, and Jacquelyn Sofferwere also appointed as directors of the Company.  Mr. Sokolov serves as Chairman of the Board.  The Board has determined that Messrs. Conforti, Laikin and White and Ms. Soffer are independent directors.  On May 27, 2014, the SPG, as sole shareholder of the Company re-appointed the members of the Board to serve as such until the election and qualification of the successors of such persons at the Corporation’s 2015 Annual Meeting

 

Set forth below are the directors who are members of each committee of our board of directors:

 

·                   Audit Committee: Mr. White, Mr. Conforti and Mr. Laikin

·                   Governance and Nominating Committee: Ms. Soffer, Mr. White and Mr. Conforti

·                   Compensation Committee: Mr. Conforti, Ms. Soffer and Mr. Laikin

 

On May 6, 2014, the Board appointed certain executive officers to hold the positions indicated below, with such appointments effective as of the day before the Distribution:

 

Mark Ordan

Chief Executive Officer

C. Marc Richards

Chief Financial Officer

Myles Minton

Chief Operating Officer

Robert P. Demchak

Secretary/General Counsel

Michael Gaffney

Senior Vice President and Head of Capital Markets

 

Please see the Information Statement for biographical information about the newly appointed directors. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

On May 28, 2014, the Company Board adopted the Washington Prime Group, L.P. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) and authorized the reservation of 10,000,000 shares of the Company for issuance pursuant to the Plan. Please see the Information Statement for a description of the material provisions of the Plan, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  A copy of the Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

In connection with the Separation, the Company and its subsidiaries entered into Director Indemnification Agreements with each of its directors in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.10 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 as filed on April 21, 2014.

 

ITEM 5.03                                   AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

 

On May 6, 2014, the Company amended and restated its articles of incorporation (the “ Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation ”) and bylaws (the “ Amended and Restated Bylaws ”), effective as of immediately before the effective time of the Distribution..  Please see the Information Statement for a description of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  The Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws were filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 as filed on March 24, 2014, and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

On May 6, 2014 Washington Prime Group, L.P. amended and restated its agreement of limited partnership (the “ Partnership Agreement ”) effective as of immediately before the effective time of the Distribution. 

 

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Please see the Information Statement for a description of the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, which description is incorporated herein by reference.  Washington Prime Group, L.P.’s Partnership Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.6, and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 5.05                                   AMENDMENTS TO THE REGSITRANT’S CODE OF ETHICS, OR WAIVER OF A PROVISION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS.

 

In connection with the Distribution, the Board adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics effective as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Separation.  A copy of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.washingtonprime.com.

 

ITEM 8.01                                   OTHER EVENTS.

 

In connection with the Distribution, the Board adopted Corporate Governance Principles effective as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Separation. A copy of the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles is available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.washingtonprime.com.

 

ITEM 9.01                                   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

(d)  Exhibits

 

2.1

 

Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated as of May 27, 2014

 

 

 

10.1

 

Washington Prime Group, L.P. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan

 

 

 

10.2

 

Transition Services Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated May 28, 2014

 

 

 

10.3

 

Tax Matters Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated May 28, 2014

 

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10.4

 

Employee Matters Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated May 28, 2014

 

 

 

10.5

 

Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, by and among Washington Prime Group, L.P., as borrower, Bank of America N.A., as administrative agent and the Lenders party thereto, dated May 15, 2014

 

 

 

10.6

 

Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Washington Prime Group, L.P.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated:  May 29, 2014

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Name: Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

2.1

 

Separation and Distribution Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated as of May 27, 2014

 

 

 

10.1

 

Washington Prime Group, L.P. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan

 

 

 

10.2

 

Transition Services Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated May 28, 2014

 

 

 

10.3

 

Tax Matters Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated May 28, 2014

 

 

 

10.4

 

Employee Matters Agreement by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc. and Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated May 28, 2014

 

 

 

10.5

 

Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, by and among Washington Prime Group, L.P., as borrower, Bank of America N.A., as administrative agent and the Lenders party thereto, dated May 15, 2014

 

 

 

10.6

 

Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Washington Prime Group, L.P.

 

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Exhibit 2.1

 

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.,

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.,

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

AND

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

DATED AS OF MAY 27, 2014

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

ARTICLE II THE SEPARATION

13

 

 

 

2.1

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities

13

2.2

WPG Assets

15

2.3

WPG Liabilities; SPG Liabilities

17

2.4

Approvals and Notifications

18

2.5

Novation of Liabilities

20

2.6

Release of Guarantees

20

2.7

Termination of Agreements

22

2.8

Treatment of Shared Contracts

22

2.9

Bank Accounts; Cash Balances

23

2.10

Ancillary Agreements

24

2.11

Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties

24

2.12

WPG Financing Arrangements; Cash Distribution

25

2.13

Working Capital Payment

25

2.14

Real Estate Taxes

26

2.15

SPG LP Distributions

26

2.16

Financial Information Certifications

27

2.17

Transition Committee

27

 

 

 

ARTICLE III THE DISTRIBUTION

27

 

 

 

3.1

Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation

27

3.2

Actions Prior to the Distribution

28

3.3

Conditions to the Distribution

29

3.4

The Distribution

30

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

32

 

 

 

4.1

Release of Pre-Distribution Claims

32

4.2

Indemnification by WPG

34

4.3

Indemnification by SPG

35

4.4

Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts

36

4.5

Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims

36

4.6

Additional Matters

39

4.7

Right of Contribution

40

4.8

Covenant Not to Sue

40

4.9

Remedies Cumulative

41

4.10

Survival of Indemnities

41

4.11

Certain Tax Procedures

41

 

 

 

ARTICLE V CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

44

 

 

 

5.1

Insurance Matters

44

 

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5.2

Late Payments

47

5.3

Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes

47

5.4

Inducement

47

5.5

Post-Effective Time Conduct

47

5.6

Non-Solicitation Covenant

47

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

48

 

 

 

6.1

Agreement for Exchange of Information

48

6.2

Ownership of Information

48

6.3

Compensation for Providing Information

49

6.4

Record Retention

49

6.5

Limitations of Liability

49

6.6

Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information

49

6.7

Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation

50

6.8

Privileged Matters

50

6.9

Confidentiality

53

6.10

Protective Arrangements

54

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII DISPUTE RESOLUTION

54

 

 

 

7.1

Good-Faith Negotiation

54

7.2

Mediation

54

7.3

Arbitration

55

7.4

Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration

56

7.5

Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process

56

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

57

 

 

 

8.1

Further Assurances

57

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION

58

 

 

 

9.1

Termination

58

9.2

Effect of Termination

58

 

 

 

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

58

 

 

 

10.1

Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power

58

10.2

Governing Law

59

10.3

Assignability

59

10.4

Third-Party Beneficiaries

59

10.5

Notices

60

10.6

Severability

61

10.7

Force Majeure

61

10.8

No Set-Off

61

10.9

Publicity

61

10.10

Expenses

61

10.11

Headings

62

10.12

Survival of Covenants

62

10.13

Waivers of Default

62

10.14

Specific Performance

62

 

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10.15

Amendments

62

10.16

Interpretation

62

10.17

Limitations of Liability

63

10.18

Performance

63

10.19

Mutual Drafting

63

 

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SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of May 27, 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ SPG ”), Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ SPG LP ”), Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation (“ WPG ”), and Washington Prime Group, L.P., an Indiana limited partnership (“ WPG LP ”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article I .

 

R E C I T A L S

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of SPG (the “ SPG Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of SPG and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the WPG Business;

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the SPG Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the WPG Business from the SPG Business (the “ Separation ”);

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Separation and pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization (as defined below), the following transactions, among others, are contemplated to occur:

 

(a)                                  SPG LP and certain of its subsidiaries will contribute certain WPG Assets and WPG Liabilities to WPG LP (the “ SPG LP Contribution ”) in exchange for limited partnership interests in WPG LP (the “ WPG LP Interests ”);

 

(b)                                  WPG LP and certain other members of the WPG Group will assume and/or incur certain indebtedness, and, in the case of newly incurred indebtedness, distribute the proceeds thereof to SPG LP and certain of its subsidiaries;

 

(c)                                   SPG LP will distribute, in one or more distributions, all of the WPG LP Interests held by SPG LP to the holders of record (including SPG), as of the SPG LP Distribution Record Date, of limited partnership interests in SPG LP entitled to participate in such distributions (“ SPG LP Interests ”), with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis (the “ SPG LP Distributions ”);

 

(d)                                  SPG will contribute certain WPG Assets as well as all of the WPG LP Interests that it holds to WPG (the “ SPG Contribution ”), in exchange for common shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of WPG (“ WPG Shares ”), and certain subsidiaries of SPG will transfer certain WPG Assets to WPG (the “ SPG Subsidiary Transfers ” and together with the SPG Contribution, the “ Contribution ”);

 



 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the SPG Board has approved the distribution by SPG of all of the outstanding WPG Shares owned by SPG, to the Record Holders of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of SPG, par value $0.0001 per share (“ SPG Shares ”), with such distribution to be made on a pro rata basis (the “ Distribution ”);

 

WHEREAS, WPG and WPG LP have been organized solely for these purposes, and have not engaged in activities except in preparation for the Separation, the SPG LP Distribution and the Distribution;

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, are intended to qualify as a transaction that is tax-free under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;

 

WHEREAS, WPG and SPG have prepared, and WPG has filed with the SEC, the Form 10, which includes the Information Statement, and which sets forth disclosure concerning WPG, the Separation and the Distribution; and

 

WHEREAS, each of SPG and WPG has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Separation and the Distribution and certain other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Separation and the Distribution and the relationship of SPG, WPG and the members of their respective Groups following the Distribution.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Action ” shall mean any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.

 

Affiliate ” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person.  For the purpose of this definition, “ control ” (including with correlative meanings, “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise.  It is expressly agreed that, prior to, at and after the Effective Time, for purposes of

 

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this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, (a) no member of the WPG Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the SPG Group and (b) no member of the SPG Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the WPG Group.

 

Agent ” shall mean the trust company or bank duly appointed by SPG to act as distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the WPG Shares in connection with the Distribution.

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Ancillary Agreement ” shall mean all agreements (other than this Agreement) entered into by the Parties and/or members of their respective Groups (but as to which no Third Party is a party) in connection with the Separation, the Distribution, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Property Management Agreements, Property Development Agreements (if any) and the Transfer Documents.

 

Approvals or Notifications ” shall mean any consents, waivers, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, notices, registrations or reports to be submitted to, or other filings to be made with, any third Person, including any Governmental Authority.

 

Arbitration Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a) .

 

Assets ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the assets, properties, claims and rights (including goodwill) of such Person, wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other third Persons or elsewhere), of every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent, in each case whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of such Person, including rights and benefits pursuant to any contract, license, permit, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, agreement, concession, franchise, instrument, undertaking, commitment, understanding or other arrangement.

 

Cash Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a).

 

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Contribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

CPR ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 .

 

Delayed WPG Asset ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c) .

 

Delayed WPG Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c) .

 

Disclosure Document ” shall mean any registration statement (including the Form 10) filed with the SEC by or on behalf of any Party or any member of its Group, and also includes any information statement (including the Information Statement), prospectus, offering memorandum, offering circular, periodic report or similar disclosure document, whether or not

 

3



 

filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority, in each case which describes the Separation, the Distribution or the WPG Group, or primarily relates to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Dispute ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

 

Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Distribution Date ” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the SPG Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Effective Time ” shall mean 12:01 a.m., Eastern time, on the Distribution Date.

 

Employee Matters Agreement ” shall mean the employee matters agreement to be entered into by and between SPG and WPG or the members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Environmental Law ” shall mean any Law relating to pollution, protection or restoration of or prevention of harm to the environment or natural resources, including the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, Release or discharge of Hazardous Materials or the protection of or prevention of harm to human health and safety.

 

Environmental Liabilities ” shall mean all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Hazardous Materials, Environmental Law or contract or agreement relating to environmental, health or safety matters (including all removal, remediation or cleanup costs, investigatory costs, response costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injury damages, costs of compliance with any product take-back requirements or with any settlement, judgment or other determination of Liability and indemnity, contribution or similar obligations) and all costs and expenses, interest, fines, penalties or other monetary sanctions in connection therewith.

 

Estimated Net Working Capital Balance ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(a) .

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Force Majeure ” shall mean, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the control of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf), which event (a) does not arise or result from the fault or negligence of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf) and (b) by its nature would not reasonably have been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it would reasonably have been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes, epidemics, war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor problems or unavailability of parts, or, in the case of computer systems, any failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other

 

4



 

acquisition proposal, even if unforeseen or unavoidable, and such Party’s response thereto, shall not be deemed an event of Force Majeure.

 

Form 10 ” shall mean the registration statement on Form 10 filed by WPG with the SEC to effect the registration of WPG Shares pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the Distribution, as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Distribution.

 

Governmental Approvals ” shall mean any Approvals or Notifications to be made to, or obtained from, any Governmental Authority.

 

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

 

Group ” shall mean either the WPG Group or the SPG Group, as the context requires.

 

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean any chemical, material, substance, waste, pollutant, emission, discharge, release or contaminant that could result in Liability under, or that is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to, any Environmental Law, and any natural or artificial substance (whether solid, liquid or gas, noise, ion, vapor or electromagnetic) that could cause harm to human health or the environment, including petroleum, petroleum products and byproducts, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, electronic, medical or infectious wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, radioactive substances, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances.

 

Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a) .

 

Indemnitee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a) .

 

Indemnity Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a) .

 

Information ” shall mean information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names, communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data; provided that “Information” shall not include Registrable IP.

 

5



 

Information Statement ” shall mean the information statement to be sent to the holders of SPG Shares in connection with the Distribution, as such information statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Distribution.

 

Initial Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

 

Insurance Proceeds ” shall mean those monies:

 

(a)                                  received by an insured from an insurance carrier; or

 

(b)                                  paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured;

 

in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments) and net of any costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof.

 

Insurance Termination Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a) .

 

Intellectual Property ” shall mean all of the following whether arising under the Laws of the United States or of any other foreign or multinational jurisdiction:  (a) patents, patent applications (including patents issued thereon) and statutory invention registrations, including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions, renewals, extensions and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, and all rights in any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, trade dress, logos and other source or business identifiers, including all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and any and all common law rights in and to any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, and all reissues, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, (c) Internet domain names, registrations and related rights, (d) copyrightable works, copyrights, moral rights, mask work rights, database rights and design rights, in each case, other than Software, whether or not registered, and all registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, and all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, (e) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, invention disclosures, processes and know-how, in each case, other than Software, and (f) intellectual property rights arising from or in respect of any Technology.

 

IRS ” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Law ” shall mean any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

 

Liabilities ” shall mean all debts, guarantees, assurances, commitments, liabilities, responsibilities, Losses, remediation, deficiencies, damages, fines, penalties, settlements, sanctions, costs, expenses, interest and obligations of any nature or kind, whether

 

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accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, claim (including any Third-Party Claim), demand, Action, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment or undertaking, or any fines, damages or equitable relief that is imposed, in each case, including all costs and expenses relating thereto.

 

Linked ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

 

Losses ” shall mean actual losses (including any diminution in value), costs, damages, penalties and expenses (including legal and accounting fees, and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim.

 

Mediation Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 .

 

Net Working Capital Balance ” shall mean the sum of (a) cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable net of allowances, prepaid assets, deposits, escrows and other such operating working capital assets as mutually deemed appropriate by the Parties (but specifically excluding fixed assets, work-in-progress asset balances, and non-cash accounts such as straight-line rents, deferred mortgage issuance costs, fair market value of rent assets and other intangible assets), less the sum of (b) accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued real estate Taxes, deferred rental income, and other such operating working capital liabilities mutually deemed appropriate by the Parties (but specifically excluding payables for construction and tenant allowances, all debt or loan related balances to lenders and affiliates, deferred common area maintenance liabilities, fair market value of rent liabilities and other intangible liabilities).

 

NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Other IP ” shall mean all Intellectual Property, other than Registrable IP, that is owned by either Party or any member of its Group as of the Effective Time.

 

Parties ” shall mean the parties to this Agreement.

 

Permits ” means permits, approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses or certificates issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

Person ” shall mean an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

 

Plan of Reorganization ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) .

 

Prime Rate ” means the rate that Bloomberg displays as “Prime Rate by Country United States” at www.bloomberg.com/markets/rates-bonds/key-rates/ or on a Bloomberg terminal at PRIMBB Index.

 

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Privileged Information ” means any information, in written, oral, electronic, or other tangible or intangible forms, including any communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memoranda and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), as to which a Party or any member of its Group would be entitled to assert or have asserted a privilege, including the attorney-client and attorney work product privileges.

 

Property Development Agreements ” shall mean any property development agreements which may be entered into by and between SPG and WPG or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as they may be amended from time to time.

 

Property Management Agreements ” shall mean the property management agreements to be entered into by and between SPG and WPG or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as well as the property management agreements previously entered into by any member of the SPG Group which relate primarily to one or more WPG Properties and are set forth on Schedule 1.2 , as they may be amended from time to time.

 

Qualifying Income ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a)(i) .

 

Record Date ” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the SPG Board as the record date for determining holders of SPG Shares entitled to receive WPG Shares pursuant to the Distribution.

 

Record Holders ” shall mean the holders of record of SPG Shares as of the Record Date.

 

Registrable IP ” shall mean all patents, patent applications, statutory invention registrations, registered trademarks, registered service marks, registered Internet domain names and copyright registrations.

 

REIT ” shall mean “a real estate investment trust” within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.

 

Release ” shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata).

 

Representatives ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys or other representatives.

 

RPT Transfer ” shall mean the sale, contribution or other transfer by Retail Property Trust of certain WPG Properties and interests in entities holding, directly or indirectly, certain WPG Properties to WPG LP immediately following the Distribution, as set forth in the Plan of Reorganization.

 

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SEC ” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Security Interest ” shall mean any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

 

Separation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Shared Contract ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) .

 

Software ” shall mean any and all (a) computer programs, including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form, (b) databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (c) descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, (d) screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons and (e) documentation, including user manuals and other training documentation, relating to any of the foregoing.

 

Specified REIT Requirements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a)(i) .

 

SPG ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

SPG Accounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

 

SPG Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) .

 

SPG Board ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

SPG Business ” shall mean all businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any member of its Group, other than the WPG Business.

 

SPG Contribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

SPG Group ” shall mean SPG and each Person that is a Subsidiary of SPG (other than WPG and any other member of the WPG Group).

 

SPG Indemnitees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 .

 

SPG Indemnity Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(b)(i) .

 

SPG Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b) .

 

SPG LP ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

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SPG LP Contribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

SPG LP Distributions ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

SPG LP Distribution Record Date ” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the SPG Board, acting on behalf of SPG in its capacity as the general partner of SPG LP, as the record date for determining holders of SPG LP Interests entitled to receive WPG LP Interests pursuant to the SPG LP Distributions.

 

SPG LP Interests ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

SPG Name and SPG Marks ” shall mean the names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers of either Party or any member of its Group using or containing “Simon Property,” “Simon,” or “SPG,” either alone or in combination with other words or elements, and all names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers confusingly similar to or embodying any of the foregoing either alone or in combination with other words or elements, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing.

 

SPG Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

SPG Subsidiary Transfers ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

 

Tangible Information ” means information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.

 

Tax ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

Tax Matters Agreement ” shall mean the tax matters agreement to be entered into by and between SPG and WPG or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Tax Return ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

Technology ” shall mean all technology, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, discoveries, processes, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development, technical data, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship in any media, confidential, proprietary or non-public

 

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information, and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses and other writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing in any form, whether or not listed herein, in each case, other than Software.

 

Third Party ” means any Person other than the Parties or any members of their respective Groups.

 

Third-Party Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a) .

 

Transfer Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) .

 

Transferred Entities ” shall mean the entities set forth on Schedule 1.5 .

 

Transition Committee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.17 .

 

Transition Services Agreement ” shall mean the transition services agreement to be entered into by and between SPG and WPG or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Unreleased WPG Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) .

 

WPG ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

WPG Accounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

 

WPG Articles of Incorporation ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of WPG, substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

 

WPG Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) .

 

WPG Balance Sheet ” shall mean the unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet of the WPG Business, including any notes and subledgers thereto, as of December 31, 2013, as presented in the Information Statement mailed to the Record Holders.

 

WPG Business ” shall mean the business, operations and activities of the SPG Group relating primarily to the WPG Properties as conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any of their current or former Subsidiaries.

 

WPG Bylaws ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Bylaws of WPG, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

 

WPG Contracts ” shall mean the following contracts and agreements to which either Party or any member of its Group is a party or by which it or any member of its Group or any of their respective Assets is bound, whether or not in writing; provided that WPG Contracts shall not include (x) any contract or agreement that is contemplated to be retained by SPG or any member of the SPG Group from and after the Effective Time pursuant to any provision of this

 

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Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or (y) any contract or agreement that would constitute WPG Software or WPG Technology:

 

(a)                                  any leases relating primarily to any WPG Property pursuant to which a Third Party leases all or any portion of such WPG Property;

 

(b)                                  any joint venture, shareholder, equityholder, partnership or similar agreements with any Third Party relating primarily to any WPG Property;

 

(c)                                   any customer, distribution, supply, marketing, vendor or other contract, agreement or license, in each case with a Third Party and in effect as of the Effective Time, pursuant to which such Third Party provides or receives products or services to or from either Party or any member of its Group, primarily in connection with the WPG Business, excluding any such contracts or agreements for services that are addressed in the Transition Services Agreement or any Property Management Agreement;

 

(d)                                  any guarantee, indemnity, representation, covenant, warranty or other Liability of either Party or any member of its Group relating primarily to any other WPG Contract, any WPG Liability or the WPG Business;

 

(e)                                   any employment, change of control, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance or other similar agreement with any WPG Group Employee or consultants of the WPG Group that is in effect as of the Effective Time;

 

(f)                                    any contract or agreement that is otherwise expressly contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to be assigned to WPG or any member of the WPG Group;

 

(g)                                   any interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements related exclusively to the WPG Business or entered into by or on behalf of any division, business unit or member of the WPG Group;

 

(h)                                  any contract, guarantee, note, mortgage, bond, debenture or other agreement providing for indebtedness, whether secured or unsecured, which relates primarily to the WPG Business, including the WPG Financing Arrangements; and

 

(i)                                      any contracts, agreements or settlements listed on Schedule 1.3 , including the right to recover any amounts under such contracts, agreements or settlements.

 

WPG Distribution Date Balance Sheet ” shall mean the unaudited combined balance sheet of the WPG Business, including any notes and subledgers thereto, as of the Distribution Date, to be prepared jointly by the Parties as soon as practicable following the Effective Time on a basis consistent with the determination of the Assets and Liabilities included on the WPG Balance Sheet.

 

WPG Financing Arrangements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .

 

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WPG Group ” shall mean (a) prior to the Effective Time, WPG and each Person that will be a Subsidiary of WPG as of immediately after the Effective Time, including the Transferred Entities, even if, prior to the Effective Time, such Person is not a Subsidiary of WPG; and (b) on and after the Effective Time, WPG and each Person that is a Subsidiary of WPG.

 

WPG Indemnitees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 .

 

WPG Indemnity Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a)(i) .

 

WPG Intellectual Property ” shall mean (a) the Registrable IP set forth on Schedule 1.4 and (b) all Other IP owned by, licensed by or to, or sublicensed by or to either Party or any member of its Group as of the Effective Time primarily used or primarily held for use in the WPG Business, including any Other IP set forth on Schedule 1.4 .

 

WPG Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) .

 

WPG LP ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

WPG LP Interests ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

WPG LP Partnership Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(a) .

 

WPG LP Redemption Amount ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(b) .

 

WPG Permits ” shall mean all Permits owned or licensed by either Party or member of its Group primarily used or primarily held for use in the WPG Business as of the Effective Time.

 

WPG Properties ” means the real properties listed on Schedule 1.6 .

 

WPG Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

WPG Surety Bonds ” shall mean the surety bonds issued in respect of the WPG Business which are listed on Schedule 1.7 .

 

ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION

 

2.1                                Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  On or prior to the Effective Time, but in any case, prior to the Distribution, in accordance with the plan set forth on Schedule 2.1(a)  (the “ Plan of Reorganization ”):

 

(i)                                      Transfer and Assignment of WPG Assets .  SPG shall, and shall cause the applicable members of the SPG Group to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey

 

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and deliver to the applicable member of the WPG Group, and the applicable member of the WPG Group shall accept from SPG and the applicable members of the SPG Group, all of SPG’s and such SPG Group members’ respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to all of the WPG Assets (it being understood that if any WPG Asset shall be held by a Transferred Entity or a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Transferred Entity, such WPG Asset may be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to WPG as a result of the transfer of all of the equity interests in such Transferred Entity from SPG or the applicable members of the SPG Group to the applicable member of the WPG Group); and

 

(ii)                                   Acceptance and Assumption of WPG Liabilities .  The applicable members of the WPG Group shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all of the WPG Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms.  The applicable members of the WPG Group shall be responsible for all WPG Liabilities, regardless of when or where such WPG Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such WPG Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any WPG Liabilities arising out of claims made by SPG’s or WPG’s respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the SPG Group or the WPG Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the SPG Group or the WPG Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates;

 

provided, however, that the RPT Transfer shall occur immediately after the Distribution.

 

(b)                                  Transfer Documents .  In furtherance of the contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance and delivery of the Assets and the assumption of the Liabilities in accordance with Section 2.1(a) , (i) each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, quitclaim deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of such Party’s and the applicable members of its Group’s right, title and interest in and to such Assets to the other Party and the applicable members of its Group in accordance with Section 2.1(a) , and (ii) each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to execute and deliver, to the other Party such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the Liabilities by such Party and the applicable members of its Group in accordance with Section 2.1(a) .  All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.1(b)  shall be referred to collectively herein as the “ Transfer Documents .”

 

(c)                                   Misallocations .  In the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party (or any member of such Party’s respective Group) shall receive or otherwise possess any Asset that is allocated to the other Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Asset to the Party so entitled

 

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thereto (or to any member of such Party’s Group), and such Party (or member of such Party’s Group) shall accept such Asset.  Prior to any such transfer, the Person receiving or possessing such Asset shall hold such Asset in trust for any such other Person.  In the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party hereto (or any member of such Party’s respective Group) shall receive or otherwise assume any Liability that is allocated to the other Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Liability to the Party responsible therefor (or to any member of such Party’s Group), and such Party (or member of such Party’s Group) shall accept, assume and agree to faithfully perform such Liability.

 

(d)                                  Waiver of Bulk-Sale and Bulk-Transfer Laws .  WPG, WPG LP and each member of the WPG Group hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the SPG Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the WPG Assets to any member of the WPG Group.  SPG hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the WPG Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the SPG Assets to any member of the SPG Group.

 

2.2                                WPG Assets .

 

(a)                                  WPG Assets .  For purposes of this Agreement, “ WPG Assets ” shall mean:

 

(i)                                      all issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Transferred Entities that are owned by either Party or any members of its Group as of the Effective Time;

 

(ii)                                   all interests in the WPG Properties of whatever nature, including easements, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a Security Interest in the WPG Properties, lessor, sublessor, lessee, sublessee or otherwise, and including all buildings or barges located thereon, and all associated parking areas, fixtures and all other improvements located thereon, and including all rights, benefits, privileges, tenements, hereditaments, covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements and other appurtenances on any WPG Property or otherwise appertaining to or benefitting any WPG Property and/or the improvements situated thereon, including all mineral rights, development rights, air and water rights, subsurface rights, vested rights entitling, or prospective rights which may entitle, the owner of any WPG Property to related easements, land use rights, air rights, viewshed rights, density credits, water, sewer, electrical and other utility service, credits and/or rebates, strips and gores and any land lying in the bed of any street, road, alley, open or proposed, adjoining any WPG Property, and all easements, rights of way and other appurtenances used or connected with the beneficial use or enjoyment of any WPG Property;

 

(iii)                                all Assets of either Party or any members of its Group included or reflected as assets of the WPG Group on the WPG Balance Sheet, subject to any dispositions of such Assets subsequent to the date of the WPG Balance Sheet; provided

 

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that the amounts set forth on the WPG Balance Sheet with respect to any Assets shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Assets that are included in the definition of WPG Assets pursuant to this clause (iii);

 

(iv)                               all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Assets being included as Assets of WPG or members of the WPG Group on a pro forma combined balance sheet of the WPG Group or any notes or subledgers thereto as of the Effective Time (were such balance sheet, notes and subledgers to be prepared on a basis consistent with the determination of the Assets included on the WPG Balance Sheet), it being understood that (x) the WPG Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Assets that are included in the definition of WPG Assets pursuant to this subclause (iv); and (y) the amounts set forth on the WPG Balance Sheet with respect to any Assets shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Assets that are included in the definition of WPG Assets pursuant to this subclause (iv);

 

(v)                                  all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be transferred to WPG or any other member of the WPG Group;

 

(vi)                               all WPG Contracts as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

 

(vii)                            all WPG Intellectual Property, WPG Software and WPG Technology as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

 

(viii)                         all WPG Permits as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

 

(ix)                               all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are exclusively related to the WPG Business;

 

(x)                                  all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time with respect to Information that is exclusively related to the WPG Assets, the WPG Liabilities, the WPG Business or the Transferred Entities and, subject to the provisions of the applicable Ancillary Agreements, a non-exclusive right to all Information that is related to, but not exclusively related to, the WPG Assets, the WPG Liabilities, the WPG Business or the Transferred Entities; and

 

(xi)                               any and all Assets set forth on Schedule 2.2(a)(xi) .

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the WPG Assets shall not in any event include any Asset referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.2(b) .

 

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(b)                                  SPG Assets .  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ SPG Assets ” shall mean all Assets of the either Party or the members of its Group as of the Effective Time, other than the WPG Assets, it being understood that the SPG Assets shall include:

 

(i)                                      all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Assets to be retained by SPG or any other member of the SPG Group;

 

(ii)                                   all Contracts of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the WPG Contracts);

 

(iii)                                all Intellectual Property of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the WPG Intellectual Property), including the SPG Name and SPG Marks;

 

(iv)                               all Permits of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the WPG Permits); and

 

(v)                                  any and all Assets set forth on Schedule 2.2(b)(v) .

 

2.3                                WPG Liabilities; SPG Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  WPG Liabilities .  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ WPG Liabilities ” shall mean the following Liabilities of either Party or any of the members of its Group:

 

(i)                                      all Liabilities included or reflected as liabilities or obligations of WPG or the members of the WPG Group on the WPG Balance Sheet, subject to any discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the WPG Balance Sheet; provided that the amounts set forth on the WPG Balance Sheet with respect to any Liabilities shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Liabilities that are included in the definition of WPG Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (i);

 

(ii)                                   all Liabilities as of the Effective Time that are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Liabilities being included or reflected as liabilities or obligations of WPG or the members of the WPG Group on a pro forma combined balance sheet of the WPG Group or any notes or subledgers thereto as of the Effective Time (were such balance sheet, notes and subledgers to be prepared on a basis consistent with the determination of the Liabilities included on the WPG Balance Sheet), it being understood that (x) the WPG Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Liabilities that are included in the definition of WPG Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (ii), and (y) the amounts set forth on the WPG Balance Sheet with respect to any Liabilities shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Liabilities that are included in the definition of WPG Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (ii);

 

(iii)                                all Liabilities, including any Environmental Liabilities, relating to, arising out of or resulting from the actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such

 

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Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent that such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from the WPG Business or a WPG Asset;

 

(iv)                               any and all Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Liabilities to be assumed by WPG or any other member of the WPG Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the WPG Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

(v)                                  all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the WPG Contracts, the WPG Intellectual Property, the WPG Software, the WPG Technology, the WPG Permits or WPG Financing Arrangements;

 

(vi)                               any and all Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(a) ; and

 

(vii)                            all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including SPG’s or WPG’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the SPG Group or the WPG Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the WPG Business or the WPG Assets or the other business, operations, activities or Liabilities referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above;

 

provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties agree that the Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(b) , and any Liabilities of any member of the SPG Group pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements, shall not be WPG Liabilities but instead shall be SPG Liabilities.

 

(b)                                  SPG Liabilities .  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ SPG Liabilities ” shall mean (i) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time) of any member of the SPG Group and, prior to the Effective Time, any member of the WPG Group, in each case that are not WPG Liabilities, including any and all Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(b) ; and (ii) all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including SPG’s or WPG’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the SPG Group or the WPG Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SPG Business or the SPG Assets.

 

2.4                                Approvals and Notifications .

 

(a)                                  Approvals and Notifications for WPG Assets .  To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any WPG Asset, the assumption of any WPG Liability, the Separation, or the Distribution requires any Approvals or Notifications, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications as soon as reasonably practicable; provided , however , that, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or as otherwise agreed between SPG and WPG, neither SPG nor WPG shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any

 

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form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Person in order to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications.

 

(b)                                  Delayed WPG Transfers .  If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the WPG Group of any WPG Asset or assumption by the WPG Group of any WPG Liability would be a violation of applicable Law or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Separation or the Distribution that has not been obtained or made by the Effective Time, then, unless the Parties mutually shall otherwise determine, the transfer or assignment to the WPG Group of such WPG Assets or the assumption by the WPG Group of such WPG Liabilities, as the case may be, shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Approvals or Notifications have been obtained or made.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such WPG Assets or WPG Liabilities shall continue to constitute WPG Assets and WPG Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Treatment of Delayed WPG Assets and Delayed WPG Liabilities .  If any transfer or assignment of any WPG Asset or any assumption of any WPG Liability intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is not consummated on or prior to the Effective Time, whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(b)  or for any other reason (any such WPG Asset, a “ Delayed WPG Asset ” and any such WPG Liability, a “ Delayed WPG Liability ”), then, insofar as reasonably possible and subject to applicable Law, the member of the SPG Group retaining such Delayed WPG Asset or such Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be, for the use and benefit or burden, as applicable, of the member of the WPG Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the WPG Group entitled thereto).  In addition, the member of the SPG Group retaining such Delayed WPG Asset or such Delayed WPG Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the WPG Group to whom such Delayed WPG Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the WPG Group in a substantially similar position as if such Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to the WPG Group.

 

(d)                                  Transfer of Delayed WPG Assets and Delayed WPG Liabilities .  If and when the Approvals or Notifications, the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Delayed WPG Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Delayed WPG Liability pursuant to Section 2.4(b) , are obtained or made, and, if and when any other legal impediments for the transfer or assignment of any Delayed WPG Asset or the assumption of any Delayed WPG Liability have been removed, the transfer or assignment of the applicable Delayed WPG Asset or the assumption of the applicable Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be,

 

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shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Costs for Delayed WPG Assets and Delayed WPG Liabilities .  Any member of the SPG Group retaining a Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability due to the deferral of the transfer or assignment of such Delayed WPG Asset or the deferral of the assumption of such Delayed WPG Liability, as the case may be, shall not be obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced (or otherwise made available) by WPG or the member of the WPG Group entitled to the Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability, other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys’ fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by WPG or the member of the WPG Group entitled to such Delayed WPG Asset or Delayed WPG Liability.

 

2.5                                Novation of Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in the proviso in Section 2.6(a) , each of SPG and WPG, at the request of the other, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, as soon as reasonably practicable, any consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all WPG Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of each member of the SPG Group that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, the members of the WPG Group shall be solely responsible for such WPG Liabilities; provided , however , that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, neither SPG nor WPG shall be obligated to contribute any capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any third Person from whom any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release is requested.

 

(b)                                  If SPG or WPG is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release and the applicable member of the SPG Group continues to be bound by such WPG Liability (or any agreement, lease, license or other obligation, in each case, pursuant to which any WPG Liability arises) (each, an “ Unreleased WPG Liability ”), WPG shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such member of the SPG Group, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all of the obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the SPG Group that constitute Unreleased WPG Liabilities from and after the Effective Time and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance or discharge prior to any demand for such payment, performance or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the SPG Group.  If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased WPG Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, SPG shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and WPG or the applicable WPG Group member shall assume, such Unreleased WPG Liabilities without exchange of further consideration.

 

2.6                                Release of Guarantees .  In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the obligations set forth in Section 2.5 :

 

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(a)                                  On or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each of SPG and WPG shall, at the request of the other Party and with the reasonable cooperation of such other Party and the applicable member(s) of such Party’s Group, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) have any member(s) of the SPG Group removed as guarantor of, indemnitor of or obligor for any WPG Liability to the extent that they relate to WPG Liabilities, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any SPG Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such WPG Liability; and (ii) have any member(s) of the WPG Group removed as guarantor of, indemnitor of or obligor for any SPG Liability to the extent that they relate to SPG Liabilities, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any WPG Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such SPG Liability; provided , however , that the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a)(i) shall not apply with respect to any guarantee or indemnity agreement entered into by any member of the SPG Group to support the WPG Surety Bonds until January 1, 2015.

 

(b)                                  To the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee or indemnity of:

 

(i)                                      any member of the SPG Group, WPG or one or more members of the WPG Group shall execute a guarantee or indemnity agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or indemnity or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee or indemnity agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any SPG Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such WPG Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee or indemnity contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (i) with which WPG would be reasonably unable to comply or (ii) which WPG would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching; and

 

(ii)                                   any member of the WPG Group, SPG or one or more members of the SPG Group shall execute a guarantee or indemnity agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or indemnity or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee or indemnity agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any WPG Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such SPG Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (i) with which SPG would be reasonably unable to comply or (ii) which SPG would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching.

 

(c)                                   Until such time as SPG or WPG has obtained, or has caused to be obtained, any removal or release as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.6 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any removal or release with respect to WPG Surety Bonds prior to and after January 1, 2014), (i) the Party or the relevant member of its Group that has assumed the Liability related to such guarantee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the guarantor or obligor against or from any Liability arising from or relating thereto in accordance with the provisions of Article IV and shall, as agent or subcontractor for such guarantor, indemnitor or obligor, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor, indemnitor or obligor thereunder; and (ii) each of SPG and WPG, on behalf of itself and the other members of their respective Group, agree not to renew or extend the term of,

 

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increase any obligations under, or transfer to a Third Party, any loan, guarantee, lease, contract or other obligation for which the other Party or a member of its Group is or may be liable unless all obligations of such other Party and the members of such other Party’s Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation satisfactory in form and substance to such other Party.

 

2.7                                Termination of Agreements .

 

(a)                                  Except as set forth in Section 2.7(b) , in furtherance of the releases and other provisions of Section 4.1 , WPG and each member of the WPG Group, on the one hand, and SPG and each member of the SPG Group, on the other hand, hereby terminate any and all agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, whether or not in writing, between or among WPG and/or any member of the WPG Group, on the one hand, and SPG and/or any member of the SPG Group, on the other hand, effective as of the Effective Time.  No such terminated agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding (including any provision thereof which purports to survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after the Effective Time.  Each Party shall, at the reasonable request of the other Party, take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be necessary to effect the foregoing.

 

(b)                                  The provisions of Section 2.7(a)  shall not apply to any of the following agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any of the provisions thereof):  (i) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other agreement or instrument expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by any of the Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups or to be continued from and after the Effective Time); (ii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings listed or described on Schedule 2.7(b)(ii) ; (iii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Third Party is a party thereto; (iv) any intercompany accounts payable or accounts receivable accrued as of the Effective Time that are reflected in the books and records of the Parties or otherwise documented in writing in accordance with past practices, which shall be settled in the manner contemplated by Section 2.7(c) ; (v) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of SPG or WPG, as the case may be, is a party (it being understood that directors’ qualifying shares or similar interests will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned); and (vi) any Shared Contracts.

 

(c)                                   All of the intercompany accounts receivable and accounts payable between any member of the SPG Group, on the one hand, and any member of the WPG Group, on the other hand, outstanding as of the Effective Time shall, as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, be repaid, settled or otherwise eliminated by means of cash payments, a dividend, capital contribution, a combination of the foregoing, or otherwise as determined by SPG in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

2.8                                Treatment of Shared Contracts .

 

(a)                                  Subject to applicable Law and without limiting the generality of the obligations set forth in Section 2.1 , unless the Parties otherwise agree or the benefits of any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding described in this Section 2.8 are

 

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expressly conveyed to the applicable Party pursuant to this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement, any contract or agreement entered into by a member of the SPG Group with a Third Party that is not a WPG Contract, but pursuant to which the WPG Business, as of the Effective Date, has been provided certain revenues or other benefits in respect of the WPG Properties (any such contract or agreement, a “ Shared Contract ”) shall not be assigned in relevant part to the applicable member(s) of the WPG Group or amended  to give the relevant member(s) of the WPG Group any entitlement to such rights and benefits thereunder; provided , however , that the Parties shall, and shall cause each of the members of their respective Groups to, take such other reasonable and permissible actions to cause (i) the relevant member of the WPG Group to receive the rights and benefits previously provided in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, to the WPG Business pursuant to such Shared Contract and (ii) the relevant member of the WPG Group to bear the burden of the corresponding Liabilities under such Shared Contract.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member of the SPG Group shall be required by this Section 2.8 to maintain in effect any Shared Contract, and no member of the WPG Group shall have any approval or other rights with respect to any amendment, termination or other modification of any Shared Contract.

 

(b)                                  Each of SPG and WPG shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, (i) treat for all Tax purposes the portion of each Shared Contract inuring to its respective businesses as Assets owned by, and/or Liabilities of, as applicable, such Party, or the members of its Group, as applicable, not later than the Effective Time, and (ii) neither report nor take any Tax position (on a Tax Return or otherwise) inconsistent with such treatment (unless required by applicable Law).

 

2.9                                Bank Accounts; Cash Balances .

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Transition Services Agreement or any Property Management Agreement:

 

(a)                                  Each Party agrees to take, or cause the members of its Group to take, at the Effective Time (or such earlier time as the Parties may agree), all actions necessary to amend all contracts or agreements governing each bank and brokerage account owned by WPG or any other member of the WPG Group (collectively, the “ WPG Accounts ”) and all contracts or agreements governing each bank or brokerage account owned by SPG or any other member of the SPG Group (collectively, the “ SPG Accounts ”) so that each such WPG Account and SPG Account, if currently Linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter “ Linked ”) to any SPG Account or WPG Account, respectively, is de-Linked from such SPG Account or WPG Account, respectively.

 

(b)                                  It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Section 2.9(a) , there will be in place a cash management process pursuant to which the WPG Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one (1) or more accounts maintained by WPG or a member of the WPG Group.

 

(c)                                   It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Section 2.9(a) , there will continue to be in place a cash management process pursuant to

 

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which the SPG Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one (1) or more accounts maintained by SPG or a member of the SPG Group.

 

(d)                                  With respect to any outstanding checks issued or payments initiated by SPG, WPG, or any of the members of their respective Groups prior to the Effective Time, such outstanding checks and payments shall be honored following the Effective Time by the Person or Group owning the account on which the check is drawn or from which the payment was initiated, respectively.

 

(e)                                   As between SPG and WPG (and the members of their respective Groups), all payments made and reimbursements received after the Effective Time by either Party (or member of its Group) that relate to a business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or member of its Group), shall be held by such Party in trust for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto and, promptly following receipt by such Party of any such payment or reimbursement, such Party shall pay over, or shall cause the applicable member of its Group to pay over to the other Party the amount of such payment or reimbursement without right of set-off.

 

2.10                         Ancillary Agreements .  Effective on or prior to the Effective Time, each of SPG and WPG will, or will cause the applicable members of their Groups to, execute and deliver all Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party.

 

2.11                         Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties .  EACH OF SPG (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE SPG GROUP) AND WPG (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE WPG GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, IS REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING IN ANY WAY AS TO THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES TRANSFERRED OR ASSUMED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, AS TO ANY CONSENTS OR APPROVALS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AS TO THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF SUCH PARTY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFENSES OR RIGHT OF SET-OFF OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ANY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF ANY PARTY, OR AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING HEREOF OR THEREOF.  EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED ON AN “AS IS, “WHERE IS” BASIS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM OF DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (I) ANY CONVEYANCE WILL PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST, AND (II) ANY NECESSARY APPROVALS OR NOTIFICATIONS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR

 

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MADE OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.

 

2.12                         WPG Financing Arrangements; Cash Distribution .

 

(a)                                  Prior to and/or immediately after the Effective Time and pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, (i) WPG LP and/or other member(s) of the WPG Group shall assume existing indebtedness of any members of the SPG Group which relate primarily to one or more WPG Properties, as set forth on Schedule 2.12 , (ii) WPG LP and/or other member(s) of the WPG Group will enter into one or more financing arrangements and agreements, as set forth on Schedule 2.12 , pursuant to which they shall borrow an aggregate principal amount of $1.010 billion (as such amount may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.13(a) ) (the foregoing subclauses (i) and (ii), the “ WPG Financing Arrangements ”), and (iii) WPG and/or other members of the WPG Group shall distribute, convey or otherwise transfer the proceeds from the borrowings described in clause (ii) above to SPG LP and/or other members of the SPG Group (the “ Cash Distribution ”).  SPG and WPG agree to take all necessary actions to assure the full release and discharge of SPG and the other members of the SPG Group from all obligations pursuant to the WPG Financing Arrangements as of no later than the Effective Time.  The parties agree that WPG or another member of the WPG Group, as the case may be, and not SPG or any member of the SPG Group, are and shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the WPG Financing Arrangements.

 

(b)                                  Prior to the Effective Time, SPG and WPG shall cooperate in the preparation of all materials as may be necessary or advisable to execute the WPG Financing Arrangements.

 

2.13                         Working Capital Payment .

 

(a)                                  Prior to the Cash Distribution, the Parties shall jointly prepare an estimate of the Net Working Capital Balance, which estimate shall be based on a combined balance sheet of the WPG Business as of April 30, 2014 and adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the average daily cash flow attributable to the WPG Business multiplied by the number of days between April 30, 2014 and the Distribution Date (the “ Estimated Net Working Capital Balance ”).  If the Estimated Net Working Capital Balance is greater than $10 million, the amount of the Cash Distribution shall be increased by the amount of such Estimated Net Working Capital Balance.  If the Estimated Net Working Capital Balance is less than $10 million, the amount of the Cash Distribution set forth in Section 2.13(a)  shall be decreased by the amount of such Estimated Net Working Capital Balance.

 

(b)                                  After the WPG Distribution Date Balance Sheet is jointly determined by the Parties, the Parties will undertake an effort to mutually determine that the amount used for the Estimated Net Working Capital Balance was accurate in all material respects based on the operating results, results of examinations and other timely analysis jointly performed by the Parties after the Distribution Date.  If it is determined that the Net Working Capital Balance (i) is greater than the Estimated Net Working Capital Balance, WPG LP or other applicable members of the WPG Group designated by WPG LP shall distribute, convey or otherwise transfer the amount of such difference to SPG LP or other members of the SPG Group designated by SPG

 

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LP, and (ii) is less than the Estimated Net Working Capital Balance, SPG LP or other applicable members of the SPG Group designated by SPG LP shall distribute, convey or otherwise transfer the amount of such difference to WPG LP or other members of the WPG Group designated by WPG LP.

 

2.14                         Real Estate Taxes .  To the extent that any member of the WPG Group receives a refund of any amount paid prior to the Effective Time to applicable Tax Authorities in respect of Liabilities for real estate Taxes pertaining to the WPG Properties, (i) if such recovered amount exceeds the amount accrued in respect of such refund on the WPG Distribution Date Balance Sheet, WPG LP or the applicable member of the WPG Group designated by WPG LP shall promptly distribute, convey or otherwise transfer the amount of such excess to SPG LP or such other member of the SPG Group designated by SPG LP, and (ii) if such recovered amount is less than the amount accrued in respect of such refund on the WPG Distribution Date Balance Sheet, SPG LP or the applicable member of the SPG Group designated by SPG LP shall promptly distribute, convey or otherwise transfer the amount of such difference to WPG LP or such other member of the WPG Group designated by WPG LP.

 

2.15                         SPG LP Distributions .

 

(a)                                  Prior to the Distribution, in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, the Parties shall cause the following to occur:

 

(i)                                      WPG shall, in its capacity as the general partner of WPG LP, and SPG LP, as the sole limited partner of WPG LP as of immediately prior to the first SPG LP Distribution, cause the limited partnership agreement of WPG LP to be amended and restated, effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ WPG LP Partnership Agreement ”);

 

(ii)                                   SPG LP shall, and SPG acting in its capacity as the general partner of SPG LP shall cause SPG LP to, declare and effectuate the SPG LP Distributions;

 

(iii)                                SPG shall thereafter effectuate the SPG Contribution; and

 

(iv)                               WPG, in its capacity as the general partner of WPG LP, shall consent to, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause, each of the holders of SPG LP Interests who receive WPG LP Interests in the SPG LP Distributions to be admitted as partners in WPG LP, effective as of immediately following the SPG Contribution.

 

(b)                                  No fractional WPG LP Interests will be distributed in connection with the SPG LP Distributions, and in lieu of any such fractional WPG LP Interests, each limited partner of SPG LP who, but for the provisions of this sentence, would be entitled to receive a fractional WPG LP Interest pursuant to the SPG LP Distributions, shall be paid cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided.  Concurrently with the SPG LP Distributions, WPG LP shall aggregate all fractional WPG LP Interests that would otherwise be distributed in the SPG LP Distributions, and redeem such aggregate amount in exchange for a cash amount equal to the value of such aggregate amount of WPG LP Interests (the “ WPG LP Redemption Amount ”), with the value of each WPG LP Interest deemed to be equal to the per share closing price of common shares of Washington Prime Group Inc. in “regular way trading” on the New York

 

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Stock Exchange on the Distribution Date.  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, WPG LP shall cause to be distributed to each SPG LP limited partner, in lieu of any fractional WPG LP Interest that such limited partner would have received in the SPG LP Distributions, such limited partner’s pro rata share of the WPG LP Redemption Amount, after deducting any Taxes required to be withheld and applicable transfer Taxes.  Neither SPG LP nor WPG LP will be required to pay any interest on the WPG LP Redemption Amount.

 

2.16                         Financial Information Certifications .  SPG’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as each is contemplated by the Exchange Act) are currently applicable to the WPG Group insofar as the members of the WPG Group are Subsidiaries of SPG.  In order to enable the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of WPG to make the certifications required of them under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, SPG, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Distribution Date and in any event prior to such time as WPG is required to file its first quarterly report on Form 10-Q, shall provide WPG with one or more certifications with respect to such disclosure controls and procedures, its internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness thereof.  Such certification(s) shall be provided by SPG (and not by any officer or employee in their individual capacity).  With respect to any periods following the Distribution Date, the Parties shall cooperate and discuss in good faith any certifications or other supporting documentation required by WPG.

 

2.17                         Transition Committee .  Prior to the Effective Time, the Parties shall establish a transition committee (the “ Transition Committee ”) that shall consist of an equal number of members from SPG and WPG.  The Transition Committee shall be responsible for monitoring and managing all matters related to any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements.  The Transition Committee shall have the authority to (a) establish one (1) or more subcommittees from time to time as it deems appropriate or as may be described in any Ancillary Agreements, with each such subcommittee comprised of one (1) or more members of the Transition Committee or one or more employees of either Party or any member of its respective Group, and each such subcommittee having such scope of responsibility as may be determined by the Transition Committee from time to time; (b) delegate to any such committee any of the powers of the Transition Committee; (c) combine, modify the scope of responsibility of, and disband any such subcommittees, and (d) modify or reverse any such delegations.  The Transition Committee shall establish general procedures for managing the responsibilities delegated to it under this Section 2.17 , and may modify such procedures from time to time.  All decisions by the Transition Committee or any subcommittee thereof shall be effective only if mutually agreed by both Parties.  The Parties shall utilize the procedures set forth in Article VII to resolve any matters as to which the Transition Committee is not able to reach a decision.

 

ARTICLE III
THE DISTRIBUTION

 

3.1                                Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  SPG shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine the terms of the Distribution, including the form, structure and terms of any transaction(s) and/or offering(s) to

 

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effect the Distribution and the timing and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution.  In addition, SPG may, at any time and from time to time until the consummation of the Distribution, modify or change the terms of the Distribution, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the Distribution.  Nothing shall in any way limit SPG’s right to terminate this Agreement or the Distribution as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in Article IX .

 

(b)                                  WPG shall cooperate with SPG to accomplish the Distribution and shall, at SPG’s direction, promptly take any and all actions necessary or desirable to effect the Distribution, including in respect of the registration under the Exchange Act of WPG Shares on the Form 10.  SPG shall select any investment bank or manager in connection with the Distribution, as well as any financial printer, solicitation and/or exchange agent and financial, legal, accounting and other advisors for SPG.  WPG and SPG, as the case may be, will provide to the Agent any information required in order to complete the Distribution.

 

3.2                                Actions Prior to the Distribution .  Prior to the Effective Time and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Parties shall take, or cause to be taken, the following actions in connection with the Distribution:

 

(a)                                  Notice to NYSE .  SPG shall, to the extent possible, give the NYSE not less than ten (10) days’ advance notice of the Record Date in compliance with Rule 10b-17 under the Exchange Act.

 

(b)                                  WPG Articles of Incorporation and WPG Bylaws .  On or prior to the Distribution Date, SPG and WPG shall take all necessary actions so that, as of the Effective Time, the WPG Articles of Incorporation and the WPG Bylaws shall become the articles of incorporation and bylaws of WPG, respectively.

 

(c)                                   WPG Directors and Officers .  On or prior to the Distribution Date, SPG and WPG shall take all necessary actions so that as of the Effective Time:  (i) the directors and executive officers of WPG shall be those set forth in the Information Statement mailed to the Record Holders prior to the Distribution Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties; (ii) each individual referred to in clause (i) shall have resigned from his or her position, if any, as a member of the SPG Board and/or as an executive officer of SPG; and (iii) WPG shall have such other officers as WPG shall appoint.

 

(d)                                  NYSE Listing .  WPG shall prepare and file, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have approved, an application for the listing of the WPG Shares to be distributed in the Distribution on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution.

 

(e)                                   Securities Law Matters .  WPG shall file any amendments or supplements to the Form 10 as may be necessary or advisable in order to cause the Form 10 to become and remain effective as required by the SEC or federal, state or other applicable securities Laws.  SPG and WPG shall cooperate in preparing, filing with the SEC and causing to become effective registration statements or amendments thereof which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit and other plans necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.  SPG and

 

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WPG will prepare, and WPG will, to the extent required under applicable Law, file with the SEC any such documentation and any requisite no-action letters which SPG determines are necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distribution, and SPG and WPG shall each use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the SEC with respect thereto as soon as practicable.  SPG and WPG shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue sky laws of the United States (and any comparable Laws under any foreign jurisdiction) in connection with the Distribution.

 

(f)                                    Mailing of Information Statement .  SPG shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Form 10 is declared effective under the Exchange Act and the SPG Board has approved the Distribution, cause the Information Statement to be mailed to the Record Holders.

 

(g)                                   The Distribution Agent .  SPG shall enter into a distribution agent agreement with the Agent or otherwise provide instructions to the Agent regarding the Distribution.

 

(h)                                  Stock-Based Employee Benefit Plans .  SPG and WPG shall take all actions as may be necessary to approve the grants of adjusted equity awards by SPG (in respect of SPG shares) and WPG (in respect of WPG shares) in connection with the Distribution in order to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

3.3                                Conditions to the Distribution .

 

(a)                                  The consummation of the Distribution will be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by SPG in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      The SEC shall have declared effective the Form 10; no order suspending the effectiveness of the Form 10 shall be in effect; and no proceedings for such purposes shall have been instituted or threatened by the SEC;

 

(ii)                                   The Information Statement shall have been mailed to Record Holders;

 

(iii)                                SPG shall have received an opinion from its outside counsel,  satisfactory to the SPG Board, to the effect that the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, shall qualify as a transaction that is generally tax free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355(a) and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;

 

(iv)                               The transfer of the WPG Assets (other than any Delayed WPG Asset) and WPG Liabilities (other than any Delayed WPG Liability) contemplated to be transferred from SPG to WPG on or prior to the Distribution shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1 , and the transfer of the SPG Assets (other than any Delayed SPG Asset) and SPG Liabilities (other than any Delayed SPG Liability) contemplated to be transferred from WPG to SPG on or prior to the Distribution Date shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1 , in each case pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization;

 

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(v)                                  The actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable U.S. federal, U.S. state or other securities Laws or blue sky Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder shall have been taken or made, and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted by the applicable Governmental Authority;

 

(vi)                               Each of the Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto;

 

(vii)                            No order, injunction or decree issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Separation, the Distribution or any of the transactions related thereto shall be in effect;

 

(viii)                         The WPG Shares to be distributed to the SPG shareholders in the Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution;

 

(ix)                               WPG and other members of the WPG Group shall have assumed or entered into, as applicable, the WPG Financing Arrangements and incurred at least $1.0 billion of new indebtedness pursuant thereto, and SPG shall be satisfied in its sole and absolute discretion that, as of the Effective Time, it shall have no further Liability whatsoever with respect to the WPG Financing Arrangements;

 

(x)                                  SPG shall have received an opinion of its outside counsel, satisfactory to the SPG Board, to the effect that the manner in which WPG is organized and its proposed method of operation will enable it to qualify to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 859 of the Code following the Distribution; and

 

(xi)                               No other events or developments shall exist or shall have occurred that, in the judgment of the SPG Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the Separation, the Distribution or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of SPG and shall not give rise to or create any duty on the part of SPG or the SPG Board to waive or not waive any such condition or in any way limit SPG’s right to terminate this Agreement as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in Article IX .  Any determination made by the SPG Board prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.3(a)  shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties.  If SPG waives any material condition, it shall promptly issue a press release disclosing such fact and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC describing such waiver.

 

3.4                                The Distribution .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 3.3 , on or prior to the Effective Time, WPG will deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Record Holders, book-entry transfer authorizations for such number of the outstanding WPG Shares as is necessary to effect the Distribution, and shall cause the transfer agent for the SPG Shares to instruct the Agent to distribute at the Effective Time the

 

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appropriate number of WPG Shares to each such holder or designated transferee or transferees of such holder by way of direct registration in book-entry form.  WPG will not issue paper stock certificates in respect of the WPG Shares.  The Distribution shall be effective at the Effective Time.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Sections 3.3 and 3.4(c) , each Record Holder will be entitled to receive in the Distribution one WPG Share for every two SPG Shares held by such Record Holder on the Record Date, rounded down to the nearest whole number.

 

(c)                                   No fractional shares will be distributed or credited to book-entry accounts in connection with the Distribution, and any such fractional shares interests to which a Record Holder would otherwise be entitled shall not entitle such Record Holder to vote or to any other rights as a stockholder of WPG.  In lieu of any such fractional shares, each Record Holder who, but for the provisions of this Section 3.4(c) , would be entitled to receive a fractional share interest of a WPG Share pursuant to the Distribution, shall be paid cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided.  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, SPG shall direct the Agent to determine the number of whole and fractional WPG Shares allocable to each Record Holder, to aggregate all such fractional shares into whole shares, and to sell the whole shares obtained thereby in the open market at the then-prevailing prices on behalf of each Record Holder who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional share interests (with the Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, determining when, how and through which broker-dealer and at what price to make such sales), and to cause to be distributed to each such Record Holder, in lieu of any fractional share, such Record Holder’s or owner’s ratable share of the total proceeds of such sale, after deducting any Taxes required to be withheld and applicable transfer Taxes, and after deducting the costs and expenses of such sale and distribution, including brokers fees and commissions.  None of SPG, WPG or the Agent will be required to guarantee any minimum sale price for the fractional WPG Shares sold in accordance with this Section 3.4(c) .  Neither SPG nor WPG will be required to pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares.  Neither the Agent nor the broker-dealers through which the aggregated fractional shares are sold shall be Affiliates of SPG or WPG.  Solely for purposes of computing fractional share interests pursuant to this Section 3.4(c)  and Section 3.4(d) , the beneficial owner of SPG Shares held of record in the name of a nominee in any nominee account shall be treated as the Record Holder with respect to such shares.

 

(d)                                  Any WPG Shares or cash in lieu of fractional shares with respect to WPG Shares that remain unclaimed by any Record Holder one hundred and eighty (180) days after the Distribution Date shall be delivered to WPG, and WPG shall hold such WPG Shares for the account of such Record Holder, and the Parties agree that all obligations to provide such WPG Shares and cash, if any, in lieu of fractional share interests shall be obligations of WPG, subject in each case to applicable escheat or other abandoned property Laws, and SPG shall have no Liability with respect thereto.

 

(e)                                   Until the WPG Shares are duly transferred in accordance with this Section 3.4 and applicable Law, from and after the Effective Time, WPG will regard the Persons entitled to receive such WPG Shares as record holders of WPG Shares in accordance with the terms of the Distribution without requiring any action on the part of such Persons.  WPG agrees that, subject to any transfers of such shares, from and after the Effective Time (i) each such holder

 

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will be entitled to receive all dividends payable on, and exercise voting rights and all other rights and privileges with respect to, the WPG Shares then held by such holder, and (ii) each such holder will be entitled, without any action on the part of such holder, to receive evidence of ownership of the WPG Shares then held by such holder.

 

ARTICLE IV
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

 

4.1                                Release of Pre-Distribution Claims .

 

(a)                                  WPG Release of SPG.  Except as provided in Sections 4.1(c)  and 4.1(d) , effective as of the Effective Time, WPG does hereby, for itself and each other member of the WPG Group, and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the WPG Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge (i) SPG and the members of the SPG Group, and their respective successors and assigns, (ii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the SPG Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and (iii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of a Transferred Entity and who are not, as of immediately following the Effective Time, directors, officers or employees of WPG or a member of the WPG Group, in each case from: (A) all WPG Liabilities, (B) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution, and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the WPG Business, the WPG Assets or the WPG Liabilities.

 

(b)                                  SPG Release of WPG.  Except as provided in (i)  Sections 4.1(c)  and 4.1(d) , effective as of the Effective Time, SPG does hereby, for itself and each other member of the SPG Group and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the SPG Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge WPG and the members of the WPG Group and their respective successors and assigns, from (A) all SPG Liabilities, (B) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution, and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SPG Business, the SPG Assets or the SPG Liabilities.

 

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(c)                                   Obligations Not Affected.  Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a)  or 4.1(b)  shall impair any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that are specified in Section 2.7(b)  or the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, in each case in accordance with its terms.  Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a)  or 4.1(b)  shall release any Person from:

 

(i)                                      any Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any members of the SPG Group or the WPG Group that is specified in Section 2.7(b)  or the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, or any other Liability specified in Section 2.7(b)  as not to terminate as of the Effective Time;

 

(ii)                                   any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed, transferred, assigned or allocated to the Group of which such Person is a member in accordance with, or any other Liability of any member of any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;

 

(iii)                                any Liability for the sale, lease, construction or receipt of goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business by a member of one Group from a member of the other Group prior to the Effective Time;

 

(iv)                               any Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification or contribution or other obligation pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise for claims brought against the Parties by third Persons, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Article IV and Article V and, if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the Ancillary Agreements; or

 

(v)                                  any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to this Section 4.1 .

 

In addition, nothing contained in Section 4.1(a)  shall release any member of the SPG Group from honoring its existing obligations to indemnify any director, officer or employee of WPG who was a director, officer or employee of any member of the SPG Group on or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such director, officer or employee becomes a named defendant in any Action with respect to which such director, officer or employee was entitled to such indemnification pursuant to such existing obligations; it being understood that, if the underlying obligation giving rise to such Action is a WPG Liability, WPG shall indemnify SPG for such Liability (including SPG’s costs to indemnify the director, officer or employee) in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article IV .

 

(d)                                  No Claims.  WPG shall not make, and shall not permit any member of the WPG Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against SPG or any other member of the SPG Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(a) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(a) .  SPG shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the SPG Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification

 

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against WPG or any other member of the WPG Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(b) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(b) .

 

(e)                                   Execution of Further Releases.  At any time at or after the Effective Time, at the request of either Party, the other Party shall cause each member of its respective Group to execute and deliver releases reflecting the provisions of this Section 4.1 .

 

4.2                                            Indemnification by WPG .  Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, WPG LP shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless SPG, SPG LP, each other member of the SPG Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees and agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ SPG Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the SPG Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  any WPG Liability;

 

(b)                                  any failure of WPG, any other member of the WPG Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any WPG Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, on or after the Effective Time;

 

(c)                                   any breach by WPG or any other member of the WPG Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

(d)                                  except to the extent it relates to a SPG Liability, any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation, surety bond or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding for the benefit of any member of the WPG Group by any member of the SPG Group that survives following the Distribution; and

 

(e)                                   any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if WPG shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document, other than the matters described in clause (e) of Section 4.3 .

 

In order to induce SPG and SPG LP to enter into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, WPG hereby irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual performance and observance by WPG LP of its obligations contained in this Section 4.2 , subject, in each case, to all of the terms, provisions and conditions herein, and SPG, SPG LP and the other SPG Indemnitees shall not be required to seek recovery pursuant to any set-off of any amounts payable under this Agreement or otherwise prior to seeking recovery from WPG; provided that WPG shall in no event be liable for any percentage of indemnification obligations that exceeds its then current ownership percentage in WPG LP.

 

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4.3                                Indemnification by SPG .  Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, SPG LP shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless WPG, WPG LP, each other member of the WPG Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees or agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ WPG Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the WPG Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  any SPG Liability;

 

(b)                                  any failure of SPG, any other member of the SPG Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any SPG Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, on or after the Effective Time;

 

(c)                                   any breach by SPG or any other member of the SPG Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

(d)                                  except to the extent it relates to a WPG Liability, any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation, surety bond or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding for the benefit of any member of the SPG Group by any member of the WPG Group that survives following the Distribution; and

 

(e)                                   any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to statements made explicitly in SPG or any SPG Group member’s name in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if WPG shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document; it being agreed that the statements set forth on Schedule 4.3(e)  shall be the only statements made explicitly in SPG or any SPG Group member’s name in the Form 10, the Information Statement or any other Disclosure Document, and all other information contained in the Form 10, the Information Statement or any other Disclosure Document shall be deemed to be information supplied by WPG.

 

In order to induce WPG and WPG LP to enter into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, SPG hereby irrevocably guarantees the due and punctual performance and observance by SPG LP of its obligations contained in this Section 4.3 , subject, in each case, to all of the terms, provisions and conditions herein, and WPG, WPG LP and the other WPG Indemnitees shall not be required to seek recovery pursuant to any set-off of any amounts payable under this Agreement or otherwise prior to seeking recovery from SPG; provided that SPG shall in no event be liable for any percentage of indemnification obligations that exceeds its then current ownership percentage in SPG LP.

 

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4.4                                Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts .

 

(a)                                  The Parties intend that any Liability subject to indemnification, contribution or reimbursement pursuant to this Article IV or Article V will be net of Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of any indemnifiable Liability.  Accordingly, the amount which either Party (an “ Indemnifying Party ”) is required to pay to any Person entitled to indemnification or contribution hereunder (an “ Indemnitee ”) will be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of the related Liability.  If an Indemnitee receives a payment (an “ Indemnity Payment ”) required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or any other amounts in respect of the related Liability, then the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds or such other amounts (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.

 

(b)                                  The Parties agree that an insurer that would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or, solely by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, have any subrogation rights with respect thereto, it being understood that no insurer or any other Third Party shall be entitled to a “windfall” ( i.e. , a benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the indemnification provisions) by virtue of the indemnification and contribution provisions hereof. Each Party shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the probability of success on the merits and the cost of expending such efforts, including attorneys’ fees and expenses) to collect or recover any Insurance Proceeds that may be collectible or recoverable respecting the Liabilities for which indemnification or contribution may be available under this Article IV .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnifying Party may not delay making any indemnification payment required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise satisfying any indemnification obligation, pending the outcome of any Action to collect or recover Insurance Proceeds, and an Indemnitee need not attempt to collect any Insurance Proceeds prior to making a claim for indemnification or contribution or receiving any Indemnity Payment otherwise owed to it under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Any indemnification payment under this Article IV shall be adjusted in accordance with Section 5.03(b) of the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

4.5                                Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims .

 

(a)                                  Notice of Claims.  If, at or following the date of this Agreement, an Indemnitee shall receive notice or otherwise learn of the assertion by a Person (including any Governmental Authority) who is not a member of the SPG Group or the WPG Group of any claim or of the commencement by any such Person of any Action (collectively, a “ Third-Party Claim ”) with respect to which an Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.3 , or any other Section of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party

 

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written notice thereof as soon as practicable, but in any event within fourteen (14) days (or sooner if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires) after becoming aware of such Third-Party Claim.  Any such notice shall describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail, including the facts and circumstances giving rise to such claim for indemnification, and include copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third-Party Claim.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of an Indemnitee to provide notice in accordance with this Section 4.5(a)  shall not relieve an Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent to which the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by the Indemnitee’s failure to provide notice in accordance with this Section 4.5(a) .

 

(b)                                  Control of Defense.  An Indemnifying Party may elect to defend (and seek to settle or compromise), at its own expense and with its own counsel, any Third-Party Claim; provided that, prior to the Indemnifying Party assuming and controlling defense of such Third-Party Claim, it shall first confirm to the Indemnitee in writing that, assuming the facts presented to the Indemnifying Party by the Indemnitee being true, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify the Indemnitee for any such Damages to the extent resulting from, or arising out of, such Third-Party-Claim.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Indemnifying Party assumes such defense and, in the course of defending such Third-Party Claim, (i) the Indemnifying Party discovers that the facts presented at the time the Indemnifying Party acknowledged its indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim were not true in all material respects and (ii) such untruth provides a reasonable basis for asserting that the Indemnifying Party does not have an indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim, then (A) the Indemnifying Party shall not be bound by such acknowledgment, (B) the Indemnifying Party shall promptly thereafter provide the Indemnitee written notice of its assertion that it does not have an indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim, and (C) the Indemnitee shall have the right to assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim.  Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 4.5(a)  (or sooner, if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires), the Indemnifying Party shall provide written notice to the Indemnitee indicating whether the Indemnifying Party shall assume responsibility for defending the Third-Party Claim.  If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third-Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.5(a) , then the Indemnitee that is the subject of such Third-Party Claim shall be entitled to continue to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

 

(c)                                   Allocation of Defense Costs .  If an Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim, then such Indemnifying Party shall be solely liable for all fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the defense of such Third-Party Claim and shall not be entitled to seek any indemnification or reimbursement from the Indemnitee for any such fees or expenses incurred by the Indemnifying Party during the course of the defense of such Third-Party Claim by such Indemnifying Party, regardless of any subsequent decision by the Indemnifying Party to reject or otherwise abandon its assumption of such defense.  If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third-Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within thirty (30) days after receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.5(a) , and the Indemnitee conducts and controls the defense of such Third-Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party has an indemnification obligation

 

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with respect to such Third-Party Claim, then the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for all reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

 

(d)                                  Right to Monitor and Participate.  An Indemnitee that does not conduct and control the defense of any Third-Party Claim, or an Indemnifying Party that has failed to elect to defend any Third-Party Claim as contemplated hereby, nevertheless shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) of its own choosing to monitor and participate in (but not control) the defense of any Third-Party Claim for which it is a potential Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, and the provisions of Section 4.5(c)  shall not apply to such fees and expenses.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Sections 6.7 and 6.8 , such Party shall cooperate with the Party entitled to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim in such defense and make available to the controlling Party, at the non-controlling Party’s expense, all witnesses, information and materials in such Party’s possession or under such Party’s control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the controlling Party.  In addition to the foregoing, if any Indemnitee shall in good faith determine that such Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party have actual or potential differing defenses or conflicts of interest between them that make joint representation inappropriate, then the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, and the Indemnifying Party shall bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for all Indemnitees.

 

(e)                                   No Settlement.  Neither Party may settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, unless such settlement or compromise is solely for monetary damages, does not involve any finding or determination of wrongdoing or violation of Law by the other Party and provides for a full, unconditional and irrevocable release of the other Party from all Liability in connection with the Third-Party Claim.  The Parties hereby agree that if a Party presents the other Party with a written notice containing a proposal to settle or compromise a Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder and the Party receiving such proposal does not respond in any manner to the Party presenting such proposal within thirty (30) days (or within any such shorter time period that may be required by applicable Law or court order) of receipt of such proposal, then the Party receiving such proposal shall be deemed to have consented to the terms of such proposal.

 

(f)                                    Tax Matters Agreement Governs.  The above provisions of this Section 4.5 and the provisions of Section 4.6 do not apply to Taxes (Taxes and Tax matters being governed by the Tax Matters Agreement).  In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Tax Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement shall prevail.

 

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4.6                                Additional Matters .

 

(a)                                  Timing of Payments.  Indemnification or contribution payments in respect of any Liabilities for which an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV shall be paid reasonably promptly (but in any event within thirty (30) days of the final determination of the amount that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV ) by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee as such Liabilities are incurred upon demand by the Indemnitee, including reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such indemnification or contribution payment, including documentation with respect to calculations made and consideration of any Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of such Liabilities.  The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Article IV shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee, and (ii) the knowledge by the Indemnitee of Liabilities for which it might be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(b)                                  Notice of Direct Claims. Any claim for indemnification or contribution under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement that does not result from a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by written notice given by the Indemnitee to the applicable Indemnifying Party; provided that the failure by an Indemnitee to so assert any such claim shall not prejudice the ability of the Indemnitee to do so at a later time except to the extent (if any) that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced thereby.  Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period of thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto.  If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30)-day period, such specified claim shall be conclusively deemed a Liability of the Indemnifying Party under this Section 4.6(b)  or, in the case of any written notice in which the amount of the claim (or any portion thereof) is estimated, on such later date when the amount of the claim (or such portion thereof) becomes finally determined.  If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30)-day period or rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnitee shall, subject to the provisions of Article VII , be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to such party as contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, without prejudice to its continuing rights to pursue indemnification or contribution hereunder.

 

(c)                                   Pursuit of Claims Against Third Parties.  If (i) a Party incurs any Liability arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (ii) an adequate legal or equitable remedy is not available for any reason against the other Party to satisfy the Liability incurred by the incurring Party; and (iii) a legal or equitable remedy may be available to the other Party against a Third Party for such Liability, then the other Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the incurring Party, at the incurring Party’s expense, to permit the incurring Party to obtain the benefits of such legal or equitable remedy against the Third Party.

 

(d)                                  Subrogation.  In the event of payment by or on behalf of any Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third-Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third-Party Claim or

 

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against any other Person.  Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.

 

(e)                                   Substitution.  In the event of an Action in which the Indemnifying Party is not a named defendant, if either the Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party shall so request, the Parties shall endeavor to substitute the Indemnifying Party for the named defendant.  If such substitution or addition cannot be achieved for any reason or is not requested, the named defendant shall allow the Indemnifying Party to manage the Action as set forth in Section 4.5 and this Section 4.6 , and the Indemnifying Party shall fully indemnify the named defendant against all costs of defending the Action (including court costs, sanctions imposed by a court, attorneys’ fees, experts fees and all other external expenses), the costs of any judgment or settlement and the cost of any interest or penalties relating to any judgment or settlement.

 

4.7                                Right of Contribution .

 

(a)                                  Contribution.  If any right of indemnification contained in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3 is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason, or is insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnitee in respect of any Liability for which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by the Indemnitees as a result of such Liability (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the members of its Group, on the one hand, and the Indemnitees entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

(b)                                  Allocation of Relative Fault.  Solely for purposes of determining relative fault pursuant to this Section 4.7 :  (i) any fault associated with the business conducted with the Delayed WPG Assets or Delayed WPG Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of a member of the SPG Group) or with the ownership, operation or activities of the WPG Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of WPG and the other members of the WPG Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of SPG or any other member of the SPG Group; (ii) any fault associated with the business conducted with Delayed SPG Assets or Delayed SPG Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of a member of the WPG Group) shall be deemed to be the fault of SPG and the other members of the SPG Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of WPG or any other member of the WPG Group; and (iii) any fault associated with the ownership, operation or activities of the SPG Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of SPG and the other members of the SPG Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of WPG or any other member of the WPG Group.

 

4.8                                Covenant Not to Sue .  Each Party hereby covenants and agrees that none of it, the members of such Party’s Group or any Person claiming through it shall bring suit or otherwise assert any claim against any Indemnitee, or assert a defense against any claim asserted by any Indemnitee, before any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative agency anywhere in the world, alleging that:  (a) the assumption of any WPG Liabilities by WPG or a member of the WPG Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; (b) the retention of any SPG Liabilities by

 

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SPG or a member of the SPG Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; or (c) the provisions of this Article IV are void or unenforceable for any reason.

 

4.9                                Remedies Cumulative .  The remedies provided in this Article IV shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of Article VIII , shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party.

 

4.10                         Survival of Indemnities .  The rights and obligations of each of SPG and WPG and their respective Indemnitees under this Article IV shall survive (a) the sale or other transfer by either Party or any member of its Group of any assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any liabilities; or (b) any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of all or substantially all of its Assets, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving either Party or any of the members of its Group.

 

4.11                         Certain Tax Procedures .

 

(a)                                  Indemnification Payments to WPG .

 

(i)                                      With respect to any period in which WPG has made or will make an election to be taxed as a REIT, notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, any indemnification payments to be made to any member of the WPG Group pursuant to Section 4.3 or 4.4 or any indemnification payments to be made to any member of the WPG Group pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement (a “ WPG Indemnity Payment ”) for any calendar year shall not exceed the sum of (1) the amount that is determined will not be gross income of WPG for purposes of the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code for any period in which WPG has made any election to be taxed as a REIT, with such determination to be set forth in an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by WPG, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to WPG, plus (2) such additional amount that is estimated can be paid to WPG in such taxable year without causing WPG to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, determined (x) as if the payment of such amount did not constitute income described in Sections 856(c)(2)(A) through (I) and 856(c)(3)(A) through (I) of the Code (“ Qualifying Income ”) and (y) by taking into account any other payments to WPG (and any other relevant member of the WPG Group) during such taxable year that do not constitute Qualifying Income, which determination shall be (A) made by independent tax accountants to WPG, and (B) submitted to and approved by WPG’s outside tax counsel, and (3) in the event that WPG receives a ruling from the IRS to the effect that the receipt of the additional amount of WPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be paid either would constitute Qualifying Income or would be excluded from gross income of WPG for purposes of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code (the “ Specified REIT Requirements ”), the aggregate WPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made (determined without regard to this Section 4.11(a) ), less the amount otherwise previously paid under clauses (1) and (2) above.

 

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(ii)                                   SPG shall place (or cause to be placed) the full amount of any WPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made in a mutually agreed escrow account upon mutually acceptable terms, which shall provide that (1) the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of SPG or the applicable member of the SPG Group, unless it is released from such escrow account to any WPG Indemnified Party, (2) all income earned upon the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of SPG or the applicable member of the SPG Group and reported, as and to the extent required by applicable Law, by the escrow agent to the IRS, or any other taxing authority, on IRS Form 1099 or 1042S (or other appropriate form) as income earned by SPG or the applicable member of the SPG Group whether or not said income has been distributed during such taxable year, (3) the amount in the escrow account shall be invested only as determined by SPG in its sole discretion, and (4) any portion thereof shall not be released to any WPG Indemnified Party unless and until SPG receives any of the following:  (A) a letter from WPG’s independent tax accountants indicating the amount that it is estimated can be paid at that time to the WPG Indemnified Parties without causing WPG to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements for the taxable year in which the payment would be made, which determination shall be made by such independent tax accountants or (B) an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by WPG, such opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to WPG, to the effect that, based upon a change in applicable Law after the date on which payment was first deferred hereunder, receipt of the additional amount of WPG Indemnification Payments otherwise required to be paid either would be excluded from gross income of WPG for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements or would constitute Qualifying Income, in either of which events amounts shall be released from the escrow account to the applicable WPG Indemnified Parties in an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid WPG Indemnification Payments due and owing (determined without regard to this Section 4.11(a) ) or the maximum amount stated in the letter referred to in clause (3)(A) above.

 

(iii)                                Any amount held in escrow pursuant to Section 4.11(a)(ii)  for five (5) years shall be released from such escrow to be used as determined by SPG in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(iv)                               WPG shall bear all costs and expenses with respect to the escrow.

 

(v)                                  SPG shall cooperate in good faith to amend this Section 4.11(a)  at the reasonable request of WPG in order to (1) maximize the portion of the payments that may be made to the WPG Indemnified Parties hereunder without causing WPG to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements, (2) improve WPG’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 4.11(a) , or (3) assist WPG in obtaining a favorable opinion from its outside tax counsel or determination from its tax accountants as described in this Section 4.11(a) .  WPG shall reimburse SPG for all reasonable costs and expenses of such cooperation.

 

(b)                                  Indemnification Payments to SPG .

 

(i)                                      With respect to any period in which SPG has made or will make an election to be taxed as a REIT, notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement or

 

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any Ancillary Agreement, any indemnification payments to be made to any member of the SPG Group pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.4 or any indemnification payments to be made to any member of the SPG Group pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement (a “ SPG Indemnity Payment ”) for any calendar year shall not exceed the sum of (1) the amount that is determined will not be gross income of SPG for purposes of the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code for any period in which SPG has made any election to be taxed as a REIT, with such determination to be set forth in an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by SPG, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to SPG, plus (2) such additional amount that is estimated can be paid to SPG in such taxable year without causing SPG to fail to meet the requirements of Sections 856(c)(2) and (3) of the Code, determined (x) as if the payment of such amount did not constitute Qualifying Income and (y) by taking into account any other payments to SPG (and any other relevant member of the WPG Group) during such taxable year that do not constitute Qualifying Income, which determination shall be (A) made by independent tax accountants to SPG, and (B) submitted to and approved by SPG’s outside tax counsel, and (3) in the event that SPG receives a ruling from the IRS to the effect that the receipt of the additional amount of SPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be paid, either would constitute Qualifying Income or would be excluded from gross income of SPG for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements, the aggregate SPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made (determined without regard to this Section 4.11(b) ), less the amount otherwise previously paid under clauses (1) and (2) above.

 

(ii)                                   WPG shall place (or cause to be placed) the full amount of any SPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be made in a mutually agreed escrow account upon mutually acceptable terms, which shall provide that (1) the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of WPG or the applicable member of the WPG Group, unless it is released from such escrow account to any SPG Indemnified Party, (2) all income earned upon the amount in the escrow account shall be treated as the property of WPG or the applicable member of the WPG Group and reported, as and to the extent required by applicable Law, by the escrow agent to the IRS, or any other taxing authority, on IRS Form 1099 or 1042S (or other appropriate form) as income earned by WPG or the applicable member of the WPG Group whether or not said income has been distributed during such taxable year, (3) the amount in the escrow account shall be invested only as determined by WPG in its sole discretion, and (4) any portion thereof shall not be released to any SPG Indemnified Party unless and until WPG receives any of the following:  (A) a letter from SPG’s independent tax accountants indicating the amount that it is estimated can be paid at that time to the SPG Indemnified Parties without causing SPG to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements for the taxable year in which the payment would be made, which determination shall be made by such independent tax accountants or (B) an opinion of outside tax counsel selected by SPG, such opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to SPG, to the effect that, based upon a change in applicable Law after the date on which payment was first deferred hereunder, receipt of the additional amount of SPG Indemnity Payments otherwise required to be paid either would be excluded from gross income of SPG for purposes of the Specified REIT Requirements or would constitute Qualifying Income, in either of which events amounts shall be released from the escrow account to the applicable SPG Indemnified Parties in an amount equal to the lesser of the unpaid SPG Indemnity Payments due and owing

 

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(determined without regard to this Section 4.11(b) ) or the maximum amount stated in the letter referred to in clause (3)(A) above.

 

(iii)                                Any amount held in escrow pursuant to Section 4.11(b)(ii)  for five (5) years shall be released from such escrow to be used as determined by WPG in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(iv)                               SPG shall bear all costs and expenses with respect to the escrow.

 

(v)                                  WPG shall cooperate in good faith to amend this Section 4.11(b)  at the reasonable request of SPG in order to (1) maximize the portion of the payments that may be made to the SPG Indemnified Parties hereunder without causing SPG to fail to meet the Specified REIT Requirements, (2) improve SPG’s chances of securing a favorable ruling described in this Section 4.11(b) , or (3) assist SPG in obtaining a favorable opinion from its outside tax counsel or determination from its tax accountants as described in this Section 4.11(b) .  SPG shall reimburse WPG for all reasonable costs and expenses of such cooperation.

 

ARTICLE V
CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

 

5.1                                Insurance Matters .

 

(a)                                  In accordance with the Transition Services Agreement, until January 1, 2015 (the “ Insurance Termination Date ”), SPG and SPG LP shall, and shall cause the relevant members of the SPG Group to, maintain the insurance coverage applicable to the WPG Business pursuant to the terms and conditions and coverages of the existing insurance policies of the SPG Group in effect as of the Effective Time; provided , however , that in no event shall SPG, any other member of the SPG Group or any SPG Indemnitee have any Liability or obligation whatsoever to any member of the WPG Group in the event that any insurance policy or other contract or policy of insurance shall be terminated or otherwise cease to be in effect for any reason, shall be unavailable or inadequate to cover any Liability of any member of the WPG Group for any reason whatsoever or shall not be renewed or extended beyond the current expiration date.  Prior to the Insurance Termination Date, SPG and WPG shall discuss in good faith whether to continue any insurance coverages beyond the Insurance Termination Date and shall cooperate in good faith to provide for an orderly transition of insurance coverage following the Insurance Termination Date; provided , however , that SPG shall not be required to continue any such insurance coverages beyond the Insurance Termination Date.

 

(b)                                  From and after the Effective Time, with respect to any losses, damages and Liability incurred by any member of the WPG Group prior to the Insurance Termination Date, SPG will provide WPG with access to, and WPG may, upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to SPG, make claims under, SPG’s third-party insurance policies in place prior to the Insurance Termination Date and SPG’s historical policies of insurance, but solely to the extent that such policies provided coverage for members of the WPG Group prior to the Insurance Termination Date; provided that such access to, and the right to make claims under, such

 

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insurance policies, shall be subject to the terms and conditions of such insurance policies, including any limits on coverage or scope, any deductibles and other fees and expenses, and shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(i)                                      WPG shall report any claim to SPG, as promptly as practicable, and in any event in sufficient time so that such claim may be made in accordance with SPG’s claim reporting procedures in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (or in accordance with any modifications to such procedures after the Effective Time communicated by SPG to WPG in writing);

 

(ii)                                   WPG and the members of the WPG Group shall exclusively bear and be liable for (and neither SPG nor any members of the SPG Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse WPG or any member of the WPG Group for), and shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse SPG and the members of the SPG Group for, any deductibles, self-insured retention, fees and expenses to the extent resulting from any access to, or any claims made by WPG or any other members of the WPG Group or otherwise made in respect of losses of the WPG Business under, any insurance provided pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) , including any indemnity payments, settlements, judgments, legal fees and allocated claims expenses and claim handling fees, whether such claims are made by members of the WPG Group, its employees or third Persons; and

 

(iii)                                WPG shall exclusively bear and be liable for (and neither SPG nor any members of the SPG Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse WPG or any member of the WPG Group for) all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts of all such claims made by WPG or any member of the WPG Group under the policies as provided for in this Section 5.1(b) .  In the event an insurance policy aggregate is exhausted, or believed likely to be exhausted, due to noticed claims, the WPG Group, on the one hand, and the SPG Group, on the other hand, shall be responsible for their pro rata portion of the reinstatement premium, if any, based upon the losses of such Group submitted to SPG’s insurance carrier(s) (including any submissions prior to the Insurance Termination Date).  To the extent that the SPG Group or the WPG Group is allocated more than its pro rata portion of such premium due to the timing of losses submitted to SPG’s insurance carrier(s), the other party shall promptly pay the first party an amount so that each Group has been properly allocated its pro rata portion of the reinstatement premium.  Subject to the following sentence, SPG may elect not to reinstate the policy aggregate.  In the event that, at any time prior to the Insurance Termination Date, SPG elects not to reinstate the policy aggregate, it shall provide prompt written notice to WPG, and WPG may direct SPG in writing to, and SPG shall, in such case, reinstate the policy aggregate; provided that WPG shall be responsible for all reinstatement premiums and other costs associated with such reinstatement.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 5.1(b) , from and after the Insurance Termination Date, neither WPG nor any member of the WPG Group shall have any rights to or under any of the insurance policies of SPG or any other member of the SPG Group.  At the Insurance Termination Date, WPG shall, unless it has obtained the prior written consent of SPG or SPG LP, have in effect all insurance programs required to comply with WPG’s contractual

 

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obligations and such other insurance policies required by Law or as reasonably necessary or appropriate for companies operating a business similar to WPG’s.  Such insurance programs may include general liability, commercial auto liability, workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, product liability, professional services liability, property, cargo, employment practices liability, employee dishonesty/crime, directors’ and officers’ liability and fiduciary liability.

 

(d)                                  Neither WPG nor any member of the WPG Group, in connection with making a claim under any insurance policy of SPG or any member of the SPG Group pursuant to this Section 5.1 , shall take any action that would be reasonably likely to (i) have an adverse impact on the then-current relationship between SPG or any member of the SPG Group, on the one hand, and the applicable insurance company, on the other hand; (ii) result in the applicable insurance company terminating or reducing coverage, or increasing the amount of any premium owed by SPG or any member of the SPG Group under the applicable insurance policy; or (iii) otherwise compromise, jeopardize or interfere with the rights of SPG or any member of the SPG Group under the applicable insurance policy.

 

(e)                                   All payments and reimbursements by WPG pursuant to this Section 5.1 will be made within fifteen (15) days after WPG’s receipt of an invoice therefor from SPG.  If SPG incurs costs to enforce WPG’s obligations herein, WPG agrees to indemnify and hold harmless SPG for such enforcement costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to Section 4.6(b) .  SPG shall retain the exclusive right to control its insurance policies and programs, including the right to exhaust, settle, release, commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve disputes with respect to any of its insurance policies and programs and to amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs, notwithstanding whether any such policies or programs apply to any WPG Liabilities and/or claims WPG has made or could make in the future, and no member of the WPG Group shall erode, exhaust, settle, release, commute, buyback or otherwise resolve disputes with SPG’s insurers with respect to any of SPG’s insurance policies and programs, or amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs.  WPG shall cooperate with SPG and share such information as is reasonably necessary in order to permit SPG to manage and conduct its insurance matters as it deems appropriate.  Neither SPG nor any of the members of the SPG Group shall have any obligation to secure extended reporting for any claims under any Liability policies of SPG or any member of the SPG Group for any acts or omissions by any member of the WPG Group incurred prior to the Insurance Termination Date.

 

(f)                                    This Agreement shall not be considered as an attempted assignment of any policy of insurance or as a contract of insurance and shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of any member of the SPG Group in respect of any insurance policy or any other contract or policy of insurance.

 

(g)                                   WPG does hereby, for itself and each other member of the WPG Group, agree that no member of the SPG Group shall have any Liability whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of SPG and the members of the SPG Group as in effect at any time, including as a result of the level or scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, the terms and conditions of any policy, the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential claim or otherwise.

 

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5.2                                            Late Payments .  Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (and any amounts billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that are not paid within thirty (30) days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to Prime Rate plus two (2%) percent.

 

5.3                                            Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes .  For all tax purposes, the Parties agree to treat (i) any payment required by this Agreement (other than payments with respect to interest accruing after the Effective Time) as either a contribution by SPG LP to WPG LP or a distribution by WPG LP to SPG LP, as the case may be, occurring immediately prior to the first SPG LP Distribution or as a payment of an assumed or retained Liability; and (ii) any payment of interest as taxable or deductible, as the case may be, to the Party entitled under this Agreement to retain such payment or required under this Agreement to make such payment, in either case except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

5.4                                            Inducement .  WPG acknowledges and agrees that SPG’s willingness to cause, effect and consummate the Separation and the Distribution has been conditioned upon and induced by WPG’s covenants and agreements in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including WPG’s assumption of the WPG Liabilities pursuant to the Separation and the provisions of this Agreement and WPG’s covenants and agreements contained in Article IV .

 

5.5                                            Post-Effective Time Conduct .  The Parties acknowledge that, after the Effective Time, each Party shall be independent of the other Party, with responsibility for its own actions and inactions and its own Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the conduct of its business, operations and activities following the Effective Time, except as may otherwise be provided in any Ancillary Agreement, and each Party shall (except as otherwise provided in Article IV ) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent such Liabilities from being inappropriately borne by the other Party.

 

5.6                                            Non-Solicitation Covenant .  For a period of two (2) years from and after the Effective Time, WPG shall not, and shall procure that the other members of the WPG Group shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or hire any employees of the SPG Group who have been engaged in providing services to the Group pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement,  any Property Management Agreements or any Property Development Agreements, without the prior written consent of SPG; provided , however , that (i) an individual shall not be deemed to have been solicited for employment or hired in violation of this Section 5.6 if such employee has ceased to be employed by any member of the SPG Group for at least six (6) months prior to the date when any solicitation activity occurs, and (ii) this Section 5.6 shall not prohibit any general offers of employment to the public, including through a bona fide search firm, so long as it is not specifically targeted toward employees of the SPG Group.  In the event that WPG or any other member of the WPG Group seeks to terminate substantially all of the Property Management Agreements and Property Development Agreements (taken together as a whole), WPG shall notify SPG LP and the Parties shall thereafter consult with each other to determine whether any SPG employees shall become WPG employees in connection with such termination.

 

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ARTICLE VI
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

 

6.1                                Agreement for Exchange of Information .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 6.9 and any other applicable confidentiality obligations, each of SPG and WPG, on behalf of itself and each member of its Group, agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or make available, or cause to be provided or made available, to the other Party and the members of such other Party’s Group, at any time before, on or after the Effective Time, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, any information (or a copy thereof) in the possession or under the control of such Party or its Group which the requesting Party or its Group to the extent that (i) such information relates to the WPG Business, or any WPG Asset or WPG Liability, if WPG is the requesting Party, or to the SPG Business, or any SPG Asset or SPG Liability, if SPG is the requesting Party; (ii) such information is required by the requesting Party to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (iii) such information is required by the requesting Party to comply with any obligation imposed by any Governmental Authority; provided , however , that, in the event that the Party to whom the request has been made determines that any such provision of information could be detrimental to the Party providing the information, violate any Law or agreement, or waive any privilege available under applicable Law, including any attorney-client privilege, then the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit compliance with such obligations to the extent and in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence.  The Party providing information pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall only be obligated to provide such information in the form, condition and format in which it then exists, and in no event shall such Party be required to perform any improvement, modification, conversion, updating or reformatting of any such information, and nothing in this Section 6.1 shall expand the obligations of a Party under Section 6.4 .

 

(b)                                  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, until the first WPG fiscal year-end occurring after the Effective Time (and for a reasonable period of time afterwards as required for each Party to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audit for the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs), each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Party’s information requests to enable (i) the other Party to meet its timetable for dissemination of its earnings releases, financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Items 307 and 308, respectively, of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) the other Party’s accountants to timely complete their review of the quarterly financial statements and audit of the annual financial statements, including, to the extent applicable to such Party, its auditor’s audit of its internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC’s and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s rules and auditing standards thereunder and any other applicable Laws.

 

6.2                                            Ownership of Information .  The provision of any information pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.7 shall not affect the ownership of such information (which shall be

 

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determined solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements), or constitute a grant of rights in or to any such information.

 

6.3                                            Compensation for Providing Information .  The Party requesting information agrees to reimburse the other Party for the reasonable costs, if any, of creating, gathering, copying, transporting and otherwise complying with the request with respect to such information (including any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in any review of information for purposes of protecting the Privileged Information of the providing Party or in connection with the restoration of backup media for purposes of providing the requested information).  Except as may be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any other agreement between the Parties, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the providing Party’s standard methodology and procedures.

 

6.4                                            Record Retention .  To facilitate the possible exchange of information pursuant to this Article VI and other provisions of this Agreement after the Effective Time, the Parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts, which shall be no less rigorous than those used for retention of such Party’s own information, to retain all information in their respective possession or control on the Effective Time in accordance with the policies of SPG as in effect on the Effective Time or such other policies as may be adopted by SPG after the Effective Time ( provided , in the case of WPG, that SPG notifies WPG of any such change); provided , however , that in the case of any information relating to Taxes, such retention period shall be extended to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any extensions thereof).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Tax Matters Agreement will govern the retention of Tax-related records.

 

6.5                                            Limitations of Liability .  Neither Party shall have any Liability to the other Party in the event that any information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement is found to be inaccurate in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Party providing such information.  Neither Party shall have any Liability to any other Party if any information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts by such Party to comply with the provisions of Section 6.4 .

 

6.6                                Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information .

 

(a)                                  The rights and obligations granted under this Article VI are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange, retention or confidential treatment of information set forth in any Ancillary Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Any party that receives, pursuant to a request for information in accordance with this Article VI , Tangible Information that is not relevant to its request shall, at the request of the providing Party, (i) return it to the providing Party or, at the providing Party’s request, destroy such Tangible Information; and (ii) deliver to the providing Party written confirmation that such Tangible Information was returned or destroyed, as the case may be, which confirmation shall be signed by an authorized representative of the requesting Party.

 

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6.7                                Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  After the Effective Time, except in the case of an adversarial Action or Dispute between SPG and WPG, or any members of their respective Groups, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the other Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available without undue burden, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with any Action in which the requesting Party (or member of its Group) may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder.  The requesting Party shall bear all costs and expenses in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  If an Indemnifying Party chooses to defend or to seek to compromise or settle any Third-Party Claim, the other Party shall make available to such Indemnifying Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available without undue burden, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be, and shall otherwise cooperate in such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall cooperate and consult to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any Actions.

 

(d)                                  Without limiting any provision of this Section 6.7 , each of the Parties agrees to cooperate, and to cause each member of its respective Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense of any infringement or similar claim with respect any Intellectual Property and shall not claim to acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group to claim to acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any Intellectual Property of a third Person in a manner that would hamper or undermine the defense of such infringement or similar claim.

 

(e)                                   The obligation of the Parties to provide witnesses pursuant to this Section 6.7 is intended to be interpreted in a manner so as to facilitate cooperation and shall include the obligation to provide as witnesses, inventors and other officers without regard to whether the witness or the employer of the witness could assert a possible business conflict (subject to the exception set forth in the first sentence of Section 6.7(a) ).

 

6.8                                Privileged Matters .

 

(a)                                  The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and will be provided prior to the Effective Time have been and will be rendered for the

 

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collective benefit of each of the members of the SPG Group and the WPG Group, and that each of the members of the SPG Group and the WPG Group should be deemed to be the client with respect to such services for the purposes of asserting all privileges which may be asserted under applicable Law in connection therewith.  The parties recognize that legal and other professional services will be provided following the Effective Time, which services will be rendered solely for the benefit of the SPG Group or the WPG Group, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                  The Parties agree as follows:

 

(i)                                      SPG shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the SPG Business and not to the WPG Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the SPG Group or any member of the WPG Group.  SPG shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any SPG Liabilities resulting from any Actions that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the SPG Group or any member of the WPG Group;

 

(ii)                                   WPG shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the WPG Business and not to the SPG Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the WPG Group or any member of the SPG Group.  WPG shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any WPG Liabilities resulting from any Actions that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the WPG Group or any member of the SPG Group; and

 

(iii)                                if the Parties do not agree as to whether certain information is Privileged Information, then such information shall be treated as Privileged Information, and the Party that believes that such information is Privileged Information shall be entitled to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any such information unless the Parties otherwise agree.  The Parties shall use the procedures set forth in Article VII to resolve any disputes as to whether any information relates solely to the SPG Business, solely to the WPG Business, or to both the SPG Business and the WPG Business.

 

(c)                                   Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 6.8 , the Parties agree that they shall have a shared privilege or immunity with respect to all privileges and immunities not allocated pursuant to Section 6.8(b)  and all privileges and immunities relating to any Actions or other matters that involve both Parties (or one or more members of their respective Groups) and in respect of which both Parties have Liabilities under this Agreement, and that no such shared privilege or immunity may be waived by either Party without the consent of the other Party.

 

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(d)                                  If any Dispute arises between the Parties or any members of their respective Group regarding whether a privilege or immunity should be waived to protect or advance the interests of either Party and/or any member of their respective Group, each Party agrees that it shall (i) negotiate with the other Party in good faith; (ii) endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of the other Party; and (iii) not unreasonably withhold consent to any request for waiver by the other Party.  Further, each Party specifically agrees that it shall not withhold its consent to the waiver of a privilege or immunity for any purpose except in good faith to protect its own legitimate interests.

 

(e)                                   In the event of any adversarial Action or Dispute between SPG and WPG, or any members of their respective Groups, either Party may waive a privilege in which the other Party or member of such other Party’s Group has a shared privilege, without obtaining consent pursuant to Section 6.8(c) ; provided that such waiver of a shared privilege shall be effective only as to the use of information with respect to the Action between the Parties and/or the applicable members of their respective Groups, and shall not operate as a waiver of the shared privilege with respect to any Third Party.

 

(f)                                    Upon receipt by either Party, or by any member of its respective Group, of any subpoena, discovery or other request that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of Privileged Information subject to a shared privilege or immunity or as to which another Party has the sole right hereunder to assert a privilege or immunity, or if either Party obtains knowledge that any of its, or any member of its respective Group’s, current or former directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of the existence of the request (which notice shall be delivered to such other Party no later than five (5) business days following the receipt of any such subpoena, discovery or other request) and shall provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review the Privileged Information and to assert any rights it or they may have under this Section 6.8 or otherwise, to prevent the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information.

 

(g)                                   Any furnishing of, or access or transfer of, any information pursuant to this Agreement is made in reliance on the agreement of SPG and WPG set forth in this Section 6.8 and in Section 6.9 to maintain the confidentiality of Privileged Information and to assert and maintain all applicable privileges and immunities.  The Parties agree that their respective rights to any access to information, witnesses and other Persons, the furnishing of notices and documents and other cooperative efforts between the Parties contemplated by this Agreement, and the transfer of Privileged Information between the Parties and members of their respective Groups pursuant to this Agreement, shall not be deemed a waiver of any privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(h)                                  In connection with any matter contemplated by Section 6.7 or this Section 6.8 , the Parties agree to, and to cause the applicable members of their Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain their respective separate and joint privileges and immunities, including by executing joint defense and/or common interest agreements where necessary or useful for this purpose.

 

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6.9                                Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Confidentiality.  Subject to Section 6.10 , from and after the Effective Time until the five (5)-year anniversary of the Effective Time, each of SPG and WPG, on behalf of itself and each member of its respective Group, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective Representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to SPG’s confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time, all confidential and proprietary information concerning the other Party or any member of the other Party’s Group or their respective businesses that is either in its possession (including confidential and proprietary information in its possession prior to the date hereof) or furnished by any such other Party or any member of such Party’s Group or their respective Representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise, and shall not use any such confidential and proprietary information other than for such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except, in each case, to the extent that such confidential and proprietary information has been (i) in the public domain or generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by such Party or any member of such Party’s Group or any of their respective Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) later lawfully acquired from other sources by such Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality with respect to such confidential and proprietary information, or (iii) independently developed or generated without reference to or use of any proprietary or confidential information of the other Party or any member of such Party’s Group.  If any confidential and proprietary information of one Party or any member of its Group is disclosed to the other Party or any member of such other Party’s Group in connection with providing services to such first Party or any member of such first Party’s Group under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, then such disclosed confidential and proprietary information shall be used only as required to perform such services.

 

(b)                                  No Release; Return or Destruction.  Each Party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any information addressed in Section 6.9(a)  to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such information in their capacities as such (who shall be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such information), and except in compliance with Section 6.10 .  Without limiting the foregoing, when any such information is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, each Party will promptly after request of the other Party either return to the other Party all such information in a tangible form (including all copies thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or notify the other Party in writing that it has destroyed such information (and such copies thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon).

 

(c)                                   Third-Party Information; Privacy or Data Protection Laws.  Each Party acknowledges that it and members of its Group may presently have and, following the Effective Time, may gain access to or possession of confidential or proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties (i) that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements entered into between such Third Parties, on the one hand, and the other Party or members of such Party’s Group, on the other hand, prior to the Effective Time; or (ii) that, as between the two Parties, was originally collected by the other Party or members of such Party’s Group and that may be subject to and protected by privacy, data protection or other applicable

 

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Laws.  Each Party agrees that it shall hold, protect and use, and shall cause the members of its Group and its and their respective Representatives to hold, protect and use, in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties in accordance with privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws and the terms of any agreements that were either entered into before the Effective Time or affirmative commitments or representations that were made before the Effective Time by, between or among the other Party or members of the other Party’s Group, on the one hand, and such Third Parties, on the other hand.

 

6.10                                     Protective Arrangements .  In the event that a Party or any member of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any information pursuant to applicable Law or receives any request or demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide information of the other Party (or any member of the other Party’s Group) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such Party shall notify the other Party (to the extent legally permitted) as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prior to disclosing or providing such information and shall cooperate, at the expense of the other Party, in seeking any appropriate protective order requested by the other Party.  In the event that such other Party fails to receive such appropriate protective order in a timely manner and the Party receiving the request or demand reasonably determines that its failure to disclose or provide such information shall actually prejudice the Party receiving the request or demand, then the Party that received such request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by its counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority, and the disclosing Party shall promptly provide the other Party with a copy of the information so disclosed, in the same form and format so disclosed, together with a list of all Persons to whom such information was disclosed, in each case to the extent legally permitted.

 

ARTICLE VII
DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

7.1                                            Good-Faith Negotiation .  Subject to Section 7.4 , either Party seeking resolution of any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Ancillary Agreement (including regarding whether any Assets are WPG Assets, any Liabilities are WPG Liabilities or the validity, interpretation, breach or termination of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement) (a “ Dispute ”), shall provide written notice thereof to the other Party (the “ Initial Notice ”), and within thirty (30) days of the delivery of the Initial Notice, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the Dispute.  The negotiations shall be conducted by executives who hold, at a minimum, the title of vice president and who have the authority to settle the Dispute.  All such negotiations shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence.  If the Parties are unable for any reason to resolve a Dispute within thirty (30) days after the delivery of such notice or if a Party reasonably concludes that the other Party is not willing to negotiate as contemplated by this Section 7.1 , the Dispute shall be submitted to mediation in accordance with Section 7.2 .

 

7.2                                            Mediation .  Any Dispute not resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 shall, at the written request of a Party (a “ Mediation Request ”), be submitted to nonbinding mediation in

 

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accordance with the then current International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“ CPR ”) Mediation Procedure, except as modified herein.  The mediation shall be held in (i) Indianapolis, Indiana or (ii) such other place as the Parties may mutually agree in writing.  The Parties shall have twenty (20) days from receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request to agree on a mediator.  If no mediator has been agreed upon by the Parties within twenty (20) days of receipt by a party of a Mediation Request, then a Party may request (on written notice to the other Party), that CPR appoint a mediator in accordance with the CPR Mediation Procedure.  All mediation pursuant to this clause shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence, and no oral or documentary representations made by the Parties during such mediation shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings.  No Party shall disclose or permit the disclosure of any information about the evidence adduced or the documents produced by the other Party in the mediation proceedings or about the existence, contents or results of the mediation without the prior written consent of such other Party, except in the course of a judicial or regulatory proceeding or as may be required by Law or requested by a Governmental Authority or securities exchange.  Before making any disclosure permitted by the preceding sentence, the Party intending to make such disclosure shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, give the other Party reasonable written notice of the intended disclosure and afford the other party a reasonable opportunity to protect its interests.  If the Dispute has not been resolved within sixty (60) days of the appointment of a mediator, or within ninety (90) days after receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing, then the Dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with Section 7.3 .

 

7.3                                Arbitration .

 

(a)                                  In the event that a Dispute has not been resolved within sixty (60) days of the appointment of a mediator in accordance with Section 7.2 , or within ninety (90) days after receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing, then such Dispute shall, upon the written request of a Party (the “ Arbitration Request ”) be submitted to be finally resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.  The arbitration shall be held in the same location as the mediation pursuant to Section 7.2 .  Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, any Dispute to be decided pursuant to this Section 7.3 will be decided (i) before a sole arbitrator if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals less than $5 million; or (ii) by a panel of three (3) arbitrators if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals $5 million or more.

 

(b)                                  The panel of three (3) arbitrators will be chosen as follows:  (i) within fifteen (15) days from the date of the receipt of the Arbitration Request, each Party will name an arbitrator; and (ii) the two (2) Party-appointed arbitrators will thereafter, within thirty (30) days from the date on which the second of the two (2) arbitrators was named, name a third, independent arbitrator who will act as chairperson of the arbitral tribunal.  In the event that either Party fails to name an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request, then upon written application by either Party, that arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.  In the event that the two (2) Party-appointed arbitrators fail to appoint the third, then the third, independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.  If the arbitration will be before a sole

 

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independent arbitrator, then the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed by agreement of the Parties within fifteen (15) days of the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request.  If the Parties cannot agree to a sole independent arbitrator, then upon written application by either party, the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

 

(c)                                   The arbitrator(s) will have the right to award, on an interim basis, or include in the final award, any relief which it deems proper in the circumstances, including money damages (with interest on unpaid amounts from the due date), injunctive relief (including specific performance) and attorneys’ fees and costs; provided that the arbitrator(s) will not award any relief not specifically requested by the parties and, in any event, will not award any indirect, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages of the other arising in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such Liability with respect to a Third-Party Claim).  Upon selection of the arbitrator(s) following any grant of interim relief by a special arbitrator or court pursuant to Section 7.4 , the arbitrator(s) may affirm or disaffirm that relief, and the parties will seek modification or rescission of the order entered by the court as necessary to accord with the decision of the arbitrator(s).  The award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding on the Parties, and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.  The initiation of mediation or arbitration pursuant to this Article VII will toll the applicable statute of limitations for the duration of any such proceedings.

 

7.4                                            Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration .  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article VII , (a) a Party may seek preliminary provisional or injunctive judicial relief with respect to a Dispute without first complying with the procedures set forth in Section 7.1 , Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 if such action is reasonably necessary to avoid irreparable damage and (b) either Party may initiate arbitration before the expiration of the periods specified in Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 if (i) such Party has submitted a Mediation Request or Arbitration Request, as applicable, and the other party has failed, within the applicable periods set forth in Section 7.3 , to agree upon a date for the first mediation session to take place within thirty (30) days after the appointment of such mediator or such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing or (ii) such Party has failed to comply with Section 7.3 in good faith with respect to commencement and engagement in arbitration.  In such event, the other Party may commence and prosecute such arbitration unilaterally in accordance with the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

 

7.5                                            Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process .  Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective members of their Group to, continue to honor all commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to the extent required by such agreements during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article VII , unless such commitments are the specific subject of the Dispute at issue.

 

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ARTICLE VIII
FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

 

8.1                                Further Assurances .

 

(a)                                  In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts, prior to, on and after the Effective Time, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, regulations and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the Effective Time, each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other Party, and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party, to execute and deliver, or use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all Approvals or Notifications of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument (including any consents or Governmental Approvals), and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the WPG Assets and the SPG Assets and the assignment and assumption of the WPG Liabilities and the SPG Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  Without limiting the foregoing, each Party will, at the reasonable request, cost and expense of the other Party, take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to vest in such other Party good and marketable title to the Assets allocated to such Party under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, free and clear of any Security Interest, if and to the extent it is practicable to do so.

 

(c)                                   On or prior to the Effective Time, SPG and WPG in their respective capacities as direct and indirect shareholders of the members of their Groups, shall each ratify any actions which are reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by SPG, WPG or any of the members of their respective Groups, as the case may be, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

(d)                                  SPG and WPG, and each of the members of their respective Groups, waive (and agree not to assert against any of the others) any claim or demand that any of them may have against any of the others for any Liabilities or other claims relating to or arising out of:  (i) the failure of WPG or any other member of the WPG Group, on the one hand, or of SPG or any other member of the SPG Group, on the other hand, to provide any notification or disclosure required under any state Environmental Law in connection with the Separation or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the transfer by any member of any Group to any member of the other Group of ownership or operational control of any Assets not previously owned or operated by such transferee; or (ii) any inadequate, incorrect or incomplete notification or disclosure under any such state Environmental Law by the applicable transferor.  To the extent any Liability to any Governmental Authority or any third Person arises out of any

 

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action or inaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the transferee of the applicable Asset hereby assumes and agrees to pay any such Liability.

 

ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION

 

9.1                                            Termination .  This Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements may be terminated and the Distribution may be amended, modified or abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by SPG, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any other Person, including WPG or WPG LP.  After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties.

 

9.2                                            Effect of Termination .  In the event of any termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time, no Party (nor any of its directors, officers or employees) shall have any Liability or further obligation to the other Party by reason of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1                         Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits, Schedules and appendices hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

 

(c)                                   SPG represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the SPG Group, and WPG represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the WPG Group, as follows:

 

(i)                                      each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

 

(ii)                                   this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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(d)                                  Each Party acknowledges that it and each other Party is executing certain of the Ancillary Agreements by facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature, and that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.  Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it will not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause each such Ancillary Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

 

10.2                                     Governing Law .  This Agreement and, unless expressly provided therein, each Ancillary Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or thereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein and therein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Indiana irrespective of the choice of laws principles of the State of Indiana including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

10.3                                     Assignability .  Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and the parties thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that neither Party nor any such party thereto may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto or other parties thereto, as applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (except as may be otherwise provided in any such Ancillary Agreement) in whole ( i.e. , the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant party thereto by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party.  Nothing herein is intended to, or shall be construed to, prohibit either Party or any member of its Group from being party to or undertaking a change of control.

 

10.4                                     Third-Party Beneficiaries .  Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of any SPG Indemnitee or WPG Indemnitee in their respective capacities as such, (a) the provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder, and (b) there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any

 

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third person with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

10.5                                     Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement and, to the extent, applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under each of the Ancillary Agreements shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.5 ):

 

If to SPG, to:

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.
225 West Washington Street, 14th Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana  46204
Attention:  General Counsel
Facsimile:  (317) 685-7377

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York  10019
Attention:
                    Adam O. Emmerich
                                                                           Karessa L. Cain
Facsimile:
                    (212) 403-2000

 

If to WPG, to:

 

Washington Prime Group Inc.
7315 Wisconsin Avenue – 5th Floor
Bethesda, Maryland  20814
Attention:  General Counsel
Facsimile:       (240) 380-2721

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York  10019
Attention:
                    Adam O. Emmerich
                                                                           Karessa L. Cain
Facsimile:
                    (212) 403-2000

 

A Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

 

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10.6                         Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.  Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties.

 

10.7                         Force Majeure .  No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, any Ancillary Agreement for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) hereunder or thereunder so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligation is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure.  In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance of such obligations (other than a payment obligation) shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay.  A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide written notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

10.8                         No Set-Off .  Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement or as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, neither Party nor any member of such Party’s group shall have any right of set-off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to either such Party or any member of its Group arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

10.9                         Publicity .  Prior to the Effective Time, each of WPG and SPG shall consult with each other prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or under any Ancillary Agreement and prior to making any filings with any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.

 

10.10                  Expenses .  Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, all fees, costs and expenses incurred on or prior to the Effective Time in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, the Separation, the Registration Statement, the Plan of Reorganization, the plan of Separation, the WPG Financing Arrangements and the Distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will be borne by WPG LP, and any such fees, costs and expenses incurred after the Effective Time shall be borne by the Party or its applicable Subsidiary incurring such fees, costs or expenses.  As of the Effective Time, the Parties estimate that the aggregate amount of such costs and expenses incurred on or prior to the Effective Time is approximately $43 million, of which $18 million relates to the WPG Financing Arrangements.

 

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10.11                  Headings .  The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and in the Ancillary Agreements are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

10.12                  Survival of Covenants .  Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein, shall survive the Separation and the Distribution and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

10.13                  Waivers of Default .  Waiver by a Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the other Party.  No failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof prejudice any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

10.14                  Specific Performance .  Subject to the provisions of Article VII , in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief in respect of its or their rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.  The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.  Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties.

 

10.15                  Amendments .  No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by a Party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

 

10.16                  Interpretation .  In this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) as a whole (including all of the Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement (or such Ancillary Agreement); (c) Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit and Appendix references are to the Articles, Sections, Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) unless otherwise specified;  (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement; (e) the word “including” and words of

 

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similar import when used in this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (f) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (g) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days; (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the United States or Indianapolis, Indiana; (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall all be references to 27, 2014.

 

10.17                  Limitations of Liability .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but without limiting any recovery expressly provided by Section 7.2 , neither WPG or any member of the WPG Group, on the one hand, nor SPG or any member of the SPG Group, on the other hand, shall be liable under this Agreement to the other for any indirect, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages of the other arising in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such Liability with respect to a Third-Party Claim).

 

10.18                  Performance .  SPG will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the SPG Group.  WPG will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the WPG Group.  Each Party (including its permitted successors and assigns) further agrees that it will (a) give timely notice of the terms, conditions and continuing obligations contained in this Agreement and any applicable Ancillary Agreement to all of the other members of its Group and (b) cause all of the other members of its Group not to take any action or fail to take any such action inconsistent with such Party’s obligations under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

10.19                  Mutual Drafting .  This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Separation and Distribution Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

 

Name: James M. Barkley

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

 

Name: James M. Barkley

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Name: Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Title:  Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Name: Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Title:  Secretary and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

FORM OF WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.
2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

SECTION 1.                          Purpose; Definitions

 

The purpose of this Plan is to provide for Eligible Individuals of the Partnership and certain of its Affiliates an equity-based incentive to maintain and enhance the performance and profitability of the Partnership and the Company.

 

For purposes of this Plan, the following terms are defined as set forth below:

 

(a)                                  Affiliate ” means any entity which, at the time of reference, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Partnership; provided , however , that the Company and Affiliates of the Company shall be considered Affiliates of the Partnership.

 

(b)                                  Applicable Exchange means the New York Stock Exchange or such other securities exchange as may at the applicable time be the principal market for the Common Stock.

 

(c)                                   Award ” means a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, LTIP Unit, Performance Unit or Other Stock-Based Award granted pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

 

(d)                                  Award Agreement means a written or electronic document or agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of a specific Award.

 

(e)                                   Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(f)                                    Cause ” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (1) “Cause” as defined in any Individual Agreement to which the Participant is a party as of the Grant Date, or (2) if there is no such Individual Agreement or if it does not define Cause:  (A) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere by, the Participant for committing a felony under federal law or the law of the state in which such action occurred, (B) willful and deliberate failure on the part of the Participant to perform his or her employment duties in any material respect, (C) dishonesty in the course of fulfilling the Participant’s employment duties, (D) a material violation of the Company’s ethics and compliance program or (E) prior to a Change in Control, such other events as shall be determined by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the general rule of Section 2(c), following a Change in Control, any determination by the Committee as to whether “Cause” exists shall be subject to de novo review.

 

(g)                                   Change in Control ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e).

 



 

(h)                                  Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto, the Treasury Regulations thereunder and other relevant interpretive guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service or the Treasury Department.  Reference to any specific section of the Code shall be deemed to include such regulations and guidance, as well as any successor provision of the Code.

 

(i)                                      Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

 

(j)                                     Committee ” means the Committee referred to in Section 2.

 

(k)                                  Common Stock ” means common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company as constituted on the Effective Date, all rights which may hereafter trade with such shares of common stock, and any other shares into which such common stock shall thereafter be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or the like.

 

(l)                                      Company ” means Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation, or its successor.

 

(m)                              Corporate Transaction has the meaning set forth in Section 3(e).

 

(n)                                  Disability ” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, (1) “Disability” as defined in any Individual Agreement to which the Participant is a party, or (2) if there is no such Individual Agreement or it does not define “Disability,” permanent and total disability as determined under the Company’s Long-Term Disability Plan applicable to the Participant.

 

(o)                                  Disaffiliation means a Subsidiary’s or Affiliate’s ceasing to be a Subsidiary or Affiliate for any reason (including, without limitation, as a result of a public offering, or a spinoff or sale by the Company, of the stock of the Subsidiary or Affiliate) or a sale of a division of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

(p)                                  Effective Date has the meaning set forth in Section 13(a).

 

(q)                                  Eligible Individuals ” means directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Partnership or an Affiliate, and prospective directors, officers, employees and consultants or the Partnership or an Affiliate who have accepted offers of employment or consultancy from the Partnership or an Affiliate.

 

(r)                                     Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

 

(s)                                    Fair Market Value ” of a Share or a Unit means, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing price of a Share on the Applicable Exchange on the date of

 

2



 

measurement or, if Shares were not traded on the Applicable Exchange on such measurement date, then on the next preceding date on which Shares were traded on the Applicable Exchange, as reported by such source as the Committee may select.  If there is no regular public trading market for such Common Stock, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and, to the extent applicable, such determination shall be made in a manner that satisfies Section 409A and, if applicable, Section 422(c)(1) of the Code.

 

(t)                                     Free-Standing SAR has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

 

(u)                                  Full-Value Award ” means any Award other than a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(v)                                  General Partner ” means Washington Prime Group Inc. (or any successor thereto), the general partner of the Partnership.

 

(w)                                Grant Date means the date which the Committee designates for granting of an Award, which shall be no earlier than the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution memorializing such grant.

 

(x)                                  Incentive Stock Option ” means any Stock Option designated in the applicable Award Agreement as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and that in fact so qualifies.

 

(y)                                  Incumbent Board has the meaning set forth in Section 11(e)(ii).

 

(z)                                   Individual Agreement ” means an employment, consulting or similar agreement between a Participant and the Partnership or an Affiliate, and, after a Change in Control, a change in control or salary continuation agreement between a Participant and the Partnership or an Affiliate.  If a Participant is party to both an employment agreement and a change in control or salary continuation agreement, the employment agreement shall be the relevant “Individual Agreement” prior to a Change in Control, and, the change in control or salary continuation agreement shall be the relevant “Individual Agreement” after a Change in Control.

 

(aa)                           LTIP Units ” mean long-term incentive plan interests in the Partnership created under the Partnership Agreement and granted under Section 8(a) which, under certain conditions, are convertible into Units.

 

(bb)                           Nonqualified Stock Option ” means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(cc)                             Other Stock-Based Award means Awards of Common Stock and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based upon, Common Stock,

 

3



 

including (without limitation) unrestricted stock, dividend equivalents, and convertible debentures.

 

(dd)                           Participant means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award is or has been granted.

 

(ee)                             Partnership ” means Washington Prime Group, L.P., an Indiana partnership, or its successor.

 

(ff)                               Partnership Agreement ” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, as in effect on the Effective Date and as amended or restated from time to time thereafter, including any certificates of designation establishing the powers, preferences, economic rights and conditions to vesting of a series of LTIP Units.

 

(gg)                             Performance Goals ” means the performance goals established by the Committee in connection with the grant of an Award.  In the case of Qualified Performance-Based Awards that are intended to qualify under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, (i) such goals shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one or more of the following measures:  (A) earnings per share; (B) return on equity; (C) return on assets; (D) market value per share; (E) funds from operations; (F) return to stockholders (including dividends); (G) revenues; (H) cash flow; (I) cost reduction goals; (J) implementation or completion of critical activities, including achieving goals set for development, leasing and marketing activities; (K) return on capital deployed; (L) debt, credit or other leverage measures or ratios; (M) improvement in cash flow; and (N) net operating income, in each case with respect to the Partnership, an Affiliate or any one or more Subsidiaries, divisions, business units or business segments thereof, either in absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more other companies (including an index covering multiple companies) and (ii) such Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee within the time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(hh)                           Performance Period ” means that period established by the Committee at the time any Performance Unit is granted or at any time thereafter during which any Performance Goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are to be measured.

 

(ii)                                   Performance Unit ” means any Award granted under Section 9 of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of cash or property other than Shares, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or thereafter.

 

(jj)                                 Plan ” means the Washington Prime Group, L.P. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as hereinafter amended from time to time.

 

(kk)                           Qualified Performance-Based Award ” means an Award intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, as provided in Section 12.

 

4



 

(ll)                                   Replaced Award ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

 

(mm)                   Replacement Award ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

 

(nn)                           Restricted Stock ” means an Award granted under Section 6.

 

(oo)                           Restricted Stock Unit has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

(pp)                           Restriction Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(ii).

 

(qq)                           Retirement ” means, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (i) retirement from active employment with the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to the early or normal retirement provisions of the applicable retirement plan of such employer or (ii) pursuant to the retirement scheme applicable under local law or the local policies and procedures of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(rr)                                 Section 16(b) has the meaning set forth in Section 12(d).

 

(ss)                               Section 162(m) Exemption ” means the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code that is set forth in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

 

(tt)                                 Share means a share of Common Stock.

 

(uu)                           Stock Appreciation Right means an Award granted under Section 5(b) or 5(c).

 

(vv)                           Stock Option ” means an Award granted under Section 5(a).

 

(ww)                       Subsidiary ” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity during any period in which at least a 50% voting or profits interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership or an Affiliate or any successor thereto.

 

(xx)                           Tandem SAR has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

 

(yy)                           Term means the maximum period during which a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may remain outstanding, subject to earlier termination upon Termination of Employment or otherwise, as specified in the applicable Award Agreement or other document approved by the Committee.

 

(zz)                             Termination of Employment ” means the termination of the applicable Participant’s employment with, or performance of services for, the Partnership and all Subsidiaries and Affiliates.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, (i) if a Participant’s employment with the Partnership and all Subsidiaries and Affiliates terminates but such Participant continues to provide services to the Partnership or a Subsidiary or Affiliate in a non-employee capacity, such change in status shall not be deemed a Termination of Employment and (ii) a Participant employed by, or performing services for, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate or a

 

5



 

division of the Partnership shall also be deemed to incur a Termination of Employment if, as a result of a Disaffiliation, such Subsidiary, Affiliate or division ceases to be a Subsidiary, Affiliate or division, as the case may be, and the Participant does not immediately thereafter become an employee of, or service provider for, the Partnership or another Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Temporary absences from employment because of illness, vacation or leave of absence and transfers among the Partnership and Subsidiaries and Affiliates shall not be considered Terminations of Employment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, with respect to any Award that constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, a Participant shall not be considered to have experienced a “Termination of Employment” unless the Participant has experienced a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (a “ Separation from Service ”).

 

(aaa)                    Units ” means units of limited partnership interests of the Partnership, as defined in the Partnership Agreement, which are exchangeable for shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis or an equivalent amount of cash, as selected by the General Partner of the Partnership.

 

In addition, certain other terms used herein have definitions given to them in the first place in which they are used.

 

SECTION 2.                          Administration

 

(a)                                  Committee .  The Partnership, acting through the Company as its General Partner, hereby appoints the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors as administrator of the Plan, which committee shall be composed of not less than two directors, and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee shall have absolute authority:

 

(i)                                      To select the Eligible Individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;

 

(ii)                                   To determine whether and to what extent Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, LTIP Units, Performance Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or any combination thereof are to be granted hereunder;

 

(iii)                                To determine the number of Shares or LTIP Units to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv)                               To approve the form of any Award Agreement and determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, including, but not limited to, the exercise price (subject to Section 5(a)), any vesting condition, restriction or limitation

 

6



 

(which may be related to the performance of the Participant, the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) and any vesting acceleration or forfeiture waiver regarding any Award and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors as the Committee shall determine;

 

(v)                                  To modify, amend or adjust the terms and conditions of any Award (subject to Sections 5(a) and 5(b)), at any time or from time to time, including, but not limited to, Performance Goals; provided , however , that the Committee may not adjust upwards the amount payable with respect to any Qualified Performance-Based Award;

 

(vi)                               To determine to what extent and under what circumstances Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred;

 

(vii)                            To determine under what circumstances an Award may be settled in cash, Shares, other property or a combination of the foregoing;

 

(viii)                         To determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares and other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant;

 

(ix)                               To adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing this Plan as it shall from time to time deem advisable;

 

(x)                                  To establish any “blackout” period that the Committee in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable;

 

(xi)                               To interpret the terms and provisions of this Plan and any Award issued under this Plan (and any Award Agreement relating thereto);

 

(xii)                            To decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award; and

 

(xiii)                         To otherwise administer this Plan.

 

(b)                                  Procedures .

 

(i)                                      The Committee may act only by a majority of its members then in office, except that the Committee may, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the listing standards of the Applicable Exchange and subject to Section 12, allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it.  Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.

 

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(ii)                                   Subject to Section 12(c), any authority granted to the Committee may be exercised by the full Board.  To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with action taken by the Committee, the Board action shall control.

 

(c)                                   Discretion of Committee .  Subject to Section 1(g), any determination made by the Committee or pursuant to delegated authority under the provisions of this Plan with respect to any Award shall be made in the sole discretion of the Committee or such delegate at the time of the grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of this Plan, at any time thereafter.  All decisions made by the Committee or any appropriately delegated officer pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons, including the Company, Participants and Eligible Individuals.

 

(d)                                  Cancellation or Suspension .  Subject to Section 5(d), the Committee shall have full power and authority to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances any Award shall be canceled or suspended.

 

(e)                                   Award Agreements.   The terms and conditions of each Award, as determined by the Committee, shall be set forth in a written (or electronic) Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant receiving such Award upon, or as promptly as is reasonably practicable following, the grant of such Award.  The effectiveness of an Award shall be subject to the Award Agreement being signed by the Company and the Participant receiving the Award unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement.  Award Agreements may be amended only in accordance with Section 13(d) hereof.

 

SECTION 3.                          Common Stock Subject to Plan

 

(a)                                  Plan Maximums The maximum number of Shares that may be granted pursuant to Awards under this Plan shall be 10,000,000.  The maximum number of Shares that may be granted pursuant to Stock Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be 3,000,000 Shares.  Shares subject to an Award under this Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares.

 

(b)                                  Individual Limits .  No Participant may be granted Awards (other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights) in any calendar year covering in excess of 500,000 Shares, less the number of Shares covered by Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to such Participant in such calendar year.  No Participant may be granted Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in any calendar year covering in excess of 500,000 Shares, less the number of Shares covered by Awards other than Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to such Participant in such calendar year.

 

(c)                                   Rules for Calculating Shares Delivered .  To the extent that any Award is forfeited, terminates, expires or lapses instead of being exercised, or any Award is settled for cash, the Shares subject to such Awards not delivered as a result thereof shall again be available for Awards under this Plan.  If the exercise price of any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right and/or the tax withholding obligations relating to any Award are satisfied by delivering Shares (either actually or through a signed document affirming the Participant’s ownership and

 

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delivery of such Shares) or withholding Shares relating to such Award, the net number of Shares subject to the Award after payment of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations shall be deemed to have been granted for purposes of the first sentence of Section 3(a).

 

(d)                                  LTIP Units .  Each Unit into which an Award of LTIP Units may become convertible shall be treated as one share of Common Stock for purposes of this Section 3.

 

(e)                                   Adjustment Provisions .

 

(i)                                      In the event of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, stock rights offering, liquidation, disposition for consideration of the Company’s direct or indirect ownership of a Subsidiary or Affiliate (including by reason of a Disaffiliation), or similar event affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “ Corporate Transaction ”), the Committee or the Board may in its discretion make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities reserved for issuance and delivery under this Plan, (ii) the various maximum limitations set forth in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) upon certain types of Awards and upon the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards, (iii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards; and (iv) the exercise price of outstanding Awards.

 

(ii)                                   In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, share combination, or recapitalization or similar event affecting the capital structure of the Company or the Partnership, or a Disaffiliation, separation or spinoff, in each case without consideration, or other extraordinary dividend of cash or other property to the Company’s shareholders or the Partnership’s unitholders, the Committee or the Board shall make such substitutions or adjustments as it deems appropriate and equitable to (A) the aggregate number and kind of Shares or other securities reserved for issuance and delivery under this Plan, (B) the various maximum limitations set forth in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) upon certain types of Awards and upon the grants to individuals of certain types of Awards, (C) the number and kind of Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Awards; (D) the exercise price of outstanding Awards; and (E) such other terms and conditions of Awards as may be determined by the Committee or the Board.

 

(iii)                                In the case of Corporate Transactions, such adjustments may include, without limitation, (1) the cancellation of outstanding Awards in exchange for payments of cash, property or a combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the value of such Awards, as determined by the Committee or the Board in its sole discretion (it being understood that in the case of a Corporate Transaction with respect to which shareholders of Common Stock receive consideration other than publicly traded equity securities of the ultimate surviving entity, any such determination by the Committee that the value of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall for this purpose be deemed to equal the excess, if any, of the value of the consideration being paid for each Share pursuant to such Corporate Transaction over the exercise price of such Stock Option or Stock

 

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Appreciation Right shall conclusively be deemed valid); (2) the substitution of other property (including, without limitation, cash or other securities of the Company and securities of entities other than the Company) for the Shares subject to outstanding Awards; and (3) in connection with any Disaffiliation, arranging for the assumption of Awards, or replacement of Awards with new awards based on other property or other securities (including, without limitation, other securities of the Company and securities of entities other than the Company), by the affected Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division or by the entity that controls such Subsidiary, Affiliate, or division following such Disaffiliation (as well as any corresponding adjustments to Awards that remain based upon Company securities).  The Committee may adjust the Performance Goals applicable to any Awards to reflect any unusual or non-recurring events and other extraordinary items, impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, and the cumulative effects of accounting or tax changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles or as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or other the Company’s filings with the Commission, provided that in the case of Performance Goals applicable to any Qualified Performance-Based Awards, such adjustment does cause any such Award to cease being a Qualified Performance-Based Award.

 

(iv)                               A ny adjustments made pursuant to this Section 3(e) to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; and (ii) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 3(e) to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustments, either (A) the Awards continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or (B) there does not result in the imposition of any penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code in respect of such Awards.

 

(v)                                  Any adjustment under this Section 3(e) need not be the same for all Participants.

 

SECTION 4.                          Eligibility

 

Awards may be granted under this Plan to Eligible Individuals; provided , however , that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company and a parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively).

 

SECTION 5.                          Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

 

(a)                                  Types of Stock Options .  Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan and may be of two types:  Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options.  The Award Agreement for a Stock Option shall indicate whether the Stock Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

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(b)                                  Types and Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights.   Stock Appreciation Rights may be “Tandem SARs,” which are granted in conjunction with a Stock Option, or “Free-Standing SARs,” which are not granted in conjunction with a Stock Option.  Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash, Shares, or both, in value equal to the product of (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one Share over the exercise price of the applicable Stock Appreciation Right, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised.  The applicable Award Agreement shall specify whether such payment is to be made in cash or Common Stock or both, or shall reserve to the Committee or the Participant the right to make that determination prior to or upon the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(c)                                   Tandem SARs .  A Tandem SAR may be granted at the Grant Date of the related Stock Option.  A Tandem SAR shall be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that the related Stock Option is exercisable in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5, and shall have the same exercise price as the related Stock Option.  A Tandem SAR shall terminate or be forfeited upon the exercise or forfeiture of the related Stock Option, and the related Stock Option shall terminate or be forfeited upon the exercise or forfeiture of the Tandem SAR.

 

(d)                                  Exercise Price .  The exercise price per Share subject to a Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date.  In no event may any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan be amended, other than pursuant to Section 3(e), to decrease the exercise price thereof, be cancelled in exchange for cash or other Awards or in conjunction with the grant of any new Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR with a lower exercise price, or otherwise be subject to any action that would be treated, under the Applicable Exchange listing standards or for accounting purposes, as a “repricing” of such Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR, unless such amendment, cancellation, or action is approved by the Company’s shareholders.

 

(e)                                   Term .  The Term of each Stock Option and each Free-Standing SAR shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR shall be exercisable more than 10 years after its Grant Date.

 

(f)                                    Exercisability .  Except as otherwise provided herein, Stock Options and Free-Standing SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

(g)                                   Method of Exercise .  Subject to the provisions of this Section 5, Stock Options and Free-Standing SARs may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time during the Term thereof by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option to be purchased, or subject to the Free-Standing SAR as to which exercised.

 

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In the case of the exercise of a Stock Option, such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate purchase price (which shall equal the product of such number of Shares subject to such Stock Options multiplied by the applicable exercise price) by certified or bank check, wire transfer, or such other instrument or method as the Company may accept. If provided for in the applicable Award Agreement as approved by the Committee, payment in full or in part may also be made as follows:

 

(i)                                      In the form of unrestricted Common Stock (by delivery of such shares or by attestation) already owned by the Participant of the same class as the Common Stock subject to the Stock Option (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Stock Option is exercised); provided , however , that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant shall only have the right to make a payment in the form of already owned shares of Common Stock of the same class as the Common Stock subject to the Stock Option if such right is set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   To the extent permitted by applicable law, by delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Company, together with a copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of stock necessary to pay the purchase price, and, if requested, the amount of any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes.  To facilitate the foregoing, the Company may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with one or more brokerage firms.

 

(iii)                                By instructing the Company to withhold a number of such shares having a Fair Market Value (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the applicable Stock Option is exercised) equal to the product of (A) the exercise price per Share multiplied by (B) the number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which the Stock Option shall have been exercised.

 

(h)                                  Delivery; Rights of Shareholders .  A Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right until the exercise price therefor has been fully paid and applicable taxes have been withheld.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 5(l), a Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company holding the class or series of Common Stock that is subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right (including, if applicable, the right to vote the applicable Shares), when the Participant (i) has given written notice of exercise, (ii) if requested, has given the representation described in Section 15(a) and (iii) in the case of a Stock Option, has paid in full for such Shares.

 

(i)                                      Nontransferability of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights .  No Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR shall be transferable by a Participant other than, for no value or consideration, (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; or (ii) in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option or Free-Standing SAR, as otherwise expressly permitted by the Committee including, if so permitted, pursuant to a transfer to such Participant’s family members, whether directly or indirectly or by means of a trust or partnership or otherwise (for

 

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purposes of this Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, “family member” shall have the meaning given to such term in General Instructions A.1(a)(5) to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto).  A Tandem SAR shall be transferable only with the related Stock Option as permitted by the preceding sentence.  Any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable, subject to the terms of this Plan, only by the Participant, the guardian or legal representative of the Participant, or any person to whom such stock option is transferred pursuant to this Section 5(i), it being understood that the term “holder” and “Participant” include such guardian, legal representative and other transferee; provided, however , that the term “Termination of Employment” shall continue to refer to the Termination of Employment of the original Participant.

 

(j)                                     Termination of Employment .  The effect of a Participant’s Termination of Employment on any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right then held by the Participant shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or any other document approved by the Committee and applicable to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.  In no event shall a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable after the expiration of its Term.

 

(k)                                  Additional Rules for Incentive Stock Options .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no Stock Option which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option may be granted to any Eligible Employee who at the time of such grant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless at the time such Stock Option is granted the exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share and such Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such Stock Option is granted.  In addition, the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined at the time a Stock Option for the Common Stock is granted) for which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year, under all of the incentive stock option plans of the Company and of any Subsidiary, may not exceed $100,000.  To the extent a Stock Option that by its terms was intended to be an Incentive Stock Option exceeds this $100,000 limit, the portion of the Stock Option in excess of such limit shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

(l)                                      Dividends and Dividend Equivalents .  Dividends (whether paid in cash or Shares) and dividend equivalents shall not be paid or accrued on Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights unless provided by the Committee; provided that Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be adjusted under certain circumstances in accordance with the terms of Section 3(e).

 

SECTION 6.                          Restricted Stock

 

(a)                                  Administration .  Shares of Restricted Stock are actual Shares issued to a Participant and may be awarded either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan.  The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals to whom and the time or times at which grants of Restricted Stock will be awarded, the number of shares to be awarded to any Eligible Individual, the conditions for vesting, the time or times within which such shares of

 

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Restricted Stock may be subject to forfeiture and any other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock, in addition to those contained in Section 6(c).

 

(b)                                  Book-Entry Registration or Certificated Shares .  Shares of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock certificates.  If any certificate is issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, such certificates shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:

 

The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Washington Prime Group, L.P. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan and an Award Agreement.  Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the offices of Washington Prime Group Inc., 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, 5 th  Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

 

The Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the applicable Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.

 

(c)                                   Terms and Conditions .  Shares of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as are set forth in this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or other document approved by the Committee (including the vesting or forfeiture provisions applicable upon a Termination of Employment):

 

(i)                                      The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition (A) the vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock upon the continued service of the applicable Participant, or (B) the grant or vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant.  If the Committee conditions the grant or vesting of an Award of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant, the Committee may, prior to or at the time of grant, designate an Award of Restricted Stock as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of Restricted Stock Awards (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

 

(ii)                                   Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, during the period, if any, set by the Committee, commencing with the Grant Date of the Award and during which the vesting restrictions apply (the “ Restriction Period ”), the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber Shares of Restricted Stock.

 

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(d)                                  Rights of a Shareholder .  Except as provided in this Section 6 and the applicable Award Agreement, the applicable Participant shall have, with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company holding the class or series of Common Stock that is the subject of the Restricted Stock, including, if applicable, the right to vote the shares and the right to receive any dividends.  As determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement and subject to Section 15(e), (A) cash dividends on the class or series of Common Stock that is the subject of the Restricted Stock Award shall be payable in cash and shall, as determined by the Committee, be either (i) held subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock, or held subject to meeting Performance Goals applicable only to dividends, or (ii) distributed in full or in part without regard to the vested status of the underlying Restricted Stock and (B) dividends payable in Common Stock shall be paid in the form of Restricted Stock of the same class as the Common Stock with which such dividend was paid, and shall, as determined by the Committee, be either (i) held subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock, or held subject to meeting Performance Goals applicable only to dividends, or (ii) distributed in full or in part without regard to the vested status of the underlying Restricted Stock.

 

(e)                                   Delivery of Unlegended Certificates .  If and when any applicable Performance Goals are satisfied and the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Shares of Restricted Stock for which legended certificates have been issued, unlegended certificates for such Shares shall be delivered to the Participant upon surrender of the legended certificates.

 

SECTION 7.                          Restricted Stock Units

 

(a)                                  Administration.   Restricted stock units and deferred share rights (together, “ Restricted Stock Units ”) are Awards denominated in Shares that will be settled, subject to the terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Units, in an amount in cash, Shares, or both, based upon the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares.  The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals to whom and the time or times at which grants of Restricted Stock Units will be awarded, the number of shares in respect of which any granted Restricted Stock Units shall relate, the conditions for vesting, the time or times within which such Restricted Stock Units may be subject to forfeiture and any other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Units, in addition to those contained in Section 7(b).

 

(b)                                  Terms and Conditions .  Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as are set forth in this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or other document approved by the Committee (including the vesting or forfeiture provisions applicable upon a Termination of Employment):

 

(i)                                      The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition (A) the vesting of Restricted Stock Units upon the continued service of the applicable Participant, or (B) the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock Units upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant.  If the Committee conditions the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock Units upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and

 

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the continued service of the applicable Participant, the Committee may, prior to or at the time of grant, designate the Restricted Stock Units as a Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of Restricted Stock Units (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each recipient.  An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be settled as and when the Restricted Stock Units vest, at a later time specified by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, or, if the Committee so permits, in accordance with an election of the Participant.

 

(ii)                                   Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period, if any, set by the Committee, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber Restricted Stock Units.

 

(c)                                   Rights of a Shareholder .  A Participant to whom Restricted Stock Units are awarded shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the Shares represented by the Restricted Stock Units unless and until Shares are actually delivered to the Participant in settlement thereof.  As determined by the Committee and subject to Section 15(e), either (i) an Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted to reflect deemed reinvestment in additional Restricted Stock Units of the dividends that would be paid and distributions that would be made with respect to the Award of Restricted Stock Units if it consisted of actual Shares, or (ii) dividend equivalents shall be paid on Restricted Stock Units in respect of such dividends and distributions, without regard to the vested status of the underlying Restricted Stock Units.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if an adjustment to an Award of Restricted Stock Units is made pursuant to Section 3(e) as a result of any dividend or distribution, no increase to such Award (by means of deemed reinvestment in additional Restricted Stock Units) shall be made, and no dividend equivalents shall be paid, under this Section 7(c) as a result of the same dividend or distribution.

 

SECTION 8.                          LTIP Units

 

(a)                                  Administration .  The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals to whom and the time or times at which grants of LTIP Units will be awarded, the number of LTIP Units to be awarded to any Eligible Individual, the conditions for vesting, the time or times within which such LTIP Units may be subject to forfeiture and any other terms and conditions of the LTIP Units, in addition to those contained in Section 8(b).

 

(b)                                  Terms and Conditions .  LTIP Units shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as are set forth in this Plan, the Partnership Agreement, Certificate of Designation of LTIP Units, the applicable Award Agreement or such other document approved by the Committee (including the vesting or forfeiture provisions applicable upon a Termination of Employment):

 

(i)                                      The Committee shall, prior to or at the time of grant, condition (A) the vesting of an Award of LTIP Units upon the continued service of the applicable Participant, or

 

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(B) the grant or vesting of an Award of LTIP Units upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant.  If the Committee conditions the grant or vesting of an Award of LTIP Units upon the attainment of Performance Goals or the attainment of Performance Goals and the continued service of the applicable Participant, the Committee may, prior to or at the time of grant, designate an Award of LTIP Units as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of LTIP Unit Awards (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

 

(ii)                                   Each LTIP Unit Award under the Plan shall relate to a specified number of Units.  LTIP Units shall be convertible into Units once vested and in accordance with the other terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Partnership Agreement and the applicable Certificate of Designation of LTIP Units.  Units into which LTIP Units are converted shall be exchangeable, in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, or cash, as selected by the General Partner (or such other form of consideration equivalent in value thereto as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) at such time and on such terms as may be established by the Committee and in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the applicable Certificate of Designation of LTIP Units.

 

(iii)                                Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period of an LTIP Unit Award, the Participant shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber the LTIP Units subject to such Award.

 

(c)                                   Rights of a Shareholder or Unitholder .  A Participant to whom LTIP Units are awarded shall have no rights as a holder of Units until such LTIP Units are converted into Units, and shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the Shares for which such Units may be exchanged unless and until so exchanged and Shares are actually delivered to the Participant in settlement thereof.  A Participant’s rights to distributions in respect of LTIP Units, if any, shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement and the applicable Certificate of Designation of LTIP Units.

 

SECTION 9.                          Performance Units

 

Performance Units may be issued hereunder to Eligible Individuals, for no cash consideration or for such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under this Plan.  The Performance Goals to be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance Period shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the resolution fixing the Grant Date for each Performance Unit.  The Committee may, in connection with the grant of Performance Units, designate them as Qualified Performance-Based Awards.  The conditions for grant or vesting and the other provisions of Performance Units (including without limitation any applicable Performance Goals) need not be the same with respect to each recipient.  Performance Units may be paid in cash, Shares, other property or any

 

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combination thereof, in the sole discretion of the Committee as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or other document approved by the Committee.  Each Performance Unit award will be evidenced by an Award Agreement or other document approved by the Committee that specifies the date and terms of the award and such additional limitations, terms and conditions as the Committee may determine.  The maximum value of the property, including cash, that may be paid or distributed to any Participant pursuant to Performance Units which were originally granted in any one calendar year shall be $5,000,000.

 

SECTION 10.                   Other Stock-Based Awards

 

Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone or in conjunction with other Awards granted under this Plan.

 

SECTION 11.                   Change-in-Control Provisions

 

(a)                                  General .  The provisions of this Section 11 shall, subject to Section 3(e), apply notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, except to the extent the Committee specifically provides otherwise in an Award Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Impact of Change in Control.   Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement: (i) all then-outstanding Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall become fully vested and exercisable, and all Full-Value Awards (other than performance-based Awards) shall vest in full, be free of restrictions, and be deemed to be earned and payable in an amount equal to the full value of such Award, except in each case to the extent that another Award meeting the requirements of Section 11(c) (any award meeting the requirements of Section 11(c), a “ Replacement Award ”) is provided to the Participant pursuant to Section 3(e) to replace such Award (any award intended to be replaced by a Replacement Award, a “ Replaced Award ”), and (ii) any performance-based Award that is not replaced by a Replacement Award shall be deemed to be earned and payable in an amount equal to the full value of such performance-based Award (with all applicable Performance Goals deemed achieved at the greater of (x) the applicable target level and (y) the level of achievement of the Performance Goals for the Award as determined by the Committee not later than the date of the Change in Control, taking into account performance through the latest date preceding the Change in Control as to which performance can, as a practical matter, be determined (but not later than the end of the applicable Performance Period)).

 

(c)                                   Replacement Awards.   An Award shall meet the conditions of this Section 11(c) (and hence qualify as a Replacement Award) if: (i) it is of the same type as the Replaced Award; (ii) it has a value equal to the value of the Replaced Award as of the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion consistent with Section 3(e); (iii) the underlying Replaced Award was an equity-based award, it relates to publicly traded equity securities of the Company or the entity surviving the Company following the Change in Control; (iv) it contains terms relating to vesting (including with respect to a Termination of Employment) that are substantially identical to those of the Replaced Award; and (v) its other terms and conditions are not less favorable to the Participant than the terms and conditions of the

 

18



 

Replaced Award (including the provisions that would apply in the event of a subsequent Change in Control) as of the date of the Change in Control.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Replacement Award may take the form of a continuation of the applicable Replaced Award if the requirements of the preceding sentence are satisfied.  If a Replacement Award is granted, the Replaced Award shall not vest upon the Change in Control.  The determination whether the conditions of this Section 11(c) are satisfied shall be made by the Committee, as constituted immediately before the Change in Control, in its sole discretion.

 

(d)                                  Termination of Employment.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary and unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon a Termination of Employment of a Participant by the Company other than for Cause within 24 months following a Change in Control, (i) all Replacement Awards held by such Participant shall vest in full, be free of restrictions, and be deemed to be earned in full (with respect to Performance Goals, unless otherwise agreed in connection with the Change in Control, at the greater of (x) the applicable target level and (y) the level of achievement of the Performance Goals for the Award as determined by the Committee taking into account performance through the latest date preceding the Termination of Employment as to which performance can, as a practical matter, be determined (but not later than the end of the applicable Performance Period)), and (ii) unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right held by the Participant as of the date of the Change in Control that remains outstanding as of the date of such Termination of Employment may thereafter be exercised until the expiration of the stated full Term of such Nonqualified Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(e)                                   Definition of Change in Control .  For purposes of this Plan, a “ Change in Control ” shall mean the happening of any of the following events:

 

(i)                                      any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its subsidiaries), together with all “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such person, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

(ii)                                   individuals who, immediately following the consummation of the distribution of the Common Stock to the shareholders of Simon Property Group Inc., constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors

 

19



 

then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board;

 

(iii)                                a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, in each case unless, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (A) more than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their beneficial ownership, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the Company’s outstanding voting securities, (B) no person (excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan or related trust of the Company or such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and any person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation;

 

(iv)                               the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to a corporation with respect to which following such sale or other disposition (x) more than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Company’s outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their beneficial ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Company’s outstanding voting securities, (y) no person (excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan or related trust of the Company or such corporation and any person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (z) at least a majority of the

 

20



 

members of the board of directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company; or

 

(v)                                  approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

SECTION 12.                   Qualified Performance-Based Awards; Section 16(b); Section 409A

 

(a)                                  The provisions of this Plan are intended to ensure that all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder to any Participant who is or may be a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code) in the tax year in which such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right is expected to be deductible to the Company qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all such Awards shall therefore be considered Qualified Performance-Based Awards and this Plan shall be interpreted and operated consistent with that intention (including, without limitation, to require that all such Awards be granted by a committee composed solely of members who satisfy the requirements for being “outside directors” for purposes of the Section 162(m) Exemption (“ Outside Directors ”)). When granting any Award other than a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee may designate such Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, based upon a determination that (i) the recipient is or may be a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code) with respect to such Award, and (ii) the Committee wishes such Award to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, and the terms of any such Award (and of the grant thereof) shall be consistent with such designation (including, without limitation, that all such Awards be granted by a committee composed solely of Outside Directors). To the extent required to comply with the Section 162(m) Exemption, no later than 90 days following the commencement of a Performance Period or, if earlier, by the expiration of 25% of a Performance Period, the Committee will designate one or more Performance Periods, determine the Participants for the Performance Periods and establish the Performance Goals for the Performance Periods.

 

(b)                                  Each Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right) shall be earned, vested and/or payable (as applicable) upon the achievement of one or more Performance Goals, together with the satisfaction of any other conditions, such as continued employment, as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.

 

(c)                                   The full Board shall not be permitted to exercise authority granted to the Committee to the extent that the grant or exercise of such authority would cause an Award designated as a Qualified Performance-Based Award not to qualify for, or to cease to qualify for, the Section 162(m) Exemption.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding the above, Section 12(a), (b) and (c) shall apply only to the extent the Committee determines that Awards granted hereunder are subject to Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

21



 

(e)                                   The provisions of this Plan are intended to ensure that no transaction under this Plan is subject to (and all such transactions will be exempt from) the short-swing recovery rules of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (“ Section 16(b) ”).  Accordingly, the composition of the Committee shall be subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate to permit transactions pursuant to this Plan to be exempt (pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) from Section 16(b) (to the extent Section 16(b) otherwise would be applicable), and no delegation of authority by the Committee shall be permitted if such delegation would cause any such transaction to be subject to (and not exempt from) Section 16(b).

 

(f)                                    The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption or exclusion therefrom and, with respect to amounts that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, it is intended that this Plan be administered in all respects in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.  Each payment under any Award that constitutes non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.  In no event may a Participant, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under any Award that constitutes non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company), amounts that constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be payable by reason of a Participant’s Separation from Service during the six-month period immediately following such Separation from Service shall instead be paid or provided on the first business day following the date that is six months following the Participant’s Separation from Service.  If the Participant dies following the Separation from Service and prior to the payment of any amounts delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be paid to the personal representative of the Participant’s estate within 30 days following the date of the Participant’s death.

 

SECTION 13.                   Term, Amendment and Termination

 

(a)                                  Effectiveness .  The Plan was approved by the Board, the Partnership and Simon Property Group, Inc, as the Company’s sole shareholder, on         , 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”).

 

(b)                                  Termination .  The Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.  Awards outstanding as of such date shall not be affected or impaired by the termination of this Plan.

 

(c)                                   Amendment of Plan .  The Partnership, by action of the General Partner may amend, alter, or discontinue this Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would materially impair the rights of the Participant with respect to a previously granted Award without such Participant’s consent, except such an amendment made to comply with applicable law, including without limitation Section 409A of the Code, Applicable Exchange listing standards or accounting rules.  In addition, no amendment shall be made

 

22



 

without the approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent such approval is required by applicable law or the listing standards of the Applicable Exchange.

 

(d)                                  Amendment of Awards .  Subject to Section 5(d), the Committee may unilaterally amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, but no such amendment shall, without the Participant’s consent, materially impair the rights of any Participant with respect to an Award, except such an amendment made to cause this Plan or Award to comply with applicable law, Applicable Exchange listing standards or accounting rules.

 

SECTION 14.                   Unfunded Status of Plan

 

It is intended that this Plan constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under this Plan to deliver Common Stock or make payments; provided , however , that unless the Committee otherwise determines, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the “unfunded” status of this Plan.

 

SECTION 15.                   General Provisions

 

(a)                                  Conditions for Issuance .  The Committee may require each person purchasing or receiving Shares or LTIP Units pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the Shares or LTIP Units without a view to the distribution thereof.  The certificates for such Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or agreements made pursuant thereto, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (i) listing or approval for listing upon notice of issuance, of such Shares on the Applicable Exchange; (ii) any registration or other qualification of such Shares of the Company under any state or federal law or regulation, or the maintaining in effect of any such registration or other qualification which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion upon the advice of counsel, deem necessary or advisable; and (iii) obtaining any other consent, approval, or permit from any state or federal governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion after receiving the advice of counsel, determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

(b)                                  Additional Compensation Arrangements .  Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements for its employees.

 

(c)                                   No Contract of Employment .  The Plan shall not constitute a contract of employment, and adoption of this Plan shall not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate to terminate the employment of any employee at any time.

 

23



 

(d)                                  Required Taxes .  No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of a Participant for federal, state, local or foreign income or employment or other tax purposes with respect to any Award under this Plan, such Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount.  Unless otherwise determined by the Company, withholding obligations may be settled with Common Stock, including Common Stock that is part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement, having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld for tax purposes, all in accordance with such procedures as the Committee establishes.  The obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and its Affiliates shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to such Participant.  The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate, including making irrevocable elections, for the settlement of withholding obligations with Common Stock.

 

(e)                                   Limitation on Dividend Reinvestment and Dividend Equivalents .  Reinvestment of dividends in additional Restricted Stock at the time of any dividend payment, and the payment of Shares with respect to dividends to Participants holding Awards of Restricted Stock Units, or the adjustment of Restricted Stock Units in respect of such dividends, shall only be permissible if sufficient Shares are available under Section 3 for such reinvestment or payment or the settlement of such Awards (taking into account then-outstanding Awards).  If sufficient Shares are not available for such reinvestment, payment or settlement, such reinvestment, payment or settlement shall be made in the form of a grant of Restricted Stock Units equal in number to the Shares that would have been obtained by such payment, reinvestment or settlement, the terms of which Restricted Stock Units shall provide for settlement in cash and for dividend equivalent reinvestment in further Restricted Stock Units on the terms contemplated by this Section 15(e).

 

(f)                                    Designation of Death Beneficiary .  The Committee shall establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for a Participant to designate a beneficiary to whom any amounts payable in the event of such Participant’s death are to be paid or by whom any rights of such eligible Individual, after such Participant’s death, may be exercised.

 

(g)                                   Subsidiary Employees .  In the case of a grant of an Award to any employee of a Subsidiary, the Company may, if the Committee so directs, issue or transfer the Shares, if any, covered by the Award to the Subsidiary, for such lawful consideration as the Committee may specify, upon the condition or understanding that the Subsidiary will transfer the Shares to the employee in accordance with the terms of the Award specified by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of this Plan.  All Shares underlying Awards that are forfeited or canceled revert to the Company.

 

(h)                                  Governing Law and Interpretation .  The Plan and all Awards made and actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of

 

24



 

Indiana, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.  The captions of this Plan are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

 

(i)                                      Non-Transferability .  Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5(i), 6(c)(ii),  7(b)(ii) and 8(b)(iii) or as determined by the Committee, Awards under this Plan are not transferable except by will or by laws of descent and distribution.

 

25


Exhibit 10.2

 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.,

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.,

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

AND

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

DATED AS OF May 28, 2014

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I SERVICES

1

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

General

1

 

 

 

Section 1.02.

Quality of Services

1

 

 

 

Section 1.03.

Level of Service

2

 

 

 

Section 1.04.

Duration of Services

2

 

 

 

Section 1.05.

Third-Person Services

2

 

 

 

Section 1.06.

Responsible Personnel

2

 

 

 

Section 1.07.

Consultation

3

 

 

 

Section 1.08.

Monitoring and Reports; Books and Records; Audit Right

3

 

 

 

Section 1.09.

Changes to Services

3

 

 

 

Section 1.10.

Service Increases

4

 

 

 

Section 1.11.

Unintentionally Omitted Services

4

 

 

 

Section 1.12.

New Services

4

 

 

 

Section 1.13.

Amendments to Schedule A

5

 

 

 

ARTICLE II COMPENSATION; BILLING

5

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

Service Fees

5

 

 

 

Section 2.02.

Expenses

5

 

 

 

Section 2.03.

Taxes

5

 

 

 

Section 2.04.

Invoices

5

 

 

 

Section 2.05.

Payment Delay; Finance Charges

5

 

 

 

Section 2.06.

No Right to Set-Off

6

 

 

 

ARTICLE III COOPERATION AND CONSENTS

6

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

General

6

 

 

 

Section 3.02.

Transition

6

 

 

 

Section 3.03.

Consents

6

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV CONFIDENTIALITY

6

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

Recipient Confidential Information

6

 

 

 

Section 4.02.

Provider Confidential Information

7

 

 

 

Section 4.03.

Limitations on Confidential Information

8

 

 

 

Section 4.04.

Required Disclosure

8

 

i



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 4.05.

Third-Person Confidential Information

9

 

 

ARTICLE V INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

9

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

Recipient Intellectual Property

9

 

 

 

Section 5.02.

Provider Intellectual Property

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI REMEDIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

9

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Remedies

9

 

 

 

Section 6.02.

Limitation of Liability

10

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION

11

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

General

11

 

 

 

Section 7.02.

Indemnification Procedures

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE X TERM AND TERMINATION

12

 

 

 

Section 10.01.

Term

12

 

 

 

Section 10.02.

Termination of this Agreement

12

 

 

 

Section 10.03.

Effect

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI NOTICES

14

 

 

ARTICLE XII DISPUTE RESOLUTION

14

 

 

 

Section 12.01.

Dispute Resolution

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS

14

 

 

 

Section 13.01.

Amendment

14

 

 

 

Section 13.02.

Waiver

15

 

 

 

Section 13.03.

Governing Law; Jurisdiction

15

 

 

 

Section 13.04.

Assignability

15

 

 

 

Section 13.05.

Subcontracting

15

 

 

 

Section 13.06.

No Third-Person Beneficiaries

15

 

 

 

Section 13.07.

Severability

16

 

 

 

Section 13.08.

Attorneys’ Fees

16

 

 

 

Section 13.09.

Counterparts

16

 

 

 

Section 13.10.

Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties

16

 

 

 

Section 13.11.

Remedies

16

 

 

 

Section 13.12.

Force Majeure

16

 

ii



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Section 13.13.

Specific Performance

17

 

 

 

Section 13.14.

Construction

17

 

 

 

Section 13.15.

Waiver of Jury Trial

18

 

 

 

Section 13.16.

Entire Agreement

18

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A TO TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

A-1

 

iii



 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

This Transition Services Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into and effective as of May 28, 2014 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Provider ”), Simon Property Group, L.P., Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation (“ Recipient ”), and Washington Prime Group, L.P.  Provider and Recipient may each be referred to herein as a “ Party ,” and are collectively referred to as the “ Parties .”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Provider has determined that it is in the best interests of Provider to distribute to holders of Provider common stock all of the common shares of Recipient, a newly formed company that will hold, directly or indirectly, certain assets and liabilities associated with Provider’s strip center and smaller enclosed malls businesses (the “ Separation ”);

 

WHEREAS, Provider and Recipient have entered into that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2014 (the “ Separation Agreement ”), to carry out, effect, and consummate the Separation; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the Parties have agreed that Provider and/or its Subsidiaries (as defined below), which shall include Simon Property Group, L.P., shall provide (or cause to be provided) to Recipient and/or its Subsidiaries, which shall include Washington Prime Group, L.P., and Recipient and/or its Subsidiaries shall receive, certain services, use of facilities, and other assistance on a transitional basis following the Separation and in accordance with the terms of, and subject to, the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and mutual promises, covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

SERVICES

 

Section 1.01.                           General .  In accordance with the provisions hereof, Provider shall provide (or cause to be provided) to Recipient and/or its Subsidiaries, and Recipient and/or its Subsidiaries shall receive, the services described in Schedule A attached hereto, which schedule also sets forth the terms and conditions under which Provider will grant to Recipient the use of space at certain facilities within Provider’s current headquarters (each such service, a “ Service ” and, collectively, the “ Services ”).      Schedule A may be amended from time to time by written agreement of the Parties. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Subsidiary ” of any Party means a corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the voting power or value of equity securities is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Party.

 

Section 1.02.                           Quality of Services .  Subject to Section 1.03 , Provider shall perform the Services (i) in a workmanlike and professional manner, (ii) with the same degree of care as it

 



 

exercises in performing its own functions of a like or similar nature, (iii) utilizing persons of suitable experience, training and skill, and (iv) in a timely manner in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 1.03.                           Level of Service .  The Service levels, if any, initially requested by Recipient (the “ Initial Service Levels ”) shall be as set forth in Schedule A .  Recipient shall furnish Provider with an updated Schedule A , at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal quarter, indicating the anticipated Service needs of Recipient for the next fiscal quarter (each, a “ Service Request ”), and the Parties shall thereafter consult with one another and agree, as provided in Section 1.01 above, as to the elimination of any Service and the timing of, and adjustment to any Service Fees related to, the elimination of such Services.  Subject to Sections 1.10 , 1.11 and 1.12 , Service levels may not be increased from the Initial Service Levels, including the enhancement of any Services or addition of any new Services, without the written agreement of the Parties.

 

Section 1.04.                           Duration of Services .  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, Provider will provide (or cause to be provided) the Services to Recipient until the earlier of, with respect to each such Service, (i) the expiration of the period of the maximum duration for such Service if set forth in Schedule A, or (ii) the date upon which such Service is terminated under Section 10.02 ; provided , however , that Recipient shall use its commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to transition itself to a stand-alone entity with respect to each Service as soon as reasonably practicable; and provided , further , that to the extent that Provider’s ability to provide a Service is dependent on the continuation of a related Service (and such dependence has been made known to the other Party), as the case may be, Provider’s obligation to provide such dependent Service shall terminate automatically with the termination of such related Service.

 

Section 1.05.                           Third-Person Services .  Each Party acknowledges and agrees that certain of the Services to be provided under this Agreement may be provided to Recipient by third Persons (as defined below) designated by Provider.  A “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, governmental authority or other entity.  To the extent so provided, Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such third Persons to continue to provide such Services to Recipient, consistent with the manner in which such Services had been provided historically to Recipient; provided , however , that if any such third Person notifies Provider or its Subsidiaries that it is unable or unwilling to provide any such Services, Provider shall promptly notify Recipient in writing, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to determine the manner in which such Services can best be provided, and, if there is any change to the Services provided as a result, including the level or cost thereof, Provider and Recipient shall negotiate in good faith to amend Schedule A as appropriate.

 

Section 1.06.                           Responsible Personnel .  The Parties shall each designate a point of contact for each Service listed in Schedule A to whom any questions related to the Services provided may be directed.  Provider will have the right, in its reasonable discretion, to (i) designate which of its personnel will be involved in providing Services to Recipient, and (ii) remove and replace any such personnel, so long as there is no resulting

 

2



 

increase in costs, or decrease in the level of service for Recipient; provided , however , that Provider will use its commercially reasonable efforts to limit disruption of the provision of Services to Recipient in the transition of the Services to different personnel.  In the event that the provision of any Service by Provider requires the cooperation and services of applicable personnel of Recipient, Recipient will make available to Provider such personnel as may be necessary for Provider to provide such Service.  Recipient will have the right, in its reasonable discretion, to (i) designate which of its personnel it will make available to Provider in connection with the receipt of such Service, and (ii) remove and replace any such personnel, so long as there is no resulting increase in costs to Provider in providing such Service or adverse effect on Provider’s ability to provide such Service; provided , however , that Recipient will use its commercially reasonable efforts to limit disruption of the provision of services by Provider in the transition of such personnel.

 

Section 1.07.                           Consultation .  The Parties agree to review Schedule A and the Services provided thereunder no less often than quarterly to determine if Provider must continue to provide Recipient all of the Services described on Schedule A .

 

Section 1.08.                           Monitoring and Reports; Books and Records; Audit Right .

 

(a)                                  Provider shall maintain books and records in reasonable and customary detail pertaining to the provision of Services pursuant to this Agreement.  Provider shall make such books and records available for inspection by Recipient, or its authorized representatives, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, and shall retain such books and records for periods consistent with the retention policies applicable to Provider’s business.

 

(b)                                  Upon thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to Provider, Recipient may audit (or cause an independent third Person auditor to audit), during regular business hours and in a manner that complies with the confidentiality, building and security requirements of Provider, the books, records and facilities of Provider pertaining to the provision of Services pursuant to this Agreement to the extent necessary to determine Provider’s compliance with this Agreement or as may otherwise be required to ensure compliance with applicable laws or regulations.  Recipient shall have the right to audit such books, records and facilities of Provider only once in any twelve (12)-month period during the term of this Agreement (or on other occasions to the extent agreed to by the Parties).  Any audit under this Section 1.08(b) shall not interfere unreasonably with the operations of Provider.  Recipient shall reimburse Provider for any reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with such audit.

 

Section 1.09.                           Changes to Services .  It is understood and agreed that Provider may from time to time modify, change or enhance the manner, nature and/or quality of any Service provided to Recipient to the extent Provider is making a similar change in the performance of such Services for Provider and its Subsidiaries; provided that any such modification, change or enhancement will not reasonably be expected to materially negatively affect such Services.  Provider shall furnish to Recipient substantially the same notice (in content and timing), if any, as Provider furnishes to its own organization with respect to such modifications, changes or enhancements.

 

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Section 1.10.                           Service Increases .  After the date of this Agreement, if (i) Recipient requests, or Provider reasonably determines that Recipient’s business requires, that Provider increase, relative to historical levels prior to the Separation, the volume, amount, level or frequency, as applicable, of any Service provided by Provider, and (ii) such increase is reasonably determined by Recipient as necessary for Recipient to operate its businesses (such increase, a “ Service Increase ”), then Provider shall provide such Service Increase in accordance with such request and subject to the Parties agreeing to an amendment to Schedule A to address such Service Increase; provided , however , that Provider shall not be obligated to provide any Service Increase if it does not, in its reasonable judgment, have adequate resources to provide such Service Increase or if the provision of such Service Increase would significantly disrupt the operation of its own business.  In connection with any request for a Service Increase in accordance with this Section 1.10 , the Parties shall in good faith negotiate the terms of an amendment to Schedule A , which amendment shall be consistent with the terms of, and the pricing methodology used for, the applicable Service.

 

Section 1.11.                           New Services .

 

(a)                                  From time to time during the term of this Agreement, Recipient may request that Provider provide additional or different services which Provider is not expressly obligated to provide under this Agreement (“ New Services ”).  Provider shall consider such requests in good faith and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide any such New Services; provided , however , that Provider shall not be obligated to provide any New Services if it does not, in its reasonable judgment, have adequate resources to provide such New Services or if the provision of such New Services would significantly disrupt the operation of its own business, or if, after negotiations between the Parties pursuant to Section 1.12(b) , the Parties fail to reach an agreement with respect to the terms (including the Service Fees and Expenses (as defined below)) applicable to the provision of such New Services.

 

(b)                                  In connection with any request for New Services, except as otherwise provided in Section 1.12(a) , the Parties shall in good faith (i) negotiate the applicable Service Fee and the terms of an amendment to Schedule A , which amendment shall describe in reasonable detail the nature, scope, service period(s), termination provisions and other terms applicable to such New Services, and (ii) determine any costs and expenses, including any start-up costs and expenses that would be incurred by Provider, in connection with the provision of such New Services, which costs and expenses shall be borne solely by Recipient.

 

Section 1.12.                           Amendments to Schedule A .  Each amendment to Schedule A , as agreed to in writing by the Parties, shall be deemed part of this Agreement and the Changes to Services, Service Increases, Unintentionally Omitted Services and/or New Services set forth therein shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE II
COMPENSATION; BILLING

 

Section 2.01.                           Service Fees .  In consideration for providing the Services, Provider will charge Recipient the fees indicated for each Service listed in Schedule A (each, a “ Service Fee ” and collectively, the “ Service Fees ”).  As to the extent provided otherwise in Schedule A , the Service Fees shall be adjusted proportionately on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Service Request provided by Recipient as provided in Section 1.03 .

 

Section 2.02.                           Expenses .  Except to the extent provided otherwise in Schedule A , in addition to the Service Fee, Provider shall also be entitled to charge Recipient for any reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Provider in providing the Services (“ Expenses ”).

 

Section 2.03.                           Taxes .  In addition to any amounts otherwise payable by Recipient pursuant to this Agreement, Recipient shall pay, be responsible, and promptly reimburse Provider, for any sales, use, value added, goods and services, excise, transfer, recording or similar taxes, including any interest, penalties or additional amounts imposed with respect thereto, imposed with respect to, or in connection with, the provision of Services or payment of any Service Fees hereunder.

 

Section 2.04.                           Invoices .  Within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month, Provider shall send Recipient an invoice that includes in reasonable detail the Service Fees and Expenses due for Services provided to Recipient for such month.  Payments of invoices shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds to one or more accounts specified in writing by Provider.  Payment shall be made within thirty (30) days after the date of receipt of Provider’s invoice.  All amounts payable to Provider hereunder shall be paid without set-off, deduction, abatement or counterclaim.

 

Section 2.05.                           Payment Delay; Finance Charges .

 

(a)                                  If Recipient fails to make any material payment within thirty (30) days of the date such payment was due to Provider, Provider shall have the right, at its sole option, upon ten (10) business days’ prior written notice (such notice, a “ Suspension Notice ”), to suspend performance of any Services until payment has been received.

 

(b)                                  If Recipient fails to make any payment within thirty (30) days of the date such payment was due to Provider, a finance charge of two percent (2%) per month, payable from the date of the invoice to the date such payment is received and levied upon both the balance of any such payment, shall be due and payable to Provider.  In addition, Recipient shall indemnify Provider for its costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements incurred to collect any unpaid amount.

 

(c)                                   Recipient shall not be liable for the payment of any finance charges pursuant to this Section 2.05 , and Provider shall not be authorized to suspend performance

 

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pursuant to this Section 2.05 , to the extent, but only to the extent, that Recipient is in good faith disputing Service Fees or Expenses incurred under Sections 2.01 and 2.02 .

 

Section 2.06.                           No Right to Set-Off .  Recipient shall pay the full amount of all Service Fees and shall not set off, counterclaim or otherwise withhold any amount owed to Provider under this Agreement on account of any obligation owed by Provider to Recipient.

 

ARTICLE III
COOPERATION AND CONSENTS

 

Section 3.01.                           General .  Each Party shall reasonably cooperate with and provide assistance to the other Party in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement.  Such cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, exchanging information, providing access to electronic systems used in connection with the Services, making adjustments and obtaining all consents, licenses, sublicenses or approvals necessary to permit each Party to perform its obligations hereunder; provided , however , that neither Party shall be required to disclose confidential, proprietary, privileged or competitively sensitive information to the other Party.

 

Section 3.02.                           Transition .  At the request of Recipient in contemplation of the termination of any Services hereunder, in whole or in part, Provider shall cooperate with Recipient, at Recipient’s expense, in transitioning such Services to Recipient or to any third-Person service provider designated by Recipient.

 

Section 3.03.                           Consents .  Provider will take commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, and to keep and maintain in effect, any third-Person licenses and consents necessary to provide the Services (the “ Consents ”).  The costs relating to obtaining any such licenses or Consents obtained solely for the benefit of Recipient shall be borne by Recipient; provided that Provider shall not incur any such costs without the prior written consent of Recipient.  If any such consent is not obtained or maintained, Provider shall promptly notify Recipient in writing, and the Parties will reasonably cooperate with one another to achieve a reasonable alternative arrangement with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE IV

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

Section 4.01.                           Recipient Confidential Information .  From and after the Effective Date, subject to Section 4.04 , and except as contemplated by or otherwise provided for under this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, Provider shall not, and shall cause its affiliates and its own and its affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, and other agents and representatives, including attorneys, agents, customers, suppliers, contractors, consultants and other representatives (collectively, “ Representatives ”), to not, directly or indirectly, disclose, reveal, divulge or communicate to any Person, other than to Recipient and its affiliates (collectively, the “ Recipient Group ”) and their respective Representatives, and to Provider and its affiliates (collectively, the “ Provider Group ”) and their respective Representatives who reasonably need to know such information in connection with the provision of Services under this Agreement, or use or otherwise exploit for its own benefit or for the benefit of any third Person (other than members of the Recipient Group), any Recipient Confidential Information (as defined below). 

 

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For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Group ” shall mean the Provider Group or the Recipient Group, as the context requires.  If any disclosures are made by members of the Recipient Group to members of the Provider Group in connection with the provision of Services under this Agreement, then the Recipient Confidential Information so disclosed shall be used by the Provider Group only as required to perform the Services.  Provider shall use the same degree of care to prevent and restrain the unauthorized use or disclosure of the Recipient Confidential Information by any member of the Provider Group or its Representatives as it uses for its own confidential information of a like nature, but in no event less than a reasonable standard of care.  For purposes of this Agreement, any information, material or documents relating to the businesses currently or formerly conducted, or proposed to be conducted, by the Recipient Group that is furnished to, or in possession of, any member of the Provider Group, in each case in connection with the Services provided under this Agreement and irrespective of the form of communication, and all notes, analyses, compilations, forecasts, data, translations, studies, memoranda or other documents prepared by members of the Provider Group, that contain, or otherwise reflect, such information, material or documents is hereinafter referred to as “ Recipient Confidential Information .”  Recipient Confidential Information does not include, and there shall be no obligation hereunder, with respect to information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by a member of the Provider Group or its Representatives not otherwise permissible hereunder, (ii) Provider can demonstrate was or became available to the Provider Group from a source other than the Recipient Group or its Representatives, or (iii) is developed independently by the Provider Group without reference to the Recipient Confidential Information; provided , however , that, in the case of clause (ii), the source of such information was not known by Provider to be bound by a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, any member of the Recipient Group with respect to such information.

 

Section 4.02.                           Provider Confidential Information .  From and after the Effective Date, subject to Section 4.04 , and except as contemplated by or otherwise provided for under this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, Recipient shall not, and shall cause the members of the Recipient Group and their respective Representatives to not, directly or indirectly, disclose, reveal, divulge or communicate to any Person other than members of the Provider Group and its Representatives, or members of the Recipient Group and its Representatives, who reasonably need to know such information in connection with the provision of services under this Agreement, or use or otherwise exploit for its own benefit or for the benefit of any third Person (other than members of the Provider Group), any Provider Confidential Information (as defined below).  If any disclosures are made by members of the Provider Group to members of the Recipient Group in connection with the provision of Services under this Agreement, then the Confidential Information (as defined below) so disclosed shall be used by the Recipient Group only as required to receive the Services.  Recipient shall use the same degree of care to prevent and restrain the unauthorized use or disclosure of the Provider Confidential Information by any member of the Recipient Group or its Representatives as it uses for its own confidential information of a like nature, but in no event less than a reasonable standard of care.  For purposes of this Agreement, any information, material or documents relating to the businesses currently or formerly conducted, or proposed to be conducted, by the Provider Group that is furnished to, or in possession of, any member of the Recipient Group, in each case in connection with the Services provided under this Agreement and irrespective of the form of communication, and all

 

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notes, analyses, compilations, forecasts, data, translations, studies, memoranda or other documents prepared by members of the Recipient Group, that contain, or otherwise reflect, such information, material or documents, is hereinafter referred to as “ Provider Confidential Information ,” and, together with the Recipient Confidential Information, “ Confidential Information .”  Provider Confidential Information does not include, and there shall be no obligation hereunder with respect to, information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by any member of the Recipient Group or its Representatives not otherwise permissible hereunder, (ii) Recipient can demonstrate was or became available to the Recipient Group from a source other than the Provider Group or its Representatives, or (iii) is developed independently by the Recipient Group without reference to the Provider Confidential Information; provided , however , that, in the case of clause (ii), the source of such information was not known by Recipient to be bound by a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, any member of the Provider Group with respect to such information.

 

Section 4.03.                           Limitations on Confidential Information .  For the duration of this Agreement, Provider agrees that access to Recipient Confidential Information that is received from any member of the Recipient Group during the course of the performance of this Agreement shall be (i) limited to only those employees of the Provider Group that are providing Services under this Agreement and who have been informed of the obligations and restrictions under this Section 4.03 ; (ii) used only for the purpose of providing Services pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) shall otherwise be kept strictly confidential by all members of the Provider Group, except that Provider may share, to the extent necessary to provide Services pursuant to this Agreement, such information to any member of the Provider Group or to any third Person who may have a need to know such information for purposes of providing the Services; provided , that any such member of the Provider Group or third-Person service provider shall have agreed to be bound by this Section 4.03 and shall be liable for any breaches of this Section 4.03 by any member of the Provider Group or third-Person service provider.  The obligations under this Section 4.03 shall not apply to (i) information that is already in the possession of employees of the Provider Group; (ii) information that becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure, directly or indirectly, by any member of the Provider Group; or (iii) information that becomes available to any member of the Provider Group on a non-confidential basis from a source other than any member of the Recipient Group; provided , that such source is not known by any member of the Provider Group, after reasonable inquiry, to be subject to an obligation of confidentiality or other obligation of secrecy to Recipient.

 

Section 4.04.                           Required Disclosure .  Either Party may disclose Confidential Information to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or as required by law or legal or regulatory process (including to the extent requested by any governmental authority in connection with any such law or legal or regulatory process), including any tax audit or litigation.  If either Group, or any third Person with whom Provider has shared Recipient Confidential Information received from any member of the Recipient Group during the course of the performance of this Agreement, is requested or required (by oral question, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) by any governmental authority, or pursuant to applicable law, to disclose or provide any Confidential Information, the Party or third Person receiving such

 

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request or demand shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Party whose Confidential Information is subject to such request or demand with written notice of such request or demand as promptly as practicable, under the circumstances, so that such relevant Party shall have an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order.  The Party or third Person receiving such request or demand agrees to take, and to cause its Representatives to take, at the expense of the Party whose Confidential Information is subject to such request or demand, all other reasonable steps necessary to obtain confidential treatment of the Confidential Information in question.  Subject to the foregoing, the Party or third Person that receives such a request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide Confidential Information, to the extent required by law (as so advised by counsel), or by lawful process of such governmental authority.

 

Section 4.05.                           Third-Person Confidential Information .  Each Party acknowledges that it and the other members of its Group may have in their possession confidential or proprietary information of third Persons (such information, “ Third-Person Confidential Information ”) that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with such third Persons.  Each Party agrees that it will hold, and will cause the other members of its Group and their respective Representatives to hold, in strict confidence, any Third-Person Confidential Information to which it or any other member of its respective Group has access, in accordance with the terms of any agreements entered into between or among one (1) or more members of the applicable Party’s Group and such third Persons; provided , that each Party has been provided with a copy of such confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement and informed by the other Party of the confidential and proprietary nature of the information.

 

ARTICLE V
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

Section 5.01.                           Recipient Intellectual Property .  Except as otherwise agreed by the Parties, all data, software, or other property or assets owned or created by Recipient, including, without limitation, derivative works thereof, and new data or software created by Recipient at Recipient’s expense, in connection with its receipt of Services and all intellectual property rights therein (the “ Recipient Property ”), shall remain the sole and exclusive property and responsibility of Recipient.  Provider shall not acquire any rights in any Recipient Property pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 5.02.                           Provider Intellectual Property .  Except as otherwise agreed by the Parties, all data, software or other property or assets owned or created by Provider, including, without limitation, derivative works thereof, and new data or software created by Provider at Provider’s expense, in connection with the provision of Services and all intellectual property rights therein (the “ Provider Property ”), shall be the sole and exclusive property and responsibility of Provider.  Recipient shall not acquire any rights in any Provider Property pursuant to this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

 

Section 6.01.                           Remedies .  In the event that any Service performed by Provider hereunder is not performed in accordance with the provisions of Article I , the sole remedy of Recipient shall be (i) to require Provider to re-perform such Service in accordance with Article I without

 

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obligation on the part of Recipient to make additional payments for such performance, (ii) to obtain from Provider a credit in an equivalent amount towards the future purchase of any Services that are contemplated by and under the terms of this Agreement, or (iii) to replace such Service with service provided by a third-Person provider.  In the event that Recipient elects to replace any Services with a third-Person provider, Provider shall be forever released from any liability arising on account of such Service and shall not be entitled to any Service Fees in respect of services provided by such third-Person provider to Recipient.

 

Section 6.02.                           Limitation of Liability .

 

(a)                                  No member of the Provider Group or their respective controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents and permitted assigns (each, a “ Provider Party ”) shall be liable to any member of the Recipient Group or their respective controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents and permitted assigns (each, a “ Recipient Party ”) for any liabilities, claims, demands, damages, judgments, losses, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and/or amounts paid in settlement) of any kind or nature, whether direct or indirect (collectively referred to as “ Damages ”), of any Recipient Party resulting from, relating to or arising in connection with, this Agreement or any of the Services provided hereunder, except for any liability of Provider to the extent that such Damages resulted from (i) any acts or omissions of any Provider Party, which acts or omissions are the result of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith by such Provider Party, or (ii) Provider’s breach of its obligations under Article IV or Article VII of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  No Recipient Party shall be liable to any Provider Party for any Damages to any Provider Party resulting from, relating to or arising in connection with this Agreement, or any of the Services provided hereunder, except for any liability of Recipient to the extent that such Damages resulted from (i) acts or omissions of any Recipient Party, which acts or omissions are the result of gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith by such Recipient Party, or (ii) Recipient’s breach of its obligations under Article IV or Article VII of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE AND STRICT LIABILITY) OR OTHERWISE, AT LAW OR EQUITY, FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE, SPECULATIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SIMILAR DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR DAMAGES CALCULATED ON MULTIPLES OF EARNINGS APPROACHES) IN EXCESS OF COMPENSATORY DAMAGE, HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

 

(d)                                  Each Party agrees that it shall, in all circumstances, use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate, and to otherwise minimize its Damages, and those of all members of its Group and their respective controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents and permitted assigns, whether direct or indirect, resulting from, or arising in connection with, any failure by the other Party to comply fully with its obligations under this Agreement.

 

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(e)                                   In no event, whether as a result of breach of contract, indemnity, warranty, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise, shall the liability of any Party to the other Party for any loss or damage arising out of, or resulting from, this Agreement or the furnishing of Services hereunder exceed the aggregate Service Fees actually paid pursuant to this Agreement during the twelve (12)-month period immediately preceding the applicable claim for losses or damages.

 

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 7.01.                           General .

 

(a)                                  Provider shall indemnify and hold harmless any Recipient Party against and from all Damages payable to third Persons arising out of or relating to (i) a breach of Article IV of this Agreement by Provider, (ii) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Provider, and (iii) any infringement by Provider of third-Person intellectual property in the performance of any Service, in each case, except to the extent that such Damages are a result of the breach of this Agreement, gross negligence, or willful misconduct on the part of any Recipient Party.

 

(b)                                  Recipient shall indemnify and hold harmless any Provider Party against and from all Damages payable to third Persons arising out of or relating to (i) a breach of Article IV of this Agreement by Recipient, (ii) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Recipient, and (iii) any infringement by Recipient of third-Person intellectual property in connection with the receipt of any Service, in each case except to the extent that such Damages are a result of the breach of this Agreement, gross negligence, or willful misconduct on the part of any Provider Party.

 

Section 7.02.                           Indemnification Procedures .  The provisions of Article V of the Separation Agreement shall govern, mutatis mutandis , claims for indemnification under this Article VII .

 

ARTICLE VIII
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

 

In performing the Services hereunder, each Group shall operate as, and have the status of, an independent contractor.  No Party’s employees shall be considered employees or agents of the other Party, nor shall the employees of either Party be eligible or entitled to any benefits, perquisites, or privileges given or extended to any of the other Party’s employees.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to create a joint venture or partnership between the Parties.  No Party shall have any power or authority to bind or commit any other Party.

 

ARTICLE IX
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

 

In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, each Party shall comply with all applicable laws.  The Parties shall cooperate fully in obtaining and maintaining in effect all permits and licenses that may be required for the performance of the Services.

 

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ARTICLE X
TERM AND TERMINATION

 

Section 10.01.                    Term .  The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the second (2nd) anniversary of the Effective Date, unless terminated earlier as provided in Section 10.02 . Except as may be otherwise set forth in Schedule A , and subject to the last proviso of Section 1.04 , Recipient may terminate any Service prior to the scheduled expiration date by giving Provider not less than one hundred eighty (180) days’ prior written notice, or such less time as may be agreed upon by the Parties.  Services can only be terminated at month-end.  To the extent there are any break-up costs (including commitments made to, or in respect of, personnel or third Persons due to the requirement to provide the Services, prepaid expenses related to the Services or costs related to terminating such commitments) reasonably incurred by Provider as a result of any early termination of a Service by Recipient, Provider shall use its reasonable best efforts to mitigate such costs, and Recipient shall bear such costs and reimburse Provider in full for the same.

 

Section 10.02.                    Termination of this Agreement .  This Agreement may be terminated:

 

(a)                                  by the written agreement of the Parties;

 

(b)                                  by Provider in the event that it delivers a Suspension Notice to Recipient and suspends delivery of a Service in accordance with Section 2.05(a) , and such Suspension Notice is not satisfied within thirty (30) days of the date of delivery of such Suspension Notice;

 

(c)                                   by either Party upon a material breach (other than non-payment of Service Fees or Expenses) by the other Party that is not cured within thirty (30) days after delivery of written notice of such breach from the non-breaching Party;

 

(d)                                  immediately by either Party, if the other Party:  (i) commences a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking bankruptcy protection, liquidation, reorganization or similar relief, or seeks the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official or the taking of possession by any such official in any involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due; or (ii) has an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it seeking bankruptcy protection, liquidation, reorganization, or other relief with respect to it or substantially all of its debts, or seeks the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official for such Party or any substantial part of such Party’s property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding remains undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days;

 

(e)                                   by either Party if all of the Services have been terminated early in accordance with Section 10.01 ; or

 

(f)                                    by either Party, upon a Change in Control (as defined below) of the other Party; provided that notice of a Change of Control is provided to the other Party not later than ten (10) days prior to signing a definitive agreement and, in any event, not later than

 

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sixty (60) days prior to consummation of such Change in Control.  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Change in Control ” shall mean, with respect to a Party, the occurrence after the Effective Date of any of the following:  (i) the sale, conveyance or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of such Party and its Group (taken as a whole) to a third Person that is not a member of such Party’s Group prior to such transaction or the first of such related transactions; (ii) the consolidation, merger or other business combination of a Party with or into any other Person, immediately following which the then-current shareholders of the Party, as such, fail to own, in the aggregate, at least majority voting power of the surviving Party in such consolidation, merger or business combination, or of its ultimate publicly traded parent; (iii) a transaction or series of transactions in which any Person or “group” (as the term “group” is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) acquires majority voting power of such Party (other than a reincorporation or similar corporate transaction in which each of such Party’s shareholders owns, immediately thereafter, interests in the new parent company in substantially the same percentage as such shareholder owned in such Party immediately prior to such transaction); or (iv) a majority of the board of directors of such Party ceases to consist of individuals who have become directors as a result of being nominated or elected by a majority of such Party’s directors.

 

Section 10.03.                    Effect .  In the event of termination of this Agreement in its entirety pursuant to this Article X , or upon the expiration of the term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall cease to have further force or effect, and neither Party shall have any liability to the other Party with respect to this Agreement; provided that:

 

(a)                                  termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason shall not release a Party from any liability or obligation that already has accrued as of the effective date of such termination or expiration, and shall not constitute a waiver or release of, or otherwise be deemed to adversely affect, any rights, remedies or claims which a Party may have hereunder at law, equity or otherwise or which may arise out of or in connection with such termination or expiration;

 

(b)                                  as promptly as practicable, following termination of this Agreement in its entirety or with respect to any Service to the extent applicable, and the payment by Recipient of all amounts owing hereunder, Provider shall return all reasonably available material, inventory and other property of Recipient held by Provider, and shall deliver copies of all of Recipient’s records maintained by Provider with regard to the Services in Provider’s standard format and media.  Provider shall deliver such property and records to such location or locations, as reasonably requested by Recipient.  Arrangements for shipping, including the cost of freight and insurance, and the reasonable cost of packing incurred by Provider shall be borne by Recipient; and

 

(c)                                   Articles   IV , V , VI , VII IX , XI , XII and XIII , and this Section 10.03 , shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.

 

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ARTICLE XI

NOTICES

 

All notices, demands and other communications required to be given to a Party hereunder shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier, transmitted by facsimile or e-mail, or mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to such Party at the relevant street address, facsimile number or e-mail address set forth below (or at such other street address, facsimile number or e-mail address as such Party may designate from time to time by written notice in accordance with this provision):

 

If to SPG, to:

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.
225 West Washington Street, 14th Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Attention:         General Counsel

Facsimile:         (317) 685-7377

 

If to WPG, to:

 

Washington Prime Group Inc.
7315 Wisconsin Avenue - 5th Floor
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Attention:         General Counsel

Facsimile:         (240) 380-2721

 

Any notice, demand or other communication hereunder shall be deemed given upon the first to occur of:  (i) the fifth (5th) day after deposit thereof, postage prepaid and addressed correctly, in a receptacle under the control of the United States Postal Service; (ii) transmittal by facsimile or e-mail transmission to a receiver or other device under the control of the Party to whom notice is being given; or (iii) actual delivery to or receipt by the Party to whom notice is being given.

 

ARTICLE XII
DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

Section 12.01.                    Dispute Resolution .  The provisions of Article VII of the Separation Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to all disputes, controversies or claims (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) that may arise out of or relate to, or arise under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.01.                    Amendment .  No provision of this Agreement, including Schedule A , may be amended, supplemented or modified except by a written instrument signed by both of the Parties and making specific reference to this Agreement or to Schedule A , as applicable.

 

14



 

Section 13.02.                    Waiver .

 

(a)                                  Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived, or the time for its performance may be extended, by the Party or the Parties entitled to the benefit thereof.  Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently given for the purposes of this Agreement if, as to any Party, it is executed by a writing signed by an authorized representative of such Party.

 

(b)                                  Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it in any way affect the validity of this Agreement or prejudice the rights of the other Party, thereafter, to enforce each and every such provision.  No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

Section 13.03.                    Governing Law; Jurisdiction .  This Agreement, and the legal relations between the Parties hereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof, to the extent such rules would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction.  In addition, with respect to this Agreement (other than arbitrable Disputes (as defined in the Separation Agreement) governed by Article XII ), the Parties agree that any legal action or proceeding shall be brought or determined exclusively in a state or federal court located within the County of Marion in the State of Indiana.

 

Section 13.04.                    Assignability .  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Parties, and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that no Party may assign, delegate or transfer (by operation of law or otherwise) its respective rights, or delegate its respective obligations, under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to (i) any member of such Party’s Group; provided , however , that each Party shall at all times remain liable for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement by any such Group member, or (ii) any successor by merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, acquisition or person acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of such Party, subject to Section 10.02(f) .  Any attempted assignment or delegation in violation of this Section 13.04 shall be null and void.

 

Section 13.05.                    Subcontracting .  Provider may hire or engage one or more subcontractors to perform any or all of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, that (i) Provider shall use the same degree of care in selecting any subcontractors as it would if such subcontractor was being retained to provide similar services to Provider, (ii) the use of such subcontractor will not increase the Service Fees or Expenses payable by Recipient in connection with such Services, and (iii) Provider shall, in all cases, remain responsible for ensuring that obligations with respect to the standards of services set forth under this Service Agreement are satisfied with respect to any Service provided by a subcontractor hired or engaged by Provider.

 

Section 13.06.                    No Third-Person Beneficiaries .  Except for the indemnification provisions in Article VII , this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and their successors and assigns, and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other

 

15



 

Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 13.07.                    Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, null and void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid, null and void or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any Party.  Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties.

 

Section 13.08.                    Attorneys’ Fees .  In any action hereunder to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, in addition to any other recovery hereunder from the non-prevailing Party.

 

Section 13.09.                    Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered or transmitted by facsimile, e-mail or other electronic means, shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  A facsimile or electronic signature is deemed an original signature for all purposes under this Agreement.

 

Section 13.10.                    Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties .  EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS EXPRESSLY MADE IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY HAS MADE, NOR DOES EITHER PARTY HEREBY MAKE, ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR COVENANTS, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, OF ANY NATURE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY, QUANTITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND COVENANTS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY, COMMON LAW OR OTHERWISE, OF ANY NATURE, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY, QUANTITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED BY EACH PARTY.

 

Section 13.11.                    Remedies .  The rights and remedies provided herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 13.12.                    Force Majeure .

 

(a)                                  Neither Party (nor any Person acting on its behalf) shall have any liability or responsibility for failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) under this Agreement so long as, and to the extent to which, the fulfillment of such obligation is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure; provided that (i) such Party (or such Person) shall have exercised commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the effect of Force Majeure on its obligations, and (ii) the nature, quality and standard

 

16



 

of care that Provider shall provide in delivering a Service after a Force Majeure shall again comply with Section 1.03 .  In the event of an occurrence of a Force Majeure, the Party whose performance is affected thereby shall give notice of suspension as soon as reasonably practicable to the other stating the date and extent of such suspension and the cause thereof, and such Party shall resume the performance of such obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of such cause.

 

(b)                                  During the period of a Force Majeure, Recipient shall be entitled to seek an alternative service provider with respect to such Service(s) (and shall be relieved of the obligation to pay Service Fees for such Service(s) throughout the duration of such Force Majeure) and shall be entitled to permanently terminate such Service(s) if a Force Majeure shall continue to exist for more than sixty (60) consecutive days, it being understood that Recipient shall provide advance notice of such termination to Provider.

 

Section 13.13.                    Specific Performance .  Subject to the provisions of Article XII , in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to seek specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis), in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity.  The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.  Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties to this Agreement.

 

Section 13.14.                    Construction .  Any uncertainty or ambiguity with respect to any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed for or against any party based on attribution of drafting by either Party.  The headings contained herein are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  In this Agreement, unless the context requires or a clear contrary intention appears:

 

(a)                                  the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;

 

(b)                                  reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually;

 

(c)                                   reference to any gender includes each other gender;

 

(d)                                  reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated, and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, subject to compliance with the requirements set forth herein;

 

(e)                                   reference to any applicable law means such applicable law as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to

 

17



 

time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any applicable law means that provision of such applicable law, from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision;

 

(f)                                    “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular article, section or other provision hereof;

 

(g)                                   “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term;

 

(h)                                  with respect to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including” and “to” means “to but excluding;” and

 

(i)                                      references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto.

 

Section 13.15.                    Waiver of Jury Trial .  EACH PARTY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.  EACH PARTY (i) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; AND (ii) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 13.15 .

 

Section 13.16.                    Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and Schedule A hereto, as well as any other agreements and documents referred to herein (including the Separation Agreement, to the extent applicable), constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, understandings, writings, commitments and conversations between the Parties with respect to such subject matter.  No agreements or understandings exist between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein.

 

[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

18



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers or representatives as of the date first written above.

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

 

Name:

James M. Barkley

 

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Name:

Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 


Exhibit 10.3

 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.,

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.,

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

and

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

Dated as of May 28, 2014

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

General

 

2

Section 1.02.

Additional Definitions

 

12

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

PREPARATION, FILING AND PAYMENT OF TAXES SHOWN DUE

ON TAX RETURNS

 

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

Combined Tax Returns

 

12

Section 2.02.

SPG Separate Tax Returns

 

12

Section 2.03.

WPG Separate Tax Returns

 

12

Section 2.04.

Restructuring Transfer Tax Returns

 

12

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

TAX RETURN PROCEDURES

 

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

Procedures relating to Combined Tax Returns and SPG Separate Tax Returns

 

13

Section 3.02.

Procedures relating to WPG Separate Tax Returns

 

13

Section 3.03.

Preparation of all Tax Returns

 

14

Section 3.04.

Tax Returns Reflecting Restructuring/Distribution Taxes

 

14

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

TAX TIMING AND ALLOCATION

 

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

Timing of Payments

 

14

Section 4.02.

Expenses

 

14

Section 4.03.

Apportionment of WPG Taxes

 

15

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION

 

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

Indemnification by SPG LP

 

15

Section 5.02.

Indemnification by WPG LP

 

15

Section 5.03.

Characterization of and Adjustments to Payments

 

15

Section 5.04.

Timing of Indemnification Payments

 

16

Section 5.05.

Certain Tax Procedures

 

16

 



 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

REFUNDS, TRS TAX ATTRIBUTES, DEDUCTIONS

 

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Refunds

 

16

Section 6.02.

TRS Tax Attributes

 

17

Section 6.03.

Treatment of Deductions Associated with Equity-Related Compensation

 

17

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

TAX PROCEEDINGS

 

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

Notification of Tax Proceedings

 

17

Section 7.02.

Tax Proceedings

 

17

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

TAX-FREE STATUS OF THE DISTRIBUTION

 

 

 

 

Section 8.01.

Representations and Warranties

 

19

Section 8.02.

Restrictions Relating to the Distribution

 

20

Section 8.03.

Procedures Regarding Post-Distribution Rulings and Unqualified Tax Opinions

 

22

Section 8.04.

Section 336(e) Election

 

23

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

RPT CONTRIBUTION

 

 

 

 

Section 9.01.

Prohibited Actions

 

23

Section 9.02.

Section 704(c) Allocations

 

23

Section 9.03.

Damages

 

23

Section 9.04.

Exclusive Remedy

 

24

Section 9.05.

Notice

 

24

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

COOPERATION

 

 

 

 

Section 10.01.

General Cooperation

 

24

Section 10.02.

Retention of Records

 

25

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

Section 11.01.

Dispute Resolution

 

25

Section 11.02.

Tax Sharing Agreements

 

26

Section 11.03.

Interest on Late Payments

 

26

Section 11.04.

Survival of Covenants

 

26

Section 11.05.

Severability

 

26

Section 11.06.

Entire Agreement

 

26

Section 11.07.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

27

Section 11.08.

Specific Performance

 

27

 

ii



 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Section 11.09.

Amendment

 

27

Section 11.10.

Rules of Construction

 

27

Section 11.11.

Counterparts

 

27

Section 11.12.

Coordination with Separation and Distribution Agreement

 

28

Section 11.13.

Coordination with the Employee Matters Agreement

 

28

Section 11.14.

Governing Law

 

28

Section 11.15.

Assignability

 

28

Section 11.16.

Notices

 

28

Section 11.17.

Effective Date

 

29

 

iii



 

DEFINED TERMS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Accounting Firm

 

2, 26

Acquisition Transaction

 

2

Adjustment

 

3

Agreement

 

1, 3

Ancillary Agreement

 

3

Benefited Party

 

3, 17

Closing Date

 

3

Code

 

3

Combined Tax Return

 

3

Contribution

 

3

Controlled Corporation

 

3

Disqualifying Action

 

3

Distribution

 

1, 3

Due Date

 

3

Effective Time

 

3

Employee Matters Agreement

 

3

Equity Securities

 

4

Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest

 

4

Final Determination

 

4

Income Tax Return

 

4

Income Taxes

 

4

Indemnified Party

 

4

Indemnifying Party

 

4

Information

 

4, 25

Information Request

 

5, 25

IRS

 

5

Law

 

5

Net Working Capital Balance

 

5

Non-Income Tax Return

 

5

Notified Action

 

5, 23

Ordinary Course of Business

 

5

Parties

 

1

Party

 

1, 5

Past Practice

 

5, 14

Person

 

5

Plan of Reorganization

 

5

Post-Closing Period

 

5

Post-Distribution Ruling

 

5, 22

Pre-Closing Period

 

5

Record Holders

 

5

Refund

 

5

REIT

 

6

REIT Taxable Income

 

6

 

iv



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

REIT Taxes

 

6

Representatives

 

6

Restriction Period

 

6

Restructuring

 

1, 6

Restructuring Transfer Taxes

 

6

Restructuring/Distribution Taxes

 

6

RPT

 

6

RPT Built-In Gain

 

6

RPT Contributed Properties

 

6

RPT Contribution

 

6

RPT Section 752 Gain

 

7

SAG

 

7

Section 336(e) Election

 

7, 24

Section 8.02(e) Acquisition Transaction

 

7

Separate Return

 

7

Separation and Distribution Agreement

 

1, 7

SPG

 

1, 7

SPG Board

 

7

SPG Business

 

7

SPG Disqualifying Action

 

7

SPG Entity

 

8

SPG Group

 

8

SPG Income

 

8

SPG LP

 

1, 8

SPG LP Contribution

 

8

SPG LP Distribution

 

8

SPG LP Distribution Record Date

 

8

SPG LP Interests

 

8

SPG REIT Distribution Indemnification Amount

 

8

SPG Separate Tax Return

 

8

SPG Shares

 

1

SPG Tax Proceeding

 

8, 18

SPG Taxes

 

8

SPG TRS

 

9

Subsidiary

 

9

Tax

 

9

Tax Attributes

 

9

Tax Counsel

 

9

Tax Item

 

10

Tax Matter

 

10, 25

Tax Opinion

 

10

Tax Opinion Documents

 

10, 20

Tax Package

 

10

Tax Proceeding

 

10

Tax Return

 

10

Tax-Free Status

 

9

 

v



 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

Taxing Authority

 

9

Taxing Jurisdiction

 

10

Transactions

 

10

Transfer Taxes

 

10

Treasury Regulations

 

10

TRS Contribution

 

11

TRS Distribution

 

11

U.S.

 

11

Unqualified Tax Opinion

 

11

Waiver

 

11, 22

WPG

 

1, 11

WPG Active Trade or Business

 

11

WPG Assets

 

11

WPG Business

 

11

WPG Disqualifying Action

 

11

WPG Entity

 

12

WPG Group

 

12

WPG Income

 

12

WPG Liabilities

 

12

WPG LP

 

1, 12

WPG LP Interests

 

12

WPG REIT Distribution Amount

 

12

WPG Separate Tax Return

 

12

WPG Shares

 

1

WPG Tax Proceeding

 

12, 18

WPG Taxes

 

12

WPG TRS

 

13

 

vi



 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

THIS TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 28, 2014 is by and among Simon Property Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ SPG ”), Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ SPG LP ”), Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of SPG (“ WPG ”) and Washington Prime Group, L.P., an Indiana limited partnership and wholly owned subsidiary of SPG LP (“ WPG LP ”).  Each of SPG, SPG LP, WPG and WPG LP is sometimes referred to herein as a “ Party ” and, collectively, as the “ Parties .”

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, SPG has elected to be classified as a REIT and WPG intends to elect to be classified as a REIT;

 

WHEREAS, SPG, through SPG LP and their respective Subsidiaries, is engaged in the SPG Business and the WPG Business;

 

WHEREAS, the SPG Board has determined that it is in the best interests of SPG and its stockholders to create a new publicly traded company which shall operate the WPG Business;

 

WHEREAS, SPG, SPG LP, WPG and WPG LP have entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2014 (the “ Separation and Distribution Agreement ”), providing for the separation of the WPG Business from the SPG Business, pursuant to which (a) SPG will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, transfer the WPG Assets and the WPG Liabilities to WPG and its Subsidiaries, as a result of which transfer WPG and its Subsidiaries will own, directly and through their respective Subsidiaries, the WPG Business (the “ Restructuring ”) and (b) SPG will distribute all of the outstanding common shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of WPG (“ WPG Shares ”) to the Record Holders of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of SPG, par value $0.0001 per share (“ SPG Shares ”) on a pro rata basis (the “ Distribution ”);

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes, it is intended that the TRS Contribution and the TRS Distribution, taken together, shall qualify as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355(a) and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes, it is intended that the SPG LP Contribution and the SPG LP Distribution, taken together, shall be treated as an “assets-over form” division of SPG LP under Treasury Regulations Section 1.708-1(d)(3);

 

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes, it is intended that the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, shall qualify as a tax-free transaction under Sections 355(a) and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to (a) provide for the payment of Tax liabilities and entitlement to refunds thereof, (b) allocate responsibility for, and cooperation in, the filing of Tax Returns, and provide for certain other matters relating to Taxes, and (c) set forth certain

 



 

covenants and indemnities relating to the preservation of the tax-free status of certain steps of the Restructuring and the Distribution.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the terms, conditions, covenants and provisions of this Agreement, each of the Parties mutually covenants and agrees as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01.  General .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Accounting Firm ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).

 

Acquisition Transaction ” means a transaction or series of transactions (or any agreement, understanding or arrangement, within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7, or any other regulations promulgated thereunder, to enter into a transaction or series of transactions), whether such transaction is supported, permitted or solicited by management or shareholders of a Controlled Corporation, is a hostile acquisition, or otherwise, as a result of which such Controlled Corporation would merge or consolidate with or enter into any other reorganization transaction with any other Person or as a result of which one or more Persons would (directly or indirectly) acquire, or have the right to acquire, from such Controlled Corporation and/or one or more holders of outstanding shares of Equity Securities of such Controlled Corporation, as the case may be, a number of shares of Equity Securities of such Controlled Corporation that would, when combined with any other changes in ownership of the Equity Securities of such Controlled Corporation pertinent for purposes of Section 355(e) of the Code, comprise a 40% or greater interest in such Controlled Corporation (A) by value, as of the date of such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series, or (B) by vote, as of the date of such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Acquisition Transaction shall not include (A) the adoption by a Controlled Corporation of a shareholder rights plan or (B) issuances of Equity Securities by a Controlled Corporation that satisfy Safe Harbor VIII (relating to acquisitions in connection with a person’s performance of services) or Safe Harbor IX (relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of an employer) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7(d).  For purposes of determining whether a transaction constitutes an indirect acquisition, any recapitalization resulting in a shift of voting power shall be treated as an indirect acquisition of shares of Equity Securities by the shareholders whose voting power is increased thereby and any redemption of shares of Equity Securities shall be treated as an indirect acquisition of shares of Equity Securities by the non-exchanging shareholders.  For purposes of this definition, each reference to a Controlled Corporation shall include a reference to any entity treated as successor thereto.  This definition and the application thereof is intended to monitor compliance with Section 355(e) of the Code and shall be interpreted accordingly.  Any clarification of, or change in, the statute or regulations promulgated under Section 355(e) of the Code or published IRS guidance with respect thereto shall be incorporated in this definition and its interpretation.

 

2



 

Adjustment ” means any change in the Tax liability of a taxpayer, whether in connection with a Tax Proceeding, resulting from a change in facts or subsequent transactions, pursuant to amendment or otherwise, determined issue-by-issue, transaction-by-transaction, or with respect to a taxable period, as the case may be.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Ancillary Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Benefited Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).

 

Closing Date ” means the date on which the Distribution occurs.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Combined Tax Return ” means a consolidated, combined, unitary, affiliated or similar Income Tax Return or Non-Income Tax Return that actually includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members of the SPG Group together with one or more members of the WPG Group.

 

Contribution ” means the contribution and assignment by SPG and certain of its Subsidiaries of certain WPG Assets and WPG Liabilities and the WPG LP Interests received by SPG in the SPG LP Distribution to WPG in exchange for WPG Shares.

 

Controlled Corporation ” means WPG or WPG TRS.

 

Disqualifying Action ” means a SPG Disqualifying Action or a WPG Disqualifying Action.

 

Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Due Date ” means (i) with respect to a Tax Return, the date (taking into account all valid extensions) on which such Tax Return is required to be filed under applicable Law and (ii) with respect to a payment of Taxes, the date on which such payment is required to be made to avoid the incurrence of interest, penalties and/or additions to Tax.

 

Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Employee Matters Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Equity Securities ” means, with respect to a Person, all classes or series of capital stock of such Person (or any entity treated as a successor to such Person) and all other instruments treated as stock in such Person (or any entity treated as a successor to such Person) for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes, and including all options, warrants or any other rights to acquire such stock.

 

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Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest ” has the meaning ascribed to such term for purposes of Sections 355(d) and (e) of the Code.

 

Final Determination ” means the final resolution of liability for any Tax or Tax Item, which resolution may be for a specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable period, by or as a result of (i) IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms thereto), on the date of acceptance by or on behalf of the taxpayer, or by a comparable form under the Laws of any Taxing Jurisdiction, except that an IRS Form 870 or 870-AD or comparable form shall not constitute a Final Determination to the extent that it reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of law) the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for Refund or the right of the Taxing Authority to assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such taxable period (as the case may be); (ii) a final decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction that can no longer be appealed; (iii) a final settlement with the IRS, a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the Laws of any Taxing Jurisdiction; (iv) any allowance of a Refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such Refund or credit may be recovered by the jurisdiction imposing the Tax; or (v) any other final resolution, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, the execution of a pre-filing agreement with the IRS or other Taxing Authority or by mutual agreement of the Parties.

 

Income Tax Return ” means any Tax Return relating to Income Taxes.

 

Income Taxes ” means any Taxes based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to (i) net income, profits, net receipts or gross receipts (including, but not limited to, any capital gains, minimum Tax, any Tax on items of Tax preference, or any REIT Taxes, but not including sales, use, value added, real or personal property, transfer or similar Taxes), (ii) multiple bases (including, but not limited to, corporate franchise, doing business, business license, business privilege and occupation Taxes) if one or more bases upon which such Tax may be based, measured by, or calculated with respect to, is described in clause (i) or (iii) any net worth, franchise or similar Tax.

 

Indemnified Party ” means the Party which is entitled to seek indemnification from another Party pursuant to the provisions of Article V.

 

Indemnifying Party ” means the Party from which another Party is entitled to seek indemnification pursuant to the provisions of Article V.

 

Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

 

Information Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

 

IRS ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Law ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Net Working Capital Balance ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

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Non-Income Tax Return ” means any Tax Return relating to Taxes other than Income Taxes.

 

Notified Action ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03(a).

 

Ordinary Course of Business ” means an action taken by a Person only if such action is taken in the ordinary course of the normal day-to-day operations of such Person.

 

Party ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Past Practice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

 

Person ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Plan of Reorganization ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Post-Closing Period ” means any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date.

 

Pre-Closing Period ” means any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date.

 

Post-Distribution Ruling ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02(d).

 

Record Holders ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Refund ” means any refund (or credit in lieu thereof) of Taxes (including any overpayment of Taxes that can be refunded or, alternatively, applied to other Taxes payable), including any interest paid on or with respect to such refund of Taxes; provided , however , that for purposes of this Agreement, the amount of any Refund required to be paid to another Party shall be reduced by the net amount of any Income Taxes imposed on, related to, or attributable to, the receipt or accrual of such Refund.

 

REIT ” means a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856(a) of the Code.

 

REIT Taxable Income ” means “real estate investment trust taxable income” within the meaning of Section 857(b)(2) of the Code.

 

REIT Taxes ” means (i) any Taxes imposed as a result of the disqualification of SPG or WPG, as the case may be, as a REIT, (ii) any Taxes imposed under Section 857(b)(5) of the Code, and (iii) any excise Taxes imposed under Section 4981 of the Code.

 

Representatives ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

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Restriction Period ” means the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the twenty five (25) month anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Restructuring ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals and includes, for the avoidance of doubt, the TRS Contribution, the TRS Distribution, the SPG LP Contribution, the SPG LP Distribution, the Contribution and the Distribution.

 

Restructuring/Distribution Taxes ” means any Taxes imposed on, in connection with, or by reason of the Restructuring or the Distribution (including REIT Taxes but not including any Transfer Taxes), other than any such Taxes caused by a Disqualifying Action.

 

Restructuring Transfer Taxes ” means any Transfer Taxes imposed on, in connection with, or by reason of the Restructuring.

 

RPT ” means The Retail Property Trust, a Massachusetts business trust.

 

RPT Built-In Gain ” means gain allocable under Section 704(c) of the Code to RPT with respect to the RPT Contributed Properties as of immediately following the RPT Contribution (whether or not such gain is ultimately allocated to RPT or to any other Person under Section 704(c) of the Code or under another provision of the Code or the Treasury Regulations, including, without limitation, Section 737 of the Code); provided , that RPT Built-In Gain shall be reduced by any portion of the RPT Built-In Gain that is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes following the RPT Contribution.

 

RPT Contributed Properties ” means the WPG Properties and interests in entities holding, directly or indirectly, WPG Properties contributed by RPT in the RPT Contribution, and any other property that constitutes “substituted basis property” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code) with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

RPT Contribution ” means the contribution by RPT of certain WPG Properties and interests in entities holding, directly or indirectly, certain WPG Properties to WPG LP in exchange for WPG LP Interests following the Distribution, as set forth in the Plan of Reorganization.

 

RPT Section 752 Gain ” means any gain recognized under Section 731(a)(1) of the Code as a result of a deemed distribution under Section 752(b) of the Code on account of a reduction in the Liabilities to which any of the RPT Contributed Properties are subject at the time of the RPT Contribution.

 

SAG ” has the meaning ascribed to the term “separate affiliated group” in Section 355(b)(3)(B) of the Code.

 

Section 336(e) Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.

 

Section 8.02(e) Acquisition Transaction ” means any transaction or series of transactions that is not an Acquisition Transaction but would be an Acquisition Transaction if the percentage reflected in the definition of Acquisition Transaction were 25% instead of 40%.

 

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Separate Return ” means (i) in the case of any Tax Return required to be filed by any member of the SPG Group (including any consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax Return), any such Tax Return that does not include any member of the WPG Group and (ii) in the case of any Tax Return required to be filed by any member of the WPG Group (including any consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax Return), any such Tax Return that does not include any member of the SPG Group.

 

Separation and Distribution Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

SPG ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

SPG Board ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

SPG Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

SPG Disqualifying Action ” means (i) any action (or the failure to take any action) by SPG or any SPG Entity (including entering into any agreement, understanding or arrangement or any negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions) that, (ii) any acquisition of all or a portion, or any event (or series of events) involving, the Equity Securities of SPG, any assets of SPG or any Equity Securities or assets of any SPG Entity that, or (iii) any inaccuracy in or breach by SPG or any SPG Entity of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of or made by SPG or SPG LP in this Agreement or in connection with the Tax Opinion (other than, in each case, any representations and warranties made by SPG or SPG LP on behalf of, or with respect to, WPG or any WPG Entity) that, in each case, causes any of the Transactions to fail to have Tax-Free Status; provided , however , that the term “SPG Disqualifying Action” shall not include any action expressly contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or that is undertaken pursuant to the Restructuring, the Distribution or the Plan of Reorganization.

 

SPG Entity ” means any member of the SPG Group other than SPG.

 

SPG Group ” means, individually or collectively, as the case may be, (a) SPG, SPG LP and any of their respective Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such Subsidiary that is treated as a “disregarded entity” for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of any state, local or foreign Tax law) immediately after the Effective Time (and giving effect to the Restructuring and the Distribution), (b) any Person that shall have merged or liquidated into SPG, SPG LP or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in this definition.

 

SPG Income ” means (i) any REIT Taxable Income attributable solely to, or arising solely with respect to, assets or activities of the SPG Business (excluding any REIT Taxable Income attributable to the Restructuring or the Distribution), (ii) any REIT Taxable Income attributable to a SPG Disqualifying Action and (iii) any REIT Taxable Income resulting from any inaccuracy in or breach by SPG or any SPG Entity of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of or made by SPG or SPG LP in this Agreement.

 

SPG LP ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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SPG LP Contribution ” means the contribution and assignment by SPG LP and certain of its Subsidiaries of certain WPG Assets and WPG Liabilities to WPG LP in exchange for WPG LP Interests.

 

SPG LP Distribution ” means the pro rata distribution by SPG LP of all of the WPG LP Interests held by SPG LP to the holders of record, as of the SPG LP Distribution Record Date, of SPG LP Interests entitled to participate in such distribution.

 

SPG LP Distribution Record Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

SPG LP Interests ” means the limited partnership interests in SPG LP.

 

“SPG REIT Distribution Indemnification Amount ” means any amount required to be distributed by WPG pursuant to Section 857(a) of the Code in order for WPG to maintain its status as a REIT for any taxable period as a result of any SPG Income required to be included in the taxable income of WPG for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes for such taxable period.

 

SPG Separate Tax Return ” means any Separate Return required to be filed by any member of the SPG Group.

 

SPG Tax Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).

 

SPG Taxes ” means, without duplication, (i) any Taxes of or imposed on SPG, SPG LP or any other member of the SPG Group (including any Taxes reported  on or otherwise imposed with respect to a Combined Tax Return, but excluding any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes or any Restructuring Transfer Taxes), (ii) any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes imposed on SPG or any SPG Entity, and (iii) any Taxes attributable to a SPG Disqualifying Action (including any REIT Taxes), in each case, whether imposed as a result of an Adjustment, amendment or otherwise; provided , that SPG Taxes shall not include any (a) WPG Taxes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Taxes attributable to a WPG Disqualifying Action) and (b) any Taxes taken into account as a liability in the Net Working Capital Balance (as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement).

 

SPG TRS ” means MS Management Associates Inc..

 

Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Tax ” means (i) all taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts, or other similar assessments, imposed by any U.S. federal, state or local or foreign governmental authority, including, but not limited to, income, gross receipts, excise, property, sales, use, license, capital stock, transfer, franchise, margin, payroll, withholding, social security, value added and other taxes, (ii) any interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto and (iii) all liabilities in respect of any items described in clause (i) or (ii) payable by reason of assumption, transferee or successor liability, operation of Law or Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof or any analogous or similar provision under Law).

 

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Tax Attributes ” means net operating losses, capital losses, credits, earnings and profits (including any REIT earning and profits), overall foreign losses, previously taxed income, separate limitation losses and all other Tax attributes.

 

Tax Counsel ” shall mean tax counsel of recognized national standing that is acceptable to SPG.

 

Tax-Free Status ” means (i) the qualification of each of (x) the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, and (y) the TRS Contribution and TRS Distribution, taken together, (a) as a reorganization described in Sections 355(a) and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, (b) as a transaction in which the stock distributed  thereby is “qualified property” for purposes of Sections 355(d), 355(e) and 361(c) of the Code, and (c) as a transaction in which (x) SPG, WPG and the shareholders of SPG, and (y) TRS, WPG TRS and SPG LP, respectively, recognize no income or gain for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes pursuant to Sections 355, 361 and 1031 of the Code; and (ii) the qualification of (a) the SPG LP Contribution and the SPG LP Distribution, taken together, as an “assets-over form” division of SPG LP under Treasury Regulation Section 1.708-1(d)(3), (b) the SPG LP Contribution as a transaction described in Section 721(a) of the Code and (c) the SPG LP Distribution as a transaction described in Section 731(a) of the Code, in each case, in which no gain or income is recognized by SPG LP, WPG LP or any of their respective partners.

 

Taxing Authority ” means any governmental authority or any subdivision, agency, commission or entity thereof or any quasi-governmental or private body having jurisdiction over the assessment, determination, collection or imposition of any Tax (including the IRS).

 

Taxing Jurisdiction ” means the United States and every other government or governmental unit having jurisdiction to tax SPG, SPG LP, WPG, WPG LP or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

Tax Item ” means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit, recapture of credit or any other item that increases or decreases Taxes paid or payable.

 

Tax Matter ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

 

Tax Opinion ” shall mean the opinion issued by Tax Counsel to SPG with respect to certain Tax aspects of the Contribution and the Distribution, as referenced in Section 3.3(a)(iii) of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Tax Opinion Documents ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(a).

 

Tax Package ” means all relevant Tax-related information relating to the operations of the SPG Business or the WPG Business, as applicable, that is reasonably necessary to prepare and file the applicable Tax Return.

 

Tax Proceeding ” means any audit, assessment of Taxes, pre-filing agreement, other examination by any Taxing Authority, proceeding, appeal of a proceeding or litigation relating to Taxes, whether administrative or judicial, including proceedings relating to competent authority determinations.

 

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Tax Return ” means any return, report, certificate, form or similar statement or document (including any related or supporting information or schedule attached thereto and any information return, or declaration of estimated Tax) supplied to, filed with or required to be supplied to or filed with, a Taxing Authority in connection with the payment, determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the administration of any Laws relating to any Tax and any amended Tax return or claim for refund.

 

Transactions ” means the transactions referred to in the definition of “Tax-Free Status.”

 

Transfer Taxes ” means all sales, use, transfer, real property transfer (whether such transfer is direct or indirect), intangible, recordation, registration, documentary, stamp or similar Taxes imposed in connection with the Restructuring or the Distribution.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the final and temporary (but not proposed) income Tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

TRS Contribution ” means the contribution and assignment by SPG TRS of certain WPG Assets and WPG Liabilities (including the WPG Active Trade or Business conducted by SPG TRS immediately prior to such contribution) to WPG TRS in exchange for stock of WPG TRS.

 

TRS Distribution ” means the distribution by SPG TRS of all of the capital stock of WPG TRS to SPG LP.

 

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

 

Unqualified Tax Opinion ” means a “will” opinion, without substantive qualifications, of a nationally recognized law firm, which law firm is reasonably acceptable to SPG, to the effect that a transaction will not affect the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.

 

Waiver ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02(d).

 

WPG ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

WPG Active Trade or Business ” means the trade or business actively conducted (within the meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code) (i) by WPG (taking into account Section 355(b)(3) of the Code and Revenue Ruling 2007-42, 2007-2 C.B. 44) immediately prior to the Distribution and relied upon to satisfy the requirements of Section 355(b) of the Code with respect to the Distribution, as set forth in the Tax Opinion Documents and (ii) by WPG TRS (taking into account Section 355(b)(3) of the Code) immediately prior to the TRS Distribution and relied upon to satisfy the requirements of Section 355(b) of the Code with respect to the TRS Distribution.

 

WPG Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

WPG Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

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WPG Disqualifying Action ” means (i) any action (or the failure to take any action) by WPG or any WPG Entity (including entering into any agreement, understanding or arrangement or any negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions) that, (ii) any acquisition of all or a portion, or any event (or series of events) involving, the Equity Securities of WPG, any assets of WPG or any Equity Securities or assets of any WPG Entity that, or (iii) any inaccuracy in or breach by WPG or any WPG Entity of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of or made by WPG or WPG LP in this Agreement or in connection with the Tax Opinion (irrespective of whether SPG or SPG LP made the same representation or warranty on behalf of, or with respect to, WPG or any WPG Entity), that, in each case, causes any of the Transactions to fail to have Tax-Free Status (regardless of whether a Post-Distribution Ruling, Unqualified Tax Opinion or Waiver may have been obtained or provided with respect to such action, event, inaccuracy or breach); provided , however , that the term “WPG Disqualifying Action” shall not include any action expressly contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or that is undertaken pursuant to the Restructuring, the Distribution or the Plan of Reorganization.

 

WPG Entity ” means any member of the WPG Group other than WPG.

 

WPG Group ” means individually or collectively, as the case may be, (a) WPG, WPG LP and any of their respective Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such Subsidiary that is treated as a “disregarded entity” for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of any state, local or foreign Tax law) immediately after the Effective Time (and giving effect to the Restructuring and the Distribution), (b) any Person that shall have merged or liquidated into WPG, WPG LP or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in this definition.

 

WPG Income ” means (i) any REIT Taxable Income attributable to, or arising with respect to, assets or activities of the WPG Business (excluding any REIT Taxable Income attributable to the Restructuring or the Distribution), (ii) any REIT Taxable Income attributable to a WPG Disqualifying Action and (iii) any REIT Taxable Income resulting from any inaccuracy in or breach by WPG or any WPG Entity of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of or made by WPG or WPG LP in this Agreement.

 

WPG Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

WPG LP ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

WPG LP Interests ” means the limited partnership interests in WPG LP.

 

WPG REIT Distribution Indemnification Amount ” means any amount required to be distributed by SPG pursuant to Section 857(a) of the Code in order for SPG to maintain its status as a REIT for any taxable period as a result of any WPG Income required to be included in taxable income of SPG for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes for such taxable period.

 

WPG Separate Tax Return ” means any Separate Return required to be filed by any member of the WPG Group.

 

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WPG Tax Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).

 

WPG Taxes ” means, without duplication, (i) any Taxes of or imposed on any member of the SPG Group or any member of the WPG Group (including any Taxes reported on or otherwise imposed with respect to a Combined Tax Return), in each case, for any taxable period, attributable to, or arising with respect to, assets or activities of the WPG Business (excluding any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes or any Restructuring Transfer Taxes), (ii) any Taxes of or imposed on WPG, WPG LP or any other member of the WPG Group for any taxable period (excluding any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes or any Restructuring Transfer Taxes), (iii) any Restructuring Transfer Taxes, (iv) any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes imposed on WPG or any WPG Entity, and (v) any Taxes attributable to a WPG Disqualifying Action (including any REIT Taxes), in each case, whether imposed as a result of an Adjustment, amendment or otherwise; provided , that WPG Taxes shall not include any Taxes attributable to a SPG Disqualifying Action.

 

WPG TRS ” means WPG Management Associates, Inc..

 

Section 1.02.                          Additional Definitions .  Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

PREPARATION, FILING AND PAYMENT OF TAXES SHOWN DUE
ON TAX RETURNS

 

Section 2.01.                          Combined Tax Returns .  SPG shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all Combined Tax Returns and SPG LP shall pay (or cause to be paid) all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns; provided , that WPG LP shall reimburse SPG LP for any such Taxes that are WPG Taxes.

 

Section 2.02.                          SPG Separate Tax Returns .  SPG shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all SPG Separate Tax Returns and SPG LP shall pay (or cause to be paid) all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns; provided , that WPG LP shall reimburse SPG LP for any such Taxes that are WPG Taxes.

 

Section 2.03.                          WPG Separate Tax Returns .  WPG shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all WPG Separate Tax Returns and WPG LP shall pay (or cause to be paid) all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns; provided , that SPG LP shall reimburse WPG LP for any such Taxes that are SPG Taxes.

 

Section 2.04.                          Restructuring Transfer Tax Returns .  WPG shall prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to Restructuring Transfer Taxes and WPG LP shall pay (or cause to be paid) all Taxes shown to be due and payable on such Tax Returns.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

TAX RETURN PROCEDURES

 

Section 3.01.                          Procedures relating to Combined Tax Returns and SPG Separate Tax Returns .

 

(a)                                  In connection with the preparation of any Combined Tax Return pursuant to Section 2.01 or any SPG Separate Tax Return pursuant to Section 2.02 that may include Tax Items relating to the activities or assets of the WPG Business, WPG will (and will cause the WPG Entities to) assist and cooperate with SPG by preparing and providing to SPG such information and other documentation as may be requested by or necessary to enable SPG, in such form as SPG may reasonably request, to prepare such Combined Tax Return or SPG Separate Tax Return, including, but not limited to, proforma Tax Returns for WPG and any WPG Entity to be included in such Combined Tax Return or equivalent financial data to be used in the preparation of such SPG Separate Tax Return, as applicable.  Any such proforma Tax Return or equivalent financial data shall be prepared in accordance with past practices, accounting methods, elections and conventions (“ Past Practice ”), unless otherwise required by Law or requested in writing by SPG, and shall be delivered no later than sixty (60) days following SPG’s request therefor.  At its option, SPG may engage an accounting firm of its choice to review the proforma Tax Return or equivalent financial data, supporting documentation, and statements submitted by WPG and in connection therewith, shall determine whether such Tax Return was prepared in accordance with Past Practice.  All costs and expenses associated with such review will be borne by WPG LP upon receipt of invoices detailing the work performed by such accounting firm.

 

(b)                                  SPG (or its designee) shall determine the entities to be included in any Combined Tax Return and make or revoke any Tax elections, adopt or change any Tax accounting methods, and determine any other position taken on or in respect of any Combined Tax Return or SPG Separate Tax Return.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, any Combined Tax Return or SPG Separate Tax Return shall, to the extent relating to WPG, any WPG Entity or the activities or assets of the WPG Business, be prepared in good faith.  SPG shall deliver to WPG for its review a draft of any Combined Tax Return or SPG Separate Tax Return, in each case, if such Tax Return reflects or relates to Taxes for which WPG LP would reasonably be expected to be liable hereunder, at least 15 days prior to the Due Date for such Tax Return to enable WPG to analyze and comment on such Tax Return (along with a statement setting forth the calculation of the Tax shown due and payable on such Tax Return reimbursable by WPG LP under Sections 2.01 or 2.02).  SPG shall consider any such comments received from WPG in good faith and SPG and WPG shall attempt in good faith to resolve any issues arising out of the review of any such Tax Return; provided , however , that nothing herein shall prevent SPG from timely filing (or causing to be filed) any such Tax Return.

 

Section 3.02.                          Procedures relating to WPG Separate Tax Returns .  In the case of any WPG Separate Tax Return that reflects or relates to Taxes for which SPG LP would reasonably be expected to be liable hereunder, WPG shall (1) unless otherwise required by Law or agreed to in writing by SPG, prepare (or cause to be prepared) such Tax Return in a manner consistent with Past Practice to the extent such items affect the Taxes for which SPG LP may be

 

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responsible pursuant to this Agreement, and (2) submit to SPG a draft of any such Tax Return (along with a statement setting forth the calculation of the Tax shown due and payable on such Tax Return reimbursable by SPG LP under Section 2.03) at least 15 days prior to the Due Date for such Tax Return to enable SPG to analyze and comment on such Tax Return.  WPG shall consider any such comments received from SPG in good faith and SPG and WPG shall attempt in good faith to resolve any issues arising out of the review of any such WPG Separate Tax Return.  Any disputes that the Parties are unable to resolve shall be resolved by the Accounting Firm pursuant to Section 11.01.  In the event that any dispute is not resolved (whether pursuant to good faith negotiations among the Parties or by the Accounting Firm) prior to the Due Date for the filing of any such WPG Separate Tax Return, such Tax Return shall be timely filed (or caused to be filed) by WPG, and the Parties agree to amend such Tax Return as necessary to reflect the resolution of such dispute in a manner consistent with such resolution.

 

Section 3.03.                          Preparation of all Tax Returns .  Except as required by applicable Law or as a result of a Final Determination, (i) neither SPG nor WPG shall (nor shall cause or permit any members of the SPG Group or WPG Group, respectively, to) take any position that is either inconsistent with the Tax-Free Status (or analogous status under any state or local Law) or, with respect to a specific item of income, deduction, gain, loss, or credit on any Tax Return, treat such specific item in a manner that is inconsistent with the manner such specific item is reported on a Tax Return prepared or filed by SPG pursuant to Article II hereof (including, without limitation, the claiming of a deduction previously claimed on any such Tax Return) and (ii) SPG and WPG shall (and shall cause the members of the SPG Group and WPG Group, respectively, to) prepare all Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

Section 3.04.                          Tax Returns Reflecting Restructuring/Distribution Taxes .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Articles II, III and IV, the portion of any Tax Return that relates to any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes or any Taxes attributable to a SPG Disqualifying Action shall be prepared by SPG in the manner determined by SPG in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

TAX TIMING AND ALLOCATION

 

Section 4.01.                          Timing of Payments .  All Taxes required to be paid or caused to be paid pursuant to Article II by either SPG LP or WPG LP, as the case may be, to an applicable Taxing Authority or to be reimbursed by SPG LP or WPG LP to the other Party (or any member of its Group) pursuant to this Agreement, shall, in the case of a payment to a Taxing Authority, be paid on or before the Due Date for the payment of such Taxes and, in the case of a payment to the other Party, be paid at least two (2) business days before the Due Date for the payment of such Taxes by the other Party.

 

Section 4.02.                          Expenses .  Except as expressly provided herein (including, Section 3.01 and Section 11.01(b)), each Party shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with Articles II, III and IV.

 

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Section 4.03.                          Apportionment of WPG Taxes .  For all purposes of this Agreement, SPG shall determine in its sole discretion exercised in good faith which Tax Items are properly attributable to assets or activities of the WPG Business (and in the case of a Tax Item that is properly attributable to both the WPG Business and the SPG Business, the allocation of such Tax Item between the WPG Business and the SPG Business).

 

ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 5.01.                          Indemnification by SPG LP .  SPG LP shall pay, and shall indemnify and hold WPG and the WPG Entities harmless from and against, without duplication, (i) all SPG Taxes, (ii) all Taxes (including any REIT Taxes) incurred by WPG or any WPG Entity as a result of any inaccuracy in or breach by SPG or any SPG Entity of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of or made by SPG or SPG LP in this Agreement, (iii) the SPG REIT Distribution Indemnification Amount for any taxable period, and (iv) any costs and expenses related to the foregoing (including reasonable fees of attorneys and experts and out-of-pocket expenses).

 

Section 5.02.                          Indemnification by WPG LP .  WPG LP shall pay, and shall indemnify and hold SPG and the SPG Entities harmless from and against, without duplication, (i) all WPG Taxes, (ii) all Taxes (including any REIT Taxes) incurred by SPG or any SPG Entity as a result of any inaccuracy in or breach by WPG or any WPG Entity of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of or made by WPG or WPG LP in this Agreement, (iii) the WPG REIT Distribution Indemnification Amount for any taxable period, and (vi) any costs and expenses related to the foregoing (including reasonable fees of attorneys and experts and out-of-pocket expenses).

 

Section 5.03.                          Characterization of and Adjustments to Payments .

 

(a)                                  For all Tax purposes, the Parties agree to treat (and to cause their respective Affiliates to treat) (i) any payment required by this Agreement (other than (x) payments with respect to interest accruing after the Closing Date and (y) indemnification payments required as a result of a breach of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01 or Section 9.02) as either a contribution by SPG LP to WPG LP or a distribution by WPG LP to SPG LP, as the case may be, occurring immediately prior to the first SPG LP Distribution or as a payment of an assumed or retained Liability and (ii) any payment of non-federal Taxes by or to a Taxing Authority or any payment of interest as taxable or deductible, as the case may be, to the Party entitled under this Agreement to retain such payment or required under this Agreement to make such payment, in each case, except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

(b)                                  Any indemnification payment under this Article V and under Article IV of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall be increased to take into account any inclusion in income of the Indemnified Party arising from the receipt of such indemnity payment (including any additional REIT Taxes or additional amount required to be distributed under Section 857(a) of the Code resulting therefrom) and shall be decreased to take into account any reduction in income of the Indemnified Party arising from such indemnified Liability (including any reduction in REIT Taxes or reduction in the amount required to be distributed under Section

 

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857(a) of the Code resulting therefrom).  For purposes hereof, any adjustment to an indemnification payment on account of Taxes (or REIT Taxes) shall be determined (i) using the highest marginal rates in effect for SPG, in the case of an Indemnified Party that is a member of the SPG Group, or for WPG, in the case of an Indemnified Party that is a member of the WPG Group, at the time of the determination and (ii) assuming that the Indemnified Party will be liable for Taxes at such rate and has no Tax Attributes at the time of the determination.

 

Section 5.04.                          Timing of Indemnification Payments .  Indemnification payments required pursuant to this Article V shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party as the associated indemnifiable liabilities are incurred upon demand by the Indemnified Party, including reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such indemnification payment.

 

Section 5.05.                          Certain Tax Procedures .  For the avoidance of doubt, Section 4.11 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall apply with respect to any indemnification payments required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI
REFUNDS, TRS TAX ATTRIBUTES, DEDUCTIONS

 

Section 6.01.                          Refunds .

 

(a)                                  SPG LP shall be entitled to all Refunds of Taxes for which SPG LP is responsible pursuant to Article II or for which SPG LP is or may be liable pursuant to Article V, and WPG LP shall be entitled to all Refunds of Taxes for which WPG LP is responsible pursuant to Article II or for which WPG LP is or may be liable pursuant to Article V.  A Party receiving a Refund to which the other Party is entitled pursuant to this Agreement shall pay the amount to which such other Party is entitled within ten (10) days after the receipt of the Refund.

 

(b)                                  In the event of an Adjustment relating to Taxes for which one Party is responsible pursuant to Article II or is or may be liable pursuant to Article V which would have given rise to a Refund but for an offset against the Taxes for which the other Party is or may be liable pursuant to Article V (the “ Benefited Party ”), then the Benefited Party shall pay to the other Party, within ten (10) days of the Final Determination of such Adjustment an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of such hypothetical Refund or (ii) the amount of such reduction in the Taxes of the Benefited Party, in each case plus interest at the rate set forth in Section 6621(a)(1) of the Code on such amount for the period from the filing date of the Tax Return that would have given rise to such Refund to the payment date.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding Section 6.01(a), to the extent that a Party applies or causes to be applied an overpayment of Taxes as a credit toward or a reduction in Taxes otherwise payable (or a Taxing Authority requires such application in lieu of a Refund) and such overpayment of Taxes, if received as a Refund, would have been payable by such Party to the other Party pursuant to this Section 6.01, such Party shall pay such amount to the other Party no later than the Due Date of the Tax Return for which such overpayment is applied to reduce Taxes otherwise payable.

 

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(d)                                  To the extent that the amount of any Refund under this Section 6.01 is later reduced by a Taxing Authority or a Tax Proceeding, such reduction shall be allocated to the Party to which such Refund was allocated pursuant to this Section 6.01 and an appropriate adjusting payment shall be made.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the above provisions of this Section 6.01 shall not apply with respect to any Refund to the extent such Refund is governed by Section 2.14 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement; provided , that Section 6.01(c) shall apply with respect to any such Refund to the extent such Refund is applied as a credit toward or reduction in Taxes otherwise payable (and the amount of such credit is not otherwise taken into account pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement).

 

Section 6.02.                          TRS Tax Attributes .

 

(a)                                  Tax Attributes arising in a Pre-Closing Period shall be allocated to the SPG TRS and the WPG TRS in accordance with the Code and Treasury Regulations (and any applicable state, local and foreign Laws).  SPG shall determine the allocation of such Tax Attributes arising in Pre-Closing Periods as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, and the Parties hereby agree to compute all Taxes for Post-Closing Periods consistently with that determination unless otherwise required by a Final Determination.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the amount of any Tax Attribute is later reduced or increased by a Taxing Authority or Tax Proceeding, such reduction or increase shall be allocated to the Party to which such Tax Attribute was allocated pursuant to Section 6.02(a).

 

Section 6.03.                          Treatment of Deductions Associated with Equity-Related Compensation .  Solely SPG shall be entitled to claim any Tax deduction associated with the vesting or settlement of any SPG restricted stock awards granted in connection with the performance of services (and the payment of any dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to restricted stock awards).

 

ARTICLE VII
TAX PROCEEDINGS

 

Section 7.01.                          Notification of Tax Proceedings .  Within thirty (30) days after an Indemnified Party becomes aware of the commencement of a Tax Proceeding that may give rise to Taxes for which an Indemnifying Party is responsible pursuant to Article V, such Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party of such Tax Proceeding, and thereafter shall promptly forward or make available to the Indemnifying Party copies of notices and communications relating to such Tax Proceeding.  The failure of the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party of the commencement of any such Tax Proceeding within such thirty (30)-day period or promptly forward any further notices or communications shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnified Party under this Agreement except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure.

 

Section 7.02.                          Tax Proceedings .

 

(a)                                  Generally .  Except as provided in Section 7.02(c)(i), SPG (or such member of the SPG Group as SPG shall designate) shall have the sole right to control any Tax Proceeding and

 

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represent the interests of the members of the SPG Group and the members of the WPG Group and to employ counsel of its choice at its expense in any Tax Proceeding (including any Tax Proceeding with respect to Restructuring/Distribution Taxes) relating to (i) any Combined Tax Return, (ii) any SPG Separate Tax Return and (iii) any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes (each, a “ SPG Tax Proceeding ”).  Except as provided in Section 7.02(c)(ii), WPG (or such member of the WPG Group as WPG shall designate) shall have the sole right to represent the interests of the members of the WPG Group and to employ counsel of its choice at its expense in any Tax Proceeding relating to any WPG Separate Tax Return other than a SPG Proceeding (a “ WPG Tax Proceeding ”.

 

(b)                                  Power of Attorney .  WPG shall (and shall cause the members of the WPG Group to) execute and deliver to SPG (or such member of the SPG Group as SPG shall designate) any power of attorney or other document requested by SPG (or such designee) in connection with any Tax Proceeding described in the first sentence of Section 7.02.

 

(c)                                   Participation Rights .

 

(i)                                      SPG Tax Proceedings .  In the event of any SPG Tax Proceeding the resolution of which could reasonably be expected to give rise to an indemnification obligation of WPG LP pursuant to Article V, (A) SPG shall consult with WPG reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in connection with such Tax Proceeding, (B) SPG shall consult with WPG and offer WPG a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with such Tax Proceeding, (C) SPG shall defend such Tax Proceeding diligently and in good faith as if it were the only party in interest in connection with such Tax Proceeding, and (D) SPG shall provide WPG copies of any written materials relating to such Tax Proceeding received from the relevant Taxing Authority.  Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, the final determination of the positions taken, including with respect to settlement or other disposition, in (i) any SPG Tax Proceeding relating to Restructuring/Distribution Taxes or (ii) any other SPG Tax Proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to give rise to an indemnification obligation of WPG LP pursuant to Article V in excess of $5,000,000, shall be made in the sole discretion of SPG and shall be final and not subject to the dispute resolution provisions of Section 11.01 (or Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement).  With respect to any SPG Tax Proceeding (other than any SPG Tax Proceeding relating to Restructuring/Distribution Taxes) which could reasonably be expected to give rise to an indemnification obligation of WPG LP pursuant to Article V in excess of $5,000,000, WPG shall be entitled to participate in such Tax Proceeding at its own expense, and SPG shall not settle, compromise or abandon any such Tax Proceeding without obtaining the prior written consent of WPG, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(ii)                                   WPG Tax Proceedings .  In the event of any WPG Tax Proceeding that relates to any Restructuring/Distribution Taxes, (A) WPG shall consult with SPG reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in connection with such Tax Proceeding, (B) WPG shall consult with SPG and offer SPG a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with such Tax Proceeding, (C) WPG shall defend such Tax Proceeding diligently and in good faith as if it were the only party in interest in connection with such Tax Proceeding, (D) WPG shall provide SPG copies of any written

 

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materials relating to such Tax Proceeding received from the relevant Taxing Authority, (E) SPG shall be entitled to participate in such Tax Proceeding at its own expense and (F) WPG shall not settle, compromise or abandon any such Tax Proceeding without obtaining the prior written consent of SPG, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

ARTICLE VIII
TAX-FREE STATUS OF THE DISTRIBUTION

 

Section 8.01.                          Representations and Warranties .

 

(a)                                  WPG .

 

(i)                                      WPG hereby represents and warrants that (i) it has examined (A) the representation letter from SPG addressed to Tax Counsel and delivered in connection with the Tax Opinion, (B) the representation letter from WPG addressed to Tax Counsel and delivered in connection with the Tax Opinion and (C) any other information, documents or other materials delivered or deliverable by SPG or WPG in connection with the Tax Opinion (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “ Tax Opinion Documents ”)  and (ii) the facts presented and the representations made in the Tax Opinion Documents, to the extent descriptive of or in reference to the WPG Group or the WPG Business (including with respect to the plans, proposals, intentions and policies of the WPG Group), are true, correct and complete in all respects.

 

(ii)                                   WPG hereby represents and warrants that during the two (2)-year period ending on the Closing Date, there was no “agreement, understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations or discussions” (as such terms are defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7(h)) by any one or more officers or directors of any member of the WPG Group or by any other person or persons with the implicit or explicit permission of one or more of such officers or directors regarding an acquisition of all or a significant portion of the Equity Securities of WPG (or any predecessor); provided , that no representation or warranty is made by WPG regarding any “agreement, understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations” (as such terms are defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.355-7(h)) by one or more officers or directors of SPG.

 

(b)                                  SPG .  SPG hereby represents and warrants that (i) it has delivered complete and accurate copies of the Tax Opinion Documents to WPG and (ii) the facts presented and the representations made in the Tax Opinion Documents, to the extent descriptive of or in reference to the SPG Group or the SPG Business (including with respect to the business purposes for the Distribution described in the Tax Opinion Documents and the plans, proposals, intentions and policies of the SPG Group), are true, correct and complete in all respects.

 

(c)                                   No Contrary Plan .  Each of SPG and WPG represents and warrants that neither it, nor any of its Affiliates, has any plan or intention to take any action (or fail to take any action) or knows of any fact or circumstance (after due inquiry) (A) which is inconsistent with any statements or representations made in the Tax Opinion Documents, this Agreement or the Separation and Distribution Agreement (or that could cause any such statements or representations to be untrue) or (B) which may cause any of the Transactions not to have Tax-Free Status.

 

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Section 8.02.        Restrictions Relating to the Distribution .

 

(a)           General .  Neither SPG nor WPG shall, or permit any SPG Entity or any WPG Entity, respectively, to, take any action that constitutes (or fail to take an action, the omission of which would result in, as applicable) a Disqualifying Action described in the definitions of SPG Disqualifying Action and WPG Disqualifying Action, respectively.

 

(b)           WPG Obligations .  WPG shall not take any action (including, but not limited to, any cessation, transfer or disposition of all or any portion of any WPG Business, payment of extraordinary dividends and acquisitions or issuance of Equity Securities) or permit any member of the WPG Group to take any such action, and WPG shall not fail to take any such action or permit any member of the WPG Group to fail to take any such action, in each case, unless such action or failure to act (x) could not reasonably be expected to cause any of the Transactions to fail to have Tax-Free Status or (y) could not require SPG or WPG to reflect a liability or reserve for Taxes or other amounts with respect to the Transactions in its financial statements.

 

(c)           WPG Restrictions .  Prior to the first (1 st ) day after the end of the Restriction Period, WPG:

 

(i)            (x) shall continue and cause to be continued the active conduct (within the meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code) of each WPG Active Trade or Business as conducted immediately prior to the Distribution, taking into account Section 355(b)(3) of the Code and Revenue Ruling 2007-42, 2007-2 C.B. 44, and (y) shall not engage (or permit any member of the WPG Group to engage) in any transaction (including, without limitation, any cessation, transfer or disposition of all or any portion of any WPG Business) that could reasonably be expected to result in WPG or WPG TRS ceasing to be a company engaged in the applicable WPG Active Trade or Business.

 

(ii)           shall not, and shall not permit any WPG Entity (other than any WPG Entity treated as an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes) to, voluntarily dissolve or liquidate (or take any other action or enter into any transaction that would effect a liquidation for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes).

 

(iii)          shall not, and shall not permit WPG TRS to,(1) enter into, solicit, agree to, participate in, approve or effect any Acquisition Transaction or, to the extent WPG or WPG TRS, as applicable, has the right to prohibit any Acquisition Transaction, permit any Acquisition Transaction to occur, (2) redeem or otherwise repurchase or agree to redeem or otherwise repurchase (directly or through an Affiliate) any Equity Securities of WPG or WPG TRS, as applicable, except to the extent such repurchases satisfy Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30 (as in effect prior to the amendment of such Revenue Procedure by Revenue Procedure 2003-48), (3) amend its certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents), or take any other action, whether through a stockholder vote or otherwise, affecting the relative voting rights of its Equity Securities (including through the conversion of any Equity Securities into another class of Equity Securities), (4) merge or consolidate (or agree to merge or consolidate) with any other Person and shall not permit any WPG Entity to merge or consolidate (or agree to merger or consolidate) with any other Person or (5) take any other action or actions (including any action or transaction that would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with any representation made in the Tax Opinion Documents) which, individually or in the aggregate (and taking into account any other transactions described in this Section 8.02(c)(iii)) would be

 

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reasonably likely to have the effect of causing or permitting one or more Persons (whether or not acting in concert) to acquire, directly or indirectly, Equity Securities representing a Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest in WPG or WPG TRS or otherwise jeopardize the Tax-Free Status of any of the Transactions.  In addition, none of WPG or WPG TRS shall at any time, whether before or subsequent to the expiration of the Restriction Period, engage in any action described in the immediately preceding sentence if it is pursuant to an agreement negotiated (in whole or in part) prior to the first (1 st ) anniversary of the Distribution, even if at the time of the Distribution or thereafter such action is subject to various conditions.

 

(iv)          shall not, and shall not permit any WPG Entity (or members of their respective SAGs) to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or agree to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose (including in any transaction treated for federal income tax purposes as a sale, transfer or disposition) of assets (including, any shares of Equity Securities of a Subsidiary) that, in the aggregate, constitute more than thirty percent (30%) of the gross assets of WPG or WPG TRS or more than thirty percent (30%) of the consolidated gross assets of WPG, the members of its SAG and WPG LP, or WPG TRS and the members of its SAG, respectively.  The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) sales, transfers, or dispositions of assets in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) any cash paid to acquire assets from an unrelated Person in an arm’s-length transaction, (C) any assets transferred to a Person that is disregarded as an entity separate from the transferor for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes or (D) any mandatory or optional repayment (or pre-payment) of any indebtedness of WPG or WPG TRS (or any member of their respective SAGs or WPG LP).  The percentages of gross assets or consolidated gross assets of WPG or WPG, the members of its SAG and WPG LP, or WPG TRS or WPG TRS and the members of its SAG, as the case may be, sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, shall be based on the fair market value of the gross assets of such entity or entities as of the Closing Date.  For purposes of this Section 8.02(c)(iv), a merger of WPG, WPG LP or WPG TRS (or a member of its SAG) with and into any Person shall constitute a disposition of all of the assets of such entity or such member.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by Section 8.02(c), during the Restriction Period, WPG may proceed with any of the actions or transactions described in Section 8.02(c), if (x) such action or transaction is not described in Section 8.02(a) or Section 8.02(b) and (y) prior to entering into any agreement contemplating such action or transaction, and prior to taking or consummating any such action or transaction, (i) WPG shall first have requested SPG to obtain a private letter ruling from the IRS (and any other relevant Taxing Authority) (a “ Post-Distribution Ruling ”) in accordance with Section 8.03 of this Agreement to the effect that such action or transaction will not affect the Tax-Free Status of any of the Transactions and SPG shall have received such Post-Distribution Ruling in form and substance satisfactory to SPG in its sole and absolute discretion, (ii) WPG shall have provided SPG with an Unqualified Tax Opinion in form and substance satisfactory to SPG in its sole and absolute discretion, or (iii) SPG shall have waived in writing (a “ Waiver ”) the requirement to obtain such Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion.  In determining whether a Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion is satisfactory, SPG shall exercise its discretion in good faith and may consider, among other factors, the appropriateness of any underlying assumptions or representations used as a basis for the Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion and the views on the substantive merits.  For the avoidance of doubt, WPG LP shall not be relieved of any indemnification obligation pursuant to Article V or otherwise under this

 

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Agreement as a result of having satisfied the requirements of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 8.02(d).

 

(e)           Certain Issuances of Capital Stock .  If WPG proposes to enter into any Section 8.02(e) Acquisition Transaction or, to the extent WPG has the right to prohibit any Section 8.02(e) Acquisition Transaction, proposes to permit any Section 8.02(e) Acquisition Transaction to occur, in each case, during the Restriction Period, WPG, shall provide SPG, no later than ten (10) days following the signing of any written agreement with respect to any Section 8.02(e) Acquisition Transaction, with a written description of such transaction (including the type and amount of WPG Equity Securities to be issued in such transaction).

 

(f)            Tax Reporting .  Each of WPG and SPG covenants and agrees that it will not take, and will cause its respective Affiliates not to take, any position on any Tax Return that is inconsistent with the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.

 

Section 8.03.        Procedures Regarding Post-Distribution Rulings and Unqualified Tax Opinions .

 

(a)           Notification .  If WPG determines that it desires to take one of the actions described in Sections 8.02(c) (a “ Notified Action ”), WPG shall promptly notify SPG of this fact in writing.

 

(b)           Post-Distribution Rulings or Unqualified Tax Opinions at WPG’s Request .  Upon the reasonable request of WPG pursuant to Section 8.03(a), SPG shall cooperate with WPG and use its commercially reasonable efforts to seek to obtain, as expeditiously as possible, a Post-Distribution Ruling or an Unqualified Tax Opinion for the purpose of permitting WPG to take the Notified Action unless SPG shall have waived the requirement to obtain such Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Option in writing pursuant to Section 8.02(d).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall SPG be required to file or cooperate in the filing of any ruling request for a Post-Distribution Ruling under this Section 8.03(b) unless SPG represents that (i) it has read such ruling request, and (ii) all statements, information and representations relating to any member of the WPG Group contained in such ruling request are (subject to any qualifications therein) true, correct and complete.  WPG LP shall reimburse SPG LP for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the SPG Group in obtaining a Post-Distribution Ruling or Unqualified Tax Opinion requested by SPG within ten (10) days after receiving an invoice from SPG therefor.

 

(c)           Post-Distribution Rulings or Unqualified Tax Opinions at SPG’s Request .  SPG  shall have the right to obtain a Post-Distribution Ruling or a tax opinion at any time in its sole and absolute discretion.  If SPG determines to obtain a Post-Distribution Ruling or a tax opinion, WPG shall (and shall cause each WPG Entity to) cooperate with SPG and take any and all actions reasonably requested by SPG in connection with obtaining such Post-Distribution Ruling or tax opinion (including, without limitation, by making any representation or covenant or providing any information, documents and materials requested by the IRS, any other relevant Taxing Authority or the Tax Counsel issuing such opinion); provided , that WPG shall not be required to make (or cause a WPG Entity to make) any representation or covenant that is inconsistent with historical facts or as to future matters or events over which it has no control.

 

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SPG and WPG shall each bear its own costs and expenses in obtaining a Post-Distribution Ruling or tax opinion requested by SPG.

 

(d)           All Post-Distribution Rulings .  SPG shall have sole and exclusive control over the process of obtaining any Post-Distribution Ruling, and only SPG shall be permitted to apply for a Post-Distribution Ruling.  In connection with obtaining a Post-Distribution Ruling, (i) SPG shall keep WPG informed in a timely manner of all material actions taken or proposed to be taken by SPG in connection therewith; (ii) SPG shall (1) reasonably in advance of the submission of any request for a  Post-Distribution Ruling provide WPG with a draft copy thereof; (2) reasonably consider WPG’s comments on such draft copy; and (3) provide WPG with a final copy; and (iii) provide WPG with notice reasonably in advance of, and WPG shall have the right to attend, any formally scheduled meetings with the IRS (subject to the approval of the IRS) that relate to such Post-Distribution Ruling.  Neither WPG nor any WPG Entity shall seek any guidance from the IRS or any other Taxing Authority (whether written, verbal or otherwise) at any time concerning the Restructuring or the Distribution (including the impact of any transaction on the Restructuring or the Distribution).

 

Section 8.04.        Section 336(e) Election .  If SPG determines, in its sole discretion, that a protective election under Section 336(e) of the Code (a “ Section 336(e) Election ”) shall be made with respect to the TRS Distribution or the Distribution, WPG shall (or shall cause the relevant WPG Entity to) join with SPG or the relevant SPG Entity in the making of such election and shall take any action reasonably requested by SPG or that is otherwise necessary to give effect to such election (including making any other related election).  If a Section 336(e) Election is made with respect to the TRS Distribution or the Distribution, then this Agreement shall be amended in such a manner as is determined by SPG in good faith to take into account such Section 336(e) Election.

 

ARTICLE IX
RPT CONTRIBUTION

 

Section 9.01.        Prohibited Actions .  For a period of five (5) years following the RPT Contribution, WPG and WPG LP shall not (and shall not permit any of their respective Affiliates to) take any action or fail to take any action (including, without limitation, any sale, disposition, contribution or other transfer of any of the RPT Contributed Properties or any interest therein, any reduction in the amount of Liabilities to which any of the RPT Contributed Properties are subject and any distribution of RPT Contributed Properties or any other properties or assets) that would result in RPT, any of its Affiliates or any member of the SPG Group recognizing any RPT Built-In Gain or any RPT Section 752 Gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 9.02.        Section 704(c) Allocations .  WPG LP and any other entity in which WPG LP has a direct or indirect interest shall use the “traditional method” (without “curative allocations”) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b) for purposes of making allocations under Section 704(c) of the Code with respect to the RPT Contributed Properties.

 

Section 9.03.        Damages .  In the event of a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01 or Section 9.02, as applicable, (a) for purposes of Section 5.02(ii), RPT (or other relevant member of the SPG Group) shall be deemed to have incurred Taxes as a result of such

 

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breach in an amount equal to the product of (i) in the case of a breach of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01, the RPT Built-In Gain or the RPT Section 752 Gain, as applicable, and, in the case of a breach of the covenants set forth in Section 9.02, the additional amount of income or gain allocated under Section 704(c), and (ii) forty percent (40%) and (b) for purposes of Section 5.03(b), RPT (or other relevant member of the SPG Group) shall be deemed to have paid Taxes on any indemnification payment received on account of such breach that is required to be included in income (and not to have distributed any amount under Section 857(a) of the Code as a result therefrom) at a rate of forty percent (40%).

 

Section 9.04.        Exclusive Remedy .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including Section 11.08), the sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any breach of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01 or Section 9.02 shall be the receipt of indemnification payments pursuant to Article V (as determined pursuant to Section 9.03), and in no event shall RPT or any member of the SPG Group have any right to specific performance with respect to any breach or threatened breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01 or Section 9.02.

 

Section 9.05.        Notice .  WPG and WPG LP shall notify SPG in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to taking any action (or failing to take any action) that would result in a breach of the covenants set forth in Section 9.01.

 

ARTICLE X
COOPERATION

 

Section 10.01.      General Cooperation .

 

(a)           The Parties shall each cooperate fully (and each shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to cooperate fully) with all reasonable requests in writing (“ Information Request ”) from another Party hereto, or from an agent or Representative of such Party, in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns (including the preparation of Tax Packages), claims for Refunds, Tax Proceedings, and calculations of amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, related or attributable to or arising in connection with Taxes of any of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries covered by this Agreement and the establishment of any reserve required in connection with any financial reporting (a “ Tax Matter ”).  Such cooperation shall include the provision of any information reasonably necessary or helpful in connection with a Tax Matter (“ Information ”) and shall include, without limitation, at each Party’s own cost:

 

(i)            the provision of any Tax Returns of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, books, records (including information regarding ownership and Tax basis of property), documentation and other information relating to such Tax Returns, including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by Taxing Authorities;

 

(ii)           the execution of any document (including any power of attorney) in connection with any Tax Proceedings of any of the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries, or the filing of a Tax Return or a Refund claim of the Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

 

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(iii)          the use of the Party’s reasonable best efforts to obtain any documentation in connection with a Tax Matter; and

 

(iv)          the use of the Party’s reasonable best efforts to obtain any Tax Returns (including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents), documents, books, records or other information in connection with the filing of any Tax Returns of any of the Parties or their Subsidiaries.

 

(b)           Each Party shall make its employees, advisors, and facilities available, without charge, on a reasonable and mutually convenient basis in connection with the foregoing matters.

 

Section 10.02.      Retention of Records .  SPG and WPG shall retain or cause to be retained all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, and all material records or other documents relating thereto in their possession, until sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (including any waivers or extensions thereof) of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate or until the expiration of any additional period that any Party reasonably requests, in writing, with respect to specific material records or documents.  A Party intending to destroy any material records or documents shall provide the other Party with reasonable advance notice and the opportunity to copy or take possession of such records and documents.  The Parties hereto will notify each other in writing of any waivers or extensions of the applicable statute of limitations that may affect the period for which the foregoing records or other documents must be retained.

 

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.01.      Dispute Resolution .

 

(a)           In the event of any dispute between the Parties as to any matter covered by this Agreement, the Parties shall agree as to whether such dispute shall be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 11.01(b) of this Agreement or in Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.  If the Parties cannot agree within thirty (30) days from the time such dispute arises as to which procedure will govern such dispute, such disagreement shall be resolved pursuant to Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

(b)           With respect to any dispute governed by this Section 11.01(b), the Parties shall appoint a nationally recognized “Big Four” independent public accounting firm (other than the current auditing firm of SPG or WPG) (the “ Accounting Firm ”) to resolve such dispute.  The Parties shall cooperate in good faith in jointly selecting the Accounting Firm.  If the Parties cannot agree on a nationally recognized firm within thirty (30) days from the time such dispute arises, the Parties shall appoint Deloitte LLP to be the Accounting Firm.  In this regard, the Accounting Firm shall make determinations with respect to the disputed items based solely on representations made by SPG and WPG and their respective Representatives, and not by independent review, and shall function only as an expert and not as an arbitrator and shall be required to make a determination in favor of one Party only.  The Parties shall require the Accounting Firm to resolve all disputes no later than fifteen (15) days after the submission of such dispute to the Accounting Firm, but in no event later than the Due Date for the payment of

 

25



 

Taxes or the filing of the applicable Tax Return, if applicable, and agree that all decisions by the Accounting Firm with respect thereto shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Parties.  The Accounting Firm shall resolve all disputes in a manner consistent with this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in a manner consistent with the Past Practices of SPG and the members of the SPG Group, except as otherwise required by applicable Law.  The Parties shall require the Accounting Firm to render all determinations in writing and to set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for such determination.  The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be paid by the non-prevailing Party.

 

Section 11.02.      Tax Sharing Agreements .  All Tax sharing, indemnification and similar agreements, written or unwritten, as between SPG or a SPG Entity, on the one hand, and WPG or a WPG Entity, on the other hand (other than this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement, any other Ancillary Agreement and any agreement entered into after the Distribution), shall be or shall have been terminated no later than the Effective Time and, after the Effective Time, none of SPG, any SPG Entity, WPG or any WPG Entity shall have any further rights or obligations under any such Tax sharing, indemnification or similar agreement.

 

Section 11.03.      Interest on Late Payments .  With respect to any payment between the Parties pursuant to this Agreement not made by the due date set forth in this Agreement for such payment, the outstanding amount will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate in effect for underpayments under Section 6621 of the Code from such due date to and including the earlier of the ninetieth (90th) day or the payment date and thereafter will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to Prime Rate plus 2%.

 

Section 11.04.      Survival of Covenants .  Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, all covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their applicable terms; provided , however , that the representations and warranties and all indemnification for Taxes shall survive until sixty (60) days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (taking into account all extensions thereof), if any, for assessment of the Tax that gave rise to the indemnification; provided , further , that, in the event that notice for indemnification has been given within the applicable survival period, such indemnification shall survive until such time as such claim is finally resolved.

 

Section 11.05.      Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced under any Law or as a matter of public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties to this Agreement shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner.

 

Section 11.06.      Entire Agreement .  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between or on behalf of the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

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Section 11.07.                   No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  Except as provided in Article V with respect to indemnified Parties, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties to this Agreement and their respective Subsidiaries and their permitted successors and assigns and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.08.                   Specific Performance .  Subject to Section 9.04, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party who is or is to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.  Subject to Section 9.04, the Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.  Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by the Parties to this Agreement.

 

Section 11.09.                   Amendment .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified except by a written instrument signed by the Parties to this Agreement.  No waiver by any Party of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and executed by the Party so waiving.  The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other subsequent breach.

 

Section 11.10.                   Rules of Construction .  Interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the following rules of construction:  (i) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires; (ii) references to the terms Article, Section, paragraph, clause, Exhibit and Schedule are references to the Articles, Sections, paragraphs, clauses, exhibits and schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto; (iv) references to “ $ ” shall mean U.S. dollars; (v) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (vi) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (vii) references to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form; (viii) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions; (ix) the table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement; (x) SPG, SPG LP, WPG and WPG LP have each participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and if an ambiguity or question of interpretation should arise, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or burdening either Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions in this Agreement or any interim drafts of this Agreement; and (xi) a reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 11.11.                   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which

 

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taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or portable document format (PDF) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of any such Agreement.

 

Section 11.12.                   Coordination with Separation and Distribution Agreement .  In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the Separation and Distribution Agreement (or any Ancillary Agreement) with respect to matters addressed herein the provisions of this Agreement shall control (except to the extent set forth in Article X).

 

Section 11.13.                   Coordination with the Employee Matters Agreement .  To the extent any covenants or agreements between the Parties with respect to employee withholding Taxes are expressly set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement, such Taxes shall be governed exclusively by the Employee Matters Agreement and not by this Agreement.

 

Section 11.14.                   Governing Law .  This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Indiana, irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Indiana, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

Section 11.15.                   Assignability .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Neither Party may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto; provided , however , that each Party may assign all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Subsidiaries; provided , further , that no such assignment shall release the assigning Party from any of its liabilities or obligations under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent for assignment shall be required for the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and all other Ancillary Agreements in whole ( i.e ., the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant Party by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party.  Nothing herein is intended to, or shall be construed to, prohibit either Party or any of its Subsidiaries from being party to or undertaking a transaction that would result in a change of control.

 

Section 11.16.                   Notices . Any notice, demand, claim or other communication under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been given (a) on delivery if delivered personally; (b) on the date on which delivery thereof is guaranteed by the carrier if delivered by a national courier guaranteeing delivery with an fixed number of days of sending; or (c) on the date of facsimile transmission thereof if delivery is confirmed, but, in each case, only if addressed to the Parties in the following manner at the following addresses or facsimile numbers (or at the other address or other number as a Party may specify by notice to the others):

 

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If to SPG, to:

 

 

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

 

225 West Washington Street, 14th Floor

 

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

Facsimile: (317) 685-7377

 

 

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

 

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

 

51 West 52nd Street

 

New York, NY 10019

 

Attention:  Adam O. Emmerich

 

Karessa L. Cain

 

Facsimile:  (212) 403-2000

 

 

 

If to WPG, to:

 

 

 

Washington Prime Group, Inc.

 

7315 Wisconsin Avenue — 5th Floor

 

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

Facsimile:  (240) 380-2721

 

 

 

with a copy to (until the Effective Time) to:

 

 

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

 

51 West 52nd Street

 

New York, NY 10019

 

Attention:  Adam O. Emmerich

 

Karessa L. Cain

 

Facsimile:  (212) 403-2000

 

 

Section 11.17.                   Effective Date .  This Agreement shall become effective only upon the occurrence of the Distribution.

 

[ The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

Name:

James M. Barkley

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

Name:

James M. Barkley

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

Name:

Robert P. Demchak

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

Name:

Robert P. Demchak

 

Title:

Secretary and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Tax Matters Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.4

 

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC.
SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P.
WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.
AND
WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

DATED AS OF MAY 28, 2014

 

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 28, 2014, is by and among SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ SPG ”), SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ SPG L.P. ”), WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC., an Indiana corporation (“ WPG ”) and WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P., an Indiana partnership (“ WPG L.P. ” and together with SPG, SPG L.P. and WPG, each a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of SPG has determined that it is in the best interests of SPG and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company which shall operate the WPG Business;

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the board of directors of SPG has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the WPG Business from the SPG Business (the “ Separation ”);

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2014 (the “ Separation Agreement ”), and have entered or will enter into other Transaction Documents that will govern certain matters relating to the Distribution and the relationship of SPG, WPG and their respective Affiliates prior to and following the Distribution Date; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation Agreement, the Parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement for the purpose of allocating assets, liabilities and responsibilities with respect to certain human resources, employee compensation and benefits matters between them to the extent not provided in, or varying from, the Separation Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the respective agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

 



 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                                Definitions .  The following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate ” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person.  For the purpose of this definition, “ control ” (including with correlative meanings, “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise.  It is expressly agreed that, prior to, at and after the Effective Time, for purposes of the Transaction Documents (a) no member of the WPG Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the SPG Group and (b) no member of the SPG Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the WPG Group.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Benefit Plan ” means, with respect to an entity, each plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment that is an employment, consulting, non-competition or deferred compensation agreement, or an executive compensation, incentive bonus or other bonus, employee pension, profit-sharing, savings, retirement, supplemental retirement, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, operating partnership unit, other equity-based compensation, severance pay, salary continuation, life, health, hospitalization, sick leave, vacation pay, paid time-off, disability or accident insurance plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment, corporate-owned or key-man life insurance or other employee benefit plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment, including any “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), sponsored or maintained by such entity (or to which such entity contributes or is required to contribute).

 

COBRA ” means the continuation coverage requirements for “group health plans” under Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and as codified in Code Section 4980B and Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA, and any similar state group health plan continuation Law, together with all regulations and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder, including any amendments or other modifications of such Laws and regulations that may be made from time to time.

 

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to the Separation Agreement.

 

Distribution Date ” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the SPG Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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Effective Time ” shall mean 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Date.

 

Employee ” means any individual who is a full or part-time common law employee of the applicable entity.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Force Majeure ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Separation Agreement.

 

Former Employee ” means any former Employee of SPG or an Affiliate of SPG or of WPG or an Affiliate of WPG, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether having last been employed by a member of the SPG Group or a member of the WPG Group, including retired and other inactive terminated Employees.  For clarification purposes, former Employees who are on long-term disability leave as of the Effective Time shall be considered Former Employees for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

 

Group ” shall mean either the WPG Group or the SPG Group, as the context requires.

 

HIPAA ” means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended.

 

Law ” means any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any income tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

 

Liabilities ” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Separation Agreement.

 

Parties ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Person ” shall mean an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

 

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Separation ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Separation Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

SPG 401(k) Plan ” means the Simon Property Group & Adopting Entities Matching Savings Plan.

 

SPG Annual Bonus Plans ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

SPG Benefit Plan ” means any Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by SPG or any of its Affiliates.

 

SPG Business ” shall mean all businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any member of its Group, other than the WPG Business.

 

SPG Common Share ” shall mean a common share, par value of $0.0001 per share, of SPG.

 

SPG Equity Plan ” means the Simon Property Group, L.P. Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

SPG Group ” means SPG and each Person that is a Subsidiary of SPG (other than any member of the WPG Group).

 

SPG Group Employee ” means any person who, immediately following the Effective Time, is an Employee of any member of the SPG Group, including any such Employee who is on an approved leave at such time.

 

SPG Participant ” means any SPG Group Employee or Former Employee and who is, at any time prior to, on, or after the Effective Time, a participant in the applicable SPG Benefit Plan or is a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such a participant.

 

SPG Severance Benefits Program ” means the SPG severance program which covers employees of the WPG Group immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

SPG Share Fund ” means the fund under the SPG 401(k) Plan which provides for investment in SPG Common Shares.

 

SPG Welfare Plans ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 4.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

Subsidiary ” or “ subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (i) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (A) the total combined

 

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voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Person, (B) the total combined equity interests, or (C) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (ii) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

 

Transaction Documents ” means all agreements entered into by the Parties or the members of their respective Groups (but as to which no third party is a party) in connection with the Separation, the Distribution, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including this Agreement, the Separation Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Property Management Agreements, the Property Development Agreement and the Transfer Documents, as such terms are defined in the Separation Agreement (if not defined in this Agreement).

 

Transfer Period ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.1(c) of this Agreement.

 

Transition Services Agreement ” means the Transition Services Agreement to be entered into by and between SPG and WPG or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement.

 

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

 

Welfare Plan ” means a plan that provides for health, welfare or other insurance benefits (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA).

 

WPG ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

WPG 401(k) Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

WPG Annual Bonus Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

WPG Benefit Plan ” means any Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by a member of the WPG Group after the Effective Time, but excluding any SPG Benefit Plan.

 

WPG Business ” shall mean the business, operations and activities of the SPG Group relating to the WPG Properties as defined in the Separation Agreement as conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any of their current or former Subsidiaries.

 

WPG Common Share ” shall mean a share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of WPG.

 

WPG Equity Plan ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

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WPG Group ” shall mean (a) prior to the Effective Time, WPG and each Person that will be a Subsidiary of WPG as of immediately after the Effective Time, including the Transferred Entities (as defined in the Separation Agreement), even if, prior to the Effective Time, such Person is not a Subsidiary of WPG; and (b) on and after the Effective Time, WPG and each Person that is a Subsidiary of WPG.

 

WPG Group Employee ” means any person who, immediately following the Effective Time, is an Employee of any member of the WPG Group, including any such Employee who is on an approved leave at such time other than long-term disability leave.

 

WPG Participant ” means any WPG Group Employee who was, prior to the Effective Time, a participant in the applicable SPG Benefit Plan or is, after the Effective Time, a participant in the applicable WPG Benefit Plan, or is a beneficiary, dependent or alternate payee of such a participant.

 

WPG Share Fund ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.1(c).

 

WPG Welfare Plans ” means Welfare Plans which are maintained or contributed to by a member of the WPG Group, but excluding the SPG Welfare Plans.

 

ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT GENERALLY

 

2.1                                Continuation of Employment .  Except as otherwise provided on Schedule 2.1 of this Agreement or as required by applicable local Law, SPG and its Affiliates shall take all actions necessary to ensure that, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (i) all Employees intended by the Parties to be WPG Group Employees are employed by a member of the WPG Group and (ii) all Employees intended by the Parties to be SPG Group Employees are employed by a member of the SPG Group.

 

2.2                                Service Recognition .  WPG shall give, or shall cause its Affiliates to give, each WPG Group Employee full credit for all purposes under any WPG Benefit Plan for such WPG Group Employee’s service with SPG or any of its Affiliates prior to the Effective Time to the same extent such service was recognized by the corresponding SPG Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided , however , that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that such recognition would result in the duplication of benefits or as otherwise provided by applicable local Law.

 

2.3                                No Separation From Service or Termination of Employment .  The Distribution and the assignment, transfer, or continuation of employment of any Employee of SPG or any of its Affiliates in connection therewith (including in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof) shall not be deemed a separation from service or termination of employment entitling such Employee to be eligible to participate in, or to receive payment of, severance or other termination payments or benefits under any applicable Law, SPG Benefit Plan or WPG Benefit Plan provided , however , that any Employee of SPG or any of its Affiliates whose employment is not intended to be continued by SPG or any of its Affiliates following the Effective Time and is not assigned to a member of the WPG Group, and whose employment is involuntarily terminated

 

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by SPG as of the Effective Time, shall be deemed to have incurred a separation from service and shall be eligible to receive severance and benefits as set forth in Section 6.2 of this Agreement.

 

2.4                                Former Employees WPG shall have no liability with respect to Former Employees, if any, as of the Effective Time. SPG shall retain liability, if any, with respect to Former Employees.

 

ARTICLE III
RETIREMENT PLANS

 

3.1                                The SPG 401(k) Plan and WPG 401(k) Plan .

 

(a)                                  Establishment of Plan and Trust .  WPG or one of its Affiliates shall adopt a retirement plan and related trust which are qualified and tax-exempt pursuant to Code Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, and which is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 401(k) (the “ WPG 401(k) Plan ”), and any trust agreement or other plan documents reasonably necessary in connection therewith, and shall cause a trustee to be appointed for the WPG 401(k) Plan.  Such actions shall be completed prior to, or as soon as reasonably practicable following, the Effective Time.

 

(b)                                  Assumption of Liabilities Transfer of Assets .  As soon as practicable after the Effective Time and subject to completion of the Transfer Period, and subject to Section 3.1(c) and Applicable Law:  (i) SPG shall cause the accounts (including any outstanding loan balances) of each WPG Employee in the SPG 401(k) Plan to be transferred to the WPG 401(k) Plan and its related trust; (ii) the WPG 401(k) Plan shall assume and be solely responsible for all Liabilities under the WPG 401(k) Plan relating to the accounts that are so transferred as of and following the time of such transfer; and (iii) WPG shall cause such transferred accounts to be accepted by the WPG 401(k) Plan and its related trust and shall cause the WPG 401(k) Plan to satisfy all protected benefit requirements under the Code and applicable Law with respect to the transferred accounts.  Such transfer shall be made in (i) cash but, other than as set forth in Section 3.1(c), only to the extent it is not practicable to transfer in kind (as determined by the administrator of the SPG 401(k) Plan) and (ii) promissory notes evidencing the transfer of outstanding loans.

 

(c)                                   Employer Securities .  The SPG 401(k) Plan will provide, effective as of the Effective Time:  (i) for the establishment of a share fund for WPG Common Shares (the “ WPG Share Fund ”); and (ii) that the WPG Share Fund shall receive a transfer of and hold all WPG Common Shares distributed in connection with the Distribution in respect of SPG Common Shares held in the SPG Share Fund.  Each WPG Group Employee participating in the SPG 401(k) Plan will be prohibited from allocating contributions to, or transferring funds into, the SPG Share Fund and WPG Share Fund on and following the Distribution Date, and shall have a period of at least 10 business days following the Distribution Date, as determined by the administrator of the SPG 401(k) Plan (the “Transfer Period”), to transfer amounts invested in such funds to any other investment fund offered under the SPG 401(k) Plan.  As soon as practicable following the completion of the Transfer Period and prior to the transfer of assets described in Section 3.1(b), to the extent amounts remain invested on behalf of a WPG Group Employee in the SPG Share Fund and/or WPG Share Fund, such invested amounts shall be

 

7



 

(i) liquidated to cash, (ii) transferred in cash to the WPG 401(k) Plan in accordance with Section 3.1(b), and (iii) invested on behalf of such employee in a target date fund based on the age of such employee at the time of such transfer, in accordance with such procedures as are determined by the administrator of the WPG 401(k) Plan.

 

(d)                                  Contributions Under the SPG 401(k) Plan as of the Effective Time .  All employer contributions, including employee deferrals, matching contributions (including any true-up contributions, if applicable), profit-sharing contributions, and employer non-elective contributions, accrued by WPG Participants under the SPG 401(k) Plan through the Effective Time, determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of the SPG 401(k) Plan, ERISA and the Code, and based on all service performed and compensation accrued through the Effective Time, shall be deposited by SPG to the SPG 401(k) Plan and allocated to the SPG 401(k) Plan accounts of the proper WPG Participants prior to the Effective Time.

 

3.2                                Reservation of Rights .  Except as provided in Section 3.1, the Parties hereby acknowledge that nothing in this Article III shall be construed to require (a) SPG or any of its Affiliates to continue the SPG 401(k) Plan before or after the Effective Time, and (b) WPG or any of its Affiliates to continue the WPG 401(k) Plan after the Effective Time following its establishment and receipt of the asset and liability transfer described in Section 3.1.  The Parties agree that (i) SPG reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the SPG 401(k) Plan at any time following the date of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and applicable Law, and (ii) WPG reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the WPG 401(k) Plan at any time following the date of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and applicable Law; provided that no such amendment to either the SPG 401(k) Plan or the WPG 401(k) Plan shall prevent the actions described in Section 3.1.

 

ARTICLE IV
HEALTH AND WELFARE PLANS

 

4.1                                WPG Health and Welfare Plans .

 

(a)                                  Cessation of Participation in SPG Health and Welfare Plans .  No later than the Effective Time, WPG (acting directly or through its Affiliates) shall establish the WPG Welfare Plans, which shall generally correspond to the SPG health and welfare plans in which WPG Group Employees participate immediately prior to the Effective Time (“ SPG Welfare Plans ”).  WPG shall cause WPG Group Employees and their covered dependents who participate in SPG Welfare Plans immediately prior to the Effective Time to be automatically enrolled as of the Effective Time in WPG Welfare Plans corresponding to the SPG Welfare Plans in which the WPG Employee or his or her covered dependents, if any, participated immediately before the Effective Time; provided that, with respect to flexible spending accounts, if automatic enrollment is not possible, WPG Group Employees shall be eligible to elect coverage as of or as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time under each WPG Welfare Plan which is a flexible spending account plan and which corresponds to an SPG Welfare Plan which is a flexible spending account plan.

 

(b)                                  Allocation of Health and Welfare Plan Liabilities .  All outstanding Liabilities relating to, arising out of, or resulting from health and welfare claims incurred by or

 

8



 

on behalf of WPG Employees or their covered dependents under the SPG Welfare Plans on or before the Effective Time, including claims incurred but not reported, shall be retained by SPG.

 

(c)                                   Waiver of Conditions .  To the extent permitted by applicable Law and the terms of the applicable WPG Welfare Plan, WPG (acting directly or through its Affiliates) shall cause the WPG Welfare Plans to (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions, and service conditions with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to any WPG Group Employee, other than limitations that were in effect with respect to the WPG Group Employee under the corresponding SPG Welfare Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) waive any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement applicable to a WPG Group Employee other than limitations or requirements that were in effect with respect to such WPG Group Employee under the corresponding SPG Welfare Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time.  Such waivers described in clauses (i) and (ii) of the foregoing sentence, with respect to the WPG Welfare Plans, shall apply to initial enrollment effective immediately following the Effective Time.  Following the initial enrollment, pre-existing condition limitations, exclusions, and services conditions under the WPG Welfare Plans shall apply only to the extent allowable under HIPAA.

 

(d)                                  Deductibles, Etc.   To the extent permitted by applicable Law and the terms of the applicable WPG Welfare Plan, expenses incurred by any WPG Group Employee and credited during the year which includes the Distribution Date for purposes of calculating deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums under an SPG Welfare Plan shall be taken into account as if such expense had been incurred under the corresponding WPG Welfare Plan.

 

4.2                                COBRA and HIPAA Compliance .  SPG shall continue to be responsible for compliance with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA (including the requirements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA, and the corresponding provisions of the SPG Welfare Plans with respect to any WPG Group Employees or any of their covered dependents who incur a qualifying event or loss of coverage under COBRA at or before the Effective Time (including as a result of the Separation and Distribution).  WPG shall assume responsibility for compliance with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA, and the corresponding provisions of the WPG Welfare Plans, with respect to any WPG Group Employees or any of their covered dependents who incur a qualifying event or loss of coverage under the WPG Welfare Plans after the Effective Time.

 

4.3                                Time-Off Benefits .  WPG shall credit each WPG Group Employee immediately following the Effective Time with the amount of accrued but unused paid time-off as such WPG Group Employee had under the applicable SPG paid time-off policy immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

4.4                                Incurred Claim Definition .  For purposes of this Article IV, a claim or Liability is deemed to be incurred:  (a) with respect to medical, dental, vision and/or prescription drug benefits, upon the rendering of health services giving rise to such claim or Liability; (b) with respect to life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment and business travel accident insurance, upon the occurrence of the event giving rise to such claim or Liability; (c) with

 

9



 

respect to disability benefits, upon the date of an Employee’s disability, as determined by the disability benefit insurance carrier or claim administrator, giving rise to such claim or Liability; and (d) with respect to a period of continuous hospitalization, upon the date of admission to the hospital.

 

4.5                                Workers Compensation .  The ownership and administration of workers compensation insurance shall be governed by Section 5.1 of the Separation Agreement regarding insurance matters.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to allocate between the Parties the claims and Liabilities under any workers compensation insurance policies.

 

4.6                                Reservation of Rights WPG shall maintain Welfare Plans that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to the SPG Welfare Plans in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time for the period commencing as of Effective Time through December 31, 2014.  The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Article IV shall be construed to require (a) SPG or any of its Affiliates to continue any SPG Benefit Plan before or after the Effective Time, or (b) WPG or any of its Affiliates to continue any WPG Benefit Plan before or after the Effective Time, in each case, except as set forth in Article VI and this Section 4.6.  Each of SPG and WPG reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate any SPG Benefit Plan and any WPG Benefit Plan, respectively, at any time after the date of this Agreement, to the extent permitted or required under the terms of the applicable SPG Benefit Plan, WPG Benefit Plan or applicable Law; provided that no such amendment or termination shall prevent the actions described in Article IV.

 

ARTICLE V
EQUITY PLANS

 

5.1                                Establishment of WPG Equity Plan .  As of or prior to the Effective Time, WPG shall adopt an equity compensation plan (the “ WPG Equity Plan ”) pursuant to which equity awards may be granted to WPG Group Employees.  The WPG Equity Plan shall provide for the same types of awards as the SPG Equity Plan.  SPG and WPG shall take all actions as may be necessary or advisable to adopt and obtain shareholder and/or board of directors approval of the WPG Equity Plan (and the awards in respect of WPG Common Shares thereunder) in order to satisfy the requirement of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and the applicable rules and regulations of any applicable exchange on which WPG Common Shares will be traded.  The WPG Equity Plan shall be approved prior to the Effective Time by SPG as WPG’s sole shareholder.

 

5.2                                Liabilities for Settlement of Awards .  SPG shall be responsible for all Liabilities associated with awards made under the SPG Equity Plan, including without limitation such awards made to WPG Group Employees.  WPG shall be responsible for all Liabilities associated with awards made under the WPG Equity Plan.

 

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ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION MATTERS; SEVERANCE

 

6.1                                Annual Cash Incentive Awards . Immediately prior to the Effective Time, WPG Group Employees shall cease participating in each SPG annual bonus plan or policy (“ SPG Annual Bonus Plans ”) and, as of the Effective Time, there shall be an accrual on the financial statements of WPG equal to the amount accrued by SPG on its financial statements for the portion of the calendar year ending immediately prior to the Effective Time for WPG Group Employees under such plans as appropriate based on the results achieved to date and the forecasted achievement of applicable annual targets.  As of the Effective Time, (i) WPG shall establish annual bonus plans or policies (“ WPG Annual Bonus Plans ”) substantially similar to the SPG Bonus Plans in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time which shall provide annual incentive bonuses for the entire calendar year in which occurs the Effective Time and (ii) WPG Group Employees who were eligible to participate in the SPG Bonus Plans shall be eligible to participate in the WPG Bonus Plans.  WPG shall be solely responsible for funding, paying and discharging all obligations under the WPG Annual Bonus Plans and SPG shall have no liability with respect to annual bonuses to be paid to WPG group employees with respect to the calendar year in which occurs the Effective Time.

 

6.2                                Assumption of Severance Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Severance Liabilities .  WPG Group Employees who are terminated in connection with the Distribution prior to, on, or within eighteen (18) months following, the Effective Time shall be entitled to receive severance benefits that are no less favorable than the severance benefits provided under the terms of the SPG Severance Benefits Program in effect as of the applicable termination of employment or, if earlier, the Effective Time; provided , however , that such severance benefits shall not result in the duplication of benefits.  WPG shall adopt a severance program that has terms substantially similar to the SPG Severance Benefits Program as in effect as of the Effective Time.

 

(b)                                  Severance Agreements .  In the event any WPG Group Employee who is a salaried employee is eligible for severance benefits on account of a termination of employment within eighteen (18) months following the Effective Time, unless agreed otherwise by the Chief Human Resources Officers of WPG and SPG and such employee, WPG shall require such employee, as a condition of receiving severance benefits, to agree in writing to a release of existing claims and confidentiality and noncompete provisions in favor of WPG and SPG, in substantially the form of the Separation Agreement and Release and Confidentiality and Non-Compete Letter Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto.

 

6.3                                Code Section 409A .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if any of the provisions of this Agreement would result in imposition of taxes and/or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, SPG and WPG shall cooperate in good faith to modify the applicable provision so that such taxes and/or penalties do not apply in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, other applicable provisions of the Code and/or any rules, regulations or other regulatory guidance issued under such statutory provisions.

 

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6.4                                Reservation of Rights .  The Parties hereby acknowledge that, except for the obligations described in this Article VI, nothing in this Article VI shall be construed to require either SPG or WPG (and their respective Affiliates) to continue any cash incentive awards program, deferred compensation plan, or severance plan after the Effective Time.  The Parties agree that each of SPG and WPG reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate any cash incentive awards program, deferred compensation plan, or severance plan maintained by the SPG Group or the WPG Group, respectively, at any time after the Effective Time to the extent permitted under the terms of the applicable cash incentive awards program, deferred compensation plan, or severance plan and applicable Law; provided that no such amendment shall prevent the actions described in this Article VI.

 

ARTICLE VII
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

 

7.1                                Non-Termination of Employment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  Except as expressly provided for in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, no provision of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents shall be construed to create any right, or accelerate entitlement, to any compensation or benefit whatsoever on the part of any SPG Group Employee, WPG Group Employee or any Former Employee, or future Employee of SPG or any of its Affiliates or WPG or any of its Affiliates under any SPG Benefit Plan or WPG Benefit Plan or otherwise, nor shall any such provision be construed as an amendment to any employee benefit plan or other employee compensatory or benefit arrangement.  Furthermore, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any Employee or Former Employee any right to continued employment, any recall or similar rights to an Employee on layoff or any type of approved leave, or to change the employment status of any Employee from “at will.”

 

7.2                                Beneficiary Designation/Release of Information/Right to Reimbursement .  To the extent permitted by applicable Law and except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, all beneficiary designations, authorizations for the release of Information (as defined in the Separation Agreement) and rights to reimbursement made by or relating to WPG Participants under SPG Benefit Plans shall be transferred to and be in full force and effect under the corresponding WPG Benefit Plans until such beneficiary designations, authorizations or rights are replaced or revoked by, or no longer apply, to the relevant WPG Participant.

 

7.3                                Not a Change in Control .  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement and this Agreement do not constitute a “change in control” for purposes of any SPG Benefit Plan or WPG Benefit Plan.

 

ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

8.1                                Relationship of Parties .  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed by the Parties or any third party as creating the relationship of principal and agent, partnership or joint venture between the Parties, it being understood and agreed that no provision contained therein, and no act of the Parties, shall be deemed to create any relationship between the Parties other than the relationship set forth herein.

 

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8.2                                Affiliates .  Each of SPG and WPG shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement to be performed by each of their respective Affiliates.

 

8.3                                Corporate Power .  SPG represents on behalf of itself and on behalf of other members of the SPG Group, and WPG represents on behalf of itself and on behalf of other members of the WPG Group, as follows:

 

(a)                                  each such Person has the requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

 

(b)                                  this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

8.4                                Governing Law .  This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Indiana irrespective of the choice of laws principles of the State of Indiana including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

8.5                                Survival of Covenants .  Except as expressly set forth in any other Transaction Document, the covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein or therein, shall survive each of the transactions described in the Plan of Reorganization (as defined in the Separation Agreement) and the Distribution and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

8.6                                Force Majeure .  No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, any other Transaction Document for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) hereunder or thereunder so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligation is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure.  In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance of such obligations (other than a payment obligation) shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay.  A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide written notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under the Transaction Documents, as applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

8.7                                Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by facsimile or electronic transmission with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt

 

13



 

requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7):

 

If to SPG Property, to:

 

Simon Property Group, Inc.

225 West Washington Street, 14 th  Floor

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Attention:

General Counsel

Facsimile:

(317) 685-7377

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention:

Adam O. Emmerich

 

Karessa L. Cain

Facsimile:

(212) 403-2000

 

if to WPG:

 

Washington Prime Group Inc.

7315 Wisconsin Avenue — 5 th  Floor

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Attention:

General Counsel

Facsimile:

(240) 380-2721

 

with a copy (until the Effective Time) to:

 

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention:

Adam O. Emmerich

 

Karessa L. Cain

Facsimile:

(212) 403-2000

 

8.8                                Termination .  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated and the Distribution abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by and in the sole discretion of SPG without the prior approval of any Person, including WPG.  In the event of such termination, this Agreement shall become void and no Party, or any of its officers and directors, shall have any liability to any Person by reason of this Agreement.  After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by each of the Parties.

 

8.9                                Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or

 

14



 

the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.  Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties

 

8.10                         Entire Agreement .  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) and the applicable provisions of the Separation Agreement together constitute the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between or on behalf of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

8.11                         Indemnification; Dispute Resolutions .  Article IV of the Separation Agreement governs the Parties’ indemnification rights and obligations and Article VII of the Separation Agreement governs the resolution of any dispute between the Parties.

 

8.12                         Assignment; No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement shall not be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, except that SPG may assign (i) any or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates and (ii) any or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement in connection with a sale or disposition of any assets or entities or lines of business of SPG; provided , however , that, in each case, no such assignment shall release SPG from any liability or obligation under this Agreement nor change any of the steps in the Plan of Reorganization (as defined in the Separation Agreement).  Except as provided in Article IV of the Separation Agreement with respect to Indemnified Parties (as defined in the Separation Agreement), this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the Parties and members of their respective Group and their permitted successors and assigns and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

8.13                         Public Announcements .  From and after the Effective Time, SPG and WPG shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system.

 

8.14                         Specific Performance .  Subject to the provisions of Article VII of the Separation Agreement, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) of its rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.  The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.  Any

 

15



 

requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties.

 

8.15                         Amendment .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified except by a written instrument signed by all the Parties.  No waiver by any Party of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and executed by the Party so waiving.  The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other subsequent breach.

 

8.16                         Rules of Construction .  Interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the following rules of construction (i) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires, (ii) references to the terms Article, Section, paragraph, clause, Exhibit and Schedule are references to the Articles, Sections, paragraphs, clauses, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified, (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto, (iv) references to “ $ ” shall mean U.S. dollars, (v) the word “ including ” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including without limitation,” unless otherwise specified, (vi) the word “or” shall not be exclusive, (vii) references to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form, (viii) unless the context requires otherwise, references to “ Party ” shall mean SPG or WPG, as appropriate, and references to “ Parties ” shall mean SPG and WPG, (ix) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions, (x) the table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement, (xi) SPG and WPG have each participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and if an ambiguity or question of interpretation should arise, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or burdening either Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions in this Agreement or any interim drafts of this Agreement, and (xii) a reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and permitted assigns.

 

8.17                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or portable document format (PDF) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of any such Agreement.

 

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, INC,

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

 

Name: James M. Barkley

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

SIMON PROPERTY GROUP, L.P. a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Simon Property Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James M. Barkley

 

 

Name: James M. Barkley

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Name: Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.,

 

an Indiana limited partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Washington Prime Group Inc.,
an Indiana corporation, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Name: Robert P. Demchak

 

 

Title: Secretary and General Counsel

 

17


 

Exhibit 10.5

 

 

FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

May 15, 2014

 

among

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

THE INSTITUTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME

PARTY HERETO AS LENDERS

 

and

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

and

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED OR ITS AFFILIATES

and

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,

AS JOINT LEAD ARRANGERS AND JOINT BOOKRUNNERS

 

and

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC., RBS SECURITIES INC., COMPASS BANK,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUNTRUST BANK

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

AS JOINT LEAD ARRANGERS AND JOINT BOOKRUNNERS

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

AS SYNDICATION AGENT

 

and

 

CITIBANK, N.A., THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, COMPASS BANK,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUNTRUST BANK, and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

AS CO-SYNDICATION AGENTS

 

and

 

UNION BANK, N.A. and

SUMITOMI MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,

AS CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENTS

 

and

 

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., and

TD BANK, N.A.,

AS SENIOR MANAGING AGENTS

 

and

 

CAPITAL ONE, N.A., FIFTH THIRD BANK,

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., REGIONS BANK,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,

BARCLAYS BANK, PLC, BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY, and

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,

AS MANAGING AGENTS

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1

1.1

Certain Defined Terms

1

1.2

Computation of Time Periods

39

1.3

Accounting Terms

40

1.4

Other Terms

40

1.5

Letter of Credit Amounts

40

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF LOANS

40

2.1

Committed Loans

40

2.2

Money Market Loans

46

2.3

Use of Proceeds of Loans and Letters of Credit

50

2.4

Revolving Credit Termination Date; Maturity of Money Market Loans

50

2.5

Extension Options

51

2.6

Maximum Credit Facility

52

2.7

Authorized Agents

52

2.8

Special Provisions Regarding Alternative Currency Loans and Loans to Foreign Qualified Borrowers

53

2.9

Swingline Loan Subfacility

57

2.10

Qualified Borrowers

59

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

LETTERS OF CREDIT

60

3.1

Letters of Credit

60

3.2

Obligations Several

69

3.3

Expiration after the Revolving Credit Termination Date

69

3.4

Actions in Respect of Letters of Credit

69

3.5

Applicability of ISP and UCP

71

3.6

Existing Letters of Credit

71

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS

71

4.1

Prepayments; Reductions in Revolving Credit Commitments

71

4.2

Payments

73

4.3

Promise to Repay; Evidence of Indebtedness

76

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

INTEREST AND FEES

77

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

5.1

Interest on the Loans and other Obligations

77

5.2

Special Provisions Governing Eurodollar Rate Loans and Money Market Loans

80

5.3

Fees

84

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

85

6.1

Conditions Precedent to the Initial Loans and Letters of Credit

85

6.2

Conditions Precedent to All Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit

86

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

87

7.1

Representations and Warranties of the Borrower

87

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

REPORTING COVENANTS

96

8.1

Borrower Accounting Practices

96

8.2

Financial Reports

97

8.3

Events of Default

100

8.4

Lawsuits

100

8.5

ERISA Notices

100

8.6

Environmental Notices

102

8.7

Labor Matters

102

8.8

Notices of Asset Sales and/or Acquisitions

103

8.9

Tenant Notifications

103

8.10

Other Reports

103

8.11

Other Information

103

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

103

9.1

Existence, Etc

103

9.2

Powers; Conduct of Business

104

9.3

Compliance with Laws, Etc

104

9.4

Payment of Taxes and Claims

104

9.5

Insurance

104

9.6

Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions

105

9.7

ERISA Compliance

105

9.8

Maintenance of Property

105

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

9.9

Company Status

105

9.10

Ownership of Projects, Minority Holdings and Property

105

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

106

10.1

Indebtedness

106

10.2

Sales of Assets

107

10.3

Liens

107

10.4

Investments

107

10.5

Conduct of Business

108

10.6

Transactions with Partners and Affiliates

108

10.7

Restriction on Fundamental Changes

108

10.8

Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations; Securities, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws

108

10.9

ERISA

109

10.10

Organizational Documents

109

10.11

Fiscal Year

110

10.12

Other Financial Covenants

110

10.13

Pro Forma Adjustments

110

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

111

11.1

Events of Default

111

11.2

Rights and Remedies

115

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

THE AGENTS

117

12.1

Appointment

117

12.2

Nature of Duties

117

12.3

Right to Request Instructions

119

12.4

Reliance

119

12.5

Indemnification

119

12.6

Agents Individually

120

12.7

Successor Agents

120

12.8

Relations Among the Lenders

121

12.9

Sub-Agents

121

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

12.10

Independent Credit Decisions

121

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

YIELD PROTECTION

122

13.1

Taxes

122

13.2

Increased Capital

126

13.3

Changes; Legal Restrictions

126

13.4

Replacement of Certain Lenders

127

13.5

No Duplication

128

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

MISCELLANEOUS

128

14.1

Assignments and Participations

128

14.2

Expenses

133

14.3

Indemnity

134

14.4

Change in Accounting Principles

135

14.5

Setoff

135

14.6

Ratable Sharing

136

14.7

Amendments and Waivers

136

14.8

Notices

139

14.9

Survival of Warranties and Agreements

140

14.10

Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative

141

14.11

Marshalling; Payments Set Aside

141

14.12

Severability

141

14.13

Headings

141

14.14

Governing Law

142

14.15

Limitation of Liability

142

14.16

Successors and Assigns

142

14.17

Certain Consents and Waivers of the Borrower

142

14.18

Counterparts; Effectiveness; Inconsistencies

144

14.19

Limitation on Agreements

145

14.20

Confidentiality

145

14.21

Disclaimers

146

14.22

No Bankruptcy Proceedings

146

 

iv



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

14.23

Interest Rate Limitation

146

14.24

USA Patriot Act

146

14.25

Defaulting Lenders

147

14.26

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

148

14.27

Judgment Currency

149

14.28

Guarantors

149

14.29

Entire Agreement

150

 

v



 

REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “ Agreement ”) is entered into among WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P., the institutions from time to time a party hereto as Lenders, whether by execution of this Agreement or an Assignment and Acceptance, the institutions from time to time a party hereto as Co-Agents, whether by execution of this Agreement or an Assignment and Acceptance, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED OR ITS AFFILIATES, as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner, the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Joint Lead Arrangers”, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Co-Documentation Agents”, as Co-Documentation Agents, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent, the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Co-Syndication Agents”, as Co-Syndication Agents, the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Senior Managing Agents”, as Senior Managing Agents, and the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Managing Agents”, as Managing Agents.

 

R E C I T A L S

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders wish to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms of the revolving credit and term loan facilities to be made available to the Borrower;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                                Certain Defined Terms .  The following terms used in this Agreement shall have the following meanings, applicable both to the singular and the plural forms of the terms defined:

 

Additional Credit Extension Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement providing for any Incremental Commitments which shall be consistent with the applicable provisions of this Agreement relating to such Incremental Commitments and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

Administrative Agent ” is BofA, and each successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Article XII of this Agreement.

 



 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affiliate ”, as applied to any Person, means any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, that Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to vote fifteen percent (15.0%) or more of the equity Securities having voting power for the election of directors of such Person or otherwise to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting equity Securities or by contract or otherwise.  For the avoidance of doubt, Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ SPG ”), shall not be considered an Affiliate of the Borrower by virtue of its performance of the management services to be performed by SPG on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as described in the Registration Statement.

 

Agent ” means BofA in its capacity as Administrative Agent, each Senior Managing Agent, each Managing Agent, each Co-Agent, and each successor agent appointed pursuant to the terms of Article XII of this Agreement.

 

Agent Party ” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.8(d) .

 

Agreement ” is defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Alternative Currency ” means the lawful currency of Canada (Canadian Dollars).  For all purposes of this Agreement, including without limitation the calculation of the Dollar Equivalent Amount at any time and from time to time, each Alternative Currency Borrowing will be marked-to-market on the last Business Day of each month and as of the date of each Borrowing or issuance or renewal of a Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit.

 

Alternative Currency Commitment ” means with respect to each Lender, the amount set forth next to the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.1 hereto as its commitment for Loans in Alternative Currency (and, for each Lender which is an assignee, the amount set forth in the Transfer Supplement entered into pursuant to Section 14.1 as the assignee’s Commitment), as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 4.1(b)  or in connection with an assignment to an assignee, and as such amount may be increased in connection with an assignment from an assignor or from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1(e) . In no event shall any Lender’s Alternative Currency Commitment be deemed to reduce such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; it being understood that with respect to those Lenders with both a Revolving Credit Commitment and an Alternative Currency Commitment, Borrower may borrow in either or both of Dollars and Alternative Currency, up to an aggregate amount (or Dollar Equivalent Amount) not to exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

Alternative Currency Letter of Credit ” means a Letter of Credit denominated in Alternative Currency.

 

2



 

Alternative Currency Sublimit ” means, a Dollar Equivalent Amount of Loans denominated in Alternative Currency and Alternative Currency Letter(s) of Credit, equal to 25% of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount.

 

Annual Compliance Certificate ” is defined in Section 8.2(b) .

 

Annual EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Project or Minority Holding, as of the first day of each fiscal quarter for the immediately preceding consecutive four fiscal quarters, an amount equal to (i) total revenues relating to such Project or Minority Holding for such period, less (ii) total operating expenses relating to such Project or Minority Holding for such period (it being understood that the foregoing calculation shall exclude non-cash charges as determined in accordance with GAAP).  Each of the foregoing amounts shall be determined by reference to the Borrower’s Statement of Operations for the applicable periods.  An example of the foregoing calculation is set forth on Exhibit G hereto.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to a particular Lender, (i) its Eurodollar Lending Office in respect of provisions relating to Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) its Domestic Lending Office in respect of provisions relating to Base Rate Loans and (iii) its Money Market Lending Office in respect of provisions relating to Money Market Loans.

 

Applicable Margin ” means:

 

(a)                                  From and after the Closing Date and until the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date (or if the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date has occurred and the Borrower thereafter makes an irrevocable, one-time election by notice to the Administrative to again have the Applicable Margins determined by the Total Leverage Ratio), with respect to each Loan, the respective percentages per annum determined, as of the times provided herein, based on the range into which the Total Leverage Ratio then falls, in accordance with the following tables (such tables, the “ Leverage Based Pricing Grids ”):

 

(i)                                      for Revolving Loans, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by the range into which the Total Leverage Ratio falls in the table below:

 

Ratio Level

 

Total
Leverage Ratio

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar - Rate Loan

(% per annum)

 

Applicable Margin for
Base Rate Loans

(% per annum)

 

Level I

 

< 40%

 

1.25

%

0.25

%

Level II

 

> 40% and < 45%

 

1.30

%

0.30

%

Level III

 

> 45% and < 50%

 

1.40

%

0.40

%

Level IV

 

> 50% and < 55%

 

1.55

%

0.55

%

Level V

 

> 55%

 

1.65

%

0.65

%

 

3



 

(ii)                                   for Term Loans, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by the range into which the Total Leverage Ratio falls in the table below:

 

Ratio Level

 

Total
Leverage Ratio

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar - Rate Loan
(% per annum)

 

Applicable Margin for
Base Rate Loans
(% per annum)

 

Level I

 

< 40%

 

1.40

%

0.40

%

Level II

 

> 40% and < 45%

 

1.50

%

0.50

%

Level III

 

> 45% and < 50%

 

1.65

%

0.65

%

Level IV

 

> 50% and < 55%

 

1.80

%

0.80

%

Level V

 

> 55%

 

1.95

%

0.95

%

 

For purposes of this clause (a), any increase or decrease in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a compliance certificate is delivered in accordance with Section 8.2 ; provided , however , that if such compliance certificate is not delivered within thirty (30) days after notice from the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders to the Borrower notifying the Borrower of the failure to deliver such compliance certificate on the date when due in accordance with Section 8.2 , then the Applicable Margin shall be the percentage that would apply to (i) the Level II Ratio in the case of the compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014; and (ii) the Level V Ratio in the case of compliance certificates for the subsequent fiscal quarters, and it shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such compliance certificate was required to have been delivered.  The Applicable Margin from the Closing Date until the delivery of the compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014 shall be based on Level I, based on the proforma covenant compliance certificate delivered by the Borrower on the Closing Date.

 

If at any time the financial statements upon which the Applicable Margin was determined were incorrect (whether based on a restatement, fraud or otherwise), the Borrower shall be required to retroactively pay any additional amount that the Borrower would have been required to pay if such financial statements had been accurate at the time they were delivered.

 

(b)                                  From and after the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date, with respect to each Loan, the respective percentages per annum determined, at any time, based on the range into which Borrower’s Credit Rating then falls, in accordance with the tables below (such tables, the “ Ratings Based Pricing Grids ”).  A change (if any) in the Applicable Margin shall be effective immediately as of the date on which any of the rating agencies announces a change in the Borrower’s Credit Rating or the date on which the Borrower no longer has a Credit Rating from one of the rating agencies or the date on which the Borrower has a Credit Rating from a rating agency that had not provided a Credit Rating for the Borrower on the day immediately preceding such date, whichever is applicable.

 

4



 

(i)                                      For Revolving Credit Loans, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by the Credit Ratings in the table below:

 

Range of Borrower’s
Credit Rating
(S&P/Moody’s/Fitch Ratings)

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar Rate Loans
(% per annum)

 

Applicable Margin for Base
Rate Loans
(% per annum)

 

A-/A3 or higher

 

0.875

%

0.000

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

1.000

%

0.000

%

BBB/Baa2

 

1.050

%

0.050

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

1.250

%

0.250

%

below BBB-/Baa3 or unrated

 

1.650

%

0.650

%

 

(ii)                                   For Term Loans, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by the Credit Ratings in the table below:

 

Range of Borrower’s
Credit Rating
(S&P/Moody’s/Fitch Ratings)

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar Rate Loans
(% per annum)

 

Applicable Margin for Base
Rate Loans
(% per annum)

 

A-/A3 or higher

 

0.900

%

0.000

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

1.050

%

0.050

%

BBB/Baa2

 

1.150

%

0.150

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

1.450

%

0.450

%

below BBB-/Baa3 or unrated

 

1.900

%

0.900

%

 

For purposes of this clause (b), if at any time the Borrower has two (2) Credit Ratings, the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum applicable to the highest Credit Rating; provided that if the highest Credit Rating and the lowest Credit Rating are more than one ratings category apart, the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum applicable to Credit Rating that is one ratings category below the highest Credit Rating.  If at any time the Borrower has three (3) Credit Ratings, and such Credit Ratings are split, then: (A) if the difference between the highest and the lowest such Credit Ratings is one ratings category (e.g. Baa2 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch), the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the highest of the Credit Ratings were used; and (B) if the difference between such Credit Ratings is two ratings categories (e.g. Baa1 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch) or more, the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the average of the two (2) highest Credit Ratings were used, provided that if such average is not a recognized rating category, then the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the second highest Credit Rating of the three were used.  If at any time the Borrower has only one Credit Rating (and such Credit Rating is from Moody’s or S&P), the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum applicable to such Credit Rating.  If the Borrower does not have a Credit Rating from either Moody’s or S&P, the Applicable Margin shall be the rate per annum applicable to a Credit Rating of “below BBB-/Baa3 or unrated” in the tables above.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth above, if both (i) the Borrower has received indicative Investment Grade Credit Ratings from at least two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch on or before the Initial Funding Date and (ii) the Borrower receives Investment Grade Credit Ratings from at least two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch on the Spinoff Date, then the Debt

 

5



 

Rating Pricing Election Date shall be deemed to have occurred (without, for the avoidance of doubt, the delivery of a Debt Rating Pricing Election Notice) on, and the Applicable Margins shall be determined by reference to the Ratings Based Pricing Grids (using the Investment Grade Credit Ratings received on the Spinoff Date) from and after, the Initial Funding Date; it being agreed that if either of such events described in clauses (i) and (ii) above does not occur, then the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date shall be deemed to have not occurred and the Applicable Margins shall be determined by reference to the Leverage Based Pricing Grid from and after the Initial Funding Date.

 

Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

Arrangers ” mean Bank of America, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an Assignment and Acceptance in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof (with blanks appropriately completed) delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with an assignment of a Lender’s interest under this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.1 .

 

Authorized Financial Officer ” means a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or other qualified senior officer acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Bankruptcy Event ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

Banks’ L/C Fee Rate ” is defined in Section 3.1(g).

 

Base Eurocurrency Rate ” means, with respect to (A) any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any LIBOR Quoted Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate or comparable successor rate approved by the Administrative Agent for such LIBOR Quoted Currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as

 

6



 

published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page ( or, in the event such rate does not appear on such Bloomberg page, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion (the “ LIBOR Screen Rate ”)) as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period and (B) any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans denominated in any Non-Quoted Currency and for any applicable Interest Period, the applicable Local Screen Rate for such Non-Quoted Currency as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for such currency and Interest Period.

 

Base Rate ” means, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum as shall be in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:

 

(i)                                      the rate of interest announced publicly by the Administrative Agent from time to time, as the Administrative Agent’s prime rate;

 

(ii)                                   the sum of (A) one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum plus (B) the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time during such period; and

 

(iii)                                the sum of (A) the one month Base Eurocurrency Rate in effect on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) (the “ Daily LIBOR Rate ”) plus (B) one percent (1%) per annum.

 

Base Rate Loan ” means (i) a Committed Loan denominated in Dollars which bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate and the Applicable Margin as provided in Section 5.1(a)  or (ii) an overdue amount which was a Base Rate Loan immediately before it became due.

 

BofA ” means Bank of America, N. A.

 

Borrower ” means Washington Prime Group, L.P., an Indiana limited partnership.

 

Borrower Partnership Agreement ” means the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Borrower dated as of January 17, 2014 as such agreement may be amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent or as permitted under Section 10.10 .

 

Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same type made, continued or converted on the same day.

 

Business Activity Report ” means (i) an Indiana Business Activity Report from the Indiana Department of Revenue, Compliance Division, or (ii) a Notice of Business Activities Report from the State of New Jersey Division of Taxation, (iii) a Minnesota Business Activity Report from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, or (iv) a similar report to those referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) hereof with respect to any jurisdiction where the failure to file such report would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed;

 

7



 

and when used in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan for a LIBOR Quoted Currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in London; and in addition, with respect to any date for the payment or purchase of, or the fixing of an interest rate in relation to, any Non-Quoted Currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for general business in the principal financial center of the country of that currency.

 

Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether payable in cash or other property or accrued as a liability (but without duplication)) during such period that, in conformity with GAAP, are required to be included in or reflected by the Company’s, the Borrower’s or any of their Subsidiaries’ fixed asset accounts as reflected in any of their respective balance sheets; provided , however , (i) Capital Expenditures shall include, whether or not such a designation would be in conformity with GAAP, (a) that portion of Capital Leases which is capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries and (b) expenditures for Equipment which is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing Equipment owned by the General Partner, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, to the extent the gross purchase price of the purchased Equipment exceeds the book value of the Equipment being traded in at such time; and (ii) Capital Expenditures shall exclude, whether or not such a designation would be in conformity with GAAP, expenditures made in connection with the restoration of Property, to the extent reimbursed or financed from insurance or condemnation proceeds.

 

Capitalization Rate ” means (a) 7.25% per annum for malls and other Properties and (b) 6.75% per annum for strip centers.

 

Capitalization Value ” means the sum of (i) Mall EBITDA capitalized at the applicable Capitalization Rate, and (ii) Strip Center EBITDA capitalized at the applicable Capitalization Rate, and (iii) Cash and Cash Equivalents, and (iv) Construction Asset Cost, and (v) undeveloped land, valued, in accordance with GAAP, at the lower of cost and market value, and (vi) the Borrower’s economic interest in mortgage notes, valued, in accordance with GAAP, at the lower of cost and market value, provided, however, that any mortgage notes that are more than sixty (60) days past due, shall not be included in this clause (vi), and (vii) Investments in publicly traded Securities, valued at Borrower’s book value determined in accordance with GAAP, and (viii) Investments in non-publicly traded Securities, valued at Borrower’s book value determined in accordance with GAAP, provided, however, that in no event shall (x) the aggregate value of such Investments in non-publicly traded Securities included in Capitalization Value exceed ten percent (10%) of Capitalization Value in the aggregate, (y) the aggregate value attributable to undeveloped land included in Capitalization Value exceed five percent (5%) of Capitalization Value in the aggregate or (z) the aggregate value attributed to undeveloped land, non-retail Properties, mortgage notes, Construction Asset Cost and Limited Minority Holdings included in Capitalization Value exceed thirty percent (30%) of Capitalization Value in the aggregate.

 

Capital Lease ” means any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by a Person as lessee which, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

 

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Capital Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock of such Person (if a corporation), and all equivalent ownership interests in such Person (other than a corporation), regardless of class or designation, and all warrants, options, purchase rights, conversion or exchange rights, voting rights, calls or claims of any character with respect thereto.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents ” means (i) cash, (ii) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States government and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government; and (iii) domestic and Eurodollar certificates of deposit and time deposits, bankers’ acceptances and certificates of deposit issued by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, any foreign bank, or its branches or agencies, which, at the time of acquisition, are rated A-1 (or better) by S&P or P-1 (or better) by Moody’s; provided   that the maturities of such Cash and Cash Equivalents shall not exceed one year.

 

Cash Interest Expense ” means, for any period, total interest expense, whether paid or accrued, but without duplication, (including the interest component of Capital Leases) of the Borrower, which is payable in cash, all as determined in conformity with GAAP.

 

CDOR Rate ” means for any Loans in Canadian Dollars, (i) the CDOR Screen Rate or (ii) if so provided herein, the applicable Reference Bank Rate.

 

CDOR Screen Rate ” means, with respect to any Interest Period, the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate or a comparable or successor rate which is approved by the Administrative Agent with a tenor equal to such Interest Period, published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or, in the event such rate does not appear on such Bloomberg page, on any successor or substitute page on such screen or service that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for such Interest Period.

 

CERCLA ” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq ., any amendments thereto, any successor statutes, and any regulations or guidance having the force of law promulgated thereunder.

 

CF Rate ” is defined in Section 5.2(d)(i) .

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement (or, with respect to any Lender, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement) of any of the following: (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender or Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 13.2 , by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,  (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated

 

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by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or issued by the applicable Governmental Authority or other body, agency or authority having jurisdiction; provided, however, that if the applicable Lender shall have implemented changes prior to the date hereof in response to any such requests, rules, guidelines or directives, then the same shall not be deemed to be a Change in Law with respect to such Lender.

 

Charges ” is defined in Section 14.23 .

 

Claim ” means any claim or demand, by any Person, of whatsoever kind or nature for any alleged Liabilities and Costs, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, Permit, ordinance or regulation, common law or otherwise.

 

Closing Date ” means May 15, 2014.

 

Co-Agents ” means the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers, the Co-Documentation Agents, the Syndication Agent, the Co-Syndication Agents, and the Senior Managing Agents.

 

Co-Documentation Agents ” means the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Co-Documentation Agents”.

 

Co-Syndication Agents ” means the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Co-Syndication Agents”.

 

Combined Debt Service ” means, for any period, the sum of (i) regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest (net of amounts payable to the Consolidated Businesses in regard thereto under Interest Rate Hedges) of the Consolidated Businesses paid and/or accrued during such period and (ii) the portion of the regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest of Minority Holdings allocable to the Borrower in accordance with GAAP, paid during such period, in each case including participating interest expense and excluding balloon payments of principal and extraordinary interest payments and net of amortization of deferred costs associated with new financings or refinancings of existing Indebtedness.

 

Combined EBITDA ” means the sum of (i) 100% of the Annual EBITDA from the General Partner and the Borrower, and the Borrower’s pro rata share of the Annual EBITDA from the other Consolidated Businesses; and (ii) the portion of the Annual EBITDA of the Minority Holdings allocable to the Borrower in accordance with GAAP; and (iii) 100% of the actual Annual EBITDA from third party property and asset management; provided, however that the Borrower’s share of the Annual EBITDA from unaffiliated third party property and asset management shall in no event constitute in excess of five percent (5%) of Combined EBITDA; provided , however, that for purposes of determining Capitalization Value and Unencumbered Capitalization Value (but for no other purposes hereunder), Annual EBITDA of less than zero with respect to any individual Property shall be disregarded.  Combined EBITDA shall exclude the effect of non-recurring extraordinary items or asset sales or write-ups or forgiveness of

 

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indebtedness (both gains and losses) and impairment charges, and costs and expenses incurred during such period with respect to acquisitions or mergers consummated during such period. Combined EBITDA also shall exclude dividends, distributions and other payments from Securities. For purposes of newly opened Projects the costs of which are no longer capitalized as construction in progress, the Annual EBITDA shall be based upon twelve-month projections, until such time as actual performance data for a twelve-month period is available.

 

Combined Equity Value ” means Capitalization Value minus Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness.

 

Commercial Letter of Credit ” means any sight letter of credit issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.1 for the account of the Borrower, which is drawable upon presentation of documents evidencing the sale or shipment of goods purchased by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any Person succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Commitments ” means the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Term Commitments.

 

Committed Borrowing ” means a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans made or to be made pursuant to the Notice of Committed Borrowing.

 

Committed Loan ” means a Revolving Credit Loan or a Term Loan made by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.1 ; provided that, if any such Loan or Loans (or portions thereof) are combined or subdivided pursuant to a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the term “Committed Loan” shall refer to the combined principal amount resulting from such combination or to each of the separate principal amounts resulting from such subdivision, as the case may be.

 

Communications ” is defined in Section 14.8(d) .

 

Company ” means Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation.

 

Compliance Certificate ” is defined in Section 8.2(b) .

 

Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

Consolidated ” means consolidated, in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Businesses ” means the General Partner, the Borrower and their wholly-owned Subsidiaries.

 

Construction Asset Cost ” means, with respect to Property on which construction or redevelopment of Improvements has commenced but has not yet been completed (as such completion shall be evidenced by such Property being opened for business to the general public),

 

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the aggregate sums expended on the construction or redevelopment of such Improvements (including land acquisition costs).

 

Contaminant ” means any waste, pollutant, hazardous substance, toxic substance, hazardous waste, special waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived substance or waste, radioactive materials, asbestos (in any form or condition), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), or any constituent of any such substance or waste, and includes, but is not limited to, these terms as defined in federal, state or local laws or regulations; provided , however , that “Contaminant” shall not include the foregoing items to the extent (i) the same exists on the applicable Property in negligible amounts and are stored and used in accordance with all Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law or (ii) are used in connection with a tire or battery retail store provided the same are stored, sold and used in accordance with all Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law.

 

Contingent Obligation ” as to any Person means, without duplication, (i) any contingent obligation of such Person required to be shown on such Person’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) any obligation required to be disclosed in the footnotes to such Person’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP, guaranteeing partially or in whole any non-recourse Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation, exclusive of contractual indemnities (including, without limitation, any indemnity or price-adjustment provision relating to the purchase or sale of securities or other assets) and guarantees of non-monetary obligations (other than guarantees of completion and environmental indemnities given in conjunction with a mortgage financing) which have not yet been called on or quantified, of such Person or of any other Person.  The amount of any Contingent Obligation described in clause (ii) shall be deemed to be (a) with respect to a guaranty of interest or interest and principal, or operating income guaranty, the sum of all payments required to be made thereunder (which in the case of an operating income guaranty shall be deemed to be equal to the debt service for the note secured thereby), calculated at the interest rate applicable to such Indebtedness, through (i) in the case of an interest or interest and principal guaranty, the stated date of maturity of the obligation (and commencing on the date interest could first be payable thereunder), or (ii) in the case of an operating income guaranty, the date through which such guaranty will remain in effect, and (b) with respect to all guarantees not covered by the preceding clause (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such guaranty is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as recorded on the balance sheet and on the footnotes to the most recent financial statements of the applicable Borrower required to be delivered pursuant hereto.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, guarantees of completion and environmental indemnities shall not be deemed to be Contingent Obligations unless and until a claim for payment has been made thereunder, at which time any such guaranty of completion or environmental indemnity shall be deemed to be a Contingent Obligation in an amount equal to any such claim.  Subject to the preceding sentence, (i) in the case of a joint and several guaranty given by such Person and another Person (but only to the extent such guaranty is recourse, directly or indirectly to the applicable Borrower), the amount of the guaranty shall be deemed to be 100% thereof unless and only to the extent that (X) such other Person has delivered Cash or Cash Equivalents to secure all or any part of such Person’s guaranteed obligations or (Y) such other Person holds an Investment Grade Credit Rating from either Moody’s or S&P, in which case the amount of the guaranty shall be deemed

 

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to be equal to such Person’s pro rata share thereof, as reasonably determined by Borrower, and (ii) in the case of a guaranty, (whether or not joint and several) of an obligation otherwise constituting Indebtedness of such Person, the amount of such guaranty shall be deemed to be only that amount in excess of the amount of the obligation constituting Indebtedness of such Person.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, “Contingent Obligations” shall not be deemed to include guarantees of loan commitments or of construction loans to the extent the same have not been drawn.

 

Contractual Obligation ”, as applied to any Person, means any provision of any Securities issued by that Person or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, pledge agreement, guaranty, contract, undertaking, agreement or instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

 

Credit Extension ” is defined in Section 5.2(e)(iv) .

 

Credit Party ” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

 

Credit Rating ” means the publicly announced senior unsecured credit rating (or, prior to the availability of a senior unsecured credit rating, the corporate credit rating) of a Person given by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch.

 

Cure Loans ” is defined in Section 4.2(b)(v)(C) .

 

Customary Non-Recourse Carve-Outs ” means fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate indemnification agreements.

 

Customary Permitted Liens ” means

 

(i)                                      Liens (other than Environmental Liens and Liens in favor of the PBGC) with respect to the payment of taxes, assessments or governmental charges in all cases which are not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings in accordance with Section 9.4 and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

 

(ii)                                   statutory Liens of landlords against any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and Liens against any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in favor of suppliers, mechanics, carriers, materialmen, warehousemen or workmen and other Liens against any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts which, if not resolved in favor of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, could not result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(iii)                                Liens (other than any Lien in favor of the PBGC) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with worker’s

 

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compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of bids, tenders, sales, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), surety, appeal and performance bonds; provided   that (A) all such Liens do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s assets or Property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of their respective businesses, and (B) all Liens of attachment or judgment and Liens securing bonds to stay judgments or in connection with appeals do not secure at any time an aggregate amount of recourse Indebtedness exceeding $25,000,000; and

 

(iv)          Liens against any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower arising with respect to zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, covenants, rights-of-way, utility easements, building restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances on the use of Real Property which do not interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent it could not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Daily LIBOR Rate ” is defined in the definition of “Base Rate”.

 

Debt Rating Pricing Election Date ” means the date on which (a) the Borrower has achieved and continues to maintain an Investment Grade Credit Rating from at least two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch and (b) the Borrower has delivered a Debt Rating Pricing Election Notice to the Administrative Agent.

 

Debt Rating Pricing Election Notice ” means a notice delivered by Borrower to the Administrative Agent of its election to have the Applicable Margins determined by reference to the Ratings Based Pricing Grid instead of the Leverage Based Pricing Grid.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, or, in the case of clause (iii) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith dispute with the amount of such payment (specifically identified), (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this

 

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clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of an equity interest in that Lender of any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority.

 

Delayed Transfer Assets ” is defined in Section 6.1(g) .

 

Designated Bank ” means a special purpose corporation that (i) shall have become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 14.1(f) , and (ii) is not otherwise a Lender.

 

Designated Bank Notes ” means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay Money Market Loans made by Designated Banks, as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time, and “ Designated Bank Note ” means any one of such promissory notes issued under Section 14.1(f)  hereof.

 

Designating Lender ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.1(f)  hereof.

 

Designation Agreement ” means a designation agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit K attached hereto, entered into by a Lender and a Designated Bank and accepted by the Administrative Agent.

 

Designee Lender ” is defined in Section 13.4 .

 

DOL ” means the United States Department of Labor and any Person succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Dollar Equivalent Amount ” shall mean (i) with respect to any amount of Alternative Currency on any day, the equivalent amount in Dollars of such amount of Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent using the applicable Exchange Rate on such day and (ii) with respect to any amount of Dollars, such amount.

 

Dollars ” and “ $ ” mean the lawful money of the United States.

 

Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s office, located in the United States, specified as the “Domestic Lending Office” under its name on the signature pages hereof or on the Assignment and Acceptance by which it became a Lender or such other United States office of such Lender as it may from time to time specify by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Electronic Signature ” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

Electronic System ” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar®, Debt Domain, Syndtrak and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and

 

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the Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security measures.

 

Eligible Assignee ” means (i) a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) and its Affiliates and Approved Funds (other than an Approved Fund qualifying as such by virtue of its relationship with a Defaulting Lender); (ii) a commercial bank having total assets in excess of $2,500,000,000; (iii) the central bank of any country which is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; or (iv) a finance company or other financial institution reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which is regularly engaged in making, purchasing or investing in loans and having total assets in excess of $300,000,000 or is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks; provided that an Ineligible Institution shall not be an Eligible Assignee.

 

Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law ” means all Requirements of Law derived from or relating to any  federal, state or local law, ordinance, rule, regulation, Permit, license or other binding determination of any Governmental Authority relating to, imposing liability or standards concerning, or otherwise addressing the environment, health and/or safety, including, but not limited to the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, RCRA, any so-called “Superfund” or “Superlien” law, the Toxic Substances Control Act and OSHA, and public health codes, each as from time to time in effect.

 

Environmental Lien ” means a Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for any (i) liabilities under any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law, or (ii) damages arising from, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in response to, a Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment.

 

Environmental Property Transfer Act ”  means any applicable Requirement of Law that conditions, restricts, prohibits or requires any notification or disclosure triggered by the transfer, sale, lease or closure of any Property or deed or title for any Property for environmental reasons, including, but not limited to, any so-called “Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act” or “Responsible Property Transfer Act”.

 

Equipment ” means equipment used in connection with the maintenance of Projects and Properties.

 

Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such shares or interests.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. §§ 1000 et   seq ., any amendments thereto, any successor statutes, and any regulations or guidance having the force of law promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means (i) any corporation which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code) as the Borrower; (ii) a partnership or other trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is under common control (within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue

 

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Code) with the Borrower; and (iii) a member of the same affiliated service group (within the meaning of Section 414(m) of the Internal Revenue Code) as the Borrower, any corporation described in clause (i) above or any partnership or trade or business described in clause (ii) above.

 

ERISA Termination Event ” means (i) a Reportable Event with respect to any Plan; (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or the cessation of operations which results in the termination of employment of 20% of Plan participants who are employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; (iii) the imposition of an obligation on the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate under Section 4041 of ERISA to provide affected parties written notice of intent to terminate a Plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan; (v) any event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; or (vi) the partial or complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

 

Eurodollar Affiliate ” means, with respect to each Lender, the Affiliate of such Lender (if any) set forth below such Lender’s name under the heading “Eurodollar Affiliate” on the signature pages hereof or on the Assignment and Acceptance by which it became a Lender or such Affiliate of a Lender as it may from time to time specify by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Eurodollar Interest Period ” is defined in Section 5.2(b)(i) .

 

Eurodollar Interest Rate Determination Date ” is defined in Section 5.2(c) .

 

Eurodollar Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s office (if any) specified as the “Eurodollar Lending Office” under its name on the signature pages hereof or on the Assignment and Acceptance by which it became a Lender or such other office or offices of such Lender as it may from time to time specify by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Eurodollar Money Market Loan ” means a Loan to be made by a Lender pursuant to a LIBOR Auction (including such a Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 5.2 ).

 

Eurodollar Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a Money Market Loan, an interest rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the Base Eurocurrency Rate applicable to that Eurodollar Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage in effect on the relevant Eurodollar Interest Rate Determination Date.

 

Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate and the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans or (ii) an overdue amount which was a Eurodollar Rate Loan immediately before it became due.

 

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Eurodollar Reserve Percentage ” means, for any day, that percentage which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York, New York with deposits exceeding five billion Dollars in respect of “Eurocurrency Liabilities” (or in respect of any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any bank to United States residents).

 

Event of Default ” means any of the occurrences set forth in Section 11.1 after the expiration of any applicable grace period and the giving of any applicable notice, in each case as expressly provided in Section 11.1 .

 

Exchange Rate ” means, for a currency, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank may obtain such spot rate from Reuters, Bloomberg or another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided   further that the Issuing Bank may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Alternative Currency Letter of Credit.

 

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office located in or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Revolving Credit Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 13.4 ) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 13.1 , amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Revolving Credit Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 13.1(f) , and (d) any U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Facility ” means each of the Term Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

Facility Fee ” is defined in Section 5.3(a) .

 

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Facility Fee Percentage ” means

 

(a)            From and after the Closing Date and until the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date (or if the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date has occurred and the Borrower thereafter makes an irrevocable, one-time election by notice to the Administrative to again have the Applicable Margins determined by the Total Leverage Ratio), the applicable percentages per annum determined, at times specified herein, based on the range into which the Total Leverage Ratio then falls, in accordance with the following table:

 

Ratio Level

 

Total
Leverage Ratio

 

Facility Fee Percentage
(% per annum)

 

Level I

 

< 40%

 

0.20

%

Level II

 

> 40% and < 45%

 

0.25

%

Level III

 

> 45% and < 50%

 

0.30

%

Level IV

 

> 50% and < 55%

 

0.30

%

Level V

 

> 55%

 

0.35

%

 

For purposes of this clause (a), any increase or decrease in the Facility Fee Percentage resulting from a change in the Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a compliance certificate is delivered in accordance with Section 8.2; provided , however , that if such compliance certificate is not delivered within thirty (30) days after notice from the Administrative Agent or the Requisite Lenders to the Borrower notifying the Borrower of the failure to deliver such compliance certificate on the date when due in accordance with Section 8.2, then the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the percentage that would apply to (i) the Level II Ratio in the case of the compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014; and (ii) the Level V Ratio in the case of compliance certificates for the subsequent fiscal quarters, and it shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such compliance certificate was required to have been delivered.  The Facility Fee Percentage from the Closing Date until the delivery of the compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2014 shall be based on Level I, based on the proforma covenant compliance certificate delivered by the Borrower on the Closing Date.

 

If at any time the financial statements upon which the Facility Fee Percentage was determined were incorrect (whether based on a restatement, fraud or otherwise), the Borrower shall be required to retroactively pay any additional amount that the Borrower would have been required to pay if such financial statements had been accurate at the time they were delivered.

 

(b)           From and after the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date, the applicable percentages per annum determined, at any time, based on the range into which Borrower’s Credit Rating then falls, in accordance with the following table.  A change (if any) in the Facility Fee Percentage shall be effective immediately as of the date on which any of the rating agencies announces a change in the Borrower’s Credit Rating or the date on which the Borrower no longer has a Credit Rating from one or more rating agencies or the date on which the Borrower has a Credit Rating from a rating agency that had not provided a Credit Rating for the Borrower on the day immediately preceding such date, whichever is applicable.

 

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Range of Borrower’s
Credit Rating
(S&P/Moody’s/Fitch Ratings)

 

Facility Fee Percentage
(% per annum)

 

below BBB-/Baa3 or unrated

 

0.300

%

BBB-/Baa3

 

0.250

%

BBB/Baa2

 

0.200

%

BBB+/Baa1

 

0.150

%

A-/A3 or higher

 

0.125

%

 

If at any time the Borrower has two (2) Credit Ratings, the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum applicable to the highest Credit Rating; provided that if the highest Credit Rating and the lowest Credit Rating are more than one ratings category apart, the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum applicable to Credit Rating that is one ratings category below the highest Credit Rating.  If at any time the Borrower has three (3) Credit Ratings, and such Credit Ratings are split, then: (A) if the difference between the highest and the lowest such Credit Ratings is one ratings category (e.g. Baa2 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch), the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the highest of the Credit Ratings were used; and (B) if the difference between such Credit Ratings is two ratings categories (e.g. Baa1 by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P or Fitch) or more, the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the average of the two (2) highest Credit Ratings were used, provided that if such average is not a recognized rating category, then the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum that would be applicable if the second highest Credit Rating of the three were used.  If at any time the Borrower has only one Credit Rating (and such Credit Rating is from Moody’s or S&P), the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum applicable to such Credit Rating.  If the Borrower does not have a Credit Rating from either Moody’s or S&P, the Facility Fee Percentage shall be the rate per annum applicable to a Credit Rating of “below BBB-/Baa3 or unrated” in the tables above.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth above, if both (i) the Borrower has received indicative Investment Grade Credit Ratings from at least two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch on or before the Initial Funding Date and (ii) the Borrower receives Investment Grade Credit Ratings from at least two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch on the Spinoff Date, then the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date shall be deemed to have occurred (without, for the avoidance of doubt, the delivery of a Debt Rating Pricing Election Notice) on, and the Facility Fee Percentage shall be determined by reference to the Ratings Based Pricing Grids (using the Investment Grade Credit Ratings received on the Spinoff Date) from and after, the Initial Funding Date; it being agreed that if either of such events described in clauses (i) and (ii) above does not occur, then the Debt Rating Pricing Election Date shall be deemed to have not occurred and the Facility Fee Percentage shall be determined by reference to the Leverage Based Pricing Grid from and after the Initial Funding Date.

 

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day in New York, New York, for the next preceding Business Day) in New York, New York by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day in New York, New York, the average of the quotations for such day on transactions by the Reference Bank, as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

Federal Reserve Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any Governmental Authority succeeding to its functions.

 

Financial Statements ” means (i) quarterly and annual consolidated statements of income and retained earnings, statements of cash flow, and balance sheets, (ii) such other financial statements as the General Partner shall routinely and regularly prepare for itself and the Borrower on a quarterly or annual basis, and (iii) such other financial statements of the Consolidated Businesses or Minority Holdings as the Arrangers or the Requisite Lenders may from time to time reasonably specify; provided , however , that the Financial Statements referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) above shall be prepared in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company and the Borrower for accounting and tax purposes, which shall be the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

 

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc.

 

Foreign Lender ” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

Foreign Qualified Borrower ” means a Qualified Borrower that is not an entity formed or organized under the laws of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof.

 

Funding Date ” means, with respect to any Loan, the date of funding of such Loan.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Accounting Principles Board and Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be in general use by significant segments of the accounting profession as in effect on the Closing Date (unless otherwise specified herein as in effect on another date or dates).

 

General Partner ” means the Company and any successor general partner(s) of the Borrower.

 

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Governmental Approval ” means all right, title  and interest in any existing or future certificates, licenses, permits, variances, authorizations and approvals issued by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect to any Project.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any federal, state, local or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Guarantees ” is defined in Section 14.28 .

 

Guarantors ” is defined in Section 14.28 .

 

Holder ” means any Person entitled to enforce any of the Obligations, whether or not such Person holds any evidence of Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, and each other Lender.

 

Honor Date ” is defined in Section 3.1(d)(i) .

 

Improvements ” means all buildings, fixtures, structures, parking areas, landscaping and all other improvements whether existing now or hereafter constructed, together with all machinery and mechanical, electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems presently located thereon and used in the operation thereof, excluding (a) any such items owned by utility service providers, (b) any such items owned by tenants or other third-parties unaffiliated with the Borrower and (c) any items of personal property.

 

Increased Amount Date ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

Incremental Commitments ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

Indebtedness ”, as applied to any Person, means, at any time, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness, obligations or other liabilities of such Person (whether consolidated or representing the proportionate interest in any other Person) (i) for borrowed money (including construction loans) or evidenced by debt securities, debentures, acceptances, notes or other similar instruments, (ii) under profit payment agreements or in respect of obligations to redeem, repurchase or exchange any Securities of such Person or to pay dividends that have been declared with respect to any stock, (iii) with respect to letters of credit issued for such Person’s account, (iv) to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except accounts payable and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (v) in respect of Capital Leases, (vi) which are Contingent Obligations or (vii) under warranties and indemnities; (b) all indebtedness, obligations or other liabilities of such Person or others secured by a Lien on any property of such Person, whether or not such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities are assumed by such Person, all as of such time; (c) all indebtedness, obligations or other liabilities of such Person in respect of interest rate contracts and foreign exchange contracts, net of liabilities owed to such Person by the counterparties thereon; (d) all preferred stock subject (upon the occurrence of any contingency or otherwise) to mandatory redemption; and (e) all contingent Contractual Obligations with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Indemnified Matters ” is defined in Section 14.3 .

 

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Indemnified Taxes ” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.

 

Ineligible Institution ” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or any Affiliate thereof, and (c) the Borrower or any of its Affiliates.

 

Indemnitees ” is defined in Section 14.3 .

 

Initial Funding Date ” means the date on or after the Closing Date, but in no event later than May 30, 2014, on which all of the conditions described in Section 6.1 have been satisfied (or waived) in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and on which the initial Loans under this Agreement are made by the Lenders to the Borrower.

 

Interest Period ” is defined in Section 5.2(b) .

 

Internal Revenue Code ” or “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, any successor statute and any regulations or guidance having the force of law promulgated thereunder.

 

Investment ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any purchase or other acquisition by that Person of Securities, or of a beneficial interest in Securities, issued by any other Person, (ii) any purchase by that Person of all or substantially all of the assets of a business conducted by another Person, and (iii) any loan, advance (other than deposits with financial institutions available for withdrawal on demand, prepaid expenses, accounts receivable, advances to employees and similar items made or incurred in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by that Person to any other Person, including, without limitation, all Indebtedness to such Person arising from a sale of property by such Person other than in the ordinary course of its business.  The amount of any Investment shall be determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Investment Grade ” means (i) with respect to Moody’s, a Credit Rating of Baa3 or higher and (ii) with respect to S&P or Fitch, a Credit Rating of BBB- or higher.

 

Investment Grade Credit Rating ” means (i) a Credit Rating of Baa3 or higher given by Moody’s, (ii) a Credit Rating of BBB- or higher given by S&P or (iii) a Credit Rating of BBB- or higher given by Fitch.

 

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service and any Person succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

ISP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

23



 

Issuing Bank ” is defined in Section 3.1 .

 

JPMorgan Chase ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

knowledge ” with reference to any General Partner, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, means the actual knowledge of such Person after reasonable inquiry (which reasonable inquiry shall include, without limitation, interviewing and questioning such other Persons as such General Partner, the Borrower or such Subsidiary of the Borrower, as applicable, deems reasonably necessary).

 

Lead Arrangers ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or its Affiliates, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, the other financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Joint Lead Arrangers” and each successor Lead Arranger appointed pursuant to the terms of Article XII of this Agreement.

 

Lease ” means a lease, license, concession agreement or other agreement providing for the use or occupancy of any portion of any Project, including all amendments, supplements, modifications and assignments thereof and all side letters or side agreements relating thereto.

 

Lender ” means (i) each of the Arrangers, the Co-Agents, and each financial institution a signatory hereto as a Lender as of the Closing Date and, at any other given time, each financial institution which is a party hereto as an Arranger, Co-Agent or Lender, whether as a signatory hereto or pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, and regardless of the capacity in which such entity is acting (i.e. whether as Administrative Agent, Arranger, Co-Agent or Lender) and (ii) each Designated Bank; provided, however, that the term “Lender” shall exclude each Designated Bank when used in reference to a Committed Loan, the Commitments or terms relating to the Committed Loans and the Commitments and shall further exclude each Designated Bank for all other purposes hereunder (including, without limitation, for purposes of Section 13.4 hereof) except that any Designated Bank which funds a Money Market Loan shall, subject to Section 14.1(f) , have the rights (including, without limitation, the rights given to a Lender contained in Section 14.2 and otherwise in Article XIV ) and obligations of a Lender associated with holding such Money Market Loan.

 

Lending Office ” is defined in Section 5.2(e)(iv) .

 

Letter of Credit ” means any Commercial Letter of Credit or Standby Letter of Credit whether in Dollars or the Alternative Currency.

 

Letter of Credit Obligations ” means, as at the date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all outstanding Reimbursement Obligations.  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.5 .  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

24



 

Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement ” means, with respect to a Letter of Credit or an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, such form of application therefor and form of reimbursement agreement therefor (whether in a single or several documents, taken together) as an Issuing Bank may employ in the ordinary course of business for its own account, with such modifications thereto as may be agreed upon by such Issuing Bank and the Borrower and as are not materially adverse (in the judgment of such Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent) to the interests of the Lenders; provided , however , in the event of any conflict between the terms of any Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

 

Liabilities and Costs ” means all liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, losses, damages, personal injury, death, punitive damages, economic damages, consequential damages, treble damages, intentional, willful or wanton injury, damage or threat to the environment, natural resources or public health or welfare, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorney, expert and consulting fees and expenses and costs of investigation, feasibility or Remedial Action studies), fines, penalties and monetary sanctions, interest, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, past, present or future.

 

LIBOR Auction ” means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting forth Money Market Margins based on the Eurodollar Rate pursuant to Section 2.2 .

 

LIBOR Quoted Currency ” means Dollars.

 

LIBOR Screen Rate ” is defined in the definition of “Base Eurocurrency Rate”.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, conditional sale agreement, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other and including, without limitation, any Environmental Lien), preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever in respect of any property of a Person, whether granted voluntarily or imposed by law, and includes the interest of a lessor under a Capital Lease or under any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing and the filing of any financing statement or similar notice (other than a financing statement filed by a “true” lessor pursuant to § 9-505 of the Uniform Commercial Code), naming the owner of such property as debtor, under the Uniform Commercial Code or other comparable law of any jurisdiction.

 

Limited Minority Holdings ” means Minority Holdings in which (i) Borrower has a less than fifty percent (50%) ownership interest and (ii) neither the Borrower nor the Company directly or indirectly controls the management of such Minority Holdings, whether as the general partner or managing member of such Minority Holding, or otherwise. As used in this definition only, the term “control” shall mean the authority to make major management decisions or the management of day-to-day operations of such entity or its Property(ies) and shall include instances in which the Management Company manages the day-to-day leasing, management, control or development of the Properties of such Minority Holdings pursuant to the terms of a management agreement.

 

25



 

Limited Partners ” means those Persons who from time to time are limited partners of the Borrower; and “ Limited Partner ” means each of the Limited Partners, individually.

 

Loan Account ” is defined in Section 4.3(b) .

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, each Qualified Borrower Guaranty, and all other instruments, agreements and written Contractual Obligations between the Borrower, the Qualified Borrowers and any of the Lenders pursuant to or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Loans ” means Committed Loans, Money Market Loans and Swingline Loans.

 

Local Screen Rate ” means the CDOR Screen Rate.

 

Management Company ” means, collectively, (i) the Borrower and its wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) or controlled (directly or indirectly) Subsidiaries, and (ii) such other property management companies controlled (directly or indirectly) by the Company for which the Borrower has previously provided the Administrative Agent with: (1) notice of such property management company, and (2) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that such property management company is controlled (directly or indirectly) by the Company.

 

Mall EBITDA ” means that portion of Combined EBITDA which represents net revenues earned from malls, calculated on the first day of each fiscal quarter for the four immediately preceding consecutive fiscal quarters.

 

Margin Stock ” means “margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulation U.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect upon (i) the financial condition or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the ability of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent to enforce any of the Loan Documents.

 

Maturing Indebtedness ” means, in the case of any calculation required hereunder, Indebtedness that by its terms is scheduled to mature on or before the date that is 24 months from the date of calculation.

 

Maturing Secured Indebtedness ” means, in the case of any calculation required hereunder, Secured Indebtedness that by its terms is scheduled to mature on or before the date that is 24 months from the date of calculation.

 

Maturing Unsecured Indebtedness ” means, in the case of any calculation required hereunder, Unsecured Indebtedness that by its terms is scheduled to mature on or before the date that is 24 months from the date of calculation.

 

Maximum Rate ” is defined in Section 14.23 .

 

26



 

Maximum Revolving Credit Amount ” means, at any particular time, the Revolving Credit Commitments existing at such time.

 

MIS ” means a computerized management information system for recording and maintenance of information regarding purchases, sales, aging, categorization, and locations of Properties, creation and aging of receivables, and accounts payable (including agings thereof).

 

Minority Holdings ”  means interests in partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and corporations held or owned by the Borrower or a General Partner or their respective Subsidiaries which are not wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower or a General Partner.

 

Money Market Lender ” means, as to each Money Market Loan, the Lender funding such Money Market Loan.

 

Money Market Lending Office ” means, as to each Lender, its Domestic Lending Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Lender as it may hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Money Market Loan ” means a loan to be made by a Lender pursuant to a LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 5.2 ).

 

Money Market Margin ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

Money Market Quote ” means an offer by a Lender to make a Money Market Loan in accordance with Section 2.2 .

 

Money Market Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investor Services, Inc.

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is, or within the immediately preceding six (6) years was, contributed to by either the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has assumed any liability.

 

New Foreign Qualified Borrower Amendment ” is defined in Section 2.10(a) .

 

New Foreign Qualified Borrower Notice ” is defined in Section 2.10(a) .

 

New Revolving Credit Commitments ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

New Revolving Credit Lender ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

New Term Commitment ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

New Term Lender ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

New Term Loans ” is defined in Section 2.1(e) .

 

27



 

Non-Consenting Lender ” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment within two (2) Business Days after the approval deadline that (i) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 14.7 and (ii) has been approved by the Requisite Lenders.

 

Non Pro Rata Loan ” is defined in Section 4.2(b)(v ).

 

Non-Quoted Currency ” means Canadian Dollars.

 

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness with respect to which recourse for payment is limited to (i) specific assets related to a particular Property or group of Properties encumbered by a Lien securing such Indebtedness or (ii) any Subsidiary (provided that if a Subsidiary is a partnership, there is no recourse to the Borrower or the General Partner as a general partner of such partnership); provided, however, that personal recourse of the Borrower or the General Partner for any such Indebtedness for Customary Non-Recourse Carve-Outs in non-recourse financing of real estate shall not, by itself, prevent such Indebtedness from being characterized as Non-Recourse Indebtedness.

 

Note ” means a promissory note in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B payable to the order of a Lender, evidencing certain of the Obligations of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to such Lender and executed by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower as required by Section 4.3(a) , as the same may be amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time, together with the Designated Bank Notes; “ Notes ” means, collectively, all of such Notes outstanding at any given time.

 

Notice of Borrowing ” means a Notice of Committed Borrowing or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing.

 

Notice of Committed Borrowing ” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

Notice of Conversion/Continuation ” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto and made a part hereof with respect to a proposed conversion or continuation of a Loan pursuant to Section 5.1(c) .

 

Notice of Money Market Borrowing ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

Obligations ” means all Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Borrower and the Qualified Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Agent, any other Lender, any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents, any other Lender, or any Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 14.3 of this Agreement, of any kind or nature, arising under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document.  The term includes, without limitation, all interest, charges, expenses, fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and any other sum chargeable to the Borrower or any of the Qualified Borrowers under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

28



 

Occupancy Rate ” means, with respect to a Property at any time, the occupancy rate that is calculated by the Borrower using the methodology that is used by the Borrower for public reporting purposes on the Closing Date and as modified from time to time in keeping with industry standard practices.  The Borrower shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of any such modification that it considers significant.

 

Officer’s Certificate ” means, as to a corporation, a certificate executed on behalf of such corporation by the chairman of its board of directors (if an officer of such corporation) or its chief executive officer, president, any of its vice-presidents, its chief financial officer, its chief accounting officer, or its treasurer and, as to a partnership, a certificate executed on behalf of such partnership by the chairman of the board of directors (if an officer of such corporation) or chief executive officer, president, any vice-president, or treasurer of the general partner of such partnership.

 

Operating Lease ” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which is not a Capital Lease.

 

Organizational Documents ” means, with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, or partnership (i) the articles/certificate of incorporation (or the equivalent organizational documents) of such corporation or limited liability company, (ii) the partnership agreement executed by the partners in the partnership, (iii) the by-laws (or the equivalent governing documents) of the corporation, limited liability company or partnership, and (iv) any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any class or series of such corporation’s Capital Stock or such limited liability company’s or partnership’s equity or ownership interests.

 

OSHA ” means the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq ., any amendments thereto, any successor statutes and any regulations or guidance having the force of law promulgated thereunder.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 13.4 ).

 

Parent ” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

 

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Participant ” is defined in Section 14.1(e) .

 

Participant Register ” is defined in Section 14.1(e) .

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any Person succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Permits ” means any permit, consent, approval, authorization, license, variance, or permission required from any Person pursuant to Requirements of Law, including any Governmental Approvals.

 

Permitted Securities Options ” means the subscriptions, options, warrants, rights, convertible Securities and other agreements or commitments relating to the issuance of the Borrower’s Securities or the Company’s Capital Stock identified as such on Schedule 1.1.4 .

 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, general partnership, joint stock company, joint venture, association, company, trust, bank, trust company, land trust, business trust or other organization, whether or not a legal entity, and any Governmental Authority.

 

Plan ” means an employee benefit plan defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is, or within the immediately preceding six (6) years was, an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA or the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has assumed any liability.

 

Potential Event of Default ” means an event that has occurred with respect to the Borrower which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Process Agent ” is defined in Section 14.17(a) .

 

Project ” means any shopping center, retail property and mixed-use property owned, directly or indirectly, by any of the Consolidated Businesses or Minority Holdings.

 

Property ” means any Real Property or personal property, plant, building, facility, structure, underground storage tank or unit, equipment, general intangible, receivable, or other asset owned, leased or operated by any Consolidated Business or any Minority Holding (including any surface water thereon or adjacent thereto, and soil and groundwater thereunder).

 

Pro Rata Share ” means, with respect to any Lender, as applicable and as the context may require, (a) with respect to matters relating to both Facilities, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which shall be the sum of the Revolving Credit Commitment and Term Commitment (or if the Term Commitments have expired or terminated, such Lender’s Term Exposure) of such Lender and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate amount of all Revolving Credit Commitments and Term Commitments (or if the Term Commitments have expired or terminated, the aggregate Term Exposures of all Lenders), (b) with respect to matters relating to the Term Facility, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which shall be the amount of such Lender’s Term Commitment (or if the Term Commitments have expired

 

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or terminated, such Lender’s Term Exposure) and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate amount of all of the Lenders’ Term Commitments (or if the Term Commitments have expired or terminated, the aggregate Term Exposures of all Lenders), (c) with respect to matters relating to the Revolving Credit Facility, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which shall be the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate amount of all of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments, or (d) with respect to matters relating to Alternative Currency Commitments and Loans in Alternative Currency and Alternative Currency Letters of Credit only, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which shall be the amount of such Lender’s Alternative Currency Commitment and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate amount of all of the applicable Lenders’ Alternative Currency Commitments, in each case as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if at any time Borrower shall be unable (but for the operation of this sentence) to draw down the entire Revolving Credit Availability solely as a result of all or any portion of the Alternative Currency Commitments being outstanding, then, solely for purposes of funding the remaining Revolving Credit Availability, “Pro Rata Share” with respect to each Lender that shall not have advanced an amount (or Dollar Equivalent Amount) equal to an amount (or Dollar Equivalent Amount) equal to 100% of its Revolving Credit Commitment, shall be deemed to mean the sum of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments) and such Lender’s pro rata share (with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments) of the aggregate Pro Rata Shares (with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments) of all the Lenders that shall have advanced 100% of their Revolving Credit Commitments. Notwithstanding the foregoing (but excluding for the purposes of this sentence the last paragraph of Section 14.25 ), however, in the case of Section 14.25 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, for purposes of determining whether the threshold for Requisite Lenders has been met only, “Pro Rata Share” shall be calculated disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or unused Term Commitments.

 

Qualified Borrower(s) ” means one or more foreign or domestic entities (a) that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Borrower, (b) which is not organized in a Sanctioned Country and to which it is lawful under applicable law for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that are obligated to lend to such entity to make loans, (c) the indebtedness of which entity can be guaranteed by Borrower without violation of Borrower’s Organizational Documents, (d) which executes one or more joinder agreements and promissory notes with respect to Loans made to such Qualified Borrower, (e) whose obligations under such note(s) and the this Agreement are the joint and several obligation of, or guaranteed by, Borrower  pursuant to the Qualified Borrower Guaranty, and with respect to which a Qualified Borrower Guaranty has been delivered, and (f) which has satisfied the requirements of Section 2.10 .

 

Qualified Borrower Guaranty ” means a full and unconditional guaranty of payment in the form of Exhibit L attached hereto, enforceable against Borrower for the payment of a Qualified Borrower’s debt or obligation to the Lenders.

 

Quarterly Compliance Certificate ” is defined in Section 8.2(a)(iii ).

 

Quotation Day ” means, with respect to any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans for any Interest Period, (i) if the currency is Canadian Dollars, the first day of such Interest

 

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Period or (ii) for Dollars, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (unless, in each case, market practice differs in the relevant market where the Eurodollar Rate for such currency is to be determined, in which case the Quotation Day will be  determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with market practice in such market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, then the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)).

 

RCRA ” means the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq ., any amendments thereto, any successor statutes, and any regulations or guidance having the force of law promulgated thereunder.

 

Real Property ” means all of the Borrower’s present and future right, title and interest (including, without limitation, any leasehold estate) in (i) any plots, pieces or parcels of land, (ii) any Improvements of every nature whatsoever (the rights and interests described in clauses (i) and (ii) above being the “Premises”), (iii) all easements, rights of way, gores of land or any lands occupied by streets, ways, alleys, passages, sewer rights, water courses, water rights and powers, and public places adjoining such land, and any other interests in property constituting appurtenances to the Premises, or which hereafter shall in any way belong, relate or be appurtenant thereto, (iv) all hereditaments, gas, oil, minerals (with the right to extract, sever and remove such gas, oil and minerals), and easements, of every nature whatsoever, located in, on or benefitting the Premises and (v) all other rights and privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining and all extensions, additions, improvements, betterments, renewals, substitutions and replacements to or of any of the rights and interests described in clauses (iii)  and (iv)  above.

 

Recipient ” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

Reference Banks ” means such banks (other than Bank of America, N.A.) as may be appointed by the Administrative Agent with the consent of such bank in consultation with the Borrower.

 

Reference Bank Rate ” means, for Loans in the Alternative Currency and for the applicable Interest Period, the arithmetic mean of the rates (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards to four decimal places) supplied to the Administrative Agent at its request by the Reference Banks as the rate at which such Reference Banks are willing to extend credit by the purchase of Canadian Dollar-denominated bankers’ acceptances which have been accepted by banks which are for the time being customarily regarded as being of appropriate credit standing for such purpose with a term to maturity equal to the relevant Interest Period as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day.

 

Register ” is defined in Section 14.1(c) .

 

Registration Statement ” means Form 10, GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 2013, 2014, as amended from time to time prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

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Regulation A ” means Regulation A of the Federal Reserve Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Regulation T ” means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Regulation X ” means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Reimbursement Date ” is defined in Section 3.1(d)(i) .

 

Reimbursement Obligations ” means the aggregate non-contingent reimbursement or repayment obligations of the Borrower with respect to amounts drawn under Letters of Credit and Alternative Currency Letters of Credit.

 

REIT ” means a domestic trust or corporation that qualifies as a real estate investment trust under the provisions of Sections 856, et seq . of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Release ” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, injection, deposit, disposal, abandonment, or discarding of barrels, containers or other receptacles, discharge, emptying, escape, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment or into or out of any Property, including the movement of Contaminants through or in the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or Property.

 

Remedial Action ” means actions required to (i) clean up, remove, treat or in any other way address Contaminants in the indoor or outdoor environment; (ii) prevent the Release or threat of Release or minimize the further Release of Contaminants; or (iii) investigate and determine if a remedial response is needed and to design such a response and post-remedial investigation, monitoring, operation and maintenance and care.

 

Replacement Issuing Bank ” is defined in Section 3.1(a) .

 

Reportable Event ” means any of the events described in Section 4043(b) of ERISA and the regulations having the force of law promulgated thereunder as in effect from time to time but not including any such event as to which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has been waived by applicable PBGC regulations.

 

Requirements of Law ” means, as to any Person, the charter and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any

 

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of its property is subject including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act, Regulations T, U and X, ERISA, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any certificate of occupancy, zoning ordinance, building, environmental or land use requirement or Permit and Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law.

 

Requisite Facility Lenders ” means with respect to the Term Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, as applicable, the holders of more than 51% of the total Term Exposures and unused Term Commitments or the total Revolving Credit Commitments, as the case may be, outstanding under such Facility (or, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, after any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the holders of more than 51% of the total Revolving Credit Obligations); provided that, in the event any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, then for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, “Requisite Facility Lenders” means Lenders (excluding all Defaulting Lenders) having more than 51% of the total Term Exposures and unused Term Commitments or the total Revolving Commitments (or total Revolving Credit Obligations), as the case may be, outstanding under such Facility (excluding the Term Exposures, Revolving Commitments and Revolving Credit Obligations, as applicable, of all Defaulting Lenders).

 

Requisite Lenders ” means , at any time, Lenders having Term Exposures, Revolving Credit Obligations and unused Commitments representing more than 51% of the sum of the total Term Exposures, Revolving Credit Obligations and unused Commitments at such time; provided that, in the event any of the Lenders shall be a Defaulting Lender, then for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, “Requisite Lenders” means Lenders (excluding all Defaulting Lenders) having Term Exposures, Revolving Credit Obligations and unused Commitments representing more than 51% of the sum of the total Term Exposures, Revolving Credit Obligations and unused Commitments of such Lenders (excluding all Defaulting Lenders) at such time.

 

Revolving Credit Availability ” means, at any particular time, the amount by which the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount at such time exceeds the Revolving Credit Obligations at such time.

 

Revolving Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and to participate in Letters of Credit pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and which shall not exceed the sum of the principal amounts set forth opposite such Lender’s name under the headings “Revolving Credit Commitment” and “Alternative Currency Commitment” on Schedule 1.1 attached hereto or the signature page of the Assignment and Acceptance by which it became a Lender, as modified from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or to give effect to any applicable Assignment and Acceptance, and “ Revolving Credit Commitments ” means the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (inclusive of the Alternative Currency Commitments) of all the Lenders, the maximum amount of which shall be $900,000,000, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 4.1 or increased pursuant to Section 2.1(e) .

 

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Revolving Credit Extension Fee ” means, for each Revolving Credit Extension Option for each date on which a payment is required pursuant to Section 2.5(a) , an amount equal to three and three-fourths (3.75) basis points on the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount on such date.

 

Revolving Credit Extension Notice ” is defined in Section 2.5(a) .

 

Revolving Credit Extension Option ” is defined in Section 2.5(a) .

 

Revolving Credit Extension Period ” is defined in Section 2.5(a) .

 

Revolving Credit Facility ” means the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Revolving Credit Obligations.

 

Revolving Credit Lender ” means a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or Revolving Credit Obligations.

 

Revolving Credit Loan ” is defined in Section 2.1(b) .

 

Revolving Credit Obligations ” means, at any particular time, the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans at such time, plus (ii) the Letter of Credit Obligations at such time, plus (iii) the outstanding principal amount of the Money Market Loans at such time, plus (iv) the outstanding principal amount of all Swingline Borrowings at such time.

 

Revolving Credit Period ” means the period from the Initial Funding Date to the Business Day next preceding the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

Revolving Credit Termination Date ” means the earlier to occur of (i) May 30, 2018 (or, if not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) , provided , however , that the Revolving Credit Termination Date may be extended in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.5(a)  hereof; and (ii) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service.

 

Sanctions ” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country or territory which is the subject or target of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the or by the United Nations Security

 

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Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person controlled by any Person described in (a) or (b).

 

Screen Rate ” means the LIBOR Screen Rate and the Local Screen Rates collectively and individually as the context may require.

 

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

 

Securities ” means any stock, shares, voting trust certificates, partnership interests, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities”, including, without limitation, any “security” as such term is defined in Section 8-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any certificates of interest, shares, or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire any of the foregoing, but shall not include the Notes or any other evidence of the Obligations.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Securities Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Senior Managing Agents ” means the financial institutions listed on the cover page to this Agreement as “Senior Managing Agents”.

 

Sharing Event ” means (i) the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Borrower or any General Partner under clauses (f) or (g) of Section 11.1 , (ii) at the election of any Lender, with respect only to its Alternative Currency Commitment, the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to Borrower or any General Partner, or (iii) the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 11.2 (a Sharing Event under clauses (i) or (iii) being an “ Automatic Sharing Event ”, and a Sharing Event under clause (ii) being an “ Elective Sharing Event ”).

 

Solvent ”, when used with respect to any Person, means that at the time of determination:

 

(1)           the fair saleable value of its assets is in excess of the total amount of its liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent liabilities); and

 

(2)           the present fair saleable value of its assets is greater than its probable liability on its existing debts as such debts become absolute and matured; and

 

(3)           it is then able and expects to be able to pay its debts (including, without limitation, contingent debts and other commitments) as they mature; and

 

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(4)           it has capital sufficient to carry on its business as conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

Specified Time ” means (i) in relation to a Loan in Canadian Dollars, as of 11:00 a.m. Toronto, Ontario time, and (ii) in relation to a Loan in a LIBOR Quoted Currency, as of 11:00 a.m., London time.

 

SPG ” is defined in the definition of “Affiliate.”

 

SPG Businesses ” means the ninety-eight (98) Projects in which the Borrower owns the interest previously owned by SPG.

 

Spinoff Date ” means the date on which the common shares of the Company are distributed to the shareholders of Simon Property Group, Inc.

 

Standby Letter of Credit ” means any letter of credit issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.1 for the account of the Borrower, which is not a Commercial Letter of Credit.

 

Strip Center EBITDA ” means that portion of Combined EBITDA which represents net revenues earned from strip centers, calculated on the first day of each fiscal quarter for the four immediately preceding consecutive fiscal quarters.

 

Subsidiary ” of a Person means any corporation, limited liability company, general or limited partnership, or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, one or more of the other subsidiaries of such Person or any combination thereof.

 

Swingline Borrowing ” means a Borrowing under Section 2.9 hereof.

 

Swingline Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

 

Swingline Lender ” means the Administrative Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and any other Lender designated by the Borrower from among those Lenders identified by the Administrative Agent as permissible Swingline Lenders and provided that such Lender accepts such designation.

 

Swingline Loan ” means a Dollar loan made by a Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.9 .

 

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Tenant Allowance ” means a cash allowance paid to a tenant by the landlord pursuant to a Lease.

 

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Term Commitment ” means, with respect to any Term Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Term Loans hereunder, including any New Term Commitments.  The initial amount of each Lender’s Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 1.1 .  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Term Commitments is $500,000,000.

 

Term Commitment Period ” means the period from the Closing Date to the first anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Term Exposure ” means, with respect to any Term Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans.

 

Term Extension Fee ” means, for each Term Extension Option for each date on which a  payment is required pursuant to Section 2.5(b) , an amount equal to three and three-fourths (3.75) basis points on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans on such date.

 

Term Extension Notice ” is defined in Section 2.5(b) .

 

Term Extension Option ” is defined in Section 2.5(b) .

 

Term Extension Period ” is defined in Section 2.5(b) .

 

Term Facility ” means the Term Commitments and the Term Loans made thereunder.

 

Term Lender ” means a Lender with a Term Commitment or Term Exposure.

 

Term Loan ” is defined in Section 2.1(a)  and includes any New Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.1(e) .

 

Term Maturity Date ” means May 30, 2016, subject to extension in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.5(b)  hereof.

 

TI Work ” means any construction or other “build-out” of tenant leasehold improvements to the space demised to such tenant under Leases (excluding such tenant’s furniture, fixtures and equipment) performed pursuant to the terms of such Leases, whether or not such tenant improvement work is performed by or on behalf of the landlord or as part of a Tenant Allowance.

 

Ticking Fee ” is defined in Section 5.3(b) .

 

Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness ” means, for any period, the sum of (i) the amount of Indebtedness of the General Partner and the Borrower and the Borrower’s pro rata share of the Indebtedness of the other Consolidated Businesses set forth on the then most recent quarterly financial statements of the Borrower and (ii) the outstanding amount of Minority Holding Indebtedness allocable in accordance with GAAP to any of the Consolidated Businesses as of the time of determination.

 

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Total Leverage Ratio ” means the ratio of Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness to Capitalization Value.

 

Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness ” means that portion of Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness that is not secured by a Lien.

 

Unencumbered Asset ” is defined in the definition of “Unencumbered Combined EBITDA”.

 

Unencumbered Capitalization Value ” means the sum of (i) Unencumbered Combined EBITDA capitalized at the applicable Capitalization Rate, (ii) Cash and Cash Equivalents, and (iii) Construction Asset Cost for Unencumbered Assets, and (iv) Unencumbered Assets that are undeveloped land, valued, in accordance with GAAP, at the lower of cost and market value and limited to 5%.  The Capitalization Value of any individual Unencumbered Asset is limited to 10% of Unencumbered Capitalization Value (including such Property).  The sum of Unencumbered Capitalization Value from undeveloped land, Properties located outside the United States and Canada, ground-leased Properties, non-retail Properties, non-wholly owned Properties and Construction Asset Cost is limited to 20% of Unencumbered Capitalization Value (including such Property).  The aggregate Occupancy Rate of the Unencumbered Assets (determined on the basis of the aggregate gross leasable area of such Unencumbered Assets) taken into account in determining Unencumbered Capitalization Value hereunder shall not be less than 80%.  Accordingly, if such aggregate Occupancy Rate is less than 80% when taking into account all of the Unencumbered Assets, a sufficient number of Projects having the lowest Occupancy Rates shall be excluded from the determination such that the 80% Occupancy Rate requirement is satisfied.

 

Unencumbered Combined EBITDA ” means that portion of Combined EBITDA which represents revenues earned from third party property and asset management (up to 5% of Combined EBITDA) or from Real Property that is not subject to or encumbered by Secured Indebtedness and is not subject to any agreements (other than those agreements more particularly described on Schedule 1.1.5 ), the effect of which would be to restrict, directly or indirectly, the ability of the owner of such Property from granting Liens thereon (such Real Property, an “ Unencumbered Asset ”), calculated on the first day of each fiscal quarter for the four immediately preceding consecutive fiscal quarters.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted in the State of New York, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Unreimbursed Amount ” is defined in Section 3.1(d)(i) .

 

Unrestricted Cash ” means Cash and Cash Equivalents that are not subject to any pledge, lien or control agreement, less (i) $40,000,000, (ii) amounts normally and customarily set aside by Borrower for operating, capital and interest reserves, and (iii) amounts placed with third parties as deposits or security for contractual obligations; provided, however, that the sum of (i), (ii) and (iii) shall in no event exceed the total Cash and Cash Equivalents.

 

Unsecured Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness not secured by a Lien.

 

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Unsecured Interest Expense ” means the interest expense incurred on the Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

U.S. Person ” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.1(f)(ii)(B)(3) .

 

1.2          Computation of Time Periods .  In this Agreement, in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”.  Periods of days referred to in this Agreement shall be counted in calendar days unless Business Days are expressly prescribed.  Any period determined hereunder by reference to a month or months or year or years shall end on the day in the relevant calendar month in the relevant year, if applicable, immediately preceding the date numerically corresponding to the first day of such period, provided that if such period commences on the last day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month during which such period is to end), such period shall, unless otherwise expressly required by the other provisions of this Agreement, end on the last day of the calendar month.

 

1.3          Accounting Terms .  Subject to Section 14.4 , for purposes of this Agreement, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in conformity with GAAP.

 

1.4          Other Terms .  All other terms contained in this Agreement shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the meanings assigned to such terms by the Uniform Commercial Code to the extent the same are defined therein.

 

1.5          Letter of Credit Amounts .  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF LOANS

 

2.1          Committed Loans .

 

(a)           Availability of Term Loans .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, each Term Lender hereby severally and not jointly agrees to make term loans (each individually, a “ Term Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Term Loans ”), in Dollars, to the Borrower on the Initial Funding Date and from time to time thereafter during the Term

 

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Commitment Period as requested by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.1(c)  (the first of such Borrowings, the “ Initial Term Loan Borrowing ” and each of the subsequent Borrowings, a “ Delayed Term Loan Borrowing ”, and collectively, the “ Term Loan Borrowings ”); provided that (i) the Initial Term Loan Borrowings shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $300,000,000, and each Delayed Term Loan Borrowing shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $25,000,000, (ii) all Delayed Term Loan Borrowings shall be made no later than the last day of the Term Commitment Period, (iii) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans (after giving effect to all amounts requested) shall not exceed the Term Commitments, and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans from any Term Lender to the Borrower shall not exceed such Lender’s Term Commitment.  All Term Loans comprising the same Borrowing under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their then respective Pro Rata Shares for the Term Facility, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation to make a Term Loan hereunder nor shall the Term Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of any such failure.  The Term Loans, or any portion thereof, may be either a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan, as determined by the Borrower in any Notice of Committed Borrowing, any Notice of Conversion/Continuation or as otherwise provided in this Agreement.  The Term Commitments, with respect to the making of the Term Loans (and not with respect to the obligations of the Lenders to convert or continue any Term Loans), shall expire on (x) the Initial Funding Date, in the case of the Initial Term Loan Borrowing, and (y) the last day of the Term Commitment Period, in the case of the Delayed Term Loan Borrowings (regardless of the failure of the Borrower to request a Delayed Term Loan Borrowing or the failure of the Borrower to fully utilize the Term Commitments).  The Borrower may not reborrow the Term Loans following any repayment thereof.

 

(b)           Availability of Revolving Credit Loans .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, (i) each Revolving Credit Lender hereby severally and not jointly agrees to make revolving loans (each individually, a “ Revolving Credit Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Revolving Credit Loans ”), in Dollars, to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Period, in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Availability at such time, and (ii) in furtherance and clarification of the foregoing, as to Revolving Credit Lenders with an Alternative Currency Commitment only, to make Eurodollar Rate Loans to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower denominated in the Alternative Currency (provided (A) the Alternative Currency is freely transferable and convertible to Dollars, and (B) Bloomberg (or any successor thereto or substitute service selected by the Administrative Agent) reports a Base Eurocurrency Rate (or CDOR Rate, for Eurodollar Rate Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars) for the Alternative Currency relating to the applicable Interest Period), in an aggregate principal Dollar Equivalent Amount not to exceed such Lender’s Alternative Currency Commitment; provided that after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Loans, the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Alternative Currency Loans and all Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Alternative Currency Letters of Credit shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  All Revolving Credit Loans comprising the same Borrowing under this Agreement shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their then respective Pro Rata Shares for the Revolving Credit Facility, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation to make a Revolving Credit Loan hereunder nor shall the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender be

 

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increased or decreased as a result of any such failure.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower or applicable Qualified Borrower may repay any outstanding Revolving Credit Loan on any day which is a Business Day and any amounts so repaid may be reborrowed, up to the amount available under this Section 2.1(b)  at the time of such Borrowing, until the Business Day next preceding the Revolving Credit Termination Date.  Each requested Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans funded on any Funding Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $1,500,000 (or, with respect to an Alternative Currency Borrowing only, the Dollar Equivalent Amount of $1,500,000); provided, however, that if the Revolving Credit Availability at the time of such requested Borrowing is less than $1,500,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount of $1,500,000 in the case of an Alternative Currency Borrowing), then the requested Borrowing shall be for the total amount of the Revolving Credit Availability.

 

(c)           Notice of Committed Borrowing .  When the Borrower or applicable Qualified Borrower desires to borrow under this Section 2.1 , it shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Committed Borrowing, signed by it (i) no later than 12:00 noon (New York time) on the proposed Funding Date, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, (ii) no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at least three (3) Business Days in advance of the proposed Funding Date, in the case of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (iii) no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at least four (4) Business Days before each Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iv) no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at least nine (9) Business Days before each Borrowing by a Foreign Qualified Borrower; provided that a Foreign Qualified Borrower may not deliver a Notice of Committed Borrowing until the date that is at least five (5) Business Days following the later of (A) the date of a New Foreign Qualified Borrower Notice or (B) the date of a New Foreign Qualified Borrower Amendment.  Such Notice of Committed Borrowing shall specify (i) whether such Borrowing is a Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans, (ii) the proposed Funding Date (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the amount of the proposed Borrowing, (iv) the Revolving Credit Availability or remaining unused Term Commitments, as applicable, as of the date of such Notice of Borrowing, (v) whether the proposed Borrowing will be of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, and if Eurodollar Rate Loans are requested whether Dollars or the Alternative Currency is being requested, (vi) in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the requested Eurodollar Interest Period, (vii) instructions for the disbursement of the proceeds of the proposed Borrowing and (viii) if the Notice of Committed Borrowing is delivered by a Foreign Qualified Borrower, the jurisdiction of formation and organization of such Foreign Qualified Borrower.  In lieu of delivering such a Notice of Committed Borrowing (except with respect to a Borrowing of Committed Loans on the Initial Funding Date or to a Foreign Qualified Borrower), the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower may give the Administrative Agent telephonic notice of any proposed Borrowing by the time required under this Section 2.1(c) , if the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower confirms such notice by delivery of the Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission promptly, but in no event later than 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the same day.  Any Notice of Committed Borrowing (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) given pursuant to this Section 2.1(c)  shall be irrevocable.

 

(d)           Making of Loans .

 

(i)            Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Committed Borrowing under Section 2.1(c)  (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof), the Administrative Agent shall notify

 

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each applicable Lender by facsimile transmission, or other similar form of written transmission, of the proposed Borrowing (which notice to the Lenders, in the case of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans, shall be at least three (3) Business Days in advance of the proposed Funding Date for such Loans, or four (4) Business Days in the case of an Alternative Currency Loan, or seven (7) Business Days in the case of a Committed Loan to a Foreign Qualified Borrower).  Subject to Section 2.8(i)  with respect to Committed Loans to a Foreign Qualified Borrower, each Lender shall deposit an amount equal to its applicable Pro Rata Share (if any) of the Borrowing requested by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower with the Administrative Agent at its office in New York, New York, in immediately available funds in Dollars or Alternative Currency, as applicable, not later than 12:00 noon (New York time), or (x) in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans for which the Notice of Committed Borrowing was given on such Funding Date, 2:00 p.m. (New York time) or (y)  in the case of an Alternative Currency Borrowing, 12:00 noon local time of the principal financial center of the country of that currency, on the respective Funding Date therefor.  Subject to the fulfillment of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 , as applicable, the Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such amounts received by it available to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s office in New York, New York on such Funding Date (or on the date received if later than such Funding Date) and shall disburse such proceeds in accordance with the Borrower’s or the applicable Qualified Borrower’s disbursement instructions set forth in the applicable Notice of Borrowing.  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.8(i)  with respect to Committed Loans to a Foreign Qualified Borrower, the failure of any Lender to deposit the amount described above with the Administrative Agent on the applicable Funding Date shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder to make its Committed Loan on such Funding Date. In the event the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.1 or 6.2 are not fulfilled as of the proposed Funding Date for any Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly return, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount deposited by each Lender to such Lender.

 

(ii)           Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender on the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Funding Date (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans for which the Notice of Committed Borrowing was given on such Funding Date, by 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on such Funding Date) in respect of any Borrowing that such Lender does not intend to fund its Committed Loan requested to be made on such Funding Date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has funded its Committed Loan and is depositing the proceeds thereof with the Administrative Agent on the Funding Date therefor, and the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion may, but shall not be obligated to, disburse a corresponding amount to the Borrower on the applicable Funding Date.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower jointly and severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined

 

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by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the Loan.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing and the interest rate applicable to such Borrowing shall be as requested by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Borrowing. This Section 2.1(d)(ii)  does not relieve any Lender of its obligation to make its Committed Loan on any applicable Funding Date.

 

(e)                                   Incremental Facilities .  On one or more occasions at any time after the Closing Date, the Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent elect to request (A) an increase to the existing Revolving Credit Commitments (any such increase, the “ New Revolving Credit Commitments ”) and/or (B) the establishment of one or more new term loan commitments (the “ New Term Commitments ”, together with the New Revolving Credit Commitments, the “ Incremental Commitments ”), by up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $400,000,000 for all Incremental Commitments (so that the sum of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount plus the principal amount of Term Commitments made hereunder does not exceed $1,800,000,000).  Each such notice shall specify the date (each, an “ Increased Amount Date ”) on which the Borrower proposes that such Incremental Commitments shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates shall use commercially reasonable efforts, with the assistance of the Borrower, to arrange a syndicate of Lenders or other Persons that are Eligible Assignees willing to hold the requested Incremental Commitments; provided that (x) any Incremental Commitments on any Increased Amount Date shall be in the minimum aggregate amount of $10,000,000, (y) any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the Incremental Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide an Incremental Commitment; provided that (1) the Lenders will first be afforded the opportunity to provide the Incremental Commitments on a pro rata basis, and if any Lender so approached fails to respond within such ten (10) Business Day period after its receipt of such request, such Lender shall be deemed to have declined to provide such Incremental Commitments and (2) any Revolving Credit Lender which is a party to this Agreement prior to such request for increase that so elects to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment shall be required to increase its Alternative Currency Commitment on a pro rata basis (provided that to the extent any Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Alternative Currency Commitments was zero prior to such increase, then such Lender shall not be required to allocate any portion of such increase to an Alternative Currency Commitment), and (z) any Lender or other Person that is an Eligible Assignee (each, a “ New Revolving Credit Lender ” or “ New Term Lender ,” as applicable) to whom any portion of such Incremental Commitment shall be allocated shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and, in the case of a New Revolving Credit Commitment, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (each of which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), unless such New Revolving Credit Lender is an existing Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) with a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time or such New Term Lender is an existing Lender or an Affiliate of an existing Lender.

 

The terms and provisions of any New Revolving Credit Commitments shall be identical to the existing Revolving Credit Commitments.  The terms and provisions of any New Term

 

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Commitments and any New Term Loans shall (a) provide that the maturity date of any New Term Loan that is a separate tranche shall be no earlier than the Term Maturity Date and shall not have any scheduled amortization payments, (b) share ratably in any prepayments of the existing Term Facility, unless the Borrower and the New Term Lenders in respect of such New Term Loans elect lesser payments and (c) otherwise be identical to the existing Term Loans or reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and each New Term Lender.

 

The effectiveness of any Incremental Commitments and the availability of any borrowings under any such Incremental Commitments shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent: (x) after giving pro forma effect to such Incremental Commitments and borrowings and the use of proceeds thereof, (i) no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall exist and (ii) as of the last day of the most recent calendar quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 8.2 , the Borrower would have been in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 10.1 and Section 10.12 ; (y) the representations and warranties made or deemed made by the Borrower in any Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on the effective date of such Incremental Commitments except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date); and (z) the Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (i) if not previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, copies certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of all corporate or other necessary action taken by the Borrower to authorize such Incremental Commitments; and (ii) a customary opinion of counsel to the Borrower (which may be in substantially the same form as delivered on the Closing Date and may be delivered by internal counsel of the Borrower), and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (iii) if requested by any Lender, new Notes executed by the Borrower, payable to any new Lender, and replacement Notes executed by the Borrower, payable to any existing Lenders.

 

On any Increased Amount Date on which New Revolving Credit Commitments are effected, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (a) each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall assign to each of the New Revolving Credit Lenders, and each of the New Revolving Credit Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Credit Lenders, at the principal amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such Increased Amount Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Credit Loans will be held by existing Revolving Credit Lenders and New Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such New Revolving Credit Commitments to the Revolving Credit Commitments, (b) each New Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Credit Commitment and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Credit Loan and (c) each New Revolving Credit Lender shall become a Lender with respect to its New Revolving Credit Commitment and all matters relating thereto.

 

On any Increased Amount Date on which any New Term Commitments are effected, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (i) each New Term Lender shall make a Loan to the Borrower (a “New Term Loan”) in an amount equal to its New Term

 

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Commitment, and (ii) each New Term Lender shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the New Term Commitment and the New Term Loans made pursuant thereto.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders promptly upon receipt of the Borrower’s notice of each Increased Amount Date and in respect thereof (y) the New Revolving Credit Commitments and the New Revolving Credit Lenders or the New Term Commitments and the New Term Lenders, as applicable, and (z) in the case of each notice to any Revolving Credit Lender, the respective interests in such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans, in each case subject to the assignments contemplated by this paragraph.

 

The fees payable by Borrower upon any such increase in the Commitments shall be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and Borrower at the time of such increase.

 

The Incremental Commitments shall be evidenced pursuant to one or more Additional Credit Extension Amendments executed and delivered by the Borrower, the New Revolving Credit Lenders or New Term Lenders, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent, and each of which shall be recorded in the Register.  Each Additional Credit Extension Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.1(e) .

 

2.2                                Money Market Loans .

 

(a)                                  The Money Market Option .  From time to time during the Revolving Credit Period, and provided that at such time the Borrower maintains an Investment Grade Credit Rating, the Borrower may, as set forth in this Section 2.2 , request the Revolving Credit Lenders during the Revolving Credit Period to make offers to make Money Market Loans in Dollars or the Alternative Currency to the Borrower, provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of such Money Market Loans shall not exceed, at any time, the lesser of (i) sixty five percent (65%) of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount and (ii) the Revolving Credit Availability; provided that the aggregate outstanding Dollar Equivalent Amount of Money Market Loans denominated in the Alternative Currency shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount; and provided further that after giving effect to any Money Market Loan denominated in the Alternative Currency, the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Alternative Currency Loans and all Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Alternative Currency Letters of Credit shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may repay any outstanding Money Market Loan on any day which is a Business Day and any amounts so repaid may be reborrowed, up to the amount available under this Section 2.2(a)  at the time of such Borrowing, until the Business Day next preceding the Revolving Credit Termination Date.  The Revolving Credit Lenders may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this Section 2.2 .

 

(b)                                  Money Market Quote Request .  When the Borrower wishes to request offers to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to the Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Money Market Quote Request substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto so as to be received not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on

 

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the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein (or such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Revolving Credit Lenders not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction for which such change is to be effective) specifying:

 

(i)                                      whether the proposed Borrowing is to be in Dollars or the Alternative Currency and whether the proposed Borrowing is to be of Eurodollar Money Market Loans,

 

(ii)                                   the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day,

 

(iii)                                the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be in a minimum amount of $25,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,

 

(iv)                               the duration of the Eurodollar Interest Period applicable thereto, subject, in each case, to the provisions of Section 5.2(b) ,

 

(v)                                  the amount of all Money Market Loans then outstanding (which, together with the requested Borrowing shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the lesser of (A) sixty five percent (65%) of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount and (B) the Revolving Credit Availability); and

 

(vi)                               in the case of a Money Market Quote Request for a Borrowing in the Alternative Currency, the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Money Market Loans denominated in the Alternative Currency then outstanding (which, together with the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the requested Borrowing shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the lesser of (A) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount and (B) the Revolving Credit Availability).

 

The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than one Eurodollar Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request.  Borrower may not make more than six (6) Money Market Quote Requests in any thirty-day period.

 

(c)                                   Invitation for Money Market Quotes .  Promptly upon receipt of a Money Market Quote Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to the Revolving Credit Lenders by facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money Market Quotes substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto, which shall constitute an invitation by the Borrower to each Revolving Credit Lender to submit Money Market Quotes offering to make the Money Market Loans to which such Money Market Quote Request relates in accordance with this Section.

 

(d)                                  Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes .  (i) Each Revolving Credit Lender may submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make Money Market Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes.  Each Money Market Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d) and must be submitted to the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth (4th) Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction (or such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Revolving Credit Lenders not later than the

 

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date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction for which such change is to be effective); provided that Money Market Quotes submitted by the Administrative Agent (or any affiliate of the Administrative Agent) in the capacity of a Revolving Credit Lender may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Administrative Agent or such affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers contained therein not later than one hour prior to the deadline for the other Lenders.  Any Money Market Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the written consent of the Administrative Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.  All or any portion of Money Market Loans to be funded pursuant to a Money Market Quote may, as provided in Section  14.1(f) , be funded by a Revolving Credit Lender’s Designated Bank.  A Lender making a Money Market Quote may, but shall not be required to, specify in its Money Market Quote whether all or any portion of the related Money Market Loans are intended to be funded by such Lender’s Designated Bank, as provided in Section 14.1(f) .

 

(ii)                                   Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit J hereto and shall in any case specify:

 

(A)                                the proposed date of Borrowing,

 

(B)                                the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for which each such offer is being made, which principal amount (w) may be greater than or less than the Revolving Credit Commitment of the quoting Lender, (x) must be $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, (y) may not exceed the principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers were requested and (z) may be subject to an aggregate limitation as to the principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers being made by such quoting Lender may be accepted,

 

(C)                                either (1) the margin above or below the applicable Eurodollar Rate (each, a “ Money Market Margin ”) offered for each such Money Market Loan, expressed as a percentage (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from such base rate, or (2) a flat rate of interest (each, a “ Money Market Rate ”) offered for each Money Market Loan, and

 

(D)                                the identity of the quoting Revolving Credit Lender.

 

A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the quoting Revolving Credit Lender with respect to each Eurodollar Interest Period specified in the related Invitation for Money Market Quotes.

 

(iii)                                Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:

 

(A)                                is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit J hereto or does not specify all of the information required by subsection (d)(ii) above;

 

(B)                                proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Invitation for Money Market Quotes; or

 

(C)                                arrives after the time set forth in subsection (d)(i).

 

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(e)                                   Notice to Borrower .  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the terms (x) of any Money Market Quote submitted by a Revolving Credit Lender that is in accordance with subsection (d) and (y) of any Money Market Quote that amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Money Market Quote submitted by such Revolving Credit Lender with respect to the same Money Market Quote Request.  Any such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be disregarded by the Administrative Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Money Market Quote.  The Administrative Agent’s notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest Period specified in the related Money Market Quote Request, (B) the principal amounts and Money Market Margin or Money Market Rate, as the case may be, so offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers in any single Money Market Quote may be accepted.

 

(f)                                    Acceptance and Notice by Borrower .  Not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing (or such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Lenders not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction for which such change is to be effective), the Borrower shall telephonically notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so notified to it pursuant to subsection (e), and the Borrower shall confirm such telephonic notification in writing not later than the third Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing.  In the case of acceptance, such notice (a “ Notice of Money Market Borrowing ”), whether telephonic or in writing, shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Eurodollar Interest Period that are accepted.  The Borrower may accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in part; provided that :

 

(i)                                      the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Money Market Quote Request;

 

(ii)                                   the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000;

 

(iii)                                acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending Money Market Quotes; and

 

(iv)                               the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Allocation by Administrative Agent .  If offers are made by two or more Revolving Credit Lenders with the same Money Market Margins and/or Money Market Rates, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which such offers are accepted for the related Eurodollar Interest Period, the principal amount of Money Market Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Revolving Credit Lenders as nearly as possible (in multiples of $1,000,000, as the

 

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Administrative Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such offers.  Determinations by the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Money Market Loans shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(h)                                  Notification by Administrative Agent .  Upon receipt of the Borrower’s Notice of Money Market Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.2(f)  hereof, the Administrative Agent shall, on the date such Notice of Money Market Borrowing is received by the Administrative Agent, notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the principal amount of the Money Market Borrowing accepted by the Borrower and of such Revolving Credit Lender’s share (if any) of such Money Market Borrowing and such Notice of Money Market Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower. A Revolving Credit Lender who is notified that it has been selected to make a Money Market Loan may designate its Designated Bank (if any) to fund such Money Market Loan on its behalf, as described in Section 14.1(f) .  Any Designated Bank which funds a Money Market Loan shall on and after the time of such funding become the obligee under such Money Market Loan and be entitled to receive payment thereof when due.  No Revolving Credit Lender shall be relieved of its obligation to fund a Money Market Loan, and no Designated Bank shall assume such obligation, prior to the time the applicable Money Market Loan is funded.

 

2.3                                Use of Proceeds of Loans and Letters of Credit .  The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower hereunder may be used for the purposes of:

 

(a)                                  acquisition of Projects, portfolios of Projects, or interests in Projects, similar to and consistent with the types of Projects owned and/or operated by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date;

 

(b)                                  acquisition of Persons or interests in Persons that own or have direct or indirect interests in Projects or portfolios of Projects similar to and consistent with the types of Projects owned and/or operated by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date;

 

(c)                                   expansion, renovation and redevelopment of Properties owned in whole or in part and operated by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

 

(d)                                  funding of TI Work and Tenant Allowances;

 

(e)                                   financing construction related to new or existing Properties owned or to be owned in whole or in part and operated by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries ;

 

(f)                                    in the case of Loans borrowed on the Initial Funding Date and the first Delayed Term Loan Borrowing only, distribution or payment of such proceeds to SPG or its Affiliates; and

 

(g)                                   other general corporate, partnership and working capital needs of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, inclusive of repayment of Indebtedness for borrowed money;

 

each of which purposes described in clauses (a) through (f) above must otherwise be lawful general corporate, partnership and working capital purposes of the Borrower.

 

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2.4                                Revolving Credit Termination Date; Maturity of Money Market Loans .

(a) The Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate, and all outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations shall be paid in full (or, in the case of unmatured Letter of Credit Obligations, provision for payment in cash shall be made to the satisfaction of the Lenders actually issuing Letters of Credit and the Requisite Lenders), on the Revolving Credit Termination Date. Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans shall terminate on the Business Day next preceding the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

(b)                                  All outstanding Term Loans shall be paid in full on the Term Maturity Date.  Each Term Lender’s obligation to make Term Loans shall terminate on (x) the Initial Funding Date, in the case of the Initial Term Loan Borrowing, and (y) the last day of the Term Commitment Period, in the case of the Delayed Term Loan Borrowing.

 

(c)                                   Each Money Market Loan included in any Money Market Borrowing shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, together with the accrued interest thereon, on the earlier of the last day of the Eurodollar Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing and the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

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2.5                                Extension Options .

 

(a)                                  Revolving Credit Extension Option .

 

(i)                                      The Borrower shall have two options (each, a “ Revolving Credit Extension Option ”) to extend the Revolving Credit Termination Date for a period of six (6) months per extension (each such period, a “ Revolving Credit Extension Period ”).  Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (ii) below, Borrower may exercise each Revolving Credit Extension Option by delivering written notice (a “ Revolving Credit Extension Notice ”), together with the payment of the first installment of the Revolving Credit Extension Fee for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares for the Revolving Credit Facility), to the Administrative Agent on or before the date that is at least 30 days, but not more than 180 days, prior to the then applicable Revolving Credit Termination Date, stating that Borrower will extend the Revolving Credit Termination Date for six (6) months (or if such date that is six months after the Revolving Credit Termination Date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).  Borrower’s delivery of a Revolving Credit Extension Notice shall be irrevocable.  In no event shall the Revolving Credit Termination Date occur later than May 30, 2019.

 

(ii)                                   The Borrower’s right to exercise each Revolving Credit Extension Option shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: (A) no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either on the date Borrower delivers the applicable Revolving Credit Extension Notice to the Administrative Agent or on the date that this Agreement would otherwise have terminated, (B) the Borrower shall be in full compliance with all covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement as of the date Borrower delivers the applicable Revolving Credit Extension Notice to the Administrative Agent and on the date that this Agreement would otherwise have terminated, and (C) the Borrower shall have paid the first quarterly installment of the Revolving Credit Extension Fee to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares for the Revolving Credit Facility).

 

(iii)                                If the Borrower exercises any Revolving Credit Extension Option, the Borrower shall pay the quarterly installments of the Revolving Credit Extension Fee on (A) the date of the Extension Notice and (B) the first day of the fourth month of the applicable Revolving Credit Extension Period.

 

(b)                                  Term Extension Option .

 

(i)                                      The Borrower shall have three options (each, a “ Term Extension Option ”) to extend the Term Maturity Date for a period of one (1) year per extension (each such period, a “ Term Extension Period ”).  Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (ii) below, Borrower may exercise each Term Extension Option by delivering written notice (a “ Term Extension Notice ”), together with the payment of the first installment of the Term Extension Fee for the account of the Term Lenders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares for the Term Facility), to the Administrative Agent on or

 

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before the date that is at least 30 days, but not more than 180 days, prior to the then applicable Term Maturity Date, stating that Borrower will extend the Term Maturity Date for one (1) year (or if such date that is one year after the Term Maturity Date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).  Borrower’s delivery of a Term Extension Notice shall be irrevocable.  In no event shall the Term Maturity Date occur later than May 30, 2019.

 

(ii)                                   The Borrower’s right to exercise each Term Extension Option shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: (A) no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either on the date Borrower delivers the applicable Term Extension Notice to the Administrative Agent or on the date that this Agreement would otherwise have terminated, (B) the Borrower shall be in full compliance with all covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement as of the date Borrower delivers the applicable Term Extension Notice to the Administrative Agent and on the date that this Agreement would otherwise have terminated, and (C) the Borrower shall have paid the first quarterly installment of the Term Extension Fee to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Term Lenders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares for the Term Facility).

 

(iii)                                If the Borrower exercises any Term Extension Option, the Borrower shall pay the quarterly installments of the Term Extension Fee on (A) the date of the Extension Notice and (B) on the first day of the fourth, seventh and tenth months of the applicable Term Extension Period.

 

2.6                                Maximum Credit Facility .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the aggregate principal Revolving Credit Obligations exceed the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount.

 

2.7                                Authorized Agents .  On the Closing Date and from time to time thereafter, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of the employees and agents authorized to request Loans and Letters of Credit and to request a conversion/continuation of any Loan and containing a specimen signature of each such employee or agent.  The employees and agents so authorized shall also be authorized to act for the Borrower in respect of all other matters relating to the Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents, the Lenders and any Issuing Bank shall be entitled to rely conclusively on such employee’s or agent’s authority to request such Loan or Letter of Credit or such conversion/continuation until the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers receive written notice to the contrary.  None of the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers shall have any duty to verify the authenticity of the signature appearing on any written Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation or any other document, and, with respect to an oral request for such a Loan or Letter of Credit or such conversion/continuation, the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall have no duty to verify the identity of any person representing himself or herself as one of the employees or agents authorized to make such request or otherwise to act on behalf of the Borrower.  None of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders shall incur any liability to the Borrower or any other Person in acting upon any telephonic or facsimile notice referred to above which the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers believes to have been given by a person duly authorized to act on behalf of the Borrower and the Borrower hereby

 

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indemnifies and holds harmless the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each other Lender from any loss or expense the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders might incur in acting in good faith as provided in this Section 2.7 .

 

2.8                                Special Provisions Regarding Alternative Currency Loans and Loans to Foreign Qualified Borrowers .

 

(a)                                  Upon the occurrence of an Automatic Sharing Event, automatically (and without the taking of any action), or upon the occurrence of an Elective Sharing Event, upon three (3) Business Days’ notice from the applicable Revolving Credit Lender to the Administrative Agent and Borrower, (x) all then outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans denominated in the Alternative Currency (in the case of an Elective Sharing Event, however, only with respect to all such Revolving Credit Loans of the applicable Lender) shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans on the date such Sharing Event first occurred, which Revolving Credit Loans denominated in Dollars (i) shall thereafter continue to be deemed to be Base Rate Loans and (ii) unless the Sharing Event resulted solely from a termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, shall be immediately due and payable on the date such Sharing Event has occurred), and (y) unless the Sharing Event resulted solely from a termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, all accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts owing with respect to such Revolving Credit Loans (in the case of an Elective Sharing Event, however, only with respect to all such Revolving Credit Loans of the applicable Lender) shall be immediately due and payable in Dollars, such accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts having been converted into a Dollar Equivalent Amount.

 

(b)                                  Upon the occurrence of a Sharing Event, and after giving effect to any automatic or elective conversion pursuant to Section 2.8(a) , each Revolving Credit Lender in the case of an Automatic Sharing Event or each applicable Revolving Credit Lender in the case of an Elective Sharing Event shall (and hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to) purchase and sell (in each case in Dollars) undivided participating interests in all such Revolving Credit Loans outstanding to Borrower in such amounts so that each Revolving Credit Lender shall have a share of such outstanding Revolving Credit Loans then owing by Borrower equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments (although if because of fluctuations in currency exchange rates any Revolving Credit Lender would be required to purchase such participations after giving effect to which such Revolving Credit Lender’s allocated share of all Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations (including participations therein purchased pursuant to this Section 2.8 ) would exceed the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, then such participations shall be in an amount after giving effect to which such Lender’s allocated share of all Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations (including participations therein purchased pursuant to this Section 2.8 ) would equal the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment).  Upon any such occurrence, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Credit Lender and shall specify the amount of Dollars required from such Revolving Credit Lender in order to effect the purchases and sales by the various Revolving Credit Lenders of participating interests in the amounts required above (together with accrued interest with respect to the period for the last interest payment date through the date of the Sharing Event plus any additional amounts payable by Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.8 in respect of such accrued but unpaid interest);

 

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provided, in the event that a Sharing Event shall have occurred, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have purchased, automatically and without request, such participating interests. Promptly upon receipt of such request, each Revolving Credit Lender shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (in immediately available funds in Dollars) the net amounts as specified by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver the amounts so received to the various Revolving Credit Lenders in such amounts as are needed to effect the purchases and sales of participations as provided above. Promptly following receipt thereof, each Revolving Credit Lender which has sold participations in any of its Revolving Credit Loans (through the Administrative Agent) will deliver to each Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) which has so purchased a participating interest a participation certificate dated the date of receipt of such funds and in such amount. It is understood that the amount of funds delivered by each Revolving Credit Lender shall be calculated on a net basis, giving effect to both the sales and purchases of participations by the various Revolving Credit Lenders as required above.

 

(c)                                   Upon the occurrence of an Automatic Sharing Event or an Elective Sharing Event with respect to the applicable electing Revolving Credit Lenders (i) no further Alternative Currency Loans shall be made, (ii) all amounts from time to time accruing with respect to, and all amounts from time to time payable on account of, any outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans initially denominated in the Alternative Currency (including, without limitation, any interest and other amounts which were accrued but unpaid on the date of such purchase) shall be payable in Dollars as if such Eurodollar Rate Loans had originally been made in Dollars and shall be distributed by the relevant Revolving Credit Lenders (or their Affiliates) to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders which made such Loans or are participating therein and (iii) the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be automatically terminated. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, the failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to purchase its participating interest in any Revolving Credit Loans upon the occurrence of a Sharing Event shall not relieve any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligation hereunder to purchase its participating interests in a timely manner, but no Revolving Credit Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to purchase the participating interest to be purchased by such other Revolving Credit Lender on any date.

 

(d)                                  If any amount required to be paid by any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.8(b)  is not paid to the Administrative Agent within one (1) Business Day following the date upon which such Lender receives notice from the Administrative Agent of the amount of its participations required to be purchased pursuant to said Section 2.8(b) , such Lender shall also pay to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) the amount so required to be paid by such Lender for the purchase of its participations times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Rate during the period from and including the date of request for payment to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Administrative Agent times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapsed during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If any such amount required to be paid by any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.8(b)  is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days following the date upon which such Lender receives notice from the Administrative Agent as to the amount of participations required to be purchased by it, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover from such Lender on

 

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demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such request date at the rate per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans hereunder. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender with respect to any amounts payable by any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Revolving Credit Lenders; provided that, if the Administrative Agent (in its sole discretion) has elected to fund on behalf of such Lender the amounts owing to such Lenders, then the amounts shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(e)                                   Whenever, at any time after the relevant Revolving Credit Lenders have received from any Revolving Credit Lenders purchases of participations in any Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.8 , the Revolving Credit Lenders receive any payment on account thereof, such Lenders will distribute to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the various Revolving Credit Lenders participating therein, such Lenders’ participating interests in such amounts (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such participations were outstanding) in like funds as received; provided, however, that in the event that such payment received by any Revolving Credit Lenders are required to be returned, the Revolving Credit Lenders who received previous distributions in respect of their participating interests therein will return to the respective Lenders any portion thereof previously so distributed to them in like funds as such payment is required to be returned by the respective Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

(f)                                    Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to purchase participating interests pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance including, without limitation, (a) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against any other Lender, Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (b) the occurrence or continuance of an Event of Default, (c) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower or any other Person, (d) any breach of this Agreement by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any Lender or any other Person, or (e) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

(g)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, upon any purchase of participations as required above, each Revolving Credit Lender which has purchased such participations shall be entitled to receive from Borrower any increased costs and indemnities directly from Borrower to the same extent as if it were the direct Lender as opposed to a participant therein. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that, upon the occurrence of a Sharing Event and after giving effect to the requirements of this Section 2.8 , increased Taxes may be owing by the Borrower pursuant to Section 13.1 , which Taxes shall be paid (to the extent provided in Section 13.1 ) by Borrower, without any claim that the increased Taxes are not payable because same resulted from the participations effected as otherwise required by this Section 2.8 .

 

(h)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, subject to the reasonable approval of the Administrative Agent, from time to time, the Borrower may request that the definition of “Alternative Currencies” be amended to include one or more additional alternative currencies specified at such time by the Borrower. If less than all the Lenders holding Alternative Currency Commitments shall agree to such proposed

 

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amendment, then any such amendment shall be subject to a sufficient numbers of such Lenders agreeing to fund in such additional alternative currency or currencies as the Administrative Agent shall deem to be practicable and shall include any such other changes as the Administrative Agent and such Lenders shall deem to be reasonably necessary to effectuate such amendment. Nothing in this Section 2.8(h)  shall constitute or be deemed to constitute an agreement by any Lender to fund any additional alternative currency even if such an amendment shall be entered into.

 

(i)                                      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, in the event a Foreign Qualified Borrower delivers a Notice of Committed Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.1 , on or before 3:00 p.m. on the day that is five (5) Business Days after the Administrative Agent notifies such Revolving Credit Lender of the proposed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.1(c)(i)  (the “ Election Deadline ”), each Revolving Credit Lender with an Alternative Currency Commitment shall notify the Administrative Agent that it elects to either (x) fund such Committed Loan to the applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower or (y) not fund such Committed Loan to the applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower.  If any such Revolving Credit Lender fails to notify the Administrative Agent of such election on or before the Election Deadline, then such Lender shall be irrevocably deemed to have elected not to make such Committed Loan.  Based on the results of such elections, the following shall apply:

 

(i)                                      If all Revolving Credit Lenders with an Alternative Currency Commitment elect to fund such Committed Loan to the applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower, then the provisions of Section 2.1(c)(i)  shall apply without modification.

 

(ii)                                   If no Revolving Credit Lenders with an Alternative Currency Commitment elect to fund such Committed Loan to the applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower, then the applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower shall be deemed never to have submitted a Notice of Committed Borrowing.

 

(iii)                                If some but less than all of the Revolving Credit Lenders with an Alternative Currency Commitment elect to make such Committed Loan to the applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower, then the Pro Rata Shares of the Revolving Credit Lenders with an Alternative Currency Commitment electing to make such Committed Loan to such applicable Foreign Qualified Borrower shall be increased with respect to such Committed Loan in proportion to their respective Alternative Currency Commitments such that the sum of such Lenders’ Pro Rata Shares is 100%; provided, however, that in no event shall a Revolving Credit Lender be required to fund a cumulative aggregate amount exceeding its Alternative Currency Commitment.  If the limitation on Revolving Credit Lenders’ funding obligations provided in the preceding sentence results in an amount less than the amount of the proposed Borrowing set forth in the Notice of Committed Borrowing being funded, then such amount of proposed Borrowing shall be deemed to be reduced to the amount funded in accordance with this Section 2.8(i)(iii) .

 

(j)                                     Limitation on Foreign Qualified Borrowers .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Foreign Qualified Borrowers may borrow only in an Alternative Currency.  In no event shall a Foreign Qualified Borrower have the right to borrow hereunder in Dollars.

 

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2.9                                Swingline Loan Subfacility .

 

(a)                                  Swingline Commitment .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.9 , each Swingline Lender, in its individual capacity, agrees to make certain revolving credit loans to the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower in Dollars (each a “ Swingline Loan ” and, collectively, the “ Swingline Loans ”) from time to time during the term hereof; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed the lesser of (i) $75,000,000, and (ii) the Revolving Credit Availability (the “ Swingline Commitment ”); and provided further that the aggregate outstanding amount of any Swingline Loans made by any individual Swingline Lender shall not exceed $37,500,000.  Subject to the limitations set forth herein, any amounts repaid in respect of Swingline Loans may be reborrowed.

 

(b)                                  Swingline Borrowings .

 

(i)                                      Notice of Borrowing .  With respect to any Swingline Borrowing, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice in writing which shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the proposed date of a Swingline Borrowing (and confirmed by telephone by such time), specifying (1) that a Swingline Borrowing is being requested, (2) the amount of such Swingline Borrowing, (3) the proposed date of such Swingline Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day and (4) that no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing both before and after giving effect to such Swingline Borrowing.  Such notice shall be irrevocable.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly provide such notice to each Swingline Lender.  Unless the Swingline Loan requested in such notice would cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all Swingline Loans made by the Administrative Agent to exceed $37,500,000, the Administrative Agent shall make such Swingline Loan.  If the Swingline Loan requested in such notice would cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all Swingline Loans made by the Administrative Agent to exceed $37,500,000, then (i) the Administrative Agent shall make the portion (if any) of such Swingline Loan as shall cause the aggregate outstanding amount of its Swingline Loans to equal $37,500,000 and (ii) the other Swingline Lender(s) shall make the remaining portion of such Swingline Loan.

 

(ii)                                   Minimum Amounts .  Each Swingline Borrowing shall be in a minimum principal amount of $3,000,000.

 

(iii)                                Repayment of Swingline Loans .  Each Swingline Loan shall be due and payable on the earliest of (A) 10 days from and including the date of the applicable Swingline Borrowing, (B) the date of the next Revolving Credit Borrowing or (C) the Revolving Credit Termination Date.  If, and to the extent, any Swingline Loans shall be outstanding on the date of any Revolving Credit Borrowing, such Swingline Loans shall first be repaid from the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Borrowing prior to the disbursement of the same to the Borrower or the Qualified Borrower, as applicable.  If, and to the extent, a Revolving Credit Borrowing is not requested prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date or the end of the 10 day period after a Swingline

 

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Borrowing, or unless the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lenders prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth (4th) Business Day after the Swingline Borrowing that the Borrower intends to reimburse the applicable Swingline Lender for the amount of such Swingline Borrowing with funds other than proceeds of the Revolving Credit Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing comprised entirely of Base Rate Loans in the amount of the applicable Swingline Loan then outstanding, the proceeds of which shall be used to repay such Swingline Loan to the applicable Swingline Lender.  In addition, if (x) the Borrower does not repay the Swingline Loan on or prior to the end of such 10 day period, or (y) a Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred during such 10 day period, the Swingline Lender may, at any time, in its sole discretion, by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, demand repayment of its Swingline Loans by way of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, in which case the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing comprised entirely of Base Rate Loans in the amount of such Swingline Loans then outstanding, the proceeds of which shall be used to repay such Swingline Loans to the applicable Swingline Lender.  Any Revolving Credit Borrowing which is deemed requested by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.9(b)(iii)  is hereinafter referred to as a “ Mandatory Borrowing ”.  Each Revolving Credit Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans promptly upon receipt of notice from the Swingline Lender of any such deemed request for a Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the preceding sentences and on the date such notice is received by such Lender (or the next Business Day if such notice is received after 12:00 noon (New York City time)) notwithstanding (I) that the amount of the Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount of Revolving Credit Borrowings otherwise required hereunder, (II) whether any conditions specified in Section 6.2 are then satisfied, (III) whether a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default then exists, (IV) failure of any such deemed request for a Revolving Credit Borrowing to be made by the time otherwise required in Section 2.1 , (V) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing (provided that such date must be a Business Day), or (VI) any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments immediately prior to such Mandatory Borrowing or contemporaneously therewith; provided, however, that no Revolving Credit Lender shall be obligated to make Revolving Credit Loans in respect of a Mandatory Borrowing if a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default then exists and the applicable Swingline Loan was made by the Swingline Lender without receipt of a written Notice of Borrowing in the form specified in subclause (i) above or after the Administrative Agent has delivered a notice of Potential Event of Default or Event of Default which has not been rescinded.

 

(iv)                               Purchase of Participations .  In the event that any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Borrower), then each Revolving Credit Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith purchase (as of the date the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for any payment received from the Borrower on or after such date and prior to such purchase) from the Swingline Lender such participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans as shall be necessary to cause each such Revolving Credit Lender to share in such Swingline Loans ratably based upon

 

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its Pro Rata Share for the Revolving Credit Facility (determined before giving effect to any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant hereto), provided that (A) all interest payable on the Swingline Loans with respect to any participation shall be for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender until but excluding the day upon which the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, and (B) in the event of a delay between the day upon which the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred and the time any purchase of a participation pursuant to this sentence is actually made, the purchasing Revolving Credit Lender shall be required to pay to the Swingline Lender interest on the principal amount of such participation for each day from and including the day upon which the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred to but excluding the date of payment for such participation, at the rate equal to the Federal Funds Rate, for the two (2) Business Days after the date the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Revolving Credit Lender shall be obligated to purchase a participation in any Swingline Loan if a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default then exists and such Swingline Loan was made by the Swingline Lender without receipt of a written Notice of Borrowing in the form specified in subclause (i) above or after the Administrative Agent has delivered a notice of Potential Event of Default or Event of Default which has not been rescinded.

 

(c)                                   Interest Rate .  Each Swingline Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the date such Swingline Loan is made until the date it is repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Daily LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans for such day.

 

2.10                         Qualified Borrowers .

 

(a)                                  The Borrower may, at any time or from time to time, request that one or more Qualified Borrowers be added to this Agreement by notifying the Administrative Agent thereof in substantially the form of Exhibit O hereto (including the jurisdiction of formation thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender. Borrower shall, or shall cause such Qualified Borrower to, deliver all documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 6.1 and 6.2(d)  with respect to a proposed Qualified Borrower, including, without limitation, copies of all Organizational Documents, good standing certificates (if applicable), and resolutions, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Following the giving of any request pursuant to this Section 2.10 , if the request for such Qualified Borrower obligates the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Borrower shall, promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, supply such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order for the Administrative Agent or such Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with the results of all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations.  Upon delivery of the documentation and information required above to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, the proposed Qualified Borrower shall become a Qualified Borrower under this Agreement and the Administrative Agent shall give written notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders (a “ New Foreign Qualified Borrower

 

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Notice ”).  If the jurisdiction of organization of any proposed Qualified Borrower would require the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender(s) or any Lender to comply with any Requirements of Law (including, without limitation any provisions relating to tax treaty status with respect to loans to Foreign Qualified Borrowers organized in the United Kingdom or anti-social forces representations and covenants with respect to Foreign Qualified Borrowers organized in Japan) then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to implement the provisions of this Section, a copy of which amendment (a “ New Foreign Qualified Borrower Amendment ”) shall be made available to each Lender.  Nothing contained in this Section 2.10(a)  shall limit the provisions of Section 2.8(i) .

 

(b)                                  If the Borrower shall designate as a Qualified Borrower hereunder any entity not organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, any Lender may, with notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, fulfill its Commitment by causing an Affiliate of such Lender to act as the Bank in respect of such Qualified Borrower (and such Lender shall, to the extent of Loans  made to, and participations in Letters of Credit issued for the account of such Qualified Borrower, be deemed for all purposes hereof to have pro tanto assigned such Loans and participations to such Affiliate in compliance with the provisions of Section 14.16 (but only for so long as such Loans or Letters of Credit shall be outstanding) except that unless such an Affiliate is a Eligible Assignee, nothing herein shall be deemed to have relieved such Lender from its obligations under its Commitments).

 

ARTICLE III

 

LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

3.1                                Letters of Credit .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 3.1(c)(ii) , the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to issue for the account of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower one or more Letters of Credit or, with respect to the Administrative Agent only, Alternative Currency Letters of Credit (the Administrative Agent, together with any other Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender designated, with such Lender’s consent, by the Borrower, an “ Issuing Bank ”), subject to the following provisions:

 

(a)                                  Types and Amounts .  An Issuing Bank shall not have any obligation to issue, amend or extend, and shall not issue, amend or extend, any Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit at any time:

 

(i)                                      if the aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to such Issuing Bank, after giving effect to the issuance, amendment or extension of the Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit requested hereunder, shall exceed any limit imposed by law or regulation upon such Issuing Bank;

 

(ii)                                   if, immediately after giving effect to the issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, (1) the Letter of Credit Obligations at such time would exceed $50,000,000 with respect to Letters of

 

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Credit (including Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, the amount of which shall be calculated based on the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof) or (2) the Revolving Credit Obligations at such time would exceed the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount at such time, or (3) the sum of the Revolving Credit Loans in the Alternative Currency and the Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Alternative Currency Letters of Credit at such time would exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit, or (4) one or more of the conditions precedent contained in Sections 6.1 or 6.2 , as applicable, would not on such date be satisfied, unless such conditions are thereafter satisfied and written notice of such satisfaction is given to such Issuing Bank by the Administrative Agent (and such Issuing Bank shall not otherwise be required to determine that, or take notice whether, the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 6.1 or 6.2 , as applicable, have been satisfied);

 

(iii)                                which has an expiration date later than the first anniversary of the then Revolving Credit Termination Date;

 

(iv)                               which is in a currency other than Dollars or the Alternative Currency;

 

(v)                                  (A) where the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit is a Sanctioned Person, (B) to secure any transaction or the undertaking of any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such issuance is the subject of any Sanctions or (C) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement;

 

(vi)                               if any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Issuing Bank from issuing the Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that the Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or the Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank with respect to the Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it; or

 

(vii)                            if the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, if the Administrative Agent (and/or any other Lender or Affiliate of a Lender designated by the Borrower, with such Lender’s consent, to issue a Letter of Credit) are not obligated or permitted pursuant to any of the preceding paragraphs of this Section 3.1(a)  to issue a Letter of Credit but another Lender designated by the Borrower, with such Lender’s consent, to issue such Letter of Credit (a “ Replacement Issuing Bank ”) is not prohibited from issuing such Letter of Credit pursuant to any of the preceding paragraphs of this Section

 

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3.1(a) , then the Replacement Issuing Bank shall, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, issue such Letter of Credit.

 

(b)                                  Conditions .  In addition to being subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent contained in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 , as applicable, the obligation of an Issuing Bank to issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction in full of the following conditions:

 

(i)                                      if the Issuing Bank so requests, the Borrower shall have executed and delivered to such Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent a Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement and Application and such other documents and materials as may be required pursuant to the terms thereof; it being agreed that in the event of any inconsistencies between this Agreement and such Letter of Credit Agreement and Application, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; and

 

(ii)                                   the terms of the proposed Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit shall be satisfactory to the Issuing Bank in its sole discretion.

 

(c)                                   Issuance of Letters of Credit .  (i) The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank written notice (a “ Letter of Credit Notice ”) that it requires the issuance of a Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the requested date for issuance thereof under this Agreement.  Such notice shall be irrevocable unless and until such request is denied by the applicable Arranger and shall specify (A) that the requested Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit is either a Commercial Letter of Credit or a Standby Letter of Credit, (B) that such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit is solely for the account of the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower, (C) the stated amount of the Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit requested, (D) the effective date (which shall be a Business Day) of issuance of such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, (E) the date on which such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall be a Business Day and no later than the Business Day immediately preceding the first anniversary of the then scheduled Revolving Credit Termination Date), (F) the Person for whose benefit such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit is to be issued, (G) other relevant terms of such Letter of Credit or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, (H) the Revolving Credit Availability at such time, and (I) the amount of the then outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

(ii)                                   If the Administrative Agent declines to issue the Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower shall select an alternative Lender with such Lender’s written consent to issue such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit.

 

(iii)                                The selected Issuing Bank (if not the Administrative Agent) shall give the Administrative Agent written notice, or telephonic notice confirmed promptly thereafter in writing, of the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit.

 

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(iv)                               If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Notice, the Issuing Bank shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the Issuing Bank to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the Issuing Bank for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the Issuing Bank to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Business Day immediately preceding the first anniversary of Revolving Credit Termination Date; provided , however , that the Issuing Bank shall not permit any such extension if (A) the Issuing Bank has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 3.1(a)  or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 6.2 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the Issuing Bank not to permit such extension.

 

(d)                                  Reimbursement Obligations; Duties of Issuing Banks and other Lenders .

 

(i)                                      Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in any Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement, if an Issuing Bank shall make any disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing Bank in respect of such Reimbursement Obligation by paying to the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Reimbursement Obligation not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower receives notice of such disbursement, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time (such date, the “ Reimbursement Date ”), provided that the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.1 that such payment be financed with a Base Rate Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s or the applicable Qualified Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Base Rate Borrowing.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the case of an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Bank in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) the Issuing Bank (at its option) shall have notified the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or any such drawing is made at a time when an Event of Default exists or a Sharing Event shall have occurred, or (B) in the

 

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absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall have notified the Issuing Bank promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower will reimburse the Issuing Bank in Dollars.  In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Specified Time on the date of any payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Bank through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency.  In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in an Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in Dollars as set forth above and (B) the Dollar amount paid by the Borrower, whether on or after the Honor Date, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in the Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the Issuing Bank for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase the Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing.  If the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower fails to timely reimburse the Issuing Bank on the Honor Date, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in the case of an Alternative Currency Letter of Credit) (the “ Unreimbursed Amount ”), and the amount of such Lender’s applicable Pro Rate Share thereof.  In such event, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.1(b)  for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the Revolving Credit Availability and the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 (other than the delivery of a Notice of Committed Borrowing).  Any notice given by the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.1(d)(i)  may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

(ii)                                   The Issuing Bank shall give the Administrative Agent written notice, or telephonic notice confirmed promptly thereafter in writing, of all drawings under a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit and the payment (or the failure to pay when due) by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower on account of a Reimbursement Obligation (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit by telegram, facsimile transmission or similar transmission to each Revolving Credit Lender).

 

(iii)                                No action taken or omitted in good faith by an Issuing Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit shall put such Issuing Bank under any resulting liability to any Lender, the Borrower or

 

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Qualified Borrower or, so long as it is not issued in violation of Section 3.1(a) , relieve any Revolving Credit Lender of its obligations hereunder to such Issuing Bank.  Solely as between the Issuing Banks and the other Revolving Credit Lenders, in determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to the other Lenders other than to confirm that any documents required to be delivered under a respective Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit appear to have been delivered and that they appear on their face to comply with the requirements of such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit.

 

(e)                                   Participations .  (i)  Immediately upon issuance by an Issuing Bank of any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.1 , each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased and received from that Issuing Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit to the extent of such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share, including, without limitation, all obligations of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower with respect thereto (other than amounts owing to the Issuing Bank under Section 3.1(g) ) and any security therefor and guaranty pertaining thereto.

 

(ii)                                   If any Issuing Bank makes any payment under any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit and the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower does not repay such amount to the Issuing Bank on the Reimbursement Date, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, which shall promptly notify each other Revolving Credit Lender, and each Revolving Credit Lender shall promptly and unconditionally pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, in immediately available funds, the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of such payment (net of that portion of such payment, if any, made by such Issuing Bank in its capacity as an issuer of a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Issuing Bank such amounts received by it, and any other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for such Issuing Bank’s account, pursuant to this Section 3.1(e) .  If a Revolving Credit Lender does not make its Pro Rata Share of the amount of such payment available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank, forthwith on demand, such amount together with interest thereon at the greater of the Base Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. The failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank its Pro Rata Share of any such payment shall neither relieve any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligation hereunder to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank such other Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any payment on the date such payment is to be made nor increase the obligation of any other Revolving Credit Lender to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

(iii)                                Whenever an Issuing Bank receives a payment on account of a Reimbursement Obligation, including any interest thereon, as to which the

 

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Administrative Agent has previously received payments from any other Revolving Credit Lender for the account of such Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 3.1(e) , such Issuing Bank shall promptly pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to each other Revolving Credit Lender an amount equal to such other Revolving Credit Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share thereof.  Each such payment shall be made by such reimbursed Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, on the Business Day on which such Person receives the funds paid to such Person pursuant to the preceding sentence, if received prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on such Business Day, and otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

(iv)                               Upon the written request of any Revolving Credit Lender, the Issuing Banks shall furnish such requesting Revolving Credit Lender copies of any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement, and related amendment to which such Issuing Bank is party and such other documentation as reasonably may be requested by the requesting Revolving Credit Lender.

 

(v)                                  The obligations of a Revolving Credit Lender to make payments to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Issuing Bank with respect to a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit shall be irrevocable, shall not be subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever except willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Issuing Bank, and shall be honored in accordance with this Article III (irrespective of the satisfaction of the conditions described in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 , as applicable) under all circumstances, including, without limitation, any of the following circumstances:

 

(A)                                any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents;

 

(B)                                the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit or any transferee of a beneficiary named in a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit(or any Person for whom any such transferee may be acting), any Lender, or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transactions (including any underlying transactions between the account party and beneficiary named in any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit);

 

(C)                                any draft, certificate or any other document presented under the Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit having been determined to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

 

(D)                                the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or observance of any of the terms of any of the Loan Documents;

 

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(E)                                 any failure by that Issuing Bank to make any reports required pursuant to Section 3.1(h)  or the inaccuracy of any such report; or

 

(F)                                  the occurrence of any Event of Default or Potential Event of Default.

 

(f)                                    Payment of Reimbursement Obligations .  (i)  The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower unconditionally agrees to pay to each Issuing Bank, in Dollars or Alternative Currency, as applicable, the amount of all Reimbursement Obligations, interest and other amounts payable to such Issuing Bank under or in connection with the Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit when such amounts are due and payable, irrespective of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which the Borrower may have at any time against any Issuing Bank or any other Person.

 

(ii)                                   In the event any payment by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower received by an Issuing Bank with respect to a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit and distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders on account of their participations is thereafter set aside, avoided or recovered from such Issuing Bank in connection with any receivership, liquidation or bankruptcy proceeding, each Revolving Credit Lender which received such distribution shall, upon demand by such Issuing Bank, contribute such Revolving Credit Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of the amount set aside, avoided or recovered together with interest at the rate required to be paid by such Issuing Bank upon the amount required to be repaid by it.

 

(g)                                   Letter of Credit Fee Charges .  In connection with each Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit, Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower each hereby covenants to pay to the Administrative Agent the following fees each payable quarterly in arrears (on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter following the issuance of each Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit):  (1) a fee (in Dollars) for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, computed daily on the amount or Dollar Equivalent Amount, as applicable, of the Letter of Credit or the Alternative Currency Letter of Credit issued and outstanding at a rate per annum equal to the “Banks’ L/C Fee Rate” (as hereinafter defined) and (2) a fee (in Dollars), for the Issuing Bank’s own account, computed daily on the amount or Dollar Equivalent Amount, as applicable, of the Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit issued and outstanding at a rate per annum equal to 0.125%.  For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Banks’ L/C Fee Rate ” shall mean, at any time, a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans less 0.125% per annum.  It is understood and agreed that the last installment of the fees provided for in this paragraph (g) with respect to any particular Letter of Credit shall be due and payable on the first day of the fiscal quarter following the return, undrawn, or cancellation of such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit.  In addition, the Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Bank, solely for its own account, the standard charges assessed by such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, administration, amendment and payment or cancellation of Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit and such compensation in respect of such Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit for the Borrower’s account as may be agreed upon by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower and such Issuing Bank from time to time.

 

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(h)                                  Letter of Credit Reporting Requirements .  Each Issuing Bank shall, no later than the tenth (10th) Business Day following the last day of each calendar month, provide to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, separate schedules for Commercial Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit and Standby Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit issued as Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth the aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding to it at the end of each month and, to the extent not otherwise provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.1(c)(ii) , any information requested by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower relating to the date of issue, account party, amount, expiration date and reference number of each Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit issued by it.

 

(i)                                      Indemnification; Exoneration .  (i)  In addition to all other amounts payable to an Issuing Bank, the Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower each, jointly and severally, hereby agrees to defend, indemnify, and save the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, and each other Lender harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, penalties, damages, losses (other than loss of profits), costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses but excluding taxes) which the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, or such other Lender may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (A) the issuance of any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit other than as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (B) the failure of the Issuing Bank to honor a drawing under such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.

 

(ii)                                   As between the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower on the one hand and the Lenders on the other hand, the Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of the Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, subject to the provisions of the Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreements, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall not be responsible for:  (A) the form, validity, legality, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of the Letters of Credit, and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (B) the validity, legality or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (C) failure of the beneficiary of a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit to duly comply with conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit; (D) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (E) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (F) any loss or delay in

 

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the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (G) the misapplication by the beneficiary of a Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letter of Credit; and (H) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the other Lenders.

 

3.2                                Obligations Several .  The obligations of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, and each other Revolving Credit Lender under this Article III are several and not joint, and no Issuing Bank or other Lender shall be responsible for the obligation to issue Letters of Credit and/or Alternative Currency Letters of Credit or participation obligation hereunder, respectively, of any other Issuing Bank or other Revolving Credit Lender.

 

3.3                                Expiration after the Revolving Credit Termination Date .  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if any Letters of Credit, by their terms, shall mature after the Revolving Credit Termination Date (as the same may be extended), then, on and after the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect to such Letters of Credit, and the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall comply with the provisions of Section 3.4 .

 

3.4                                Actions in Respect of Letters of Credit .  (a) If, at any time and from time to time, any Letter of Credit shall have been issued hereunder and the same shall expire on a date after the Revolving Credit Termination Date, then, on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, in same day funds at the Administrative Agent’s office designated in such demand, for deposit in a special cash collateral account (the “ Letter of Credit Collateral Account ”) to be maintained in the name of the Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders) and under its sole dominion and control at such place as shall be designated by the Administrative Agent, an amount equal to the amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations, in the applicable currency, under the Letters of Credit.  Interest shall accrue on the Letter of Credit Collateral Account at a rate equal to the rate on overnight funds.  The Borrower shall also make deposits into the Letter of Credit Collateral Account in accordance with Section 11.2 and Section 14.25(c) .

 

(b)                                  The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, as Administrative Agent for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders a lien on and a security interest in, the following collateral (the “ Letter of Credit Collateral ”):

 

(i)                                      the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, all cash deposited therein and all certificates and instruments, if any, from time to time representing or evidencing the Letter of Credit Collateral Account;

 

(ii)                                   all notes, certificates of deposit and other instruments from time to time hereafter delivered to or otherwise possessed by the Administrative Agent for or on

 

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behalf of the Borrower in substitution for or in respect of any or all of the then existing Letter of Credit Collateral;

 

(iii)                                all interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the then existing Letter of Credit Collateral; and

 

(iv)                               to the extent not covered by the above clauses, all proceeds of any or all of the foregoing Letter of Credit Collateral.

 

(c)                                   The lien and security interest granted hereby secures the payment of all obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing hereunder and under any other Loan Document.

 

(d)                                  The Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders to apply, from time to time after funds are deposited in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and for so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, funds then held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account to the payment of any amounts, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, as shall have become due and payable by the Borrower to the Revolving Credit Lenders in respect of the Letters of Credit.

 

(e)                                   Neither the Borrower nor the applicable Qualified Borrower nor any Person claiming or acting on behalf of or through the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall have any right to withdraw any of the funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account.

 

(f)                                    The Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower each agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any interest in the Letter of Credit Collateral or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Letter of Credit Collateral, except for the security interest created by this Section 3.4 .

 

(g)                                   If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(i)                                      The Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, without notice to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower except as required by law and at any time from time to time, charge, set off or otherwise apply all or any part of first , (x) amounts previously drawn on any Letter of Credit that have not been reimbursed by the Borrower and (y) any Letter of Credit Obligations described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof that are then due and payable and second , any other unpaid Obligations then due and payable against the Letter of Credit Collateral Account or any part thereof, in such order as the Administrative Agent shall elect.  The rights of the Administrative Agent under this Section 3.4 are in addition to any rights and remedies which any Lender may have.

 

(ii)                                   The Administrative Agent may also exercise, in its sole discretion, in respect of the Letter of Credit Collateral Account, in addition to the other rights and

 

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remedies provided herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York at that time.

 

(iii)                                The Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Letter of Credit Collateral if the Letter of Credit Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Administrative Agent accords its own property, it being understood that, assuming such treatment, the Administrative Agent shall not have any responsibility or liability with respect thereto.

 

(iv)                               At such time as all Events of Default have been cured or waived in writing, all fees and expenses, if any, owing to the Lenders paid in full, and all Letters of Credit returned to the Issuing Banks, all amounts remaining in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account shall be promptly returned to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower.  Absent such cure or written waiver, any surplus of the funds held in the Letter of Credit Collateral Account and remaining after payment in full of all of the Obligations of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower hereunder and under any other Loan Document after the Revolving Credit Termination Date shall be paid promptly to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

 

3.5                                Applicability of ISP and UCP .  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect) shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

 

3.6                                Existing Letters of Credit .  It is hereby acknowledged and agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and all the Lenders party hereto that on the Initial Funding Date, the letters of credit previously issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as “Issuing Bank” which is more particularly set forth on Schedule 3.6 hereto, shall be transferred to this Agreement and shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

PAYMENTS AND PREPAYMENTS

 

4.1                                Prepayments; Reductions in Revolving Credit Commitments .

 

(a)                                  Voluntary Prepayments .  The Borrower or any Qualified Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, prepay the Loans in part or in their entirety, subject to the following limitations. The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall give at least one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice, in the case of Base Rate Loans, and at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, to the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each Lender) of any prepayment in the entirety to be made prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, which

 

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notice of prepayment shall specify the date (which shall be a Business Day) of prepayment. When notice of prepayment is delivered as provided herein, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans on the prepayment date specified in the notice shall become due and payable on such prepayment date. Each voluntary partial prepayment of the Loans shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 (or the remaining balance of the applicable Loans, if less), except in the case of Swingline Loans, which shall be in the minimum amount of $100,000. Eurodollar Rate Loans and Money Market Loans may be prepaid in part or in their entirety only upon payment of the amounts described in Section 5.2(f) .

 

(b)                                  Voluntary Reductions In Revolving Credit Commitments and Unused Term Commitments .  The Borrower may, upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each Lender), at any time and from time to time, terminate in whole or permanently reduce in part the Revolving Credit Commitments and/or the Alternative Currency Commitments and/or the unused Term Commitments, provided that the Borrower shall have made whatever payment may be required to reduce the Revolving Credit Obligations to an amount less than or equal to the Revolving Credit Commitments as reduced or terminated, which amount shall become due and payable on the date specified in such notice.  Any partial reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments and/or the Alternative Currency Commitments and/or the unused Term Commitments shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $10,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount, and shall reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment and/or the Alternative Currency Commitment and/or the unused Term Commitments of each Lender proportionately in accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Share.  Any notice of termination or reduction given to the Administrative Agent under this Section 4.1(b)  shall specify the date (which shall be a Business Day) of such termination or reduction and, with respect to a partial reduction, the aggregate principal amount thereof.

 

(c)                                   No Penalty .  The prepayments and payments in respect of reductions and terminations described in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 4.1 may be made without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 5.2(f) ).

 

(d)                                  Mandatory Prepayments of Alternative Currency Loans .  The Administrative Agent shall calculate the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Loans denominated in the Alternative Currency at the time of each Borrowing thereof and on the last Business Day of each month during each Interest Period longer than one month in duration.  If at any such time (y) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the sum of (i) all outstanding Loans denominated in the Alternative Currency, and (ii) the outstanding Dollar Equivalent Amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations for Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, so determined by the Administrative Agent, in the aggregate, exceeds the Alternative Currency Sublimit, Borrower shall repay all or a portion of such Loans, otherwise in accordance with the applicable terms of this Agreement, in such amount so that, following the making of such payment, the Dollar Equivalent Amount outstanding of such Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations does not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit, or (z) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the sum of (i) all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) the outstanding Dollar Equivalent Amount of the Letter of Credit Obligations so determined by the Administrative Agent, in the aggregate, exceeds the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount, Borrower shall, in each case, repay all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Loans, otherwise in accordance with the applicable terms of this Agreement, in

 

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such amount so that, following the making of such payment, the Dollar Equivalent Amount outstanding of all Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations does not exceed the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount.

 

4.2                                Payments .

 

(a)                                  Manner and Time of Payment .  All payments of principal of and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and other Obligations (including, without limitation, fees and expenses) which are payable to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any other Lender shall be made without condition or reservation of right, in immediately available funds, delivered to the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of Reimbursement Obligations, to the pertinent Arranger) not later than 12:00 noon (New York time or local time to the principal financial center of the country of that currency, in the case of an Alternative Currency) on the date and at the place due, to such account of the Administrative Agent (or such Arranger) as it may designate, for the account of the Administrative Agent, an Arranger, or such other Lender, as the case may be; and funds received by the Administrative Agent (or such Arranger), including, without limitation, funds in respect of any Loans to be made on that date, not later than 12:00 noon (New York time or local time to the principal financial center of the country of that currency, in the case of an Alternative Currency) on any given Business Day shall be credited against payment to be made that day and funds received by the Administrative Agent (or such Arranger) after that time shall be deemed to have been paid on the next succeeding Business Day.  All payments shall be in Dollars except for payments of principal, interest and fees on Alternative Currency Loans and Reimbursement Obligations with respect to Alternative Currency Letters of Credit, which shall be in the applicable Alternative Currency thereof. Payments actually received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, or any of them, shall be paid to them by the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof, in immediately available funds.

 

(b)                                  Apportionment of Payments .  (i)  Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2(b)(v) , all payments of principal and interest in respect of outstanding Loans, all payments in respect of Reimbursement Obligations, all payments of fees and all other payments in respect of any other Obligations, shall be allocated among such of the Lenders as are entitled thereto, in proportion to their respective applicable Pro Rata Shares or otherwise as provided herein.  Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2(b)(ii) , all such payments and any other amounts received by the Administrative Agent from or for the benefit of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall be applied in the following order:

 

(A)                                to pay principal of and interest on any portion of the Loans which the Administrative Agent may have advanced on behalf of any Lender other than itself for which the Administrative Agent has not then been reimbursed by such Lender or the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower,

 

(B)                                to pay all other Obligations then due and payable and

 

(C)                                as the Borrower so designates.

 

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Unless otherwise designated by the Borrower, all principal payments in respect of Committed Loans shall be applied first , to repay outstanding Base Rate Loans, and then to repay outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans, with those Eurodollar Rate Loans which have earlier expiring Interest Periods being repaid prior to those which have later expiring Interest Periods.

 

(ii)                                   After the occurrence of an Event of Default and while the same is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall apply all payments in respect of any Obligations and any amounts received as a result of the exercise of remedies pursuant to Sections 11.12 and 14.5 , in the following order:

 

(A)                                first, to pay principal of and interest on any portion of the Loans which the Administrative Agent may have advanced on behalf of any Lender other than itself for which the Administrative Agent has not then been reimbursed by such Lender or the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower;

 

(B)                                second, to pay Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements or indemnities then due to the Administrative Agent;

 

(C)                                third, to pay principal of and interest on Letter of Credit Obligations (or, to the extent such Obligations are contingent, deposited with the Administrative Agent to provide cash collateral in respect of such Obligations);

 

(D)                                fourth, to pay Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements or indemnities then due to the Lenders and the Co-Agents;

 

(E)                                 fifth, to pay interest due in respect of Loans;

 

(F)                                  sixth, to the ratable payment or prepayment of principal outstanding on Loans; and

 

(G)                                seventh, to the ratable payment of all other Obligations.

 

The order of priority set forth in this Section 4.2(b)(ii)  and the related provisions of this Agreement are set forth solely to determine the rights and priorities of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Lenders and other Holders as among themselves.  The order of priority set forth in clauses (C) through (G) of this Section 4.2(b)(ii)  may at any time and from time to time be changed by the Requisite Lenders without necessity of notice to or consent of or approval by the Borrower, any Holder which is not a Lender, or any other Person.  The order of priority set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section 4.2(b)(ii)  may be changed only with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

(iii)                                The Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion subject only to the terms of this Section 4.2(b)(iii) , may pay from the proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans made to the Borrower hereunder, whether made following a request by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.1 or 2.2 or a deemed request as provided in this Section 4.2(b)(iii) , all amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder, including, without limitation, amounts payable with respect to payments of principal, interest, Reimbursement Obligations and fees and all reimbursements for expenses pursuant to

 

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Section 14.2 .  The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, which Revolving Credit Loans shall be Base Rate Loans, in each case, upon notice from the Administrative Agent as described in the following sentence for the purpose of paying principal, interest, Reimbursement Obligations and fees due from the Borrower, reimbursing expenses pursuant to Section 14.2 and paying any and all other amounts due and payable by the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes, and agrees that all such Revolving Credit Loans so made shall be deemed to have been requested by it pursuant to Section 2.1 as of the date of the aforementioned notice.  The Administrative Agent shall request Revolving Credit Loans on behalf of the Borrower as described in the preceding sentence by notifying the Revolving Credit Lenders by facsimile transmission or other similar form of transmission (which notice the Administrative Agent shall thereafter promptly transmit to the Borrower), of the amount and Funding Date of the proposed Borrowing and that such Borrowing is being requested on the Borrower’s behalf pursuant to this Section 4.2(b)(iii) .  On the proposed Funding Date, the Revolving Credit Lenders shall make the requested Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with the procedures and subject to the conditions specified in Section 2.1 .

 

(iv)                               Subject to Section 4.2(b)(v) , the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Arranger and each other Lender at its primary address set forth on the appropriate signature page hereof or the signature page to the Assignment and Acceptance by which it became a Lender, or at such other address as a Lender or other Holder may request in writing, such funds as such Person may be entitled to receive, subject to the provisions of Article XII ; provided that the Administrative Agent shall under no circumstances be bound to inquire into or determine the validity, scope or priority of any interest or entitlement of any Holder and may suspend all payments or seek appropriate relief (including, without limitation, instructions from the Requisite Lenders or an action in the nature of interpleader) in the event of any doubt or dispute as to any apportionment or distribution contemplated hereby.

 

(v)                                  In the event that any Lender fails to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Loan requested by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower which such Lender is obligated to fund under the terms of this Agreement (the funded portion of such Loan being hereinafter referred to as a “ Non Pro Rata Loan ”), until the earlier of such Defaulting Lender’s cure of such failure and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Term Commitments, as applicable, the proceeds of all amounts thereafter repaid to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower and otherwise required to be applied to such Defaulting Lender’s share of all other Obligations pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be advanced to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower by the Administrative Agent on behalf of such Defaulting Lender to cure, in full or in part, such failure by such Lender, but shall nevertheless be deemed to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender in satisfaction of such other Obligations.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary:

 

(A)                                the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.2(b)(v)  shall apply only with respect to the proceeds of payments of Obligations and shall not affect the conversion or continuation of Loans pursuant to Section 5.1(c) ;

 

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(B)                                a Lender shall be deemed to have cured its failure to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Loan at such time as an amount equal to such Lender’s original Pro Rata Share of the requested principal portion of such Loan is fully funded to the Borrower, whether made by such Lender itself or by operation of the terms of this Section 4.2(b)(v) , and whether or not the Non Pro Rata Loan with respect thereto has been repaid, converted or continued;

 

(C)                                amounts advanced to the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower to cure, in full or in part, any such Lender’s failure to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Loan (“ Cure Loans ”) shall bear interest at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, and for all other purposes of this Agreement shall be treated as if they were Base Rate Loans; and

 

(D)                                regardless of whether or not an Event of Default has occurred or is continuing, and notwithstanding the instructions of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower as to its desired application, all repayments of principal which, in accordance with the other terms of this Section 4.2 , would be applied to the outstanding Base Rate Loans shall be applied first , ratably to all Base Rate Loans constituting Non Pro Rata Loans, second , ratably to Base Rate Loans other than those constituting Non Pro Rata Loans or Cure Loans and, third , ratably to Base Rate Loans constituting Cure Loans.

 

(c)                                   Payments on Non-Business Days .  Whenever any payment to be made by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower hereunder or under the Notes is stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, the payment shall instead be due on the next succeeding Business Day (or, as set forth in Section 5.2(b)(iii) , the next preceding Business Day).

 

4.3                                Promise to Repay; Evidence of Indebtedness .

 

(a)                                  Promise to Repay .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower hereby promise to pay when due the principal amount of each Loan which is made to it, and further agree to pay all unpaid interest accrued thereon, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes.  Unless a Lender elects not to receive any such promissory note, the Borrower and/or any Qualified Borrower shall execute and deliver to each Lender on the Closing Date (or in the case of any Qualified Borrower, at such time as it becomes a Qualified Borrower hereunder), a promissory note, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, evidencing the Loans and thereafter shall execute and deliver such other promissory notes as are necessary to evidence the Loans owing to the Lenders after giving effect to any assignment thereof pursuant to Section 14.1 or any increase in such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1(e) , all in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Lenders and the parties to such assignment (all such promissory notes and all amendments thereto, replacements thereof and substitutions therefor being collectively referred to as the “ Notes ”; and “ Note ” means any one of the Notes).

 

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(b)                                  Loan Account .  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts (a “ Loan Account ”) evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amount of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder and under the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure by any Lender to maintain a Loan Account shall in no way affect the Borrower’s or the applicable Qualified Borrower’s obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, the obligation to repay the Obligations.

 

(c)                                   Control Account .  The Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 14.1(c)  shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the type of Loan comprising such Borrowing and any Eurodollar Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the effective date and amount of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and the parties thereto, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder or under the Notes and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower hereunder and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d)                                  Entries Binding .  The entries made in the Register and each Loan Account shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(e)                                   No Recourse to Limited Partners or General Partner .  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, it is expressly understood and agreed that nothing herein or in the Notes shall be construed as creating any liability on any Limited Partner, any General Partner, or any partner, member, manager, officer, shareholder or director of any Limited Partner or any General Partner, to pay any of the Obligations other than liability arising from or in connection with (i) fraud or (ii) the misappropriation or misapplication of proceeds of the Loans (in which case such liability shall extend to the Person(s) committing such fraud, misappropriation or misapplication, but not to any other Person described above); but nothing contained in this Section 4.3(e ) shall be construed to prevent the exercise of any remedy allowed to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents or the Lenders by law or by the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents which does not relate to or result in such an obligation by any Limited Partner or any General Partner (or any partner, member, manager, officer, shareholder or director of any Limited Partner or any General Partner) to pay money.

 

ARTICLE V

 

INTEREST AND FEES

 

5.1                                Interest on the Loans and other Obligations .

 

(a)                                  Rate of Interest .  All Loans and the outstanding principal balance of all other Obligations shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date such Loans are made and such other Obligations are due and payable until paid in full, except as otherwise provided in Section 5.1(d) , as follows:

 

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(i)                                      If a Base Rate Loan or such other Obligation, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the Base Rate, as in effect from time to time as interest accrues, plus (B) the then Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans;

 

(ii)                                   If a Eurodollar Rate Loan, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the Eurodollar Rate determined for the applicable Eurodollar Interest Period, plus (B) the then Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans;

 

(iii)                                If a Eurodollar Money Market Loan, at a rate per annum equal to either (A) the sum of (1) the Eurodollar Rate determined for the applicable Eurodollar Interest Period (determined as if the related Money Market Borrowing were a Committed Eurodollar Rate Borrowing) plus (or minus) (2) the Money Market Margin quoted by the Lender making such Money Market Loan in accordance with Section 2.2 or (B) the Money Market Rate, as applicable; and

 

(iv)                               If a Swingline Loan, as provided in Section 2.9(c) .

 

The applicable basis for determining the rate of interest on the Loans shall be selected by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower at the time a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent; provided , however , neither the Borrower nor any Qualified Borrower may select the Eurodollar Rate as the applicable basis for determining the rate of interest on such a Loan if at the time of such selection an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default would occur or has occurred and is continuing and further provided that , from and after the occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default, each Eurodollar Rate Loan then outstanding may, at the Administrative Agent’s option, convert to a Base Rate Loan.  If on any day any Loan is outstanding with respect to which notice has not been timely delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement specifying the basis for determining the rate of interest on that day, then for that day interest on that Loan shall be determined by reference to the Base Rate.

 

(b)                                  Interest Payments .  (i)  Interest accrued on each Committed Loan shall be calculated on the last day of each calendar month and shall be payable in arrears (A) on the first day of each calendar month, commencing on the first such day following the making of such Committed Loan, and (B) if not theretofore paid in full, on the maturity date (whether by acceleration or otherwise) of such Committed Loan.

 

(ii)                                   Interest accrued on each Money Market Loan shall be calculated on the last day of each calendar month during the Interest Period applicable thereto (or, if such Interest Period is for a period one month or less, on the last day of such Interest Period) and shall be payable in arrears (A) if such Money Market Loan has an Interest Period longer than one month (1) on the first day of each calendar month, commencing on the first such day following the making of such Money Market Loan, and (2) if not theretofore paid in full, at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) of such Money Market Loan; and (B) if such Money Market Loan has an Interest Period of one month or less, at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) of such Money Market Loan.

 

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(iii)                                Interest accrued on the principal balance of all other Obligations shall be calculated on the last day of each calendar month and shall be payable in arrears (A) on the first day of each calendar month, commencing on the first such day following the incurrence of such Obligation, (B) upon repayment thereof in full or in part, and (C) if not theretofore paid in full, at the time such other Obligation becomes due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

 

(c)                                   Conversion or Continuation .  (i)  The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall have the option (A) to convert at any time all or any part of outstanding Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans; (B) to convert all or any part of outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans having Eurodollar Interest Periods which expire on the same date to Base Rate Loans, on such expiration date; and (C) to continue all or any part of outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans having Eurodollar Interest Periods which expire on the same date as Eurodollar Rate Loans, and the succeeding Eurodollar Interest Period of such continued Loans shall commence on such expiration date; provided , however , no such outstanding Loan may be continued as, or be converted into, a Eurodollar Rate Loan (i) if the continuation of, or the conversion into, would violate any of the provisions of Section 5.2 or (ii) if an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default would occur or has occurred and is continuing.  Any conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans under this Section 5.1(c)  shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount, except in the case of a conversion into or a continuation of an entire Borrowing of Non Pro Rata Loans.

 

(ii)                                   To convert or continue a Loan under Section 5.1(c)(i) , the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to the Administrative Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at least three (3) Business Days (in the case of a Dollar denominated Loan), or four (4) Business Days (in the case of an Alternative Currency Loan) in advance of the proposed conversion/continuation date.  A Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall specify (A) the proposed conversion/continuation date (which shall be a Business Day), (B) the principal amount of the Loan to be converted/continued, (C) whether such Loan shall be converted and/or continued, and (D) in the case of a conversion to, or continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the requested Eurodollar Interest Period.  In lieu of delivering a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower may give the Administrative Agent telephonic notice of any proposed conversion/continuation by the time required under this Section 5.1(c)(ii) , if the Borrower confirms such notice by delivery of the Notice of Conversion/Continuation to the Administrative Agent by facsimile transmission promptly, but in no event later than 3:00 p.m. (New York time) on the same day.  Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation under this Section 5.1(c)(ii)  (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof), the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender by facsimile transmission, or other similar form of transmission, of the proposed conversion/continuation.  Any Notice of Conversion/Continuation for conversion to, or continuation of, a Loan (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) given pursuant to this Section 5.1(c)(ii)  shall be irrevocable, and the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall be bound to convert or continue in accordance therewith.  In the event no Notice of Conversion/Continuation is delivered as and when specified in this Section 5.1(c)(ii)  with respect to outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans, upon the expiration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, such Loans

 

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shall automatically be continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans with a Eurodollar Interest Period of one month; provided , however , no such outstanding Loan may be continued as, or be converted into, a Eurodollar Rate Loan (i) if the continuation of, or the conversion into, would violate any of the provisions of Section 5.2 or (ii) if an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default would occur or has occurred and is continuing.

 

(d)                                  Default Interest .  Notwithstanding the rates of interest specified in Section 5.1(a)  or elsewhere in this Agreement, effective immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and for as long thereafter as such Event of Default shall be continuing, the principal balance of all Loans and other Obligations shall bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of (A) the Base Rate, as in effect from time to time as interest accrues, plus (B) two percent (2.0%) per annum.

 

(e)                                   Computation of Interest .  Interest on all Obligations shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which interest accrues and a year of 360 days (or 365/366 days in the case of interest computed by reference to clause (i) of the Base Rate or the CDOR Rate).  In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the making of the Loan or the first day of a Eurodollar Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be included and the date of payment or the expiration date of a Eurodollar Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be excluded; provided , however , if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one (1) day’s interest shall be paid on such Loan.

 

(f)                                    Eurodollar Rate Information .  Upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower from time to time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly provide to the Borrower such information with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate as may be so requested.

 

5.2                                Special Provisions Governing Eurodollar Rate Loans and Money Market Loans .

 

(a)                                  Amount of Eurodollar Rate Loans .  Each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,500,000 or, in the case of an Alternative Currency Loan, the Dollar Equivalent Amount equal to $1,500,000.

 

(b)                                  Determination of Eurodollar Interest Period .  By giving notice as set forth in Section 2.1(b)  (with respect to a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans), Section 2.2 (with respect to a Borrowing of Money Market Loans), or Section 5.1(c)  (with respect to a conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans), the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower shall have the option, subject to the other provisions of this Section 5.2 , to select an interest period (each, an “ Interest Period ”) to apply to the Loans described in such notice, subject to the following provisions:

 

(i)                                      Subject to availability, the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower may only select, as to a particular Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans, an Interest Period (each, a “ Eurodollar Interest Period ”) of one, two, three or six months in duration (or, with the prior written consent of the Administrative agent and if available to all Lenders, twelve months) or for a period of 7 days (provided, however, that in no event

 

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shall there be more than three (3) Eurodollar Interest Periods of 7 days outstanding at any time);

 

(ii)                                   The Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower may only select, as to a particular Borrowing of Eurodollar Money Market Loans, a Eurodollar Interest Period of one, two, or three months in duration;

 

(iii)                                In the case of immediately successive Eurodollar Interest Periods applicable to a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans, each successive Eurodollar Interest Period shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Eurodollar Interest Period expires;

 

(iv)                               If any Eurodollar Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day which is not a Business Day, such Eurodollar Interest Period shall be extended to expire on the next succeeding Business Day if the next succeeding Business Day occurs in the same calendar month, and if there will be no succeeding Business Day in such calendar month, the Eurodollar Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

(v)                                  Neither the Borrower nor the applicable Qualified Borrower may select an Interest Period as to any Loan if such Interest Period terminates later than the Revolving Credit Termination Date;

 

(vi)                               Neither the Borrower nor the applicable Qualified Borrower may select an Interest Period with respect to any portion of principal of a Loan which extends beyond a date on which the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower is required to make a scheduled payment of such portion of principal; and

 

(vii)                            There shall be no more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect at any one time with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

(c)                                   Determination of Eurodollar Interest Rate .  As soon as practicable on the second Business Day prior to the first day of each Eurodollar Interest Period (the “ Eurodollar Interest Rate Determination Date ”), the Administrative Agent shall determine (pursuant to the procedures set forth in the definition of “ Eurodollar Rate ”) the interest rate which shall apply to the Eurodollar Rate Loans or Eurodollar Money Market Loans for which an interest rate is then being determined for the applicable Eurodollar Interest Period and shall promptly give notice thereof (in writing or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower, the applicable Qualified Borrower(s) and to each Lender.  The Administrative Agent’s determination shall be presumed to be correct, absent manifest error, and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the applicable Qualified Borrower and each Lender.

 

(d)                                  Market Disruption and Alternate Rate of Interest .  (i)  If at the time that the Administrative Agent shall seek to determine the relevant Screen Rate on the Quotation Day for any Interest Period for a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans the applicable Screen Rate shall not be available for such Interest Period and/or for the applicable currency with respect to such Borrowing for any reason, then the applicable Reference Bank Rate shall be the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Borrowing; provided,  however,  that if less than two

 

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Reference Banks shall supply a rate to the Administrative Agent for purposes of determining the Eurodollar Rate for such Borrowing, (i) if such Borrowing shall be requested in Dollars, then such Borrowing shall be made as a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans at the Base Rate and (ii) if such Borrowing shall be requested in any Alternative Currency, the Eurodollar Rate shall be equal to the cost to each Lender to fund its pro rata share of such Borrowing (from whatever source and using whatever methodologies as such Lender may select in its reasonable discretion; such rate, the “ CF Rate ”).

 

(ii)                                   If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans:

 

(A)                                the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Base Eurocurrency Rate or the Eurodollar Rate, as applicable, for a Loan in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period; or

 

(B)                                the Administrative Agent is advised by the Requisite Lenders (or, in the case of a Eurodollar Money Market Loan, the Lender that is required to make such Loan) that the Base Eurocurrency Rate or the Eurodollar Rate, as applicable, for a Loan in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period,

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone promptly followed in writing or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (1) any Notice of Conversion/Continuation that requests the conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Loans to, or continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loans in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be ineffective, (2)  if such Borrowing is requested in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans and (3) if such Borrowing is requested  in any Alternative Currency, then the Eurodollar Rate for such Borrowing shall be at the CF Rate (as defined in clause (i) above); provided , further that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do not affect all the Lenders, then requests by the Borrower for Eurodollar Money Market Loan may be made to Lenders that are not affected thereby.

 

(e)                                   Illegality .  (i)  If at any time any Lender determines (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties) that the making, converting, maintaining or continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Money Market Loan has become unlawful or impermissible by compliance by that Lender with any law, governmental rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law and whether or not failure to comply therewith would be unlawful or would result in costs or penalties), then, and in any such event, such Lender may give notice of that determination, in writing, to the Borrower, the applicable Qualified Borrower and the

 

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Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit the notice to each other Lender.

 

(ii)                                   When notice is given by a Lender under Section 5.2(e)(i) , (A) the Borrower’s or the applicable Qualified Borrower’s right to request from such Lender and such Lender’s obligation, if any, to make Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be immediately suspended, and such Lender shall make a Base Rate Loan as part of any requested Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) if the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans, or Eurodollar Money Market Loans are then outstanding, the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower shall immediately, or if permitted by applicable law, no later than the date permitted thereby, upon at least one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and the affected Lender, convert each such Loan into a Base Rate Loan.

 

(iii)                                If at any time after a Lender gives notice under Section 5.2(e)(i)  such Lender determines that it may lawfully make Eurodollar Rate Loans, such Lender shall promptly give notice of that determination, in writing, to the Borrower, the applicable Qualified Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit the notice to each other Lender.  The Borrower’s and such Qualified Borrower’s right to request, and such Lender’s obligation, if any, to make Eurodollar Rate Loans shall thereupon be restored.

 

(iv)                               A Lender may at its option may make any Loan or issue or extend any Letter of Credit (a “ Credit Extension ”) to the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender (any “ Lending Office ”) to make such Credit Extension; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to repay such Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, if the Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for the Lender or its applicable Lending Office to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any Credit Extension to any Foreign Qualified Borrower then, on notice thereof by the Lender to the Borrower, and until such notice by the Lender is revoked, any obligation of the Lender or its Lending Office to issue, make, maintain, fund or charge interest with respect to any such Credit Extension shall be suspended.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall take all reasonable actions requested by the Lender to mitigate or avoid such illegality.

 

(f)                                    Compensation .  In addition to all amounts required to be paid by the Borrower or the applicable Qualified Borrower pursuant to Section 5.1 and Article XIII , the Borrower and the applicable Qualified Borrower shall compensate each Lender, upon demand, for all losses, expenses to third parties and liabilities (including, without limitation, any loss or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or maintain such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans and/or Money Market Loans to the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower but excluding any loss of Applicable Margin on the relevant Loans, any losses or expenses incurred as the result of such Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction) and any administrative fees incurred in effecting such liquidation

 

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or reemployment) which that Lender may sustain (i) if for any reason a Borrowing, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans and/or Eurodollar Money Market Loans does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation given by the Borrower or any applicable Qualified Borrower or in a telephonic request by it for borrowing or conversion/ continuation or a successive Eurodollar Interest Period does not commence after notice therefor is given pursuant to Section 5.1(c) , including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 5.2(d) , (ii) if for any reason any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Money Market Loan is prepaid on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period (including pursuant to Section 13.4 ), (iii) as a consequence of a required conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Money Market Loan to a Base Rate Loan as a result of any of the events indicated in Section 5.2(d) , or (iv) as a consequence of any failure by the Borrower or any applicable Qualified Borrower to repay a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Money Market Loan when required by the terms of this Agreement.  The Lender making demand for such compensation shall deliver to the Borrower concurrently with such demand a written statement in reasonable detail as to such losses, expenses and liabilities, and this statement shall be conclusive as to the amount of compensation due to that Lender, absent manifest error.

 

(g)                                   Booking of Eurodollar Rate Loans and Money Market Loans .  Any Lender may make, carry or transfer Eurodollar Rate Loans and Money Market Loans at, to, or for the account of, its Eurodollar Lending Office or Eurodollar Affiliate or its other offices or Affiliates.  No Lender shall be entitled, however, to receive any greater amount under Sections 4.2 or 5.2(f)  or Article XIII as a result of the transfer of any such Eurodollar Rate Loan or Money Market Loan to any office (other than such Eurodollar Lending Office) or any Affiliate (other than such Eurodollar Affiliate) than such Lender would have been entitled to receive immediately prior thereto, unless (i) the transfer occurred at a time when circumstances giving rise to the claim for such greater amount did not exist and (ii) such claim would have arisen even if such transfer had not occurred.

 

(h)                                  Affiliates Not Obligated .  No Eurodollar Affiliate or other Affiliate of any Lender shall be deemed a party to this Agreement or shall have any liability or obligation under this Agreement.

 

(i)                                      Adjusted Eurodollar Rate .  Any failure by any Lender to take into account the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage when calculating interest due on Eurodollar Rate Loans or Money Market Loans shall not constitute, whether by course of dealing or otherwise, a waiver by such Lender of its right to collect such amount for any future period.

 

5.3                                Fees .

 

(a)                                  Facility Fee .  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders based on their respective Pro Rata Shares for the Revolving Credit Facility, a fee (the “ Facility Fee ”), accruing at a per annum rate equal to the then applicable Facility Fee Percentage on the Maximum Revolving Credit Amount and commencing on the Initial Funding Date, such fee being payable quarterly, in arrears, commencing on the first day of the fiscal quarter next succeeding the Initial Funding Date and on the first day of each fiscal quarter thereafter and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

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(b)                                  Ticking Fee .  If any Term Commitments remain undrawn and uncanceled on the date that is 90 days after the Closing Date (after giving effect to (i) any Term Loans borrowed on or before such date and (ii) any Term Commitment reductions on or before such date pursuant to Section 4.1(b) ), then the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Lender (in accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Share for the Term Facility, a fee (the “ Ticking Fee ”) which shall accrue and be payable for the period beginning on the date that is 91 days after the Closing Date (the “ Ticking Fee Commencement Date ”), and continuing through the last day of the Term Commitment Period , at a daily per annum rate equal to the then applicable Facility Fee Percentage on the daily amount of unused and uncanceled Term Commitments.  All Ticking Fees shall be fully earned when paid and nonrefundable under any circumstances.  Accrued Ticking Fees shall be payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar quarter (for the preceding quarter) and on the last day of the Term Commitment Period, commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter after the Ticking Fee Commencement Date.

 

(c)                                   Calculation and Payment of Fees .  All fees shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year.  All fees shall be payable in addition to, and not in lieu of, interest, compensation, expense reimbursements, indemnification and other Obligations.  Fees shall be payable to the Administrative Agent at its office in New York, New York in immediately available funds.  All fees shall be fully earned and nonrefundable when paid.  All fees due to any Arranger or any other Lender, including, without limitation, those referred to in this Section 5.3 , shall bear interest, if not paid when due, at the interest rate specified in Section 5.1(d)  and shall constitute Obligations.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

CONDITIONS TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

6.1                                Conditions Precedent to the Initial Loans and Letters of Credit .  The obligation of each Lender on the Initial Funding Date to make any Loan requested to be made by it, and to issue Letters of Credit, shall be subject to the satisfaction of all of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  Documents .  The Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the Closing Date all of the following:

 

(i)                                      this Agreement, the Notes, and, to the extent not otherwise specifically referenced in this Section 6.1(a) , all other Loan Documents and agreements, documents and instruments described in the List of Closing Documents attached hereto as Exhibit E and made a part hereof, each duly executed and in recordable form, where appropriate, and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower hereby directs its legal counsel to prepare and deliver to the Agents and the Lenders, the legal opinions referred to in such List of Closing Documents; and

 

(ii)                                   such additional documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

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(b)                                  No Legal Impediments .  No law, regulation, order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority shall be, and the Administrative Agent shall not have received any notice that litigation is pending or threatened which is likely to enjoin, prohibit or restrain the making of the Loans and/or the issuance of Letters of Credit on the Initial Funding Date.

 

(c)                                   Interim Liabilities and Equity .  Except as disclosed to the Arrangers and the Lenders or in the Registration Statement, since December 31, 2013, neither the Borrower nor the Company shall have (i) entered into any material (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent) commitment or transaction, including, without limitation, transactions for borrowings and capital expenditures, which are not in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s business, (ii) declared or paid any dividends or other distributions other than in the ordinary course of business, (iii) established compensation or employee benefit plans, or (iv) redeemed or issued any equity Securities.

 

(d)                                  No Default .  No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the making of the Loans or the issuance of any Letter of Credit.

 

(e)                                   Representations and Warranties .  All of the representations and warranties contained in Section 7.1 and in any of the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Initial Funding Date.

 

(f)                                    Fees and Expenses Paid .  There shall have been paid to the Administrative Agent, for the accounts of the Agents and the other Lenders, as applicable, all fees due and payable on or before the Closing Date and all expenses due and payable on or before the Initial Funding Date, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Loan Documents.

 

(g)                                   Contribution or Transfer of Assets .  The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) satisfactory evidence that the assets and liabilities of all of the SPG Businesses described in the Registration Statement, other than strip centers and malls having an aggregate Capitalization Value of less than 10% of the Capitalization Value of all of the SPG Businesses described in the Registration Statement, which may be transferred after the Initial Funding Date (the “Delayed Transfer Assets”), shall have been contributed or transferred to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by SPG and its Subsidiaries and (ii) an Officer’s Certificate of the Borrower certifying as to pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 10.1 and Section 10.12 after giving effect to such contribution or transfer (other than any Delayed Transfer Assets) and the Loans to be made on the Initial Funding Date.

 

6.2                                Conditions Precedent to All Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit .  The obligation of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date after the Initial Funding Date and the agreement of each Lender to issue, increase or extend any Letter of Credit or participate therein on any date after the Initial Funding Date is subject to the following conditions precedent as of each such date:

 

(a)                                  Representations and Warranties .  As of such date, both before and after giving effect to the Loans to be made or the Letter of Credit to be issued, increased or extended

 

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on such date, all of the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section 7.1 and in any other Loan Document (other than representations and warranties which expressly speak as of a different date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct as of such date) shall be true and correct in all material respects.

 

(b)                                  No Defaults .  No Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the making of the requested Loan or issuance or extension of the requested Letter of Credit.

 

(c)                                   No Legal Impediments .  No law, regulation, order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority shall, and the Administrative Agent shall not have received from such Lender notice that, in the judgment of such Lender, litigation is pending or threatened which is likely to, enjoin, prohibit or restrain, or impose or result in the imposition of any material adverse condition upon, such Lender’s making of the requested Loan or participation in or issuance, increase or extension of the requested Letter of Credit.

 

(d)                                  Qualified Borrower .  In the event that such Loan is to be made to, or such Letter of Credit is to be issued or extended for the account of, a Qualified Borrower, receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Note by such Qualified Borrower for the account of each Lender, if not previously delivered, satisfying the requirements of Section 4.3 , together with the Qualified Borrower Guaranty and all other items that would have been required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 2.10 and 6.1 with respect to such Qualified Borrower.

 

Each submission by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing with respect to a Loan or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation with respect to any Loan, each acceptance by the Borrower or a Qualified Borrower of the proceeds of each Loan made, converted or continued hereunder, each submission by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to a Lender of a request for issuance or extension of a Letter of Credit and the issuance of such Letter of Credit, shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the Funding Date in respect of such Loan, the date of conversion or continuation and the date of issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit, that all the conditions contained in this Section 6.2 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 14.7 .

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

7.1                                Representations and Warranties of the Borrower .  In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and the other financial accommodations to the Borrower and to issue the Letters of Credit described herein, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to each Lender that the following statements are true, correct and complete:

 

(a)                                  Organization; Powers .  (i)  The Borrower (A) is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Indiana, (B) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which failure to be so qualified and in good standing will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material

 

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Adverse Effect, (C) has filed and maintained effective (unless exempt from the requirements for filing) a current Business Activity Report with the appropriate Governmental Authority in each state in which failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect, (D) has all requisite power and authority to own, operate and encumber its Property and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted in connection with and following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (E) is a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

(ii)                                   The Company (A) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Indiana, (B) is duly authorized and qualified to do business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which failure to be so qualified and in good standing will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (C) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, operate and encumber its Property and to conduct its business as presently conducted.

 

(iii)                                Each Qualified Borrower and General Partner in existence as of the date hereof is (or shall be at such time as it becomes a Qualified Borrower or General Partner) a duly formed and validly existing legal entity under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation and has all powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to own its property and assets and carry on its business as now conducted or as it presently proposes to conduct and has been duly qualified and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified and/or in good standing is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iv)                               True, correct and complete copies of the Organizational Documents identified on Schedule 7.1-A have been delivered to the Administrative Agent, each of which is in full force and effect, has not been modified or amended except to the extent set forth indicated therein and, to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, there are no defaults under such Organizational Documents and no events which, with the passage of time or giving of notice or both, would constitute a default under such Organizational Documents.

 

(v)                                  Neither the Borrower nor the Company is a “foreign person” within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(b)                                  Authority .  (i)  The General Partner has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement on behalf of the Borrower and each of the other Loan Documents which are required to be executed on behalf of the Borrower as required by this Agreement.  The General Partner is the Person who has executed this Agreement and such other Loan Documents on behalf of the Borrower and is the sole general partner of the Borrower. Each Qualified Borrower has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents which are required to be executed by it as required by this Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents which must be executed in connection with this Agreement by the Borrower

 

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and each Qualified Borrower and to which the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby are within the Borrower’s partnership powers or such Qualified Borrower’s partnership or corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary partnership or other applicable action (and, in the case of the General Partner acting on behalf of the Borrower in connection therewith, all necessary corporate action of such General Partner) and such authorization has not been rescinded.  No other partnership or corporate action or proceedings on the part of the Borrower or any General Partner or any Qualified Borrower is necessary to consummate such transactions.

 

(iii)                                Each of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower and constitutes the Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforcement thereof or the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity, or by the discretion of any court in awarding equitable remedies, regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding of equity or at law, is in full force and effect and all the terms, provisions, agreements and conditions set forth therein and required to be performed or complied with by the Company, the Borrower and the Borrower’s Subsidiaries on or before the Initial Funding Date have been performed or complied with, and no Potential Event of Default, Event of Default or breach of any covenant by any of the Company, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower exists thereunder.

 

(iv)                               Each of the Loan Documents to which any Qualified Borrower is a party has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Qualified Borrower and constitutes such Qualified Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against such Qualified Borrower in accordance with its terms, is in full force and effect and all the terms, provisions, agreements and conditions set forth therein and required to be performed or complied with by such Qualified Borrower have been performed or complied with, and no Potential Event of Default, Event of Default or breach of any covenant by any of such Qualified Borrower exists thereunder.

 

(c)                                   Subsidiaries; Ownership of Capital Stock and Partnership Interests .  (i)  Schedule 7.1-C (A) contains a chart, together with lists, indicating the corporate structure of the Company, the Borrower, and any other Person in which the Company or the Borrower holds a direct or indirect partnership, joint venture or other equity interest indicating the nature of such interest with respect to each Person included in such diagram; and (B) accurately sets forth (1) the correct legal name of such Person, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and the jurisdictions in which it is qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation, or otherwise, and (2) the authorized, issued and outstanding shares or interests of each class of Securities of the Company, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the owners of such shares or interests (provided, however, that the shareholders of the Company and the limited partners of the Borrower are not listed thereon).  None of such issued and outstanding Securities is subject to any vesting, redemption, or repurchase agreement, and there are no warrants or options (other

 

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than Permitted Securities Options) outstanding with respect to such Securities, except as noted on Schedule 7.1-C .  The outstanding Capital Stock of the Company is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and the outstanding Securities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are duly authorized and validly issued.  Attached hereto as part of Schedule 7.1-C is a true, accurate and complete copy of the Borrower Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date and such Partnership Agreement has not been amended, supplemented, replaced, restated or otherwise modified in any respect since the Closing Date.

 

(ii)                                   Except where failure may not have a Material Adverse Effect, each Subsidiary: (A) is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as indicated on Schedule 7.1-C , duly organized, validly existing and, if applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (B) is duly qualified to do business and, if applicable, is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which failure to be so qualified and in good standing would limit its ability to use the courts of such jurisdiction to enforce Contractual Obligations to which it is a party, and (C) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its Property and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted hereafter.

 

(d)                                  No Conflict .  The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower is a party do not and will not (i) conflict with the Organizational Documents of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower, (ii) constitute a tortious interference with any Contractual Obligation of any Person or conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of the Borrower, the General Partner, any Limited Partner, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower, or any general or limited partner of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or require termination of any such Contractual Obligation which may subject the Administrative Agent or any of the other Lenders to any liability, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien whatsoever upon any of the Property or assets of the Borrower, the General Partner, any Limited Partner, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower, or any general partner or limited partner of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or (iv) require any approval of shareholders of the Company or any general partner (or equity holder of any general partner) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

(e)                                   Governmental Consents .  The execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower is a party do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by any Governmental Authority, except filings, consents or notices which have been made, obtained or given.

 

(f)                                    Governmental Regulation .  Neither the Borrower nor any General Partner nor any Qualified Borrower is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, or the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any other federal or state statute or regulation which limits its ability to incur indebtedness or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(g)                                   Financial Position .  Complete and accurate copies of the following financial statements and materials have been delivered to the Administrative Agent:  (i) audited combined financial statements of the SPG Businesses for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013; and (ii) unaudited pro forma combined financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013.  All financial statements included in such materials were prepared in all material respects in conformity with GAAP, except as otherwise noted therein, and fairly present in all material respects on a pro forma basis the respective consolidated financial positions, and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows (except that the unaudited pro forma combined financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013 do not include a statement of cash flows) for each of the periods covered thereby of the SPG Businesses and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as at the respective dates thereof.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Contingent Obligation, contingent liability or liability for any taxes, long-term leases or commitments, not reflected in its audited financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date or otherwise disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing, which will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(h)                                  Indebtedness Schedule 7.1-H sets forth, as of December 31, 2013, all Indebtedness for borrowed money of each of the Borrower, the General Partner and their respective Subsidiaries and, except as set forth on Schedule 7.1-H , there are no defaults in the payment of principal or interest on any such Indebtedness and no payments thereunder have been deferred or extended beyond their stated maturity and there has been no material change in the type or amount of such Indebtedness (except for the repayment of certain Indebtedness) since December 31, 2013, which, in the case of Non-Recourse Indebtedness only, will have or is reasonably likely to have, in any of such cases, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(i)                                      Litigation; Adverse Effects .  Except as set forth in Schedule 7.1-I , as of the Closing Date, there is no action, suit, proceeding, Claim, investigation or arbitration before or by any Governmental Authority or private arbitrator pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Company, the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any Property of any of them (i) challenging the validity or the enforceability of any of the Loan Documents, (ii) which will or is reasonably likely to result in a loss in excess of $30,000,000, or (iii) under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act or any similar federal or state statute where such Person is a defendant in a criminal indictment that provides for the forfeiture of assets to any Governmental Authority as a potential criminal penalty.  There is no material loss contingency within the meaning of GAAP which has not been reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Borrower.  None of the Company, any General Partner, the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower is (A) in violation of any applicable Requirements of Law which violation will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (B) subject to or in default with respect to any final judgment, writ, injunction, restraining order or order of any nature, decree, rule or regulation of any court or Governmental Authority which will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(j)                                     No Material Adverse Effect .  Since December 31, 2013, there has occurred no event which has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(k)                                  Tax Examinations .  The IRS has examined (or is foreclosed from examining by applicable statutes) the federal income tax returns of any of the Company’s, the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ predecessors in interest with respect to the Projects for all tax periods prior to and including the taxable year ending December 31, 2009 and the appropriate state Governmental Authority in each state in which the Company’s, the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ predecessors in interest with respect to the Projects were required to file state income tax returns has examined (or is foreclosed from examining by applicable statutes) the state income tax returns of any of such Persons with respect to the Projects for all tax periods prior to and including the taxable year ending December 31, 2009. All deficiencies which have been asserted against such Persons as a result of any federal, state, local or foreign tax examination for each taxable year in respect of which an examination has been conducted have been fully paid or finally settled or are being contested in good faith, and no issue has been raised in any such examination which, by application of similar principles, reasonably can be expected to result in assertion of a material deficiency for any other year not so examined which has not been reserved for in the financial statements of such Persons to the extent, if any, required by GAAP.  No such Person has taken any reporting positions for which it does not have a reasonable basis nor anticipates any further material tax liability with respect to the years which have not been closed pursuant to applicable law.

 

(l)                                      Payment of Taxes .  All tax returns, reports and similar statements or filings of each of the Persons described in Section 7.1(k) , the Company, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and any Qualified Borrower required to be filed have been timely filed, and, except for Customary Permitted Liens, all taxes, assessments, fees and other charges of Governmental Authorities thereupon and upon or relating to their respective Properties, assets, receipts, sales, use, payroll, employment, income, licenses and franchises which are shown in such returns or reports to be due and payable have been paid, except to the extent (i) such taxes, assessments, fees and other charges of Governmental Authorities are being contested in good faith by an appropriate proceeding diligently pursued as permitted by the terms of Section 9.4 and (ii) such taxes, assessments, fees and other charges of Governmental Authorities pertain to Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the non-payment of the amounts thereof would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.  All other taxes (including, without limitation, real estate taxes), assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon or relating to the respective Properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are due and payable have been paid, except for Customary Permitted Liens and except to the extent described in clauses (i) and (ii) hereinabove.  The Borrower has no knowledge of any proposed tax assessment against the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of the Projects that will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(m)                              Performance .  Neither the Company, the Borrower nor any of their Affiliates nor any Qualified Borrower has received any notice, citation or allegation, nor has actual knowledge, that (i) it is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any Contractual Obligation applicable to it, (ii) any of its Properties is in violation of any Requirements of Law or (iii) any condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default with respect to any such Contractual Obligation, in each case, except where such default or defaults, if any, will not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n)                                  Disclosure .  The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in the Loan Documents, and all certificates and other documents delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms thereof, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.  The Borrower has not intentionally withheld any fact from the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents or the other Lenders in regard to any matter which will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lenders acknowledge that the Borrower shall not have liability under this clause (n) with respect to its projections of future events.

 

(o)                                  Requirements of Law .  The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and each Qualified Borrower is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it and its respective businesses and Properties, in each case where the failure to so comply individually or in the aggregate will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(p)                                  Environmental Matters .

 

(i)                                      Except as disclosed on Schedule 7.1-P and except where failure is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(A)                                the operations of the Borrower, each of its Subsidiaries, and each Qualified Borrower, and their respective Properties comply with all applicable Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law;

 

(B)                                the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and each Qualified Borrower have obtained all material environmental, health and safety Permits necessary for their respective operations, and all such Permits are in good standing and the holder of each such Permit is currently in compliance with all terms and conditions of such Permits;

 

(C)                                none of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Qualified Borrower or any of their respective present or past Property or operations are subject to or are the subject of any investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding, order, judgment, decree, dispute, negotiations, agreement or settlement by any Governmental Authority respecting (I) any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law, (II) any Remedial Action, (III) any Claims or Liabilities and Costs arising from the Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment, or (IV) any violation of or liability under any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law;

 

(D)                                none of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Qualified Borrower has filed any notice under any applicable Requirement of Law (I)  reporting a Release of a Contaminant; (II) indicating past or present treatment, storage or disposal of a hazardous waste, as that term is defined under 40 C.F.R. Part 261 or any state equivalent; or (III) reporting a violation of any applicable Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law;

 

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(E)                                 none of the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ or any Qualified Borrower’s present or past Property is listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List (“ NPL ”) pursuant to CERCLA or on the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Information System List (“ CERCLIS ”) or any similar state list of sites requiring Remedial Action;

 

(F)                                  neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any Qualified Borrower has sent or directly arranged for the transport of any waste to any site listed or proposed for listing on the NPL, CERCLIS or any similar state list;

 

(G)                                to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, there is not now, and to Borrower’s knowledge there has never been on or in any Project (I) any treatment, recycling, storage or disposal of any hazardous waste, as that term is defined under 40 C.F.R. Part 261 or any state equivalent; (II) any landfill, waste pile, or surface impoundment; (III) any underground storage tanks the presence or use of which is or, to Borrower’s knowledge, has been in violation of applicable Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law, (IV) any asbestos-containing material which such Person has any reason to believe could subject such Person or its Property to Liabilities and Costs arising out of or relating to environmental, health or safety matters that would result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (V) any polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) used in hydraulic oils, electrical transformers or other Equipment, in all cases,  which such Person has any reason to believe could subject such Person or its Property to Liabilities and Costs arising out of or relating to environmental, health or safety matters;

 

(H)                               neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any Qualified Borrower has received any notice or Claim to the effect that any of such Persons is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment;

 

(I)                                    neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries or any Qualified Borrower has any contingent liability in connection with any Release or threatened Release of any Contaminants into the environment;

 

(J)                                    no Environmental Lien has attached to any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower;

 

(K)                               no Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower is subject to any Environmental Property Transfer Act, or to the extent such acts are applicable to any such Property, the Borrower and/or such Subsidiary whose Property is subject thereto has fully complied with the requirements of such acts; and

 

(L)                                 neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any Qualified Borrower owns or operates, or, to Borrower’s knowledge has ever

 

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owned or operated, any underground storage tank, the presence or use of which is or has been in violation of applicable Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law, at any Project.

 

(ii)                                   the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and each Qualified Borrower are conducting and will continue to conduct their respective businesses and operations and maintain each Project in compliance in all material respects with applicable Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law and no such Person has been, and no such Person has any reason to believe that it or any Project will be, subject to Liabilities and Costs arising out of or relating to environmental, health or safety matters that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)                                  ERISA . Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan other than those listed on Schedule 7.1-Q hereto.  Each such Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as currently in effect has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified, and each trust related to any such Plan has been determined to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as currently in effect.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 7.1-Q , neither the Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates maintains or contributes to any employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA which provides benefits to employees after termination of employment other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA.  The Borrower and each of its ERISA Affiliates is in compliance in all material respects with the responsibilities, obligations and duties imposed on it by ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to all Plans.  No Plan has incurred any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Sections 302(a)(2) of ERISA and 412(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) whether or not waived.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate nor any fiduciary of any Plan which is not a Multiemployer Plan (i) has engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) has taken or failed to take any action which would constitute or result in a Termination Event.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is subject to any liability under Sections 4063, 4064, 4069, 4204 or 4212(c) of ERISA.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due which are unpaid.  Schedule B to the most recent annual report filed with the IRS with respect to each Plan and furnished to the Administrative Agent is complete and accurate in all material respects.  Since the date of each such Schedule B, there has been no material adverse change in the funding status or financial condition of the Plan relating to such Schedule B.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has (i) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan or (ii) made a complete or partial withdrawal under Sections 4203 or 4205 of ERISA from a Multiemployer Plan.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has failed to make a required installment or any other required payment under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or before the due date for such installment or other payment.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to a Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Internal Revenue Code due to a Plan amendment that results in an increase in current liability for the plan year.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 7.1-Q , neither the Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has, by reason of the transactions contemplated hereby, any obligation to make any payment to any employee pursuant to any Plan or existing contract or arrangement.

 

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(r)                                     Securities Activities .  Neither the Borrower nor any Qualified Borrower is engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

 

(s)                                    Solvency .  After giving effect to the Loans to be made on the Initial Funding Date or such other date as Loans requested hereunder are made, and the disbursement of the proceeds of such Loans pursuant to the Borrower’s or the applicable Qualified Borrower’s instructions, the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower, if any, is Solvent.

 

(t)                                     Insurance Schedule 7.1-T accurately sets forth as of the Closing Date all insurance policies and programs currently in effect with respect to the respective Property and assets and business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, specifying for each such policy and program, (i) the amount thereof, (ii) the risks insured against thereby, (iii) the name of the insurer and each insured party thereunder, (iv) the policy or other identification number thereof, and (v) the expiration date thereof. Such insurance policies and programs are currently in full force and effect, in compliance with the requirements of Section 9.5 hereof and, together with payment by the insured of scheduled deductible payments, are in amounts sufficient to cover the replacement value of the respective Property and assets of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

(u)                                  REIT Status .  The Company qualifies as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(v)                                  Ownership of Projects, Minority Holdings and Property .  Ownership of substantially all wholly-owned Projects, Minority Holdings and other Property of the Consolidated Businesses is held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and is not held directly by the General Partner.

 

(w)                                Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions .  The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designated to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.  None of (a) Borrower, any Subsidiary, or to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.  No Borrowing or Letter of Credit (directly or indirectly), use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

REPORTING COVENANTS

 

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Commitments or any Letters of Credit are outstanding and thereafter until payment in full of all of the Obligations

 

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(other than indemnities pursuant to Section 14.3 not yet due), unless the Requisite Lenders shall otherwise give prior written consent thereto:

 

8.1                                Borrower Accounting Practices .  The Borrower shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with sound business practices to permit preparation of consolidated and consolidating financial statements in conformity with GAAP as in effect from time to time, and each of the financial statements and reports described below shall be prepared from such system and records and in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

8.2                                Financial Reports . The Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  Quarterly Reports.

 

(i)                                      Borrower Quarterly Financial Reports . As soon as practicable, and in any event within (A) ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal quarter ending in 2014 beginning with the quarter ending June 30, 2014; and (B) fifty (50) days after the end of each fiscal quarter in each Fiscal Year thereafter (other than the last fiscal quarter in each Fiscal Year), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flow of the Borrower (to be prepared and delivered quarterly in conjunction with the other reports delivered hereunder at the end of each fiscal quarter) for each such fiscal quarter, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and, in comparative form, the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year, certified by an Authorized Financial Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the consolidated and consolidating financial position of the Borrower as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flow for the months indicated in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal quarterly adjustments.

 

(ii)                                   Company Quarterly Financial Reports . As soon as practicable, and in any event within (A) ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal quarter ending in 2014; and (B) fifty (50) days after the end of each fiscal quarter in each Fiscal Year thereafter (other than the last fiscal quarter in each Fiscal Year), the Financial Statements of the Company, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on Form 10-Q as at the end of such period and a report setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period of the previous Fiscal Year, certified by an Authorized Financial Officer of the Company as fairly presenting the consolidated and consolidating financial position of the Company, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the date indicated and the results of their operations and cash flow for the period indicated in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal adjustments.

 

(iii)                                Quarterly Compliance Certificates .  Together with each delivery of any quarterly report pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 8.2 , the Borrower shall deliver Officer’s Certificates, substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto of the Borrower and the Company (the “ Quarterly Compliance Certificates ”), signed by the Borrower’s and the Company’s respective Authorized Financial Officers representing

 

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and certifying (1) that the Authorized Financial Officer signatory thereto has reviewed the terms of the Loan Documents, and has made, or caused to be made under his/her supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and consolidated and consolidating financial condition of the Company, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, during the fiscal quarter covered by such reports, that such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of such fiscal quarter, and that such officer does not have knowledge of the existence as at the date of such Officer’s Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or mandatory prepayment event, or, if any such condition or event existed or exists, and specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the General Partner and/or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto, (2) the calculations (with such specificity as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request) for the period then ended which demonstrate compliance with the covenants and financial ratios set forth in Articles IX and X and, when applicable, that no Event of Default described in Section 11.1 exists, (3) a schedule of the Borrower’s outstanding Indebtedness, including the amount, maturity, interest rate and amortization requirements, as well as such other information regarding such Indebtedness as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (4) a schedule of Combined EBITDA, (5) a schedule of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA, (6) a schedule of Mall EBITDA, (7) a schedule of Strip Center EBITDA, and (8) calculations, in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto, evidencing compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Article X hereof.

 

(b)                                  Annual Reports .

 

(i)                                      Borrower Financial Statements . As soon as practicable, and in any event within (A) one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the 2014 Fiscal Year; and (B) ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year thereafter, (i) the Financial Statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, (ii) a report with respect thereto of  Ernst & Young, LLP or other independent certified public accountants acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report shall be without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception or a qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit and shall state that such financial statements fairly present the consolidated and consolidating financial position of each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flow for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years (except for changes with which  Ernst & Young, LLP or any such other independent certified public accountants, if applicable, shall concur and which shall have been disclosed in the notes to the financial statements), and (iii) in the event that the report referred to in clause (ii) above is qualified, a copy of the management letter or any similar report delivered to the General Partner or to any officer or employee thereof by such independent certified public accountants in connection with such financial statements (which letter or report shall be subject to the confidentiality limitations set forth herein).  The Administrative Agent and each Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may, with the consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), communicate directly with such accountants, with any such communication to occur together with a representative of the Borrower, at the expense of the Administrative

 

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Agent (or the Lender requesting such communication), upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during normal business hours.

 

(ii)                                   Company Financial Statements . As soon as practicable, and in any event within (A) one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the 2014 Fiscal Year; and (B) ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year thereafter, (i) the Financial Statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries on Form 10-K as at the end of such Fiscal Year and a report setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures from the consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the prior Fiscal Year; (ii) a report with respect thereto of Ernst & Young LLP or other independent certified public accountants acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report shall be without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception or a qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit and shall state  that such financial statements fairly present the consolidated and consolidating financial position of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flow for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years (except for changes with which Ernst & Young LLP or any such other independent certified public accountants, if applicable, shall concur and which shall have been disclosed in the notes to the financial statements)(which report shall be subject to the confidentiality limitations set forth herein); and (iii) in the event that the report referred to in clause (ii) above is qualified, a copy of the management letter or any similar report delivered to the Company or to any officer or employee thereof by such independent certified public accountants in connection with such financial statements.  The Administrative Agent and each Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may, with the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), communicate directly with such accountants, with any such communication to occur together with a representative of the Company, at the expense of the Administrative Agent (or the Lender requesting such communication), upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during normal business hours.

 

(iii)                                Annual Compliance Certificates .  Together with each delivery of any annual report pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 8.2(b) , the Borrower shall deliver Officer’s Certificates of the Borrower and the Company (the “ Annual Compliance Certificates ” and, collectively with the Quarterly Compliance Certificates, the “ Compliance Certificates ”), signed by the Borrower’s and the Company’s respective Authorized Financial Officers, representing and certifying that (1) the officer signatory thereto has reviewed the terms of the Loan Documents, and has made, or caused to be made under his/her supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and consolidated and consolidating financial condition of the General Partner, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, during the accounting period covered by such reports, that such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of such accounting period, and that such officer does not have knowledge of the existence as at the date of such Officer’s Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or mandatory prepayment event, or, if any such condition or event existed or exists, and specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the General Partner and/or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto, (2) the calculations (with such

 

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specificity as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request) for the period then ended which demonstrate compliance with the covenants and financial ratios set forth in Articles IX and X and, when applicable, that no Event of Default described in Section 11.1 exists, (3) a schedule of the Borrower’s outstanding Indebtedness including the amount, maturity, interest rate and amortization requirements, as well as such other information regarding such Indebtedness as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (4) a schedule of Combined EBITDA, (5) a schedule of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA, (6) a schedule of Mall EBITDA, (7) a schedule of Strip Center EBITDA, (8) calculations, in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto, evidencing compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Article X hereof, and (9) a schedule of the estimated taxable income of the Borrower for such fiscal year.

 

(iv)                               Tenant Bankruptcy Reports .  As soon as practicable, and in any event within (A) one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the 2014 Fiscal Year; and (B) ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year thereafter, the Borrower shall deliver a written report, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of all bankruptcy proceedings filed by or against any tenant of any of the Projects, which tenant occupies 3% or more of the gross leasable area in the Projects in the aggregate.

 

8.3                                Events of Default .  Promptly upon the Borrower obtaining knowledge (a) of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default, or becoming aware that any Lender or the Administrative Agent has given any notice to the Borrower with respect to a claimed Event of Default or Potential Event of Default under this Agreement; (b) that any Person has given any notice to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or taken any other action with respect to a claimed default or event or condition of the type referred to in Section 11.1(e) ; or (c) of any condition or event which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders an Officer’s Certificate specifying (i) the nature and period of existence of any such claimed default, Event of Default, Potential Event of Default, condition or event, (ii) the notice given or action taken by such Person in connection therewith, and (iii) what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

8.4                                Lawsuits .  Promptly upon the Borrower’s obtaining knowledge of the institution of, or written threat of, any action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not previously disclosed pursuant to Section 7.1(i) , which action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration exposes, or in the case of multiple actions, suits, proceedings, governmental investigations or arbitrations arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances which expose, in the Borrower’s reasonable judgment, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to liability in an amount aggregating $15,000,000 or more and is not covered by Borrower’s insurance, the Borrower shall give written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and provide such other information as may be reasonably available to enable each Lender and the Administrative Agent and its counsel to evaluate such matters.

 

8.5                                ERISA Notices .  The Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, at the Borrower’s expense, the following information and notices as soon as reasonably possible, and in any event:

 

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(a)                                  within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that an ERISA Termination Event has occurred, a written statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA Termination Event and the action, if any, which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and when known, any action taken or threatened by the IRS, DOL or PBGC with respect thereto;

 

(b)                                  within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know that a prohibited transaction (defined in Sections 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code) has occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such transaction and the action which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(c)                                   within fifteen (15) Business Days after the filing of the same with the DOL, IRS or PBGC, copies of each annual report (form 5500 series), including Schedule B thereto, filed with respect to each Plan;

 

(d)                                  within fifteen (15) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of each actuarial report for any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and each annual report for any Multiemployer Plan, copies of each such report;

 

(e)                                   within fifteen (15) Business Days after the filing of the same with the IRS, a copy of each funding waiver request filed with respect to any Plan and all communications received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such request;

 

(f)                                    within fifteen (15) Business Days after the occurrence of any material increase in the benefits of any existing Plan or Multiemployer Plan or the establishment of any new Plan or the commencement of contributions to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate was not previously contributing, notification of such increase, establishment or commencement;

 

(g)                                   within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate receives notice of the PBGC’s intention to terminate a Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer a Plan, copies of each such notice;

 

(h)                                  within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receives notice of any unfavorable determination letter from the IRS regarding the qualification of a Plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, copies of each such letter;

 

(i)                                      within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate receives notice from a Multiemployer Plan regarding the imposition of withdrawal liability, copies of each such notice;

 

(j)                                     within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make a required installment or any other required payment under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or before the due date for such installment or payment, a notification of such failure; and

 

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(k)                                  within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know (i) a Multiemployer Plan has been terminated, (ii) the administrator or plan sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan intends to terminate a Multiemployer Plan, or (iii) the PBGC has instituted or will institute proceedings under Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate a Multiemployer Plan, notification of such termination, intention to terminate, or institution of proceedings.

 

For purposes of this Section 8.5 , the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate shall be deemed to know all facts known by the “Administrator” of any Plan of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is the plan sponsor.

 

8.6                                Environmental Notices .  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing, promptly upon any representative of the Borrower or other employee of the Borrower responsible for the environmental matters at any Property of the Borrower learning thereof, of any of the following (together with any material documents and correspondence received or sent in connection therewith):

 

(a)                                  notice or claim to the effect that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the Release or threatened Release of any Contaminant into the environment, if such liability  would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)                                  notice that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to investigation by any Governmental Authority evaluating whether any Remedial Action is needed to respond to the Release or threatened Release of any Contaminant into the environment which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)                                   notice that any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to an Environmental Lien if the claim to which such Environmental Lien relates would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(d)                                  notice of violation by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(e)                                   any condition which might reasonably result in a violation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower of any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law, which violation would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(f)                                    commencement of or written notice of intent to commence any judicial or administrative proceeding alleging a violation by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law, which would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)                                   new or proposed changes to any existing Environmental, Health or Safety Requirement of Law that could result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(h)                                  any proposed acquisition of stock, assets, real estate, or leasing of Property, or any other action by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could subject the

 

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Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to environmental, health or safety Liabilities and Costs which could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.7                                Labor Matters .  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing, promptly upon the Borrower’s learning thereof, of any labor dispute to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may become a party (including, without limitation, any strikes, lockouts or other disputes relating to any Property of such Persons’ and other facilities) which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8.8                                Notices of Asset Sales and/or Acquisitions .  The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders written notice of each of the following upon the occurrence thereof: (a) a sale, transfer or other disposition of assets, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, for consideration in excess of $500,000,000, (b) an acquisition of assets, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, for consideration in excess of $500,000,000, and (c) the grant of a Lien with respect to assets, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, in connection with Indebtedness aggregating an amount in excess of $500,000,000.

 

8.9                                Tenant Notifications .  The Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent upon obtaining knowledge of the bankruptcy or cessation of operations of any tenant to which greater than 5% of the Borrower’s share of consolidated minimum rent is attributable.

 

8.10                         Other Reports .  The Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders to the extent not publicly available electronically at www.sec.gov or www.washingtonprime.com (or successor web sites thereto), copies of all financial statements, reports, notices and other materials, if any, sent or made available generally by any General Partner and/or the Borrower to its respective Securities holders or filed with the Commission, all press releases made available generally by any General Partner and/or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments in the business of any General Partner, the Borrower or any such Subsidiary and all notifications received by the General Partner, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder.

 

8.11                         Other Information .  Promptly upon receiving a request therefor from the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, the Borrower shall prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders such other information with respect to any General Partner, the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower and Qualified Borrowers each covenants and agrees that so long as any Commitments or Letters of Credit are outstanding and thereafter until payment in full of all of

 

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the Obligations (other than indemnities pursuant to Section 14.3 not yet due), unless the Requisite Lenders shall otherwise give prior written consent:

 

9.1                                Existence, Etc .   The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain its corporate existence or existence as a limited partnership or joint venture, as applicable, and preserve and keep, or cause to be preserved and kept, in full force and effect its rights and franchises material to its businesses, except where the loss or termination of such rights and franchises is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.2                                Powers; Conduct of Business .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall remain qualified, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to qualify and remain qualified, to do business and maintain its good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business and the ownership of its Property requires it to be so qualified and in good standing, except where the failure to remain so qualified is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.3                                Compliance with Laws, Etc .   The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) comply with all Requirements of Law and all restrictive covenants affecting such Person or the business, Property, assets or operations of such Person, and (b) obtain and maintain as needed all Permits necessary for its operations (including, without limitation, the operation of the Projects) and maintain such Permits in good standing, except where noncompliance with either clause (a)  or (b)  above is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided , however , that the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law affecting such Person or the business, Property, assets or operations of such Person. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

9.4                                Payment of Taxes and Claims .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, (i) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon it or on any of its Property or assets or in respect of any of its franchises, licenses, receipts, sales, use, payroll, employment, business, income or Property before any penalty or interest accrues thereon, and (ii) all Claims (including, without limitation, claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums which have become due and payable and which by law have or may become a Lien (other than a Lien permitted by Section 10.3 or a Customary Permitted Lien for property taxes and assessments not yet due upon any of the Borrower’s or any Qualified Borrower’s or any of the Borrower’s or any Qualified Borrower’s Subsidiaries’ Property or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided , however , that no such taxes, assessments, fees and governmental charges referred to in clause (i) above or Claims referred to in clause (ii) above need be paid if being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently instituted and conducted and if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor.

 

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9.5                                Insurance .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall maintain for itself and its Subsidiaries, or shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain in full force and effect the insurance policies and programs listed on Schedule 7.1-T or substantially similar policies and programs or other policies and programs as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  All such policies and programs shall be maintained with insurers reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

9.6                                Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall permit, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit, any authorized representative(s) designated by either the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, Co-Agent or other Lender to visit and inspect any of the Projects or inspect the MIS of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which relates to the Projects, to examine, audit, check and make copies of their respective financial and accounting records, books, journals, orders, receipts and any correspondence and other data relating to their respective businesses or the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, in connection with environmental compliance, hazard or liability), and to discuss their affairs, finances and accounts with their officers and independent certified public accountants, all with a representative of the Borrower present, upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours, as often as may be reasonably requested.  Each such visitation and inspection shall be at such visitor’s expense.  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall keep and maintain, and cause its Subsidiaries to keep and maintain, in all material respects on its MIS and otherwise proper books of record and account in which entries in conformity with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to their respective businesses and activities.

 

9.7                                ERISA Compliance .  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and ERISA Affiliates to, establish, maintain and operate all Plans to comply in all material respects with the provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, all other applicable laws, and the regulations and interpretations thereunder and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such Plans, except where failure to do so is not reasonably likely to result in liability to the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate of an amount in excess of $5,000,000.

 

9.8                                Maintenance of Property .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain in all material respects all of their respective owned and leased Property in good, safe and insurable condition and repair and in a businesslike manner, and not permit, commit or suffer any waste or abandonment of any such Property and from time to time shall make or cause to be made all material repairs, renewal and replacements thereof, including, without limitation, any capital improvements which may be required to maintain the same in a businesslike manner; provided , however , that such Property may be altered or renovated in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower or such applicable Subsidiary. Without any limitation on the foregoing, the Borrower shall maintain the Projects in a manner such that each Project can be used in the manner and substantially for the purposes such Project is used on the Closing Date, including, without limitation, maintaining all utilities, access rights, zoning and necessary Permits for such Project.

 

9.9                                Company Status .  The Company shall at all times (1) remain a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange or other national stock exchange; (2) maintain its status as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, (3) retain direct or indirect

 

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management and control of the Borrower, and (4) own, directly or indirectly, no less than ninety-nine percent (99%) of the equity Securities of any other General Partner of the Borrower.

 

9.10                         Ownership of Projects, Minority Holdings and Property . The ownership of substantially all wholly-owned Projects, Minority Holdings and other Property of the Consolidated Businesses shall be held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and shall not be held directly by any General Partner.

 

9.11                         Delayed Transfer Assets . On before May 30, 2014, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent satisfactory evidence that the Delayed Transfer Assets shall have been transferred to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries by SPG and its Subsidiaries.

 

ARTICLE X

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower and each Qualified Borrower each covenants and agrees that it shall comply with the following covenants so long as any Commitments or Letters of Credit are outstanding and thereafter until payment in full of all of the Obligations (other than indemnities pursuant to Section 14.3 not yet due), unless the Requisite Lenders shall otherwise give prior written consent:

 

10.1                         Indebtedness.  (a) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

 

(i)                                      Indebtedness which, when aggregated with Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness as of the time of incurrence, creation or assumption thereof, would not cause Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness to exceed sixty percent (60%) of Capitalization Value; provided, however, that in connection with a portfolio acquisition, Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness may exceed sixty percent (60%) of Capitalization Value, but in no event exceed sixty-five percent (65%) of Capitalization Value, as of the time of such acquisition and for the four (4) consecutive full calendar quarters after such acquisition;

 

(ii)                                   Indebtedness which, when aggregated with Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness as of the time of incurrence, creation or assumption thereof, would not cause Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness to exceed sixty percent (60%) of Unencumbered Capitalization Value; provided, however, that in connection with a portfolio acquisition, Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness may exceed sixty percent (60%) of Unencumbered Capitalization Value but in no event exceed sixty-five percent (65%) of Unencumbered Capitalization Value,  as of the time of such acquisition and for the four (4) consecutive full calendar quarters after such acquisition; and

 

(iii)                                Indebtedness which, when aggregated with Secured Indebtedness of the Consolidated Businesses and the Borrower’s proportionate share (determined in accordance with GAAP) of Secured Indebtedness of its Minority Holdings would not

 

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cause Secured Indebtedness of the Consolidated Businesses and the Borrower’s proportionate share (determined in accordance with GAAP) of Secured Indebtedness of its Minority Holdings to exceed forty percent (40%) of Capitalization Value; provided, however, that, in connection with a portfolio acquisition, such Secured Indebtedness may exceed forty percent (40%) of Capitalization Value, but in no event exceed fifty percent (50%) of Capitalization Value, as of the time of such acquisition and for the four (4) consecutive full calendar quarters after such acquisition.

 

For purposes of Section 10.1(a)(i)  only (and for no other purpose under this Agreement), (A) Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom an amount equal to the lesser of (x) Maturing Indebtedness, and (y) Unrestricted Cash, and (B) Capitalization Value shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom Cash and Cash Equivalents and adding back the amount, if any, by which Unrestricted Cash exceeds Maturing Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of Section 10.1(a)(ii)  only (and for no other purpose under this Agreement), (A) Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom an amount equal to the lesser of (x) Maturing Unsecured Indebtedness, and (y) the sum of Unrestricted Cash minus any Unrestricted Cash deducted from Secured Indebtedness pursuant to the following paragraph, and (B) Unencumbered Capitalization Value shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom Cash and Cash Equivalents and adding back the amount, if any, by which Unrestricted Cash exceeds Maturing Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of Section 10.1(a)(iii)  only (and for no other purpose under this Agreement) , (A) Secured Indebtedness shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom an amount equal to the lesser of (x) Maturing Secured Indebtedness, and (y) the sum of Unrestricted Cash minus any Unrestricted Cash deducted from Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness pursuant to the preceding paragraph, and (B) Capitalization Value shall be adjusted by deducting therefrom Cash and Cash Equivalents and adding back the amount, if any, by which Unrestricted Cash exceeds Maturing Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall incur, directly or indirectly, Indebtedness for borrowed money from the General Partner, unless such Indebtedness is unsecured and expressly subordinated to the payment of the Obligations.

 

10.2                         Sales of Assets .  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of any Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or enter into any agreement to do so which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

10.3                         Liens .  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any Property, except:

 

(a)                                  Liens with respect to Capital Leases of Equipment entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower pursuant to which the aggregate Indebtedness under such Capital Leases does not exceed $5,000,000 for any Project;

 

(b)                                  Liens securing permitted Secured Indebtedness; and

 

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(c)                                   Customary Permitted Liens.

 

10.4                         Investments .  Neither the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly make or own any Investment except:

 

(a)                                  Investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)                                  Subject to the limitations of clause (e) below, Investments in the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, the Borrower’s Affiliates and Minority Holdings and the Management Company;

 

(c)                                   Investments in the form of advances to employees in the ordinary course of business; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all such advances at any time outstanding shall not exceed $1,000,000;

 

(d)                                  Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and lessees and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, lessees and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)                                   Investments in any individual Project, which when combined with like Investments of the General Partner in such Project, do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Capitalization Value (inclusive of the Capitalization Value attributable to such Project) after giving effect to such Investments of the Borrower; and

 

(f)                                    Investments in a single Person owning a Project or Property, or a portfolio of Projects or Properties, which when combined with like Investments of the General Partner in such Person, do not exceed forty percent (40%) of the combined Capitalization Value after giving effect to such Investments of the Borrower.

 

10.5                         Conduct of Business .  Neither the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall engage in any business, enterprise or activity other than (a) the businesses of acquiring, developing, re-developing and managing predominantly retail and mixed use Projects and portfolios of like Projects and (b) any business or activities which are substantially similar, related or incidental thereto.

 

10.6                         Transactions with Partners and Affiliates .  Neither the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any holder or holders of more than five percent (5%) of any class of equity Securities of the Borrower, or with any Affiliate of the Borrower which is not its Subsidiary, on terms that are determined by the Board of Directors of the General Partner to be less favorable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, than those that might be obtained in an arm’s length transaction at the time from Persons who are not such a holder or Affiliate.  Nothing contained in this Section 10.6 shall prohibit (a) increases in compensation and benefits for officers and employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which are customary in the industry or consistent with the past business practice of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, provided that no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default

 

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has occurred and is continuing; (b) payment of customary partners’ indemnities; or (c) performance of any obligations arising under the Loan Documents.

 

10.7                         Restriction on Fundamental Changes .  Neither the Borrower nor any Qualified Borrower shall enter into any merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or change its jurisdiction of organization without the prior written consent of the Requisite Lenders, or convey, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or series of transactions, all or substantially all of the Borrower’s or any Qualified Borrower’s business or Property, whether now or hereafter acquired, except (i)  in connection with issuance, transfer, conversion or repurchase of limited partnership interests in Borrower or (ii) where any such transaction does not constitute an Event of Default pursuant to Section 11.1(o) .

 

10.8                         Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations; Securities, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption Laws .  The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for the purposes described in Section 2.3 .  Neither the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall use all or any portion of the proceeds of any credit extended under this Agreement to purchase or carry Margin Stock or for any purpose that entails a violation of the Regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X.  The Borrower and the Qualified Borrowers will not request any Loan or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower and the Qualified Borrowers shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.10.9 ERISA .  The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates to:

 

(a)                                  engage in any prohibited transaction described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code for which a statutory or class exemption is not available or a private exemption has not been previously obtained from the DOL;

 

(b)                                  permit to exist any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Sections 302 of ERISA and 412 of the Internal Revenue Code), with respect to any Plan, whether or not waived;

 

(c)                                   fail to pay timely required contributions or annual installments due with respect to any waived funding deficiency to any Plan;

 

(d)                                  terminate any Plan which would result in any liability of Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA;

 

(e)                                   fail to make any contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan which Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate may be required to make under any agreement relating to such Multiemployer Plan, or any law pertaining thereto;

 

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(f)                                    fail to pay any required installment or any other payment required under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code on or before the due date for such installment or other payment; or

 

(g)                                   amend a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability for the plan year such that the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

10.10                  Organizational Documents .  Neither the General Partner, the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall amend, modify or otherwise change any of the terms or provisions in any of their respective Organizational Documents as in effect on the Closing Date, except amendments to effect (a) a change of name of the Borrower, such Qualified Borrower or any such Subsidiary, provided that the Borrower shall have provided the Administrative Agent with sixty (60) days prior written notice of any such name change, or (b) changes (including changes in connection with the issuance of preferred securities) that would not affect such Organizational Documents in any material manner not otherwise permitted under this Agreement (including the amendments to the Organizational Documents contemplated by and attached to the Registration Statement).

 

10.11                  Fiscal Year .  Neither the Company, the Borrower nor any of its Consolidated Businesses shall change its Fiscal Year for accounting or tax purposes from a period consisting of the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

 

10.12                  Other Financial Covenants .

 

(a)                                  Minimum Combined Equity Value .  The Combined Equity Value shall not be less than $2,000,000,000 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

 

(b)                                  Minimum Debt Service Coverage Ratio .  As of the first day of each fiscal quarter for the immediately preceding consecutive four fiscal quarters, the ratio of Combined EBITDA to Combined Debt Service shall not be less than 1.50 to 1.00.

 

(c)                                   Unencumbered Combined EBITDA to Unsecured Interest Expense .  As of the first day of each fiscal quarter for the immediately preceding consecutive four fiscal quarters, the ratio of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA to Unsecured Interest Expense shall not be less than 1.60 to 1.00.

 

(d)                                  Distributions .  If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall not make distributions to the Company in excess of the amount of dividends required to be paid by the Company to its shareholders in order to maintain the Company’s REIT status in any taxable year (taking into account all amounts treated as dividends in such taxable year under the Internal Revenue Code).

 

10.13                  Pro Forma Adjustments .  In connection with an acquisition of a Project, a Property, or a portfolio of Projects or Properties, by any of the Consolidated Businesses or any Minority Holding (whether such acquisition is direct or through the acquisition of a Person which owns such Property), the financial covenants contained in this Agreement shall be calculated as follows on a pro forma basis (with respect to the pro rata share of the Borrower in the case of an acquisition by a Minority Holding), which pro forma calculation shall be effective

 

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until the last day of the fourth full fiscal quarter following such acquisition (or such earlier test period, as applicable), at which time actual performance shall be utilized for such calculations.

 

(a)                                  Annual EBITDA .  For up to four (4) fiscal quarters post acquisition, Annual EBITDA for the acquired Property shall be deemed to be an amount equal to (i) the net purchase price of the acquired Property (or the Borrower’s pro rata share of such net purchase price in the event of an acquisition by a Minority Holding) for the first fiscal quarter following such acquisition, multiplied by the applicable Capitalization Rate, and (ii) for the succeeding three fiscal quarters, Annual EBITDA shall be deemed the greater of (A) the net purchase price multiplied by the applicable Capitalization Rate, or (B) the actual EBITDA from such acquired Property during the period following Borrower’s (direct or indirect) acquisition, computed on an annualized basis, provided that such annualized EBITDA shall in no event exceed the final product obtained after multiplying (1) the net purchase price by (2) 1.1, and then by (3) the applicable Capitalization Rate.

 

(b)                                  Combined EBITDA .  The pro forma calculation of Annual EBITDA for the acquired Property shall be added to the calculation of Combined EBITDA.

 

(c)                                   Unencumbered Combined EBITDA . If, after giving effect to the acquisition, the acquired Property will not be encumbered by Secured Indebtedness, then the pro forma Annual EBITDA for the acquired Property shall be added to the calculation of Unencumbered Combined EBITDA.

 

(d)                                  Secured Indebtedness . Any Indebtedness secured by a Lien incurred and/or assumed in connection with such acquisition of a Property shall be added to the calculation of Secured Indebtedness.

 

(e)                                   Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness . Any Indebtedness incurred and/or assumed in connection with such acquisition shall be added to the calculation of Total Adjusted Outstanding Indebtedness.

 

(f)                                    Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness .  Any Indebtedness which is not secured by a Lien and which is incurred and/or assumed in connection with such acquisition shall be added to the calculation of Total Outstanding Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

(g)                                   Unsecured Interest Expense .  If any unsecured Indebtedness is incurred or assumed in connection with such acquisition, then the amount of interest expense to be incurred on such Indebtedness during the period following such acquisition, computed on an annualized basis during the applicable period, shall be added to the calculation of Unsecured Interest Expense.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

 

11.1                         Events of Default .  Each of the following occurrences shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement:

 

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(a)                                  Failure to Make Payments When Due .  The Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall fail to pay (i) when due any principal payment on the Obligations which is due on the Revolving Credit Termination Date or the Term Maturity Date or pursuant to the terms of Section 2.4 , or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the date on which due, any interest payment on the Obligations or any principal payment pursuant to the terms of Section 4.1(a) , or (iii) when due, any principal payment on the Obligations not referenced in clauses (i) or (ii) hereinabove, or (iv) within five (5) Business Days after notice from the Administrative Agent after the date on which due, any fees due pursuant to Section 5.3 .

 

(b)                                  Breach of Certain Covenants .  The Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall fail duly and punctually to perform or observe any agreement, covenant or obligation binding on such Person under Sections 8.3 , 9.1 , 9.2 , 9.3 , 9.4 , 9.5 , 9.6 , or Article X .

 

(c)                                   Breach of Representation or Warranty .  Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender herein or by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any of the other Loan Documents or in any statement or certificate at any time given by any such Person pursuant to any of the Loan Documents shall be false or misleading in any material respect on the date as of which made.

 

(d)                                  Other Defaults .  The Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall default in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in this Agreement (other than as identified in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 11.1 ), or any default or event of default shall occur under any of the other Loan Documents, and such default or event of default shall continue for twenty (20) days after receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent thereof.

 

(e)                                   Other Indebtedness .  Any breach, default or event of default shall occur, or any other condition shall exist under any instrument, agreement or indenture pertaining to any recourse Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries aggregating $50,000,000 or more, and the effect thereof is to cause an acceleration, mandatory redemption or other required repurchase of such Indebtedness, or permit the holder(s) of such Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of any such Indebtedness or require a prepayment, redemption or other repurchase of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be otherwise declared to be due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise) or required to be prepaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased by the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment) prior to the stated maturity thereof.

 

(f)                                    Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc .

 

(i)                                      An involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect shall be commenced against any General Partner, the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries to which $250,000,000 or more of the Combined Equity Value is attributable, or any Qualified Borrower and the petition shall not be dismissed, stayed, bonded or discharged within sixty (60) days after commencement of the case; or a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for

 

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relief in respect of any General Partner, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Qualified Borrower in an involuntary case, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal, state, local or foreign law; or the respective board of directors of any General Partner or Limited Partners of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower or the board of directors or partners of any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries (or any committee thereof) adopts any resolution or otherwise authorizes any action to approve any of the foregoing.

 

(ii)                                   A decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or other officer having similar powers over any General Partner, the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries to which $250,000,000 or more of the Combined Equity Value is attributable, or any Qualified Borrower or over all or a substantial part of the Property of any General Partner, the Borrower or any of such Subsidiaries shall be entered; or an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of any General Partner, the Borrower or any of such Subsidiaries or any such Qualified Borrower or of all or a substantial part of the Property of any General Partner, the Borrower or any of such Subsidiaries or any such Qualified Borrower shall be appointed or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process against any substantial part of the Property of any General Partner, the Borrower or any of such Subsidiaries or any such Qualified Borrower shall be issued and any such event shall not be stayed, dismissed, bonded or discharged within sixty (60) days after entry, appointment or issuance; or the respective board of directors of any General Partner or Limited Partners of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower or the board of directors or partners of any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries (or any committee thereof) adopts any resolution or otherwise authorizes any action to approve any of the foregoing.

 

(g)                                   Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc .  Any of any General Partner, the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries to which $250,000,000 or more of the Combined Equity Value is attributable, or any Qualified Borrower, shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or other custodian for all or a substantial part of its Property; or any General Partner, the Borrower or any of such Subsidiaries or any such Qualified Borrower shall make any assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall be unable or fail, or admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become due.

 

(h)                                  Judgments and Unpermitted Liens .

 

(i)                                      Any money judgment (other than a money judgment covered by insurance as to which the insurance company has acknowledged coverage), writ or warrant of attachment, or similar process against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Qualified Borrower or any of their respective assets involving in any case an amount in excess of $25,000,000 (other than with respect to Claims arising out of non-recourse Indebtedness) is entered and shall remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days or in any event later than five (5) days prior to the

 

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date of any proposed sale thereunder; provided , however , if any such judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or similar process is in excess of $50,000,000 (other than with respect to Claims arising out of non-recourse Indebtedness), the entry thereof shall immediately constitute an Event of Default hereunder.

 

(ii)                                   A federal, state, local or foreign tax Lien is filed against the Borrower which is not discharged of record, bonded over or otherwise secured to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent within fifty (50) days after the filing thereof or the date upon which the Administrative Agent receives actual knowledge of the filing thereof for an amount which, either separately or when aggregated with the amount of any judgments described in clause (i) above and/or the amount of the Environmental Lien Claims described in clause (iii) below, equals or exceeds $25,000,000.

 

(iii)                                An Environmental Lien is filed against any Project with respect to Claims in an amount which, either separately or when aggregated with the amount of any judgments described in clause (i) above and/or the amount of the tax Liens described in clause (ii) above, equals or exceeds $25,000,000.

 

(i)                                      Dissolution .  Any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against the Borrower decreeing its involuntary dissolution or split up; or the Borrower shall otherwise dissolve or cease to exist except as specifically permitted by this Agreement.

 

(j)                                     Loan Documents .  At any time, for any reason, any Loan Document ceases to be in full force and effect or the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower seeks to repudiate its obligations thereunder.

 

(k)                                  ERISA Termination Event .  Any ERISA Termination Event occurs which the Administrative Agent reasonably believes could subject either the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to liability in excess of $500,000.

 

(l)                                      Waiver Application .  The plan administrator of any Plan applies under Section 412(d) of the Code for a waiver of the minimum funding standards of Section 412(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that the substantial business hardship upon which the application for the waiver is based could subject either the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to liability in excess of $500,000.

 

(m)                              Certain Defaults Pertaining to the General Partner .  The Company shall fail to (i) maintain its status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, (ii) except where such failure does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 11.1(o) , continue as a general partner of the Borrower, (iii) maintain ownership (directly or indirectly) of no less than 99% of the equity Securities of any other General Partner of the Borrower, (iv) comply with all Requirements of Law applicable to it and its businesses and Properties, in each case where the failure to so comply individually or in the aggregate will have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (v) remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange or other national stock exchange, or (vi) file all tax returns and reports required to be filed by it with any Governmental Authority as and when required to be filed or to pay any taxes, assessments, fees or other governmental charges upon it or its Property, assets, receipts, sales, use, payroll,

 

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employment, licenses, income, or franchises which are shown in such returns, reports or similar statements to be due and payable as and when due and payable, except for taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges (A) that are being contested by the Company in good faith by an appropriate proceeding diligently pursued, (B) for which adequate reserves have been made on its books and records, and (C) the amounts the non-payment of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(n)                                  Merger or Liquidation of the General Partner or the Borrower .  Any General Partner shall merge or liquidate with or into any other Person and, as a result thereof and after giving effect thereto, (i) except where such merger or liquidation does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 11.1(o) , such General Partner is not the surviving Person or (ii) such merger or liquidation would effect an acquisition of or Investment in any Person not otherwise permitted under the terms of this Agreement.  Except where such merger or liquidation does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 11.1(o) , the Borrower shall merge or liquidate with or into any other Person and, as a result thereof and after giving effect thereto, (i) the Borrower is not the surviving Person or (ii) such merger or liquidation would effect an acquisition of or Investment in any Person not otherwise permitted under the terms of this Agreement.

 

(o)                                  Merger or Consolidation .  If at any time from and after the Closing Date either the Borrower or the Company merges or consolidates with another Person unless either (x) the Borrower or the Company, as the case may be, is the surviving entity, or (y) a majority of the board of directors of the Company, and a majority of its senior management, immediately prior to the merger continue as directors of the surviving entity, and continue to be employed as senior management of the surviving entity.

 

(p)                                  Asset Sales .  If at any time from and after the Closing Date the Borrower or any Consolidated Business sells, transfers, assigns or conveys assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions, the book value of which (computed in accordance with GAAP but without deduction for depreciation), in the aggregate of all such sales, transfers, assignments, or conveyances exceeds 30% of the Capitalization Value.

 

(q)                                  Management Services .  If at any time from and after the Closing Date, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, the Management Company or SPG or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates cease to provide, collectively, directly or through their Affiliates property management and leasing services to at least 33% of the total number of shopping centers in which the Borrower has an ownership interest (it being agreed for the avoidance of doubt that the Borrower may self-manage its properties upon the establishment of self-incorporated management functions).

 

(r)                                     Change in Control .  (i) The acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of Equity Interests representing more than 40% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company; or (ii) during any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of any such 12-month period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors

 

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whose election by such Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

An Event of Default shall be deemed “continuing” until cured or waived in writing in accordance with Section 14.7 .

 

11.2                         Rights and Remedies .

 

(a)                                  Acceleration and Termination .  Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 11.1(f)  or 11.1(g)  with respect to the Borrower, the Revolving Credit Commitments and any unused Term Commitments shall automatically and immediately terminate and the unpaid principal amount of, and any and all accrued interest on, the Obligations and all accrued fees shall automatically become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, or protest or other requirements of any kind (including, without limitation, valuation and appraisement, diligence, presentment, notice of intent to demand or accelerate and of acceleration), all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower; and upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Requisite Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower, (i) declare that the Revolving Credit Commitments and any unused Term Commitments are terminated, whereupon the Revolving Credit Commitments and any unused Term Commitments and the obligation of each Lender to make any Loan hereunder and of each Lender to issue or participate in any Letter of Credit not then issued shall immediately terminate, and/or (ii) declare the unpaid principal amount of and any and all accrued and unpaid interest on the Obligations to be, and the same shall thereupon be, immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, or protest or other requirements of any kind (including, without limitation, valuation and appraisement, diligence, presentment, notice of intent to demand or accelerate and of acceleration), all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower.  In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Borrower shall deposit cash collateral with the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 , in an amount equal to the then Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

(b)                                  Rescission .  If at any time after termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and any unused Term Commitments and/or acceleration of the maturity of the Loans, the Borrower shall pay all arrears of interest and all payments on account of principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on principal and, to the extent permitted by law, on overdue interest, at the rates specified in this Agreement) and all Events of Default and Potential Events of Default (other than nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on the Loans due and payable solely by virtue of acceleration) shall be remedied or waived pursuant to Section 14.7 , then upon the written consent of the Requisite Lenders and written notice to the Borrower, the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and any unused Term Commitments and/or the acceleration and their consequences may be rescinded and annulled; but such action shall not affect any subsequent Event of Default or Potential Event of Default or impair any right or remedy

 

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consequent thereon.  The provisions of the preceding sentence are intended merely to bind the Lenders to a decision which may be made at the election of the Requisite Lenders; they are not intended to benefit the Borrower and do not give the Borrower the right to require the Lenders to rescind or annul any acceleration hereunder, even if the conditions set forth herein are met.

 

(c)                                   Enforcement .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower acknowledges that in the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Qualified Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of their respective obligations or liabilities under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the other Lenders; therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the other Lenders shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

THE AGENTS

 

12.1                         Appointment .  (a)  Each Lender and the Issuing Bank hereby designates and appoints Bank of America, N.A. as the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers as the Arrangers, and the Co-Agents as the Co-Agents of such Lender under this Agreement, and each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, and the Co-Agents to take such actions on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the Loan Documents and to exercise such powers as are set forth herein or therein together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Co-Agents each agree to act as such on the express conditions contained in this Article XII .

 

(b)                                  The provisions of this Article XII are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders, and neither the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower, the General Partner nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall have any rights to rely on or enforce any of the provisions hereof (other than as expressly set forth in Section 12.7 ).  In performing their respective functions and duties under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, and each Co-Agent shall act solely as agents of the Lenders and do not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or relationship of agency, trustee or fiduciary with or for any General Partner, the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower, or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.  The Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each Co-Agent may perform any of their respective duties hereunder, or under the Loan Documents, by or through their respective agents or employees.

 

12.2                         Nature of Duties .

 

(a)                                  The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Co-Agents shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents except in its capacity as Lender or an Issuing Bank and those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the Loan Documents.  The duties of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, and the Co-Agents shall be mechanical and administrative in nature.  None of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or any Co-Agent shall have by reason of this Agreement a fiduciary

 

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relationship in respect of any Holder.  Nothing in this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be construed to impose upon the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, or Co-Agent any obligations or duties in respect of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents except as expressly set forth herein or therein.  The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Co-Agents shall not have any duties to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 14.7 ).  The Administrative Agent and each Arranger and Co-Agent each hereby agrees that its duties shall include providing copies of documents received by such Agent from the Borrower which are reasonably requested by any Lender and promptly notifying each Lender upon its obtaining actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder.  In addition, the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver to each of the Lenders copies of all notices of default and other formal notices (including, without limitation, requests for waivers or modifications, as well as all notices received pursuant to Sections 8.4 , 8.5 , 8.6 and 8.7 ) sent or received, together with copies of all reports or other information received by it from the Borrower, including, without limitation, all financial information delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.2 .  Except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.  The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.  The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the credit facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent and each Arranger, Co-Agent and Lender or any Affiliate thereof is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or another Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arrangers, Co-Agents nor any Lender or any Affiliate thereof has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower with respect to any of the

 

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transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, Co-Agent or Lender or any Affiliate thereof has advised or is currently advising the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger, Co-Agent or Lender or any Affiliate thereof has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, Co-Agents and Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger, Co-Agent or Lender or such Affiliate has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any relationship arising out of or related to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, the Co-Agents and the Lenders or any Affiliate thereof have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate.  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents and the Lenders or any Affiliate thereof with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty arising out of or related to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto.

 

12.3                         Right to Request Instructions .  The Administrative Agent and each Arranger and Co-Agent may at any time request instructions from the Lenders with respect to any actions or approvals which by the terms of any of the Loan Documents such Agent is permitted or required to take or to grant, and such Agent shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval and shall not be under any liability whatsoever to any Person for refraining from any action or withholding any approval under any of the Loan Documents until it shall have received such instructions from those Lenders from whom such Agent is required to obtain such instructions for the pertinent matter in accordance with the Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Agent shall take any action, or refrain from taking any action, which is permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents upon receipt of instructions from those Lenders from whom such Agent is required to obtain such instructions for the pertinent matter in accordance with the Loan Documents, provided , that no Holder shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent or any Arranger or Co-Agent as a result of such Agent acting or refraining from acting under the Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Requisite Lenders or, where required by the express terms of this Agreement, a greater proportion of the Lenders.

 

12.4                         Reliance .  The Administrative Agent and each Arranger and Co-Agent shall each be entitled to rely upon any written notices, statements, certificates, orders or other documents or any telephone message believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  W ith respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents and its duties hereunder or

 

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thereunder, the Administrative Agent and each Arranger and Co-Agent may rely upon advice of legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

12.5                         Indemnification .  To the extent that the Administrative Agent or any Arranger or Co-Agent is not reimbursed and indemnified by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower, the Lenders will reimburse and indemnify such Agent solely in its capacity as such Agent and not as a Lender for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,  and reasonable costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against it in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under the Loan Documents, in proportion to each Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Facilities determined as of the time when such indemnification is sought, unless and to the extent that any such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, and reasonable costs, expenses or disbursements shall arise as a result of such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a non-appealable final judgment.  Such Agent agrees to refund to the Lenders any of the foregoing amounts paid to it by the Lenders which amounts are subsequently recovered by such Agent from the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any other Person on behalf of the Borrower.  The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 12.5 shall survive the payment in full of the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and all other Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

12.6                         Agents Individually .  With respect to their respective Pro Rata Share of the Facilities hereunder, if any, and the Loans made by them, if any, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Co-Agents shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and are subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender.  The terms “Lenders” or “Requisite Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each other Co-Agent in its respective individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Requisite Lenders.  The Administrative Agent and each other Arranger and Co-Agent and each of their respective Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as if they were not acting as the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers,  and Co-Agents pursuant hereto.

 

12.7                         Successor Agents .

 

(a)                                  Resignation and Removal .  Any Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and duties hereunder (including as Administrative Agent) at any time by giving at least thirty (30) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders, unless applicable law requires a shorter notice period or that there be no notice period, in which instance such applicable law shall control (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”).  Any Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent may be removed at the direction of the Requisite Lenders, in the event such Lead Arranger or the Administrative Agent shall commit gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties hereunder.  Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the acceptance by a

 

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successor Lead Arranger or Administrative Agent of appointment pursuant to this Section 12.7 .  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  Appointment by Requisite Lenders .  Upon any such resignation or removal becoming effective, the Requisite Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to approval by the Borrower provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, selected from among the Lenders.

 

(c)                                   Appointment by Retiring Agent .  If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been appointed within the thirty (30) Business Day or shorter period provided in paragraph (a)  of this Section 12.7 , the retiring Agent shall then appoint a successor Agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent until such time, if any, as the Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided above.

 

(d)                                  Rights of the Successor and Retiring Agents .  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement.  After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article XII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Agent under this Agreement.

 

12.8                         Relations Among the Lenders .  Each Lender agrees that it will not take any legal action, nor institute any actions or proceedings, against the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower hereunder with respect to any of the Obligations, without the prior written consent of the Lenders.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Lender may accelerate or otherwise enforce its portion of the Obligations, or unilaterally terminate its Revolving Credit Commitment except in accordance with Section 11.2(a) .

 

12.9                         Sub-Agents .  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

12.10                  Independent Credit Decisions .  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder.  Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the

 

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Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or to the extent to which it will continue as a lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

YIELD PROTECTION

 

13.1                         Taxes .

 

(a)                                  Payments Free of Taxes .  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law.  If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 13.1 ) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b)                                  Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower.   The Borrower and the Qualified Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.

 

(c)                                   Evidence of Payments.   As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 13.1 , the Borrower or such Qualified Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)                                  Indemnification by the Borrower.   The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the

 

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Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(e)                                   Indemnification by the Lenders .  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower and the Qualified Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 14.1(e)  relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f)                                    Status of Lenders .  (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 13.1(f)(ii)(A) , (ii)(B)  and (ii)(D)  below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(ii)                                   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person,

 

(A)                                any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax;

 

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(B)                                any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(1)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

(2)                                  executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(3)                                  in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit N-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN; or

 

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit N-2 or Exhibit N-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit N-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C)                                any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a

 

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basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

(D)                                if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

(g)                                   Treatment of Certain Refunds .  If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 13.1 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 13.1 ), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 13.1 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes net of any Tax refunds) incurred by such indemnified party with respect to such indemnity payments and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make

 

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available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(h)                                  Survival .  Each party’s obligations under this Section 13.1 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(i)                                      Defined Terms .  For purposes of this Section 13.1 , the term “ Lender ” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “ applicable law ” includes FATCA.

 

13.2                         Increased Capital .  If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company (if any) to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company would have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), and (ii) the amount of such capital or liquidity is increased by or based upon (A) the making or maintenance by any Lender of its Loans, including any Alternative Currency Loans, any Lender’s participation in or obligation to participate in the Loans, including the Alternative Currency Loans, Letters of Credit or other advances made hereunder or the existence of any Lender’s obligation to make Loans or Alternative Currency Loans, or (B) the issuance or maintenance by any Lender of, or the existence of any Lender’s obligation to issue, Letters of Credit, then, in any such case, upon written demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent) from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.  The Borrower shall not be required to pay such additional amounts unless such amounts are the result of requirements imposed generally on lenders similar to such Lender or the Issuing Bank and not the result of some specific reserve or similar requirement imposed on such Lender or the Issuing Bank as a result of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s special circumstances.  Such demand shall be accompanied by a statement as to the amount of such compensation and include a brief summary of the basis for such demand.  Such statement shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.  The Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such statement within 10 days after receipt thereof.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.  This Section 13.2

 

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shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of the Obligations for a period of 180 days.

 

13.3                         Changes; Legal Restrictions .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(a)                                  subject a Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office or Eurodollar Affiliate) or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market to any condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) of any kind which such Lender reasonably determines to be applicable to the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Loans or issue and/or participate in Letters of Credit; or

 

(b)                                  subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its Loans, Letters of Credit, Revolving Credit Commitments, or other Obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

 

(c)                                   impose, modify, or hold applicable, in the determination of a Lender, any reserve (other than reserves taken into account in calculating the Eurodollar Rate), special deposit, liquidity, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities (including those pertaining to Letters of Credit) in or for the account of, advances or loans by, commitments made, or other credit extended by, or any other acquisition of funds by, a Lender or any Applicable Lending Office or Eurodollar Affiliate of that Lender or the Issuing Bank;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to that Lender of making, converting, continuing, renewing or maintaining the Loans or its Revolving Credit Commitment or issuing or participating in the Letters of Credit or to reduce any amount receivable thereunder; then, in any such case, upon written demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, such amount or amounts as may be necessary to compensate such Lender or its Eurodollar Affiliate for any such additional cost incurred or reduced amount received.  Such demand shall be accompanied by a statement as to the amount of such compensation and include a brief summary of the basis for such demand.  Such statement shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.  The Borrower or any Qualified Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.  This Section 13.3 shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of the Obligations for a period of 180 days.

 

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13.4                         Replacement of Certain Lenders .  In the event a Lender (a “ Designee Lender ”) shall have requested additional compensation from the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower under Section 13.2 or under Section 13.3 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 13.1 , or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, the Borrower may, at its sole election, (a) make written demand on such Designee Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) for the Designee Lender to assign, and such Designee Lender shall assign pursuant to one or more duly executed Assignment and Acceptances to one or more Eligible Assignees which the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall have identified for such purpose, all of such Designee Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Notes (including, without limitation, its Revolving Credit Commitment, all Loans owing to it, and all of its participation interests in Letters of Credit but excluding its existing rights to payment under Sections 13.2 or 13.3 and any outstanding Money Market Loans held by it) in accordance with Section 14.1 (with the Borrower paying any applicable fees associated with such assignment) (provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, which consents shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 13.1 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments, (iii) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent, and (iv) a Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply), or (b) repay all Loans owing to the Designee Lender together with interest accrued with respect thereto to the date of such repayment and all fees and other charges accrued or payable and all other Obligations owing to such Designee Lender under the terms of this Agreement for the benefit of the Designee Lender to the date of such repayment and remit to the Administrative Agent to be held as cash collateral an amount equal to the participation interest of the Designee Lender in Letters of Credit. Any such repayment and remittance shall be for the sole credit of the Designee Lender and not for any other Lender. Upon delivery of such repayment and remittance in immediately available funds as aforesaid, the Designee Lender shall cease to be a Lender under this Agreement. All expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing shall be for the sole account of the Borrower and shall constitute Obligations hereunder. In no event shall Borrower’s election under the provisions of this Section 13.4 affect its obligation to pay the additional compensation required under either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 .

 

13.5                         No Duplication .  For the avoidance of doubt, no amount payable by the Borrower or a Qualified Borrower to a Recipient pursuant to one of Section 13.1 , Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 shall also be payable to the same Recipient pursuant to another of such Sections.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.1                         Assignments and Participations .

 

(a)                                  Assignments .  No assignments or participations of any Lender’s rights or obligations under this Agreement shall be made except in accordance with this Section 14.1 .  Each Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all of its rights and obligations with respect to the Loans and the Letters of Credit) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.1 .

 

(b)                                  Limitations on Assignments .

 

(i)                                      Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment, unused Term Commitment, participations in Letters of Credit, and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

 

(A)                                the Borrower, provided that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee or;

 

(B)                                the Administrative Agent; provided that (1) no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for the assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund and (2) no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Revolving Credit Commitment to an assignee that is a Lender (other than a Lender that is a Defaulting Lender) with a Revolving Credit Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment; and

 

(C)                                the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender; provided that no consent of the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan.

 

(ii)                                   Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)                                except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $15,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

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(B)                                each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of only one Facility;

 

(C)                                the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with the fee described in Section 14.1(d)  below; and

 

(D)                                the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Company, the Borrower and their related parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

 

(iii)                                Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance (in accordance with Section 14.1(d) ) and recording in the Register, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance and agreed to by the Administrative Agent, (A) the assignee thereunder shall, in addition to any rights and obligations hereunder held by it immediately prior to such effective date, if any, have the rights and obligations hereunder that have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the same rights and benefits hereunder as if it were an original Lender hereunder, (B) the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of such assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the assigning Lender shall cease to be a party hereto except that its rights under Section 14.3 shall survive) and (C) the Borrower and any Qualified Borrower shall execute and deliver to the assignee thereunder a Note evidencing its obligations to such assignee with respect to the Loans.

 

(c)                                   The Register .  The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 14.8 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register (the “ Register ”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, the Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the principal amount of the Loans under the Revolving Credit Commitments owing to, each Lender from time to time and whether such Lender is an original Lender or the assignee of another Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes

 

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of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                  Fee .  Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by the assigning Lender and an Eligible Assignee and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (payable by the assignee to the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in compliance with this Agreement and in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders.

 

(e)                                   Participations .  Each Lender may sell participations to one or more other entities (a “Participant”) other than an Ineligible Institution in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under and in respect of any and all facilities under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of any or all of its Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder and the Committed Loans owing to it and its undivided interest in the Letters of Credit); provided , however , that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, (iv) each participation shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 (except that there shall be no minimum amount with respect to participations in Alternative Currency Loans), and (v) such participant’s rights to agree or to restrict such Lender’s ability to agree to the modification, waiver or release of any of the terms of the Loan Documents, to consent to any action or failure to act by any party to any of the Loan Documents or any of their respective Affiliates, or to exercise or refrain from exercising any powers or rights which any Lender may have under or in respect of the Loan Documents, shall be limited to the right to consent to (A) increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Lender from whom such participant purchased a participation, but only if such increase shall affect such participant, (B) reduction of the principal of, or rate or amount of interest on the Loans subject to such participation (other than by the payment or prepayment thereof), (C) postponement of any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Loan(s) subject to such participation and (D) release of any guarantor of the Obligations.  Participations by a Person in a Money Market Loan of any Lender shall not be deemed “participations” for purposes of this Section 14.1(e)  and shall not be subject to the restrictions on “participations” contained herein.

 

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Revolving Credit Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Revolving Credit Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries

 

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in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(f)                                    Any Lender (each, a “ Designating Lender ”) may at any time designate one Designated Bank to fund Money Market Loans on behalf of such Designating Lender subject to the terms of this Section 14.1(f)  and the provisions in Section 14.1 (b)  and (e)  shall not apply to such designation.  No Lender may designate more than one (1) Designated Bank.  The parties to each such designation shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent for its acceptance a Designation Agreement.  Upon such receipt of an appropriately completed Designation Agreement executed by a Designating Lender and a designee representing that it is a Designated Bank, the Administrative Agent will accept such Designation Agreement and will give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower, whereupon, (i) the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Designating Bank a Designated Bank Note payable to the order of the Designated Bank, (ii) from and after the effective date specified in the Designation Agreement, the Designated Bank shall become a party to this Agreement with a right to make Money Market Loans on behalf of its Designating Lender pursuant to Section 2.2 after the Borrower has accepted a Money Market Loan (or portion thereof) of the Designating Lender, and (iii) the Designated Bank shall not be required to make payments with respect to any obligations in this Agreement except to the extent of excess cash flow of such Designated Bank which is not otherwise required to repay obligations of such Designated Bank which are then due and payable; provided, however, that regardless of such designation and assumption by the Designated Bank, the Designating Lender shall be and remain obligated to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents and the other Lenders for each and every of the obligations of the Designating Lender and its related Designated Bank with respect to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any indemnification obligations under Section 12.5 hereof and any sums otherwise payable to the Borrower by the Designated Bank.  Each Designating Lender shall serve as the administrative agent of the Designated Bank and shall on behalf of, and to the exclusion of, the Designated Bank: (i) receive any and all payments made for the benefit of the Designated Bank and (ii) give and receive all communications and notices and take all actions hereunder, including, without limitation, votes, approvals, waivers, consents and amendments under or relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Any such notice, communication, vote, approval, waiver, consent or amendment shall be signed by the Designating Lender as administrative agent for the Designated Bank and shall not be signed by the Designated Bank on its own behalf but shall be binding on the Designated Bank to the same extent as if actually signed by the Designated Bank.  The Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, Co-Agents and Lenders may rely thereon without any requirement that the Designated Bank sign or acknowledge the same.  No Designated Bank may assign or transfer all or any portion of its interest hereunder or under any other Loan Document, other than assignments to the Designating Lender which originally designated such Designated Bank or otherwise in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.1 (b)  and (e) .

 

(g)                                   Information Regarding the Borrower .  Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 14.1 , disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant, any

 

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information relating to the Borrower, any Qualified Borrower, or its Subsidiaries furnished to such Lender by the Administrative Agent or by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, such assignee or participant, or proposed assignee or participant, shall agree, in writing, to preserve in accordance with Section 14.20 the confidentiality of any confidential information described therein.

 

(h)                                  SPC Assignment .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (a “ SPC ”), identified in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the option to purchase from the Granting Lender all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make as provided herein, provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to purchase any Loan by any SPC, and (ii) if a SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to fund all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to fund such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The funding of a Loan by a SPC hereunder shall utilize the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were funded by such Granting Lender. Each party hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable, for so long as, and to the extent, the Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding Loans of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or similar proceedings under the laws of the United States. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Granting Lender may disclose to a SPC and any SPC may disclose to any Rating Agency or provider of any surety or guarantee to such SPC any information relating to the SPC’s funding of Loans, all on a confidential basis. This clause (h) may not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by a SPC at the time of such amendment.

 

(i)                                      Payment to Participants .  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the case of any participation, all amounts payable by the Borrower under the Loan Documents shall be calculated and made in the manner and to the parties required hereby as if no such participation had been sold.

 

(j)                                     Lenders’ Creation of Security Interests .  Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, Obligations owing to it and any Note held by it) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or security interest in favor of any Federal Reserve bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Federal Reserve Board or any other central bank.

 

14.2                         Expenses .

 

(a)                                  Generally .  The Borrower agrees upon demand to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all of their respective reasonable external audit and investigation expenses, and for the fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

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(but not of other legal counsel) and for all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of every type and nature incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank in connection with (i) the audit and investigation of the Consolidated Businesses, the Projects and other Properties of the Consolidated Businesses in connection with the preparation, negotiation, and execution of the Loan Documents; (ii) the preparation, negotiation, execution and interpretation of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the satisfaction or attempted satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Article VI ), the Loan Documents, and the making of the Loans hereunder; (iii) the ongoing administration of this Agreement and the Loans, including consultation with attorneys in connection therewith and with respect to the Administrative Agent’s rights and responsibilities under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (iv) the protection, collection or enforcement of any of the Obligations or the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents; (v) the commencement, defense or intervention in any court proceeding relating in any way to the Obligations, any Project, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents; (vi) the response to, and preparation for, any subpoena or request for document production with which the Administrative Agent or any other Agents or any other Lender is served or deposition or other proceeding in which any Lender is called to testify, in each case, relating in any way to the Obligations, a Project, the Borrower, any of the Consolidated Businesses, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents; and (vii) any amendments, consents, waivers, assignments, restatements, or supplements to any of the Loan Documents and the preparation, negotiation, and execution of the same.

 

(b)                                  After Default .  The Borrower further agrees to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents and each of the Lenders and their respective directors, officers, partners, employees, agents and advisors upon demand for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses (including allocated costs of internal counsel and costs of settlement) incurred by such entity after the occurrence of an Event of Default (i) in enforcing any Loan Document or Obligation or any security therefor or exercising or enforcing any other right or remedy available by reason of such Event of Default; (ii) in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements provided under this Agreement in the nature of a “work-out” or in any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding; (iii) in commencing, defending or intervening in any litigation or in filing a petition, complaint, answer, motion or other pleadings in any legal proceeding relating to the Obligations, a Project, any of the Consolidated Businesses and related to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby or by any of the other Loan Documents; and (iv) in taking any other action in or with respect to any suit or proceeding (bankruptcy or otherwise) described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

 

14.3                         Indemnity .  The Borrower and each Qualified Borrower further agrees, jointly and severally, (a) to defend, protect, indemnify, and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents, the Issuing Bank and each and all of the other Lenders and each of their respective Related Parties (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the satisfaction or attempted satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Article VI ) (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses (other than loss of profits), damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, reasonable expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (excluding any Taxes and including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for such Indemnitees in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding, whether

 

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or not such Indemnitees shall be designated a party thereto), imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Indemnitees in any manner relating to or arising out of (i) this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any act, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, the making of the Loans and the issuance of and participation in Letters of Credit hereunder, the management of such Loans or Letters of Credit, the use or intended use of the proceeds of the Loans or Letters of Credit hereunder, or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or (ii) any Liabilities and Costs relating to violation of any Environmental, Health or Safety Requirements of Law, the past, present or future operations of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors in interest, or, the past, present or future environmental, health or safety condition of any respective Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the presence of asbestos-containing materials at any respective Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the Release or threatened Release of any Contaminant into the environment (collectively, the “ Indemnified Matters ”); provided , however , neither the Borrower nor any Qualified Borrower shall have any obligation to an Indemnitee hereunder with respect to Indemnified Matters caused by or resulting from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a non-appealable final judgment; and (b) not to assert any claim against any of the Indemnitees, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect consequential or punitive damages arising out of, or in any way in connection with, the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Revolving Credit Obligations, or the other matters governed by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in the preceding sentence may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law, to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Matters incurred by the Indemnitees.  No Indemnitee referred to in this Section 14.3 shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, unless the receipt of such information or materials by the unintended recipient resulted from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a non-appealable final judgment.

 

14.4                         Change in Accounting Principles .  If any change in the accounting principles used in the preparation of the most recent financial statements referred to in Sections 8.1 or 8.2 are hereafter required or permitted by the rules, regulations, pronouncements and opinions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (or successors thereto or agencies with similar functions) and are adopted by any General Partner or the Borrower, as applicable, with the agreement of its independent certified public accountants and such changes result in a change in the method of calculation of any of the covenants, standards or terms found in Article X , the parties hereto agree to enter into negotiations in order to amend such provisions so as to equitably reflect such changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating compliance with such covenants, standards and terms by the Borrower shall be the same after such changes as if such changes had not been made; provided , however , no change in GAAP that would affect the method of calculation of any of the covenants, standards or terms shall be given effect in such calculations until such provisions are amended, in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to so reflect such change in accounting principles.

 

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14.5                         Setoff .  In addition to any Liens granted under the Loan Documents and any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and any Affiliate of any Lender is hereby authorized by the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Person (any such notice being hereby expressly waived) to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, including, but not limited to, indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured (but not including trust accounts)) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender or any of its Affiliates to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower against and on account of the Obligations of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower to such Lender or any of its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, all Loans and Letters of Credit and all claims of any nature or description arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not (i) such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or (ii) the Administrative Agent, at the request or with the consent of the Requisite Lenders, shall have declared the principal of and interest on the Loans and other amounts due hereunder to be due and payable as permitted by Article XI and even though such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured.  Each Lender agrees that it shall not, without the express consent of the Requisite Lenders, and that it shall, to the extent it is lawfully entitled to do so, upon the request of the Requisite Lenders, exercise its setoff rights hereunder against any accounts of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower now or hereafter maintained with such Lender or any Affiliate.

 

14.6                         Ratable Sharing .  The Lenders agree among themselves that (i) with respect to all amounts received by them which are applicable to the payment of the Obligations (excluding the repayment of Money Market Loans to a particular Money Market Lender and the fees described in Sections 3.1(g) , 5.2(f) , and 5.3 and Article XIII ) equitable adjustment will be made so that, in effect, all such amounts will be shared among them ratably in accordance with their applicable Pro Rata Shares, whether received by voluntary payment, by the exercise of the right of setoff or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross-action or by the enforcement of any or all of the Obligations (excluding the repayment of Money Market Loans to a particular Money Market Lender and the fees described in Sections 3.1(g) , 5.2(f) , and 5.3 and Article XIII ), (ii) if any of them shall by voluntary payment or by the exercise of any right of counterclaim, setoff, banker’s lien or otherwise, receive payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of the Obligations held by it, which is greater than the amount which such Lender is entitled to receive hereunder, the Lender receiving such excess payment shall purchase, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation (which it shall be deemed to have done simultaneously upon the receipt of such payment) in such Obligations owed to the others so that all such recoveries with respect to such Obligations shall be applied ratably in accordance with their applicable Pro Rata Shares; provided , however , that if all or part of such excess payment received by the purchasing party is thereafter recovered from it, those purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase prices paid for such participations shall be returned to such party to the extent necessary to adjust for such recovery, but without interest except to the extent the purchasing party is required to pay interest in connection with such recovery.  The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 14.6 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including, subject to Section 14.5 , the right of setoff) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

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14.7                         Amendments and Waivers .

 

(a)                                  General Provisions .  Unless otherwise provided for or required in this Agreement, no amendment or modification of any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be effective without the written agreement of the Requisite Lenders (which the Requisite Lenders shall have the right to grant or withhold in their sole discretion) and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent; provided , however , that the Borrower’s agreement shall not be required for any amendment or modification of Sections 12.1 through 12.8 . No termination or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective without the written concurrence of the Requisite Lenders, which the Requisite Lenders shall have the right to grant or withhold in their sole discretion.  All amendments, waivers and consents not specifically reserved to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Co-Agents or the other Lenders in Section 14.7(b) , 14.7(c) , and in other provisions of this Agreement shall require only the approval of the Requisite Lenders. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Designating Lender on behalf of its Designated Bank affected thereby, (a) subject such Designated Bank to any additional obligations, (b) reduce the principal of, interest on, or other amounts due with respect to, the Designated Bank Note made payable to such Designated Bank, or (c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, or other amounts due with respect to the Designated Bank Note made payable to the Designated Bank.

 

(b)                                  Amendments, Consents and Waivers by Affected Lenders . Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the following provisions of this Agreement shall be effective only by a written agreement, signed by each Lender affected thereby as described below:

 

(i)                                      waiver of any of the conditions specified in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 (except with respect to a condition based upon another provision of this Agreement, the waiver of which requires only the concurrence of the Requisite Lenders),

 

(ii)                                   increase or non-pro rata reduction in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Commitment,

 

(iii)                                reduction of the principal of, rate or amount of interest on the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations, or any fees or other amounts payable to such Lender (other than by the payment or prepayment thereof),

 

(iv)                               except as provided in Section 2.5 , postponement or extension of any date (including the Revolving Credit Termination Date or the Term Maturity Date) fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations or any fees or other amounts payable to such Lender (except with respect to any modifications of the application provisions relating to prepayments of Loans and other Obligations which are governed by Section 4.2(b) ),

 

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(v)                                  amend Section 14.25 without the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank(s),

 

(vi)                               change the definition of “Requisite Facility Lender” with respect to a Facility without the consent of all Lenders in such Facility, and

 

(vii)                            amend, modify or waive any provision that adversely affects the rights of any Facility in a manner different than such amendment, modification or waiver affects the other Facility without the consent of the Requisite Facility Lenders under such adversely affected Facility.

 

(c)                                   Amendments, Consents and Waivers by All Lenders .  Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the following provisions of this Agreement shall be effective only by a written agreement, signed by each Lender:

 

(i)                                      increase in the sum of Maximum Revolving Credit Amount plus the principal amount of the Term Loans made hereunder to any amount in excess of $1,800,000,000,

 

(ii)                                   change in the definition of Requisite Lenders or in the aggregate percentage of the Lenders which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take action hereunder or under the other Loan Documents,

 

(iii)                                amendment of Section 14.6 or this Section 14.7 , or amendment of Section 4.2(b)  in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby;

 

(iv)                               assignment of any right or interest in or under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower,

 

(v)                                  release or termination of any Qualified Borrower Guaranty, and

 

(vi)                               waiver of any Event of Default described in Sections 11.1(a) , (f) , (g) , (i) , ( m ), and (n) .

 

(d)                                  Administrative Agent Authority .  The Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the written concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of that Lender.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 14.7 , no amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, unless made in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Borrower shall have requested, in writing, that any Lender agree to an amendment, modification, waiver or consent with respect to any particular provision or provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and such Lender shall have failed to state, in writing, that it either agrees or disagrees (in full or in part) with all such requests (in the case of its statement of agreement, subject to satisfactory documentation and such other conditions it may specify) within twenty (20) days after such Lender receives such request, then,

 

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the Administrative Agent shall deliver a second request, in writing, to any such Lender(s), which second request shall include a legend, in capital letters, stating “FAILURE TO RESPOND, IN WRITING, TO THIS REQUEST WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS AFTER RECEIPT MAY RESULT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT CONSENTING OR DENYING CONSENT TO SUCH REQUEST ON YOUR BEHALF”. If such Lender shall have failed to state, in writing, that it either agrees or disagrees (in full or in part) with all such requests (in the case of its statement of agreement, subject to satisfactory documentation and such other conditions it may specify) within ten (10) days after such Lender receives such request, then, such Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to agree or disagree, in full or in part, and in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, to such requests on behalf of such Lender as such Lenders’ attorney-in-fact and to execute and deliver any writing approved by the Administrative Agent which evidences such agreement as such Lender’s duly authorized agent for such purposes.

 

14.8                         Notices .

 

(a)                                  Generally .  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

(i)                                      if to the Borrower, to it at Washington Prime Group, L.P., Bethesda Crossing, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, Attention of Chief Executive Office; with a copy to Washington Prime Group, L.P., Bethesda Crossing, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, Attention: General Counsel;

 

(ii)                                   if to the Administrative Agent, to Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: NC1-001-05-46, 101 North Tryon St.,  Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention of Melanie Brichant, Telecopy No. (704) 409-0550, E-mail: melanie.brichant@baml.com; with a copy to Bank of America, N.A.,Mail Code: CA5-701-05-19, 1455 Market Street, 5 th  Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103, Attention of Liliana Claar, Telecopy No. (415) 503-5003, Email: liliana.claar@baml.com;

 

(iii)                                if to the Issuing Bank, to it at Bank of America, N.A., Trade Operations, 1 Fleet Way, Mail Code: PA6-580-02-30, Scranton, PA 18507, Attention: John P. Yzeik, Fax: (800) 755-8743, Email: john.p.yzeik@baml.com;

 

(iv)                               if to the Swingline Lender, to it at Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: NC1-001-05-46, 101 North Tryon St.,  Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention of Melanie Brichant, Telecopy No. (704) 409-0550, E-mail: melanie.brichant@baml.com; with a copy to Bank of America, N.A.,Mail Code: CA5-701-05-19, 1455 Market Street, 5 th  Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103, Attention of Liliana Claar, Telecopy No. (415) 503-5003, Email: liliana.claar@baml.com; and

 

(v)                                  if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have

 

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been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through Electronic Systems, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b)                                  Electronic Notices .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Electronic Systems pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II or Article IV unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.  The Administrative Agent hereby agrees to accept delivery of the Debt Rating Pricing Election Notice by email.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)                                   Changes in Addresses .  Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

(d)                                  Electronic Systems .

 

(i)                                      The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar Electronic System.

 

(ii)                                   Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.”  The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications.  No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any

 

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Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through an Electronic System.  “ Communications ” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Electronic System.

 

14.9                         Survival of Warranties and Agreements .  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments  delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Revolving Credit Commitments have not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 5.2(f) , 14.2 , and 14.3 and Article XII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Revolving Credit Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

14.10                  Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative .  No failure or delay on the part of the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or any other Agent in the exercise of any power, right or privilege under any of the Loan Documents shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.  All rights and remedies existing under the Loan Documents are cumulative to and not exclusive of any rights or remedies otherwise available.

 

14.11                  Marshalling; Payments Set Aside .  None of the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or any other Co-Agent shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations.  To the extent that the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent, any Agent or any other Lender or any such Person exercises its rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, then to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and

 

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all Liens, right and remedies therefor, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

14.12                  Severability .  In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

14.13                  Headings .  Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement or be given any substantive effect.

 

14.14                  Governing Law .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INTERPRETED, AND THE RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO DETERMINED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

 

14.15                  Limitation of Liability .  No claim may be made by any Lender, any Co-Agent, any Arranger, the Administrative Agent, Borrower, any Qualified Borrower or any other Person against any Lender (acting in any capacity hereunder) or the Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents of any of them for any consequential or punitive damages in respect of any claim for breach of contract or any other theory of liability arising out of or related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith; and each Lender, each Co-Agent, each Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Qualified Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim for any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

 

14.16                  Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and permitted assigns of the Lenders.  The rights hereunder of the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower, or any interest therein, may not be assigned without the prior written consent of all Lenders (and any attempted assignment by the Borrower or any Qualified Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in Section 14.1(e) ) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

14.17                  Certain Consents and Waivers of the Borrower .

 

(a)                                  Personal Jurisdiction .  (i)  EACH OF THE LENDERS AND THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE

 

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NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK, AND ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER APPEALS OF MATTERS HEARD IN SUCH COURTS, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED AMONG THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH STATE COURT OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATES AND APPOINTS CT CORPORATION SYSTEM, 1633 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019, AS ITS AGENT (THE “PROCESS AGENT”) FOR SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, SUCH SERVICE BEING HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT.  EACH OF THE LENDERS AND THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER WAIVES IN ALL DISPUTES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT CONSIDERING THE DISPUTE.

 

(ii)                                   THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER AGREES THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROCEED AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTY IN A COURT IN ANY LOCATION NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO ENABLE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE OTHER LENDERS TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER ENTERED IN FAVOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OTHER LENDER.  THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT ANY PERMISSIVE COUNTERCLAIMS IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER AGENT TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER IN FAVOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY SUCH OTHER AGENT.  THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT IN WHICH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY OTHER AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY COMMENCE A PROCEEDING DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.

 

(b)                                  Service of Process .  THE BORROWER AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE PROCESS AGENT OR THE BORROWER’S NOTICE ADDRESS SPECIFIED BELOW, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON RECEIPT.  THE

 

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BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION OF THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS ) WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION SET FORTH ABOVE.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE OTHER LENDERS TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

(c)                                   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO AND EACH QUALIFIED BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

14.18                  Counterparts; Effectiveness; Inconsistencies; Electronic Execution .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents, or supplements hereto may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  This Agreement shall become effective against the Borrower and each Lender on the Closing Date.  This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be construed to the extent reasonable to be consistent one with the other, but to the extent that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are actually inconsistent with the terms and conditions of any other Loan Document, this Agreement shall govern. In the event the Lenders enter into any co-lender agreement with the Arrangers pertaining to the Lenders’ respective rights with respect to voting on any matter referenced in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on which the Lenders have a right to vote under the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, such co-lender agreement shall be construed to the extent reasonable to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, but to the extent that the terms and conditions of such co-lender agreement are actually inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and/or the other Loan Documents, such co-lender agreement shall govern. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any rights reserved to the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers or the Co-Agents under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be varied or in any way affected by such co-lender agreement and the rights and obligation of the Borrower under the Loan Documents will not be varied.

 

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(b)                                  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any  document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

14.19                  Limitation on Agreements .  All agreements between the Borrower, each Qualified Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Co-Agent and each Lender in the Loan Documents are hereby expressly limited so that in no event shall any of the Loans or other amounts payable by the Borrower or a Qualified Borrower under any of the Loan Documents be directly or indirectly secured (within the meaning of Regulation U) by Margin Stock.

 

14.20                  Confidentiality .  Subject to Section 14.1(g) , the Lenders shall hold all nonpublic information obtained pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement, and identified as such by the Borrower, in accordance with such Lender’s customary procedures for handling confidential information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking practices (provided that such Lender may disclose such information (i) to its Affiliates, its partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, or to any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower or its obligation, (iii) to any other party hereto, and (iv) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder), (v) with the prior written consent of the Borrower or (vi) to the extent such information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, and in any event the Lenders may make disclosure reasonably required by a bona fide or potential offeree, transferee or participant in connection with the contemplated transfer or participation or as required or requested by any Governmental Authority, self-regulatory body or representative thereof or pursuant to legal process and shall require any such offeree, transferee or participant to agree (and require any of its offerees, transferees or participants to agree) to comply with this Section 14.20 .  In no event shall any Lender be obligated or required to return any materials furnished by the Borrower; provided , however , each offeree shall be required to agree that if it does not become a transferee or participant it shall return or destroy all materials furnished to it by the Borrower in connection with this Agreement.  Unless specifically

 

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prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender and each Co-Agent shall make reasonable efforts to the extent practicable to notify Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such nonpublic information prior to disclosure of such information.  Lenders also may make disclosure to any rating agency when required by it, provided that, prior to any disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake in writing to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to Borrower received by it from any Co-Agent or any Lender, and disclosures in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Credit Document.  In addition, each Co-Agent and each Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Co-Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

14.21                  Disclaimers .  The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Co-Agents and the other Lenders shall not be liable to any contractor, subcontractor, supplier, laborer, architect, engineer, tenant or other party for services performed or materials supplied in connection with any work performed on the Projects, including any TI Work.  The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Co-Agents and the other Lenders shall not be liable for any debts or claims accruing in favor of any such parties against the Borrower or others or against any of the Projects.  The Borrower is not and shall not be an agent of any of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Co-Agents or the other Lenders for any purposes and none of the Lenders, the Co-Agents, the Arrangers, or the Administrative Agent shall be deemed partners or joint venturers with Borrower or any of its Affiliates.  None of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Co-Agents or the other Lenders shall be deemed to be in privity of contract with any contractor or provider of services to any Project, nor shall any payment of funds directly to a contractor or subcontractor or provider of services be deemed to create any third party beneficiary status or recognition of same by any of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the other Co-Agents or the other Lenders and the Borrower agrees to hold the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Co-Arrangers, the other Co-Agents and the other Lenders harmless from any of the damages and expenses resulting from such a construction of the relationship of the parties or any assertion thereof.

 

14.22                  No Bankruptcy Proceedings .  Each of the Borrower, all Qualified Borrowers, the Arrangers, the Co-Agents and the other Lenders hereby agrees that it will not institute against any Designated Bank or join any other Person in instituting against any Designated Bank any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law, until the later to occur of (i) one year and one day after the payment in full of the latest maturing commercial paper note issued by such Designated Bank and (ii) the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

14.23                  Interest Rate Limitation.   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “ Charges ”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in

 

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accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

14.24                  USA Patriot Act .  Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “ Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 

14.25                  Defaulting Lenders .  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a)                                  fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitments of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 5.3 ;

 

(b)                                  the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Requisite Lenders or the Requisite Facility Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 14.7 , except that the Defaulting Lender’s consent shall be required in connection with any increase or extension in such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Commitments pursuant to Section 14.7(b)(ii) , any amendment pursuant to Section 14.7(b)(iii)  or (iv)  affecting its Loans or pursuant to Section 14.7(b)(iv)  with respect to postponing the Revolving Credit Termination Date or the Term Maturity Date only), provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;

 

(c)                                   if any Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit exist at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i)                                      all or any part of such liability with respect to Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share for the Revolving Credit Facility but only to the extent (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Obligations plus such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments (it being understood that under no circumstance shall any Lender at any time be liable for any amounts in excess of its Revolving Credit Commitment), and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a)  and Section 6.2(b)  are satisfied at such time; and

 

148



 

(ii)                                   if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within five (5) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Swingline Loans and (y) second, cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Letters of Credit (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.4 for so long as such Letters of Credit are outstanding;

 

(iii)                                if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 14.25(c) , the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender  with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letters of Credit during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letters of Credit is cash collateralized;

 

(iv)                               if the Pro Rata Share of the non-Defaulting Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit is reallocated pursuant to Section 14.25(c) , then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Shares; or

 

(v)                                  if any Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Letters of Credit is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to Section 14.25(c) , then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, all Facility Fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment that was utilized by such Pro Rata Share of Letters of Credit) and shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until such Pro Rata Share of Letters of Credit is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and

 

(d)                                  so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 14.25(c) , and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit or newly made Swingline Loan shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 14.25(c)(i)  (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Parent of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

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In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Pro Rata Shares of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.

 

14.26                  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .  If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.9 , Article III, 2.1(c), 4.2 or 14.3, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, unless subject to a good faith dispute, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

14.27                  Judgment Currency .  (a) If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in one currency into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so under applicable law, that the rate of exchange used shall be the spot rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the first currency could be purchased in New York City with such other currency by the person obtaining such judgment on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.

 

(b)                                  The parties agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so under applicable law, that the obligations of the Borrower and Qualified Borrower to make payments in any currency of the principal of and interest on the Loans of Borrower or any Qualified Borrower and any other amounts due from Borrower or any Qualified Borrower hereunder to the Administrative Agent as provided herein (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with Section 14.27(a) ), in any currency other than the relevant currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt by the Administrative Agent at its relevant office on behalf of the Lenders of the full amount of the relevant currency expressed to be payable in respect of the principal of and interest on the Loans and all other amounts due hereunder (it being assumed for purposes of this clause (i) that the Administrative Agent will convert any amount tendered or recovered into the relevant currency on the date of such tender or recovery), (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the relevant currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the relevant currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by an unrelated judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Agreement.

 

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14.28                  Guarantors .  The Borrower may designate as guarantors one or more parties (“ Guarantors ”) who are to receive distributions of the proceeds of Loans hereunder in connection with a future merger, acquisition or similar transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates on the one hand and such parties and their Affiliates on the other hand, with respect to such Loans, subject to the consummation of such merger, acquisition or similar transaction and provided that there shall be no Event of Default outstanding both before and immediately after giving effect to such merger, acquisition or similar transaction; provided that the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably satisfied itself with respect to “know your customer” and applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions in respect of any such proposed Guarantor.  The guarantees executed by the Guarantors pursuant to this Section 14.28 (“ Guarantees ”) shall not exceed $250,000,000 in the aggregate.  The Guarantees shall be guarantees of collection and not guarantees of payment, shall otherwise be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit M or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and shall be acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, effective upon their execution by the Guarantors.

 

14.29                  Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, taken together with all of the other Loan Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, written and oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

151


Exhibit 10.6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

May 27, 2014

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I Definitions; Etc.

1

1.1

Definitions

1

1.2

Exhibit; Etc.

13

 

 

 

ARTICLE II Continuation of Partnership

13

2.1

Continuation

13

2.2

Name

14

2.3

Character of the Business

14

2.4

Location of the Principal Place of Business

14

2.5

Registered Agent and Registered Office

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE III Term

14

3.1

Commencement

14

3.2

Dissolution

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV Contributions to Capital

15

4.1

General Partner Capital Contributions

15

4.2

Limited Partner Capital Contributions

15

4.3

Additional Funds

15

4.4

Redemption; Change in Number of Shares Outstanding

17

4.5

Stock Option Plan; Dividend Reinvestment Plan; LTIP Units

18

4.6

No Third Party Beneficiary

18

4.7

No Interest; No Return

18

4.8

Capital Accounts

19

 

 

 

ARTICLE V Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment

21

5.1

Representations and Warranties by the General Partner

21

5.2

Representations and Warranties by the Limited Partners

21

5.3

Acknowledgment by Each Partner

22

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI Allocations, Distributions and Other Tax and Accounting Matters

22

6.1

Allocations

22

6.2

Distributions

27

6.3

Books of Account; Segregation of Funds

29

6.4

Reports

29

6.5

Audits

30

6.6

Tax Returns

30

6.7

Tax Matters Partner

30

6.8

Withholding

31

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII Rights, Duties and Restrictions of the General Partner

31

7.1

Expenditures by Partnership

31

7.2

Powers and Duties of the General Partner

32

7.3

Major Decisions

35

7.4

General Partner Participation

36

 

i



 

7.5

Proscriptions

37

7.6

Additional Partners

37

7.7

Title Holder

37

7.8

Waiver and Indemnification

37

7.9

Limitation of Liability of Directors, Stockholders and Officers of the General Partner

38

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII Dissolution, Liquidation and Winding-Up

38

8.1

Accounting

38

8.2

Distribution on Dissolution

39

8.3

Sale of Partnership Assets

39

8.4

Distributions in Kind

39

8.5

Documentation of Liquidation

40

8.6

Liability of the Liquidation Agent

40

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX Transfer of Partnership Interests and Related Matters

40

9.1

General Partner Transfers and Deemed Transfers

40

9.2

Transfers by Limited Partners

41

9.3

Issuance of Additional Partnership Units , LP Preferred Units and LTIP Units

42

9.4

Restrictions on Transfer

43

9.5

Shelf Registration Rights

44

 

 

 

ARTICLE X Rights and Obligations of the Limited Partners

46

10.1

No Participation in Management

46

10.2

Bankruptcy of a Limited Partner

46

10.3

No Withdrawal

46

10.4

Duties and Conflicts

46

10.5

Guaranty and Indemnification Agreements

47

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI Grant of Rights to the Limited Partners

48

11.1

Grant of Rights

48

11.2

Limitation on Exercise of Rights

48

11.3

Computation of Purchase Price/Form of Payment

48

11.4

Closing

49

11.5

Closing Deliveries

49

11.6

Term of Rights

49

11.7

Covenants of the General Partner

49

11.8

Limited Partners’ Covenant

50

11.9

Dividends

50

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII General Provisions

50

12.1

Investment Representations

50

12.2

Notices

51

12.3

Successors

51

12.4

Liability of Limited Partners

51

12.5

Effect and Interpretation

51

 

ii



 

12.6

Counterparts

51

12.7

Partners Not Agents

51

12.8

Entire Understanding; Etc.

51

12.9

Severability

52

12.10

Trust Provision

52

12.11

Pronouns and Headings

52

12.12

Assurances

52

 

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A                                                                   Names, Addresses and Ownership Information for Holders of Partnership Units

EXHIBIT B                                                                   Form of Exercise Notice

 

iii



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
OF
WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, L.P.

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, dated as of May 27, 2014, is made by and among WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP INC., an Indiana corporation, as general partner (the “General Partner”), and those persons whose names and addresses are set forth on Exhibit A hereto, as limited partners.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Simon Property Group, Inc. (“Simon Property”) is the general partner of Simon Property Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership;

 

WHEREAS, Simon Property’s board of directors has determined that it is appropriate and advisable to separate certain of Simon Property’s assets and liabilities from its other businesses (the “Spin-Off”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Spin-Off, Simon Property has formed Washington Prime Group Inc., an Indiana corporation, which in turn is the general partner of Washington Prime Group, L.P., an Indiana limited partnership which holds certain of the assets and liabilities to be included in the Spin-Off; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Spin-Off, the Agreement of Limited Partnership of Washington Prime Group, L.P., dated as of January 17, 2014, will be amended and restated and units of Washington Prime Group, L.P. will be issued to the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy, and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending legally to be bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions; Etc.

 

1.1                                Definitions .  Except as otherwise herein expressly provided the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Accountants ” shall mean the independent registered public accounting firm or firms selected by the General Partner from time to time on behalf of the Partnership to audit the books and records of the Partnership and to prepare and certify statements and reports in connection therewith.

 

Act ” shall mean the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act as enacted in the State of Indiana, as the same may hereafter be amended from time to time.

 

S-1



 

Additional Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a) hereof.

 

Adjusted Capital Account Balance ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b)(1) hereof.

 

Adjustment Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b) hereof.

 

Administrative Expenses ” shall mean (i) all administrative and operating costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership, and (ii) those administrative costs and expenses and accounting and legal expenses incurred by the General Partner on behalf or for the benefit of the Partnership.

 

Affected Gain ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(g) hereof.

 

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner (or as to any other Person the affiliates of which are relevant for purposes of any of the provisions of this Agreement):  (i) any member of the Immediate Family of such Partner or Person; (ii) any partner, trustee, beneficiary, member or stockholder of such Partner or Person; (iii) any legal representative, successor or assignee of such Partner or any Person referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii); (iv) any trustee or trust for the benefit of such Partner or any Person referred to in the preceding clauses (i) through (iii); or (v) any Entity which, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with such Partner or any Person referred to in the preceding clauses (i) through (iv).

 

Affiliate Financing ” shall mean financing or refinancing obtained from a Partner or an Affiliate of a Partner by the Partnership.

 

Agreement ” shall mean this Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as originally executed and as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, as the context requires.

 

Articles ” shall mean the articles of incorporation of the General Partner and all amendments, supplements and restatements thereof.

 

Bankruptcy ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, (i) the commencement by such Partner of any proceeding seeking relief under any provision or chapter of the federal Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state law relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization, (ii) an adjudication that such Partner is insolvent or bankrupt, (iii) the entry of an order for relief under the federal Bankruptcy Code with respect to such Partner, (iv) the filing of any petition or the commencement of any case or proceeding against such Partner under the federal Bankruptcy Code unless such petition and the case or proceeding initiated thereby are dismissed within ninety (90) days from the date of such filing or commencement, (v) the filing of an answer by such Partner admitting the allegations of any such petition, (vi) the appointment of a trustee, receiver or custodian for all or substantially all of the assets of such Partner unless such appointment is vacated or dismissed within ninety (90) days from the date of such appointment but not less than

 

2



 

five (5) days before the proposed sale of any assets of such Partner, (vii) the execution by such Partner of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (viii) the convening by such Partner of a meeting of its creditors, or any class thereof, for purposes of effecting a moratorium upon or extension or composition of its debts, (ix) the failure of such Partner to pay its debts as they mature, (x) the levy, attachment, execution or other seizure of substantially all of the assets of such Partner where such seizure is not discharged within thirty (30) days thereafter, or (xi) the admission by such Partner in writing of its inability to pay its debts as they mature or that it is generally not paying its debts as they become due.

 

Capital Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a) hereof.

 

Capital Contribution ” shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount of money and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property other than money contributed to the Partnership with respect to the Partnership Units held by such Partner (net of liabilities secured by such property which the Partnership assumes or takes subject to).

 

Certificate ” shall mean the Certificate of Limited Partnership establishing the Partnership, as filed with the office of the Indiana Secretary of State on January 17, 2014, as it has or may hereafter be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Act.

 

Closing Price ” on any date shall mean the last sale price per share, regular way, of the Shares or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, of the Shares in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the 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 the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System for the Shares or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotations system that may then be in use or, if the Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Shares selected from time to time by the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law.

 

Computation Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.3 hereof.

 

Consent of the DeBartolos ” shall mean consent of those Limited Partners who are “DeBartolos” as defined herein.  NID Corporation (in such capacity the “DeBartolo Designee”) is hereby granted authority by those Limited Partners who are DeBartolos to grant or withhold

 

3



 

consent on behalf of the DeBartolos whenever the Consent of the DeBartolos is required hereunder.  The DeBartolos shall have the right, from time to time, by written notice to the Partnership signed by DeBartolos who hold in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Partnership Units then held by the DeBartolos, to substitute a new Person as the DeBartolo Designee for the Person who is then acting as such.  The Partnership, the Partners and all Persons dealing with the Partnership shall be fully protected in relying on any written consent of the DeBartolos which is executed by the Person who is then acting as the DeBartolo Designee.  In the event that at any time there is no DeBartolo Designee, the consent of the DeBartolos shall be given by those DeBartolos who hold in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Partnership Units then held by the DeBartolos.

 

Consent of the Limited Partners ” shall mean the written consent of a Majority-In-Interest of the Limited Partners (which for this purpose shall not include holders of LTIP Units), which consent shall be obtained prior to the taking of any action for which it is required by this Agreement and may be given or withheld by a Majority-In-Interest of the Limited Partners, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, in their sole and absolute discretion.  Whenever the Consent of the Limited Partners is sought by the General Partner, the request for such consent, outlining in reasonable detail the matter or matters for which such consent is being requested, shall be submitted to all of the Limited Partners, and each Limited Partner shall have at least 15 days to act upon such request.

 

Consent of the Simons ” shall mean consent of those Limited Partners who are “Simons” as defined herein.  David Simon (the “Simon Designee”) is hereby granted authority by those Limited Partners who are Simons to grant or withhold consent on behalf of the Simons whenever the Consent of the Simons is required hereunder.  The Simons shall have the right from time to time, by written notice to the Partnership signed by Simons who hold in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Partnership Units then held by the Simons, to substitute a new Person as the Simon Designee for the Person who is then acting as such.  The Partnership, the Partners and all Persons dealing with the Partnership shall be fully protected in relying on any written consent of the Simons which is executed by the Person who is then acting as the Simon Designee.  In the event that at any time there is no Simon Designee, the Consent of the Simons shall be given by those Simons who hold in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Partnership Units then held by the Simons.

 

Contributed Funds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b) hereof.

 

Contribution Current Per Share Market Price ” on any date shall mean the average of the Closing Prices for a period of not less than five consecutive Trading Days nor more than thirty consecutive Trading Days ending on such date, such period determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner.

 

Contribution Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3 hereof.

 

Contribution Deemed Partnership Unit Value ” as of any date shall mean the Contribution Current Per Share Market Price as of the Trading Day immediately preceding such date;

 

4



 

provided , however , that Contribution Deemed Partnership Unit Value shall be adjusted as described in Section 11.7(d) hereof in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, stock distribution or similar transaction.

 

Control ” shall mean the ability, whether by the direct or indirect ownership of shares or other equity interests, by contract or otherwise, to elect a majority of the directors of a corporation, to select the managing partner of a partnership or otherwise to select, or have the power to remove and then select, a majority of those Persons exercising governing authority over an Entity.  In the case of a limited partnership, the sole general partner, all of the general partners to the extent each has equal management control and authority, or the managing general partner or managing general partners thereof shall be deemed to have control of such partnership and, in the case of a trust, any trustee thereof or any Person having the right to select or remove any such trustee shall be deemed to have control of such trust.

 

Covered Sale ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(d) hereof.

 

Current Per Share Market Price ” on any date shall mean the average of the Closing Prices for the five consecutive Trading Days ending on such date.

 

DeBartolos ” shall mean (i) the Estate of Edward J. DeBartolo, (ii) Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr., Marie Denise DeBartolo York, members of the Immediate Family of either of the foregoing, any other members of the Immediate Family of Edward J. DeBartolo, any other lineal descendants of any of the foregoing and any trusts established for the benefit of any of the foregoing, and (iii) NID Corporation and any other Entity Controlled by any one or more of the Persons listed or specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

 

Deemed Partnership Unit Value ” as of any date shall mean the Current Per Share Market Price as of the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided , however , that Deemed Partnership Unit Value shall be adjusted as described in Section 11.7(d) hereof in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, stock distribution or similar transaction.

 

Depreciation ” shall mean for each Partnership Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable under the Code with respect to a Partnership asset for such year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of a Partnership asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the General Partner.

 

Development Land ” shall mean any vacant land suitable for development as a Project.

 

5



 

Directors ” shall mean the members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner.

 

Entity ” shall mean any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust, business trust, cooperative or association.

 

ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding laws).

 

Exercise Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 hereof.

 

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

General Partner ” shall mean Washington Prime Group Inc. an Indiana corporation.

 

GP Preferred Contributed Funds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c) hereof.

 

GP Preferred Distribution Requirement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c) hereof.

 

GP Preferred Redemption Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any class or series of GP Preferred Units, the sum of (i) the amount of any accumulated Preferred Distribution Shortfall with respect to such class or series of GP Preferred Units, (ii) the Preferred Distribution Requirement with respect to such class or series of GP Preferred Units to the date of redemption and (iii) the GP Preferred Redemption Price indicated in the GP Preferred Unit Designation with respect to such class or series of GP Preferred Units.

 

GP Preferred Redemption Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c) hereof.

 

GP Preferred Unit Designation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c) hereof.

 

GP Preferred Units ” means the preferred interests in the Partnership issued to the General Partner pursuant to Section 4.3(c) hereof and having the economic rights, including dividend, redemption and conversion rights and sinking fund provisions, set forth in a GP Preferred Unit Designation.

 

Gross Asset Value ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(b) hereof.

 

Gross Income ” shall mean the income of the Partnership determined pursuant to Section 61 of the Code before deduction of items of expense or deduction.

 

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Immediate Family ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s spouse, parents, parents-in-law, descendants by blood or adoption, nephews, nieces, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and children-in-law (in each case by whole or half-blood).

 

Incurrence ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.5(a) hereof.

 

Independent Directors ” shall mean those Directors who are not employed by the General Partner, a member of the Simons or any Affiliate of such Persons.

 

Institutional Investors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule  501(a)(1)-(3), (7) and (8) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Institutional Lender ” shall mean a commercial bank or trust company, a savings and loan association or an insurance company.

 

Lien ” shall mean any liens, security interests, mortgages, deeds of trust, charges, claims, encumbrances, restrictions, pledges, options, rights of first offer or first refusal and any other rights or interests of others of any kind or nature, actual or contingent, or other similar encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.

 

Limited Partners ” unless the context expressly provides otherwise, shall mean those Persons whose names are set forth on Exhibit A , their permitted successors or assigns as limited partners hereof, and/or any Person who, at the time of reference thereto, is a limited partner of the Partnership.

 

Limited Partnership Unit ” shall mean each Partnership Unit (other than LTIP Units) held by a Limited Partner.

 

Liquidation Agent ” shall mean such Person as is selected as the Liquidation Agent hereunder by the General Partner, which Person may be the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner, provided such Liquidation Agent agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.  The Liquidation Agent shall be empowered to give and receive notices, reports and payments in connection with the dissolution, liquidation and/or winding-up of the Partnership and shall hold and exercise such other rights and powers as are necessary or required to permit all parties to deal with the Liquidation Agent in connection with the dissolution, liquidation and/or winding-up of the Partnership.

 

Liquidation Transaction ” shall mean any sale of assets of the Partnership in contemplation of, or in connection with, the liquidation of the Partnership.

 

Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

 

LP Preferred Distribution Requirement ” means the dividends or distributions required to be made at the time such dividend or distribution is required to be made on a class or series of LP Preferred Units as set forth in the related LP Preferred Unit Designation.

 

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LP Preferred Unit Designation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b) hereof.

 

LP Preferred Units ” means the preferred interests in the Partnership issued to a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.3(a) hereof and having the economic rights, including distribution, redemption, conversion and exchange rights and sinking fund provisions, set forth in the related LP Preferred Unit Designation.  The number of LP Preferred Units for each outstanding class or series of LP Preferred Units held by each Limited Partner at the date of this Agreement is as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

LTIP Unit Designation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(c) hereof.

 

LTIP Units ” means long-term incentive plan interests in the Partnership issued hereafter pursuant to Section 9.3(a).  The LTIP Units shall be convertible into Limited Partnership Units under the terms and conditions set forth in a related LTIP Unit Designation.

 

Major Decisions ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(b) hereof.

 

Majority-In-Interest of the Limited Partners ” shall mean Limited Partner(s) who hold in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Partnership Units then held by all the Limited Partners, as a class (excluding any Partnership Units held by the General Partner, any Person Controlled by the General Partner or any Person holding as nominee for the General Partner).

 

Minimum Gain ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(l) hereof.

 

Minimum Gain Chargeback ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(l) hereof.

 

Net Financing Proceeds ” shall mean the cash proceeds received by the Partnership in connection with any borrowing by or on behalf of the Partnership (whether or not secured), or distributed to the Partnership in respect of any such borrowing by any Subsidiary Entity, after deduction of all costs and expenses incurred by the Partnership in connection with such borrowing, and after deduction of that portion of such proceeds used to repay any other indebtedness of the Partnership, or any interest or premium thereon.

 

Net Operating Cash Flow ” shall mean, with respect to any fiscal period of the Partnership, the aggregate amount of all cash received by the Partnership from any source for such fiscal period (including Net Sale Proceeds and Net Financing Proceeds but excluding Contributed Funds), less the aggregate amount of all expenses or other amounts paid with respect to such period and such additional cash reserves as of the last day of such period as the General Partner deems necessary for any capital or operating expenditure permitted hereunder.

 

Net Sale Proceeds ” shall mean the cash proceeds received by the Partnership in connection with a sale or other disposition of any asset by or on behalf of the Partnership or a sale or other disposition of any asset by or on behalf of any Subsidiary Entity, after deduction of any

 

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costs or expenses incurred by the Partnership, or payable specifically out of the proceeds of such sale or other disposition (including, without limitation, any repayment of any indebtedness required to be repaid as a result of such sale or other disposition or which the General Partner elects to repay out of the proceeds of such sale or other disposition, together with accrued interest and premium, if any, thereon and any sales commissions or other costs and expenses due and payable to any Person), in connection with such sale or other disposition.

 

NID Corporation ” shall mean NID Corporation, an Ohio corporation formerly known as The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation.

 

Nonrecourse Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.l(d)(l) hereof.

 

Offered Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 hereof.

 

Ownership Limit ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article Ninth of the Articles.

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(2) hereof.

 

Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(2) hereof.

 

Partner Nonrecourse Deduction ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(2) hereof.

 

Partners ” shall mean the General Partner and the Limited Partners (including, unless the context expressly indicates otherwise, the holders of LP Preferred Units and LTIP Units), their duly admitted successors or assigns or any Person who is a partner of the Partnership at the time of reference thereto.

 

Partnership ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Partnership Fiscal Year ” shall mean the calendar year.

 

Partnership Interest ” shall mean the interest of a Partner in the Partnership.

 

Partnership Minimum Gain ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(2) of the Regulations.

 

Partnership Record Date ” shall mean the record date established by the General Partner for a distribution of Net Operating Cash Flow pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, which record date shall be the same as the record date established by the General Partner for distribution to its stockholders of some or all of its share of such distribution.

 

Partnership Units ” or “ Units ” shall mean the interest in the Partnership of any Partner which entitles a Partner to the allocations (and each item thereof) specified in Section 6.1(b) hereof and all distributions from the Partnership, and its rights of management, consent, approval,

 

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or participation, if any, as provided in this Agreement.  Partnership Units do not include Preferred Units and include LTIP Units only to the extent provided in the applicable LTIP Unit Designation.  Each Partner’s percentage ownership interest in the Partnership shall be determined by dividing the number of Partnership Units then owned by each Partner by the total number of Partnership Units then outstanding.  The number of Partnership Units held by the General Partner and by each Limited Partner at the date of this Agreement is as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

Person ” shall mean any individual or Entity.

 

Pledge ” shall mean granting of a Lien on a Partnership Interest.

 

Post-Exchange Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a) hereof.

 

Preferred Distribution Requirement ” shall mean the GP Preferred Distribution Requirement and the LP Preferred Distribution Requirement.

 

Preferred Distribution Shortfall ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b)(i) hereof.

 

Preferred Shares ” shall mean any class of equity securities of the General Partner now or hereafter authorized or reclassified having dividend rights that are superior or prior to dividends payable on the Shares or any other shares of common stock of the General Partner.

 

Preferred Units ” shall mean GP Preferred Units issued to the General Partner pursuant to Section 4.3(c) hereof and LP Preferred Units issued to a Limited Partner pursuant to Section 9.3(a) hereof.  Unless otherwise specified in the Preferred Unit Designations, as the case may be, the holders of any class or series of Preferred Units shall have such rights to the allocations of Profits and Losses as specified in Section 6.1 hereof and to distributions pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, but shall not, by reason of their ownership of such Preferred Units, be entitled to participate in the management of the Partnership or to consent to or approve any action which is required by the Act or this Agreement to be approved by any or all of the Partners.

 

Preferred Unit Designation ” means the GP Preferred Unit Designations and the LP Preferred Unit Designations, collectively.

 

Preferred Unit Issue Price ” shall mean (i) with respect to GP Preferred Units, (a) the amount of the Required Funds contributed or deemed to have been contributed by the General Partner in exchange for a GP Preferred Unit or (b) in the case of GP Preferred Units issued in respect of a Related Issue issued upon conversion of or in exchange for any LP Preferred Units, the liquidation preference of such GP Preferred Unit upon issuance, and (ii) with respect to LP Preferred Units, the liquidation preference of such LP Preferred Unit upon issuance.

 

Profits ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

 

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Project ” shall mean any property that is or is planned to be used primarily for retail purposes, and shall include, but is not limited to, a regional mall, a community shopping center, a specialty retail center and a mixed-use property which contains a major retail component.

 

Property or Properties ” shall mean any Development Land or Project in which the Partnership acquires ownership of (a) the fee or leasehold interest or (b) an indirect fee or leasehold interest through an interest in any other Entity.

 

Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.3 hereof.

 

Qualified REIT Subsidiaries ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 856(i)(2) of the Code.

 

Registrable Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a) hereof.

 

Regulations ” shall mean the final, temporary or proposed income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

 

Regulatory Allocations ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d)(5) hereof.

 

REIT ” shall mean a real estate investment trust as defined in Section 856 of the Code.

 

REIT Expenses ” shall mean (i) costs and expenses relating to the continuity of existence of the General Partner and its respective subsidiaries, including taxes, fees and assessments associated therewith, and any and all costs, expenses or fees payable to any director or trustee of the General Partner or such subsidiaries, (ii) costs and expenses relating to any offer or registration of securities by the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries and all statements, reports, fees and expenses incidental thereto, including underwriting discounts, selling commissions and placement fees applicable to any such offer of securities; provided , however , that in the case of any such registration of securities on behalf of one or more of the security holders of the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries, REIT Expenses shall not include underwriting discounts or selling commissions), (iii) costs and expenses associated with the preparation and filing of any periodic reports by the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries under federal, state or local laws or regulations, including tax returns and filings with the SEC and any stock exchanges on which the Shares are listed, (iv) costs and expenses associated with compliance by the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries with laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any regulatory body, including the SEC, (v) costs and expenses associated with any 401(k) Plan, incentive plan, bonus plan or other plan providing for compensation for the employees of the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries, and (vi) all operating, administrative and other costs incurred by the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries (including attorney’s and accountant’s fees, income and franchise taxes and salaries paid to officers of the General Partner or its respective subsidiaries, but excluding costs of any repurchase by the General Partner of any of its securities and excluding costs associated with activities and business operations not conducted directly or indirectly through the Partnership or any Subsidiary Partnership); provided , however that

 

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amounts described herein shall be considered REIT Expenses hereunder only if and to the extent during the fiscal year in question the aggregate amount of such expenses for such fiscal year and all prior fiscal years exceeds the aggregate of (a) all amounts theretofore distributed or distributable to the General Partner by any wholly-owned subsidiary thereof and (b) all amounts theretofore paid to the General Partner pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof.

 

REIT Requirements ” shall mean all actions or omissions as may be necessary (including making appropriate distributions from time to time) to permit the General Partner and, where applicable, each of its respective subsidiaries and, where applicable, each Subsidiary Entity, to qualify or continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust within the meaning of Section 856 et seq . of the Code, as such provisions may be amended from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of succeeding law.

 

Related Issue ” shall mean, with respect to a class or series of GP Preferred Units, (a) the class or series of Preferred Shares the sale of which provided the General Partner with the proceeds to contribute to the Partnership in exchange for such GP Preferred Units and (b) the class or series of Preferred Shares issued upon conversion of or in exchange for any LP Preferred Units.

 

Required Funds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a) hereof.

 

Rights ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 hereof.

 

SEC ” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Shares ” shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the General Partner.

 

Shelf Rights Holder ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.5 hereof.

 

Shelf Registration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.5 hereof.

 

Simons ” shall mean Melvin Simon, Herbert Simon and David Simon, other members of the Immediate Family of any of the foregoing, any other lineal descendants of any of the foregoing, any trusts established for the benefit of any of the foregoing, and any Entity Controlled by any one or more of the foregoing.

 

Subsidiary Entity ” shall mean any Entity in which the Partnership owns a direct or indirect equity interest.

 

Subsidiary Partnership ” shall mean any partnership or limited liability company in which the Partnership owns a direct or indirect equity interest.

 

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Tax Matters Partner ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.7 hereof.

 

Third Party Financing ” shall mean financing or refinancing obtained from a Third Party by the Partnership.

 

Third Party ” or “ Third Parties ” shall mean a Person or Persons who is or are neither a Partner or Partners nor an Affiliate or Affiliates of a Partner or Partners.

 

Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Transfer ” shall mean any assignment, sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition or act of alienation (other than a Pledge), whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law.

 

1.2          Exhibit; Etc .   References in this Agreement to an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to one of the Exhibits attached to this Agreement, and references in this Agreement to an “Article” or a “Section” are, unless otherwise specified, to one of the Articles or Sections of this Agreement.  Each Exhibit attached hereto and referred to herein is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Continuation of Partnership

 

2.1          Continuation .  The parties hereto do hereby agree to continue the Partnership as a limited partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act, and all other pertinent laws of the State of Indiana, for the purposes and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.  The Partners agree that the rights and liabilities of the Partners shall be as provided in the Act except as otherwise herein expressly provided.  Promptly upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the General Partner shall cause each notice, instrument, document or certificate as may be required by applicable law, and which may be necessary to enable the Partnership to continue to conduct its business, and to own its properties, under the Partnership name to be filed or recorded in all appropriate public offices.  Upon request of the General Partner, the Partners shall execute any assumed or fictitious name certificate or certificates required by law to be filed in connection with the Partnership.  The General Partner shall properly cause the execution and delivery of such additional documents and shall perform such additional acts consistent with the terms of this Agreement as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of law for the continued operation of a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Indiana (it being understood that the General Partner shall be required to provide the Limited Partners with copies of any amendment to the Certificate required to be filed under such laws only upon request) and for the continued operation of a limited partnership in each other jurisdiction in which the Partnership shall conduct business.

 

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2.2          Name .  The name of the Partnership is Washington Prime Group, L.P., and all business of the Partnership shall be conducted under the name of Washington Prime Group, L.P. or such other name as the General Partner may select; provided , however , that the General Partner may not choose the name (or any derivative thereof) of any Limited Partner (other than the names “DeBartolo” or “Simon”) without the prior written consent of such Limited Partner.  All transactions of the Partnership, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall be carried on and completed in such name (it being understood that the Partnership may adopt assumed or fictitious names in certain jurisdictions).

 

2.3          Character of the Business .  The purpose of the Partnership is and shall be to acquire, hold, own, develop, redevelop, construct, reconstruct, alter, improve, maintain, operate, sell, lease, Transfer, encumber, convey, exchange and otherwise dispose of or deal with the Properties and any other real and personal property of all kinds; to undertake such other activities as may be necessary, advisable, desirable or convenient to the business of the Partnership; and to engage in such other ancillary activities as shall be necessary or desirable to effectuate the foregoing purposes.  The Partnership shall have all powers necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes enumerated.  In connection with the foregoing, but subject to all of the terms, covenants, conditions and limitations contained in this Agreement and any other agreement entered into by the Partnership, the Partnership shall have full power and authority to enter into, perform and carry out contracts of any kind, to borrow or lend money and to issue evidences of indebtedness, whether or not secured by mortgage, trust deed, pledge or other Lien and, directly or indirectly, to acquire and construct additional Properties necessary or useful in connection with its business.

 

2.4          Location of the Principal Place of Business .  The location of the principal place of business of the Partnership shall be at 225 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 or such other location as shall be selected from time to time by the General Partner in its sole discretion; provided , however , that the General Partner shall promptly notify the Limited Partners of any change in the location of the principal place of business of the Partnership.

 

2.5          Registered Agent and Registered Office .  The Registered Agent of the Partnership shall be Corporation Service Company, or such other Person as the General Partner may select in its sole discretion.  The Registered Office of the Partnership in the State of Indiana shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 251 East Ohio Street, Suite 500, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, or such other location as the General Partner may select in its sole and absolute discretion.  The General Partner shall promptly notify the Limited Partners of any change in the Registered Agent or Registered Office of the Partnership.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Term

 

3.1          Commencement .  The Partnership commenced business as a limited partnership on January 17, 2014 upon the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana.

 

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3.2          Dissolution .  The Partnership shall continue until dissolved and terminated upon the earlier of (i) December 31, 2096, or (ii) the earliest to occur of the following events:

 

(a)           the dissolution, termination, withdrawal, retirement or Bankruptcy of the General Partner unless the Partnership is continued as provided in Section 9.1 hereof;

 

(b)           the election to dissolve the Partnership made in writing by the General Partner, but only if the consent required by Section 7.3 is obtained;

 

(c)           the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Partnership; or

 

(d)           dissolution required by operation of law.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Contributions to Capital

 

4.1          General Partner Capital Contributions .

 

(a)           [RESERVED]

 

(b)           The General Partner shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership, in exchange for Units as provided in Section 4.3(b) hereof, the proceeds of the sale of any Shares.

 

(c)           All transfer, stamp or similar taxes payable upon any contribution provided for in this Section 4.1 shall be paid by the Partnership.

 

4.2          Limited Partner Capital Contributions .  Except as expressly provided in Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.8 below, no Partner may make, and no Partner shall have the obligation to make, additional contributions to the capital of the Partnership without the consent of the General Partner.

 

4.3          Additional Funds .

 

(a)           The Partnership may obtain funds (“Required Funds”) which it considers necessary to meet the needs, obligations and requirements of the Partnership, or to maintain adequate working capital or to repay Partnership indebtedness, and to carry out the Partnership’s purposes, from the proceeds of Third Party Financing or Affiliate Financing, in each case pursuant to such terms, provisions and conditions and in such manner (including the engagement of brokers and/or investment bankers to assist in providing such financing) and amounts as the General Partner shall determine to be in the best interests of the Partnership, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  Any and all funds required or expended, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership for capital expenditures may be obtained or replenished through Partnership borrowings.  Any Third Party Financing or Affiliate Financing obtained by the General Partner for and on behalf of the Partnership may be convertible in whole or in part into Additional Units

 

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(to be issued in accordance with Section 9.3 hereof), may be unsecured, may be secured by mortgage(s) or deed(s) of trust and/or assignments on or in respect of all or any portion of the assets of the Partnership or any other security made available by the Partnership, may include or be obtained through the public or private placement of debt and/or other instruments, domestic and foreign, may include provision for the option to acquire Additional Units (to be issued in accordance with Section 9.3 hereof), and may include the acquisition of or provision for interest rate swaps, credit enhancers and/or other transactions or items in respect of such Third Party Financing or Affiliate Financing; provided , however , that in no event may the Partnership obtain any Affiliate Financing or Third Party Financing that is recourse to any Partner or any Affiliate, partner, stockholder, beneficiary, principal officer or director of any Partner without the consent of the affected Partner and any other Person or Persons to whom such recourse may be had.

 

(b)           To the extent the Partnership does not borrow all of the Required Funds (and whether or not the Partnership is able to borrow all or part of the Required Funds), the General Partner (or an Affiliate thereof) (i) may itself borrow such Required Funds, in which case the General Partner or its Affiliate shall lend such Required Funds to the Partnership on the same economic terms and otherwise on substantially identical terms, or (ii) may raise such Required Funds in any other manner, in which case, unless such Required Funds are raised by the General Partner through the sale of Preferred Shares, the General Partner shall contribute to the Partnership as an additional Capital Contribution the amount of the Required Funds so raised (“Contributed Funds”) (hereinafter, each date on which the General Partner so contributes Contributed Funds pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) is referred to as an “Adjustment Date”).  Any Required Funds raised from the sale of Preferred Shares shall either be contributed to the Partnership as Contributed Funds or loaned to the Partnership pursuant to Section 4.3(c) below.  In the event the General Partner advances Required Funds to the Partnership pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) as Contributed Funds, then the Partnership shall assume and pay (or reflect on its books as additional Contributed Funds) the expenses (including any applicable underwriting discounts) incurred by the General Partner (or such Affiliate) in connection with raising such Required Funds through a public offering of its securities or otherwise.  If the General Partner advances Required Funds to the Partnership as Contributed Funds pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) from any offering or sale of Shares (including, without limitation, any issuance of Shares pursuant to the exercise of options, warrants, convertible securities or similar rights to acquire Shares), the Partnership shall issue additional Partnership Units to the General Partner to reflect its contribution of the Contributed Funds equal in number to such number of Shares issued in such offering or sale.

 

(c)           In the event the General Partner contributes to the Partnership any Required Funds obtained from the sale of Preferred Shares (“GP Preferred Contributed Funds”), then the Partnership shall assume and pay the expenses (including any applicable underwriter discounts) incurred by the General Partner in connection with raising such Required Funds.  In addition, the General Partner shall be issued GP Preferred Units of a designated class or series (a) to reflect its contribution of GP Preferred Contributed Funds and (b) to reflect its issuance of a Related Issue upon conversion of or in exchange for any LP Preferred Units.  Each class or series of GP Preferred Units so issued shall be designated by the General Partner to identify such class or series with the class or series of Preferred Shares which constitutes the Related Issue.

 

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Each class or series of GP Preferred Units shall be described in a written document (the “GP Preferred Unit Designation”) that shall set forth, in sufficient detail, the economic rights, including dividend, redemption and conversion rights and sinking fund provisions, of the class or series of GP Preferred Units and the Related Issue.  The number of GP Preferred Units of a class or series shall be equal to the number of shares of the Related Issue sold.  The GP Preferred Unit Designation shall provide for such terms for the class or series of GP Preferred Units that shall entitle the General Partner to substantially the same economic rights as the holders of the Related Issue.  Specifically, the General Partner shall receive distributions on the class or series of GP Preferred Units pursuant to Section 6.2 equal to the aggregate dividends payable on the Related Issue at the times such dividends are paid (the “GP Preferred Distribution Requirement”).  The Partnership shall redeem the class or series of GP Preferred Units for a redemption price per GP Preferred Unit equal to the redemption price per share of the Related Issue, exclusive of any accrued unpaid dividends (the “GP Preferred Redemption Price”) upon the redemption of any shares of the Related Issue.  Each class or series of GP Preferred Units shall also be converted into additional Partnership Units at the time and on such economic terms and conditions as the Related Issue is converted into Shares.  Upon the issuance of any class or series of GP Preferred Units pursuant to this Section 4.3(c), the General Partner shall, upon request, provide the Limited Partners with a copy of the GP Preferred Unit Designation relating to such class or series and such GP Preferred Unit Designation shall be attached as an exhibit to this Agreement.  The General Partner shall have the right, in lieu of contributing to the Partnership proceeds from the sale of Preferred Shares as GP Preferred Contributed Funds, to lend such proceeds to the Partnership.  Any such loan shall be on the same terms and conditions as the Related Issue except that dividends payable on the Related Issue shall be payable by the Partnership to the General Partner as interest, any mandatory redemptions shall take the form of principal payments and no GP Preferred Units shall be issued to the General Partner.  If any such loan is made, the Partnership shall promptly reimburse the General Partner for all expenses (including any applicable underwriter discounts) incurred by the General Partner in connection with raising the Required Funds.  Any such loan made by the General Partner to the Partnership may at any time be contributed to the Partnership as GP Preferred Contributed Funds in exchange for GP Preferred Units as above provided; and if the Related Issue is by its terms convertible into Shares, such loan shall be so contributed to the Partnership prior to the effectuation of such conversion.

 

4.4                                Redemption; Change in Number of Shares Outstanding .

 

(a)                                  If the General Partner shall redeem any of its outstanding Shares, the Partnership shall concurrently therewith redeem an equal number of Units held by the General Partner for the same price (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the General Partner) as paid by the General Partner for the redemption of such Shares.

 

(b)                                  In the event of any change in the outstanding number of Shares by reason of any share dividend, split, reverse split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or combination, the number of Units held by each Partner (or assignee) shall be proportionately adjusted such that, to the extent possible, one Unit remains the equivalent of one Share without dilution.

 

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4.5                                Stock Option Plan; Dividend Reinvestment Plan; LTIP Units .

 

(a)                                  If at any time a stock option granted by the Partnership in connection with a stock option plan is exercised in accordance with its terms, and the Partnership chooses not to acquire any or all of the stock required to satisfy such option through open market purchases, the General Partner shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, sell to the Partnership for use in satisfying such stock option, at a purchase price equal to the Current Per Share Market Price on the date such stock option is exercised, the number of newly issued Shares for which such option is exercised (or, if such stock option is to be satisfied in part through open market purchases, the remaining number of newly issued Shares) and the General Partner shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership, in exchange for additional Partnership Units, an amount equal to the price paid to the General Partner by the Partnership in connection with the Partnership’s purchase of newly issued Shares upon exercise of such stock option.  The number of Partnership Units to be so issued shall be determined by dividing the amount of such capital contribution by the Deemed Partnership Unit Value as of the date of such capital contribution.  The General Partner shall promptly give each Limited Partner written notice of the number of Partnership Units so issued.  The Partnership shall retain the exercise or purchase price paid by the holder of such option for the Shares such holder is entitled to receive upon such exercise.

 

(b)                                  All amounts received by the General Partner in respect of its dividend reinvestment plan, if any, either (a) shall be utilized by the General Partner to effect open market purchases of Shares, or (b) if the General Partner elects instead to issue new Shares with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the General Partner to the Partnership in exchange for additional Partnership Units.  The number of Partnership Units so issued shall be determined by dividing the amount of funds so contributed by the Deemed Partnership Unit Value, computed as of the date such funds are contributed.  The General Partner shall promptly give each Limited Partner written notice of the number of Partnership Units so issued.

 

(c)                                   Each Person who is issued an LTIP Unit pursuant to Section 9.3(a) shall make a capital contribution in an amount required by the General Partner.

 

4.6                                No Third Party Beneficiary .  No creditor or other Third Party having dealings with the Partnership shall have the right to enforce the right or obligation of any Partner to make Capital Contributions or to pursue any other right or remedy hereunder or at law or in equity, it being understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of, and may be enforced solely by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  None of the rights or obligations of the Partners herein set forth to make Capital Contributions to the Partnership shall be deemed an asset of the Partnership for any purpose by any creditor or other third party, nor may such rights or obligations be sold, transferred or assigned by the Partnership or pledged or encumbered by the Partnership to secure any debt or other obligation of the Partnership or of any of the Partners.

 

4.7                                No Interest; No Return .  No Partner shall be entitled to interest on its Capital Contribution or on such Partner’s Capital Account.  Except as provided herein or by law, no Partner

 

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shall have any right to withdraw any part of its Capital Account or to demand or receive the return of its Capital Contribution from the Partnership.

 

4.8                                Capital Accounts .

 

(a)                                  The Partnership shall establish and maintain a separate capital account (“Capital Account”) for each Partner, including a Partner who shall pursuant to the provisions hereof acquire a Partnership Interest, which Capital Account shall be:

 

(1)                                  credited with the amount of cash contributed by such Partner to the capital of the Partnership; the initial Gross Asset Value (net of liabilities secured by such contributed property that the Partnership assumes or takes subject to) of any other property contributed by such Partner to the capital of the Partnership; such Partner’s distributive share of Profits; and any other items in the nature of income or gain that are allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, but excluding tax items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i); and

 

(2)                                  debited with the amount of cash distributed to such Partner pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; the Gross Asset Value (net of liabilities secured by such distributed property that such Partner assumes or takes subject to) of any Partnership property distributed to such Partner pursuant to any provision of this Agreement; the amount of unsecured liabilities of such Partner assumed by the Partnership; such Partner’s distributive share of Losses; in the case of the General Partner, payments of REIT Expenses by the Partnership; and any other items in the nature of expenses or losses that are allocated to such Partner pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, but excluding tax items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(i).

 

(3)                                  In the event that any or all of a Partner’s Partnership Units or Preferred Units are transferred within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-l(b)(2)(iv)(l), the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent that it relates to the Partnership Units or Preferred Units so transferred.

 

In the event that the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets are adjusted pursuant to Section 4.8(b)(ii) hereof, the Capital Accounts of the Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the aggregate net adjustments as if the Partnership sold all of its properties for their fair market values and recognized gain or loss for federal income tax purposes equal to the amount of such aggregate net adjustment.

 

A Limited Partner shall be liable unconditionally to the Partnership for all or a portion of any deficit in its Capital Account if it so elects to be liable for such deficit or portion thereof.  Such election may be for either a limited or unlimited amount and may be amended or withdrawn at any time.  The election, and any amendment thereof, shall be made by written notice to the General Partner (and the General Partner shall promptly upon receipt deliver copies thereof to the other Partners) stating that the Limited Partner elects to be liable, and specifying the limitations, if any, on the maximum amount or duration of such liability.  Said election, or amendment thereof, shall be effective only from the date 25 days after written notice thereof is

 

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received by the General Partner, and shall terminate upon the date, if any, specified therein as a termination date or upon delivery to the General Partner of a subsequent written notice terminating such election.  A termination of any such election, or an amendment reducing the Limited Partner’s maximum liability thereunder or the duration thereof, shall not be effective to avoid responsibility for any loss incurred prior to such termination or the effective date of such amendment.  Except as provided in this Section 4.8 or as required by law, no Limited Partner shall be liable for any deficit in its Capital Account or be obligated to return any distributions of any kind received from the Partnership.

 

The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Section 1.704-1(b) of the Regulations, and shall be interpreted and applied as provided in the Regulations.

 

(b)                                  The term “Gross Asset Value” or “Gross Asset Values” means, with respect to any asset of the Partnership, such asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

(i)                                      the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset as reasonably determined by the General Partner;

 

(ii)                                   the Gross Asset Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as reasonably determined by the General Partner, immediately prior to the following events:

 

(A)                                a Capital Contribution (other than a de minimis Capital Contribution, within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(i) of the Regulations) to the Partnership by a new or existing Partner as consideration for Partnership Units;

 

(B)                                the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount (within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f)(5)(ii) of the Regulations) of Partnership property as consideration for the redemption of Partnership Units;

 

(C)                                the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Regulations;

 

(D)                                in the sole discretion of the General Partner, any transaction involving LP Preferred Units;

 

(E)                                 in the sole discretion of the General Partner, with respect to the issuance of LTIP Units; and

 

(F)                                  in the sole discretion of the General Partner, as otherwise authorized by the Regulations; and

 

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(iii)                                the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets distributed to any Partner shall be the gross fair market values of such assets as reasonably determined by the General Partner as of the date of distribution.  At all times, Gross Asset Values shall be adjusted by any Depreciation taken into account with respect to the Partnership’s assets for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.  Any adjustment to the Gross Asset Values of Partnership property shall require an adjustment to the Partners’ Capital Accounts as described in Section 4.8(a) above.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment

 

5.1                                Representations and Warranties by the General Partner .  The General Partner represents and warrants to the Limited Partners and to the Partnership that (i) it is a corporation duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation, with full right, corporate power and authority to fulfill all of its obligations hereunder or as contemplated herein; (ii) all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by it have been duly authorized by all necessary action; (iii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the General Partner and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (iv) no authorization, approval, consent or order of any court or governmental authority or agency or any other Entity is required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the General Partner, except as may have been received prior to the date of this Agreement; (v) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the General Partner and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with or constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease, joint venture or partnership agreement or other instrument or agreement to which either the General Partner or the Partnership is a party; and (vi) the Partnership Units, upon payment of the consideration therefore pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and, except as otherwise provided in accordance with applicable law, non-assessable.

 

5.2                                Representations and Warranties by the Limited Partners .  Each Limited Partner, for itself only, represents and warrants to the General Partner, the other Limited Partners and the Partnership that (i) all transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be performed by such Limited Partner have been duly authorized by all necessary action; and (ii) this Agreement is binding upon, and enforceable against, such Limited Partner in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

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5.3                                Acknowledgment by Each Partner .  Each Partner hereby acknowledges that no representations as to potential profit, cash flows or yield, if any, in respect of the Partnership or any one or more or all of the Projects owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership have been made to it by any other Partner or its Affiliates or any employee or representative of any other Partner or its Affiliates, and that projections and any other information, including, without limitation, financial and descriptive information and documentation, which may have been in any manner submitted to such Partner shall not constitute a representation or warranty, express or implied.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Allocations, Distributions and Other Tax and Accounting Matters

 

6.1                                Allocations .

 

(a)                                  For the purpose of this Agreement, the terms “Profits” and “Losses” mean, respectively, for each Partnership Fiscal Year or other period, the Partnership’s taxable income or loss for such Partnership Fiscal Year or other period, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(l) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), adjusted as follows:

 

(1)                                  any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this Section 6.1(a) shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

(2)                                  in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Partnership Fiscal Year or other period;

 

(3)                                  any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 6.1(d) hereof shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses; and

 

(4)                                  any expenditures of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code (or treated as such under Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i)) and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this Section 6.1(a) shall be deducted in calculating such taxable income or loss.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1(d) hereof and this Section 6.1(b), the Profits and Losses of the Partnership (and each item thereof) for each Partnership Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Partners in the following order of priority, unless otherwise specified in a Preferred Unit Designation:

 

(1)                                  First, Profits shall be allocated to the holders of Preferred Units so as to cause the Adjusted Capital Account Balance attributable to the Preferred Units to equal the

 

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amount that would be distributed with respect to the Preferred Units, determined without regard to any redemption premium to which such Preferred Units may be entitled assuming for this purpose that the Partnership was liquidated, as of the end of the period for which such allocation is being made.  For purposes of this Section, the term “Adjusted Capital Account Balance” means the Capital Account computed to reflect adjustments made in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) (including adjustments for Partnership Minimum Gain and Partner Minimum Gain).

 

(2)                                  Second, for any Partnership Fiscal Year ending on or after a date on which Preferred Units are redeemed, Profits (or Losses) shall be allocated to the holders of such Preferred Units in an amount equal to the excess (or deficit) of the sum of the applicable Preferred Redemption Amounts for the Preferred Units that have been or are being redeemed during such Partnership Fiscal Year over the Preferred Unit Issue Price of such GP Preferred Units.  In addition, in the event that the Partnership is liquidated pursuant to Article VIII, the allocation described above shall be made to the holders of Preferred Units with respect to all GP Preferred Units then outstanding.

 

(3)                                  Third, except as otherwise required by the Regulations, any remaining Profits and Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their proportionate ownership of Partnership Units, including LTIP Units to the extent provided in the applicable LTIP Unit Designation.

 

(4)                                  Notwithstanding subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3), Profits and Losses from a Liquidation Transaction shall be allocated as follows unless otherwise specified in a Preferred Unit Designation:

 

First, Profits (or Losses) shall be allocated to the holders of Preferred Units in an amount equal to the excess (or deficit) of the sum of the applicable Preferred Redemption Amounts of the Preferred Units which have been or will be redeemed with the proceeds of the Liquidation Transaction over the Preferred Unit Issue Price of such Preferred Units;

 

Second, Profits (or Losses) shall be allocated among the Partners so that the Capital Accounts of the Partners (excluding from the Capital Account of any Partner the amount attributable to its Preferred Units) are proportional to the number of Partnership Units held by each Partner; and

 

Third, any remaining Profits and Losses shall be allocated among the Partners in accordance with their proportionate ownership of Partnership Units.

 

(c)                                   For the purpose of Section 6.1(b) hereof, gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Partnership property shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property for federal income tax purposes differs from its Gross Asset Value.

 

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(d)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.1, the following provisions shall apply:

 

(1)                                  A Partner shall not receive an allocation of any Partnership deduction that would result in total loss allocations attributable to “Nonrecourse Liabilities” (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3)) in excess of such Partner’s share of Minimum Gain (as determined under Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)).  The term “Minimum Gain” means an amount determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(d) by computing, with respect to each Nonrecourse Liability of the Partnership, the amount of gain, if any, that the Partnership would realize if it disposed of the property subject to such liability for no consideration other than full satisfaction thereof, and by then aggregating the amounts so computed.  If the Partnership makes a distribution allocable to the proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability, in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-2(h), the distribution will be treated as allocable to an increase in Partnership Minimum Gain to the extent the increase results from encumbering Partnership property with aggregate Nonrecourse Liabilities that exceeds the property’s adjusted tax basis.  If there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain for a Partnership Fiscal Year, in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and the exceptions contained therein, the Partners shall be allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such Partnership Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Partnership Fiscal Years) equal to the Partners’ respective shares of the net decrease in Minimum Gain within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2) (the “Minimum Gain Chargeback”).  The items to be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(1) shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and (j).

 

(2)                                  Any item of “Partner Nonrecourse Deduction” (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)) with respect to a “Partner Nonrecourse Debt” (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated to the Partner or Partners who bear the economic risk of loss for such Partner Nonrecourse Debt in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(l).  If the Partnership makes a distribution allocable to the proceeds of a Partner Nonrecourse Debt, in accordance with Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(6) the distribution will be treated as allocable to an increase in Partner Minimum Gain to the extent the increase results from encumbering Partnership property with aggregate Partner Nonrecourse Debt that exceeds the property’s adjusted tax basis.  Subject to Section 6.1(d)(1) hereof, but notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that there is a net decrease in Minimum Gain attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt (such Minimum Gain being hereinafter referred to as “Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain”) for a Partnership Fiscal Year, then after taking into account allocations pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(1) hereof, but before any other allocations are made for such taxable year, and subject to the exceptions set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), each Partner with a share of Partner Non-recourse Debt Minimum Gain at the beginning of such Partnership Fiscal Year shall be allocated items of income and gain for such Partnership Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Partnership Fiscal Years) equal to such Partner’s share of the net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain as determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2).  The items to be allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(2) shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and (j).

 

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(3)                                  Pursuant to Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), for the purpose of determining each Partner’s share of excess nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership, and solely for such purpose, each Partner’s interest in Partnership profits shall be determined by any reasonable method chosen by the General Partner including, without limitation, the principles set forth in Rev. Rul. 95-41, 1995-1 C.B. 132.

 

(4)                                  No Limited Partner shall be allocated any item of deduction or loss of the Partnership if such allocation would cause such Limited Partner’s Capital Account to become negative by more than the sum of (i) any amount such Limited Partner is obligated to restore upon liquidation of the Partnership, plus (ii) such Limited Partner’s share of the Partnership’s Minimum Gain and Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain.  An item of deduction or loss that cannot be allocated to a Limited Partner pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)(4) shall be allocated to the General Partner.  For this purpose, in determining the Capital Account balance of such Limited Partner, the items described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5)  and (6) shall be taken into account.  In the event that (A) any Limited Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustment, allocation, or distribution described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6), and (B) such adjustment, allocation, or distribution causes or increases a deficit balance (net of amounts which such Limited Partner is obligated to restore or deemed obligated to restore under Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(l) and 1.704-2(i)(5) and determined after taking into account any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), or (6) that, as of the end of the Partnership Fiscal Year, reasonably are expected to be made to such Limited Partner) in such Limited Partner’s Capital Account as of the end of the Partnership Fiscal Year to which such adjustment, allocation, or distribution relates, then items of Gross Income (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of Gross Income) for such Partnership Fiscal Year and each subsequent Partnership Fiscal Year shall be allocated to such Limited Partner until such deficit balance or increase in such deficit balance, as the case may be, has been eliminated.  In the event that this Section 6.1(d)(4) and Section 6.1(d)(1) and/or (2) hereof apply, Section 6.1(d)(1) and/or (2) hereof shall be applied prior to this Section 6.1(d)(4).

 

(5)                                  The Regulatory Allocations shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss, and deduction among the Partners so that, to the extent possible, the cumulative net amount of allocations of Partnership items under this Section 6.1 shall be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each Partner if the Regulatory Allocations had not been made.  This Section 6.1(d)(5) is intended to minimize to the extent possible and to the extent necessary any economic distortions which may result from application of the Regulatory Allocations and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.  For purposes hereof, “Regulatory Allocations” shall mean the allocations provided under this Section 6.1(d) (other than this Section 6.1(d)(5)).

 

(e)                                   In accordance with Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership shall, solely for federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners on a property by property basis so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and the initial

 

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Gross Asset Value of such property.  If the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property is adjusted as described in the definition of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gains or losses from taxable sales or other dispositions and deductions with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and the Gross Asset Value of such asset in the manner prescribed under Sections 704(b) and 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder.  In furtherance of the foregoing, the Partnership shall employ the method prescribed in Regulations Section 1.704-3(b) (the “traditional method”) or the equivalent successor provision(s) of proposed, temporary or final Regulations.  The Partnership shall allocate items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocated to it by a Subsidiary Entity to the Partner or Partners contributing the interest or interests in such subsidiary Entity, so that, to the greatest extent possible and consistent with the foregoing, such contributing Partner or Partners are allocated the same amount and character of items of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such Subsidiary Entity that they would have been allocated had they contributed undivided interests in the assets owned by such Subsidiary Entity to the Partnership in lieu of contributing the interest or interests in the Subsidiary Entity to the Partnership.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.1, the allocation of Profits and Losses for any Partnership Fiscal Year during which a Person acquires a Partnership Interest (other than upon formation of the Partnership) pursuant to Section 4.3(b) or otherwise, shall take into account the Partners’ varying interests for such Partnership Fiscal Year pursuant to any method permissible under Section 706 of the Code that is selected by the General Partner (notwithstanding any agreement between the assignor and assignee of such Partnership Interest although the General Partner may recognize any such agreement), which method may take into account the date on which the Transfer or an agreement to Transfer becomes irrevocable pursuant to its terms, as determined by the General Partner; provided , that the allocation of Profits and Losses with respect to a Partnership Unit acquired during a fiscal quarter of the Partnership shall be appropriately adjusted in accordance with Section 6.2(c)(ii) below.

 

(g)                                   If any portion of gain from the sale of property is treated as gain which is ordinary income by virtue of the application of Code Sections 1245 or 1250 (“Affected Gain”), then (A) such Affected Gain shall be allocated among the Partners in the same proportion that the depreciation and amortization deductions giving rise to the Affected Gain were allocated and (B) other tax items of gain of the same character that would have been recognized, but for the application of Code Sections 1245 and/or 1250, shall be allocated away from those Partners who are allocated Affected Gain pursuant to clause (A) so that, to the extent possible, the other Partners are allocated the same amount, and type, of capital gain that would have been allocated to them had Code Sections 1245 and/or 1250 not applied.  For purposes hereof, in order to determine the proportionate allocations of depreciation and amortization deductions for each Fiscal Year or other applicable period, such deductions shall be deemed allocated on the same basis as Profits or Losses for such respective period.

 

(h)                                  The Profits, Losses, gains, deductions and credits of the Partnership (and all items thereof) for each Partnership Fiscal Year shall be determined in accordance with the accounting method followed by the Partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

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(i)            Except as provided in Sections 6.1(e) and 6.1(g) hereof, for federal income tax purposes, each item of income, gain, loss, or deduction shall be allocated among the Partners in the same manner as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss or deduction has been allocated pursuant to this Section 6.1.

 

(j)            To the extent permitted by Regulations Sections 1.704-2(h)(3) and 1.704-2(i)(6), the General Partner shall endeavor to treat distributions as having been made from the proceeds of Nonrecourse Liabilities or Partner Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that such distributions would cause or increase a deficit balance in any Partner’s Capital Account that exceeds the amount such Partner is otherwise obligated to restore (within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)) as of the end of the Partnership’s taxable year in which the distribution occurs.

 

(k)           If any Partner sells or otherwise disposes of any property, directly or indirectly, to the Partnership, and as a result thereof, gain on a subsequent disposition of such property by the Partnership is reduced pursuant to Section 267(d) of the Code, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, gain for federal income tax purposes attributable to such subsequent disposition shall first be allocated among the Partners other than the selling Partner in an amount equal to such Partners’ allocations of “book” gain on the property pursuant to this Section 6.1, and any remaining gain for federal income tax purposes shall be allocated to the selling Partner.

 

6.2          Distributions .

 

(a)           Except with respect to the liquidation of the Partnership and subject to the priority set forth in Sections 6.2(b) and (c) and in any Preferred Unit Designation, the General Partner shall cause the Partnership to distribute all or a portion of Net Operating Cash Flow to the Partners who are such on the relevant Partnership Record Date from time to time as determined by the General Partner, but in any event not less frequently than quarterly, in such amounts as the General Partner shall determine in its sole discretion; provided , however , that, except as provided in Sections 6.2(b) and (c) all such distributions shall be made pro rata in accordance with the outstanding Partnership Units on the relevant Partnership Record Date.  In no event may a Limited Partner receive a distribution of Net Operating Cash Flow with respect to a Partnership Unit that such Partner has exchanged on or prior to the relevant Partnership Record Date for a Share, pursuant to the Rights granted under Section 11.1 (a “Post-Exchange Distribution”); rather, all such Post-Exchange Distributions shall be distributed to the General Partner.

 

(b)           Except to the extent Net Operating Cash Flow is distributed pursuant to Section 6.2(c), and except with respect to the liquidation of the Partnership, distributions of Net Operating Cash Flow shall be made in the following order of priority unless otherwise specified in the Preferred Unit Designations, in which case the provisions of the Preferred Unit Designations shall control;

 

(i)            First, to the extent that the amount of Net Operating Cash Flow distributed to the holders of any class or series of Preferred Units for any prior quarter was less than the Preferred Distribution Requirement for such class or series for such quarter, and has not

 

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been subsequently distributed pursuant to this Section 6.2(b)(i) or otherwise in accordance with the related Preferred Unit Designation (a “Preferred Distribution Shortfall”), Net Operating Cash Flow shall be distributed to the holders of Preferred Units (in accordance with their respective priority as set forth in the Preferred Unit Designations) in an amount necessary to satisfy such Preferred Distribution Shortfall for each such class or series for the current and all prior Partnership Fiscal Years.  In the event that the Net Operating Cash Flow distributed for a particular quarter is less than the Preferred Distribution Shortfall for all classes or series of Preferred Units, then all Net Operating Cash Flow for the current quarter shall be distributed to the holders of Preferred Units in accordance with their respective priority as set forth in the Preferred Unit Designations.

 

(ii)           Second, Net Operating Cash Flow shall be distributed to the holders of Preferred Units in an amount equal to the Preferred Distribution Requirement for the then current quarter for each outstanding Preferred Unit.  In the event that the amount of Net Operating Cash Flow distributed for a particular quarter pursuant to this subparagraph (b)(ii) is less than the Preferred Distribution Requirement for such quarter, then all such Net Operating Cash Flow for such quarter shall be distributed to the holders of Preferred Units in accordance with their respective priority as set forth in the Preferred Unit Designations.

 

(iii)          Unless otherwise specified in any LTIP Unit Designation, the balance of the Net Operating Cash Flow to be distributed, if any, shall be distributed to holders of Partnership Units.

 

(c)           (i)            If in any quarter the Partnership redeems any outstanding GP Preferred Units, unless and except to the extent that such redemption is effected out of borrowed funds, Capital Contributions or other sources, Net Operating Cash Flow shall be distributed to the General Partner in an amount equal to the applicable GP Preferred Redemption Amount for the GP Preferred Units being redeemed before being distributed pursuant to Section 6.2(b).

 

(ii)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 6.2, unless expressly waived in writing by the General Partner, the distribution of Net Operating Cash Flow with respect to a Partnership Unit acquired during a fiscal quarter of the Partnership shall be an amount equal to the product of (i) the amount of Net Operating Cash Flow otherwise distributable to a Partnership Unit held during such fiscal quarter and (ii) (a) the number of days remaining in such fiscal quarter, determined as of the date such Partnership Unit was acquired, divided by (b) the total number of days in such fiscal quarter.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding the provision of the first sentence of Section 6.2(a), the General Partner shall use its best efforts to cause the Partnership to distribute sufficient amounts, in accordance with Section 6.2(a) above, to enable the General Partner to pay stockholder dividends that will (i) satisfy the REIT Requirements, and (ii) avoid any federal income or excise tax liability of the General Partner.

 

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6.3          Books of Account; Segregation of Funds .

 

(a)           At all times during the continuance of the Partnership, the General Partner shall maintain or cause to be maintained full, true, complete and correct books of account in accordance with GAAP wherein shall be entered particulars of all monies, goods or effects belonging to or owing to or by the Partnership, or paid, received, sold or purchased in the course of the Partnership’s business, and all of such other transactions, matters and things relating to the business of the Partnership as are usually entered in books of account kept by Persons engaged in a business of a like kind and character.  In addition, the Partnership shall keep all records as required to be kept pursuant to the Act.  The books and records of account shall be kept at the principal office of the Partnership, and each Partner and its representatives shall at all reasonable times have access to such books and records and the right to inspect and copy the same.

 

(b)           The Partnership shall not commingle its funds with those of any other Person or Entity; funds and other assets of the Partnership shall be separately identified and segregated; all of the Partnership’s assets shall at all times be held by or on behalf of the Partnership and, if held on behalf of the Partnership by another Entity, shall at all times be kept identifiable (in accordance with customary usages) as assets owned by the Partnership; and the Partnership shall maintain its own separate bank accounts, payroll and books of account.  The foregoing provisions of this Section 6.3(b) shall not apply with respect to funds or assets of any Subsidiary Entities of the Partnership.

 

6.4          Reports .  Within ninety (90) days after the end of each Partnership Fiscal Year, the Partnership shall cause to be prepared and transmitted to each Partner an annual report of the Partnership relating to the previous Partnership Fiscal Year containing a balance sheet as of the year then ended, a statement of financial condition as of the year then ended, and statements of operations, cash flow and Partnership equity for the year then ended, which annual statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and shall be audited by the Accountants.  The Partnership shall also cause to be prepared and transmitted to each Partner within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each Partnership Fiscal Year a quarterly unaudited report containing a balance sheet, a statement of the Partnership’s financial condition and statements of operations, cash flow and Partnership equity, in each case relating to the fiscal quarter then just ended, and prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The annual and quarterly reports of the General Partner filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall satisfy the foregoing obligations of the Partnership, and such reports shall be deemed delivered to each Partner upon public filing thereof with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Partnership shall further cause to be prepared and transmitted to the General Partner (i) such reports and/or information as are necessary for it to fulfill its obligations under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the applicable stock exchange rules, and under any other regulations to which such Partner or the Partnership may be subject, and (ii) such other reports and/or information as are necessary for the General Partner to determine and maintain its qualification as a REIT under the REIT Requirements, its earnings and profits derived from the Partnership, its liability for a tax as a consequence of its Partnership Interest and distributive share of taxable income or loss and items thereof, in each case in a manner that will permit the General Partner to comply with its respective obligations to file federal, state and local tax returns and

 

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information returns and to provide its stockholders with tax information.  The General Partner shall provide to each Partner copies of all reports it provides to its stockholders at the same time such reports are distributed to such stockholders.  The General Partner shall also promptly notify the Partners of all actions taken by the General Partner for which it has obtained the Consent of the Limited Partners.

 

6.5          Audits .  Not less frequently than annually, the books and records of the Partnership shall be audited by the Accountants.

 

6.6          Tax Returns .

 

(a)           Consistent with all other provisions of this Agreement, the General Partner shall determine the methods to be used in the preparation of federal, state, and local income and other tax returns for the Partnership in connection with all items of income and expense, including, but not limited to, valuation of assets, the methods of Depreciation and cost recovery, credits and tax accounting methods and procedures, and all tax elections.

 

(b)           The General Partner shall, at least 30 days prior to the due dates (as extended) for such returns, but in no event later than July 5 of each year, cause the Accountants to prepare and submit to the DeBartolo Designee and the Simon Designee for their review, drafts of all federal and state income tax returns of the Partnership for the preceding year, and the General Partner shall consult in good faith with the DeBartolo Designee and the Simon Designee regarding any proposed modifications to such tax returns of the Partnership.

 

(c)           The Partnership shall timely cause to be prepared and transmitted to the Partners, federal and appropriate state and local Partnership Income Tax Schedules “K-1” or any substitute therefor, with respect to each Partnership Fiscal Year on appropriate forms prescribed.  The Partnership shall make reasonable efforts to prepare and submit such forms before the due date for filing federal income tax returns for the fiscal year in question (determined without extensions), and shall in any event prepare and submit such forms on or before July 15 of the year following the fiscal year in question.

 

6.7          Tax Matters Partner .  The General Partner is hereby designated as the Tax Matters Partner within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code for the Partnership; provided , however , that (i) in exercising its authority as Tax Matters Partner it shall be limited by the provisions of this Agreement affecting tax aspects of the Partnership; (ii) the General Partner shall give prompt notice to the Partners of the receipt of any written notice that the Internal Revenue Service or any state or local taxing authority intends to examine Partnership income tax returns for any year, receipt of written notice of the beginning of an administrative proceeding at the Partnership level relating to the Partnership under Section 6223 of the Code, receipt of written notice of the final Partnership administrative adjustment relating to the Partnership pursuant to Section 6223 of the Code, and receipt of any request from the Internal Revenue Service for waiver of any applicable statute of limitations with respect to the filing of any tax return by the Partnership; (iii) the General Partner shall promptly notify the Partners if it does not intend to file for judicial review with respect to the Partnership; and (iv) as Tax Matters Partner, the General

 

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Partner shall not be entitled to bind a Partner by any settlement agreement (within the meaning of Section 6224 of the Code) unless such Partner consents thereto in writing and shall notify the Partners in a manner and at such time as is sufficient to allow the Partners to exercise their rights pursuant to Section 224(c)(3) of the Code; (v) the General Partner shall consult in good faith with the Simon Designee and the DeBartolo Designee regarding the filing of a Code Section 6227(b) administrative adjustment request with respect to the Partnership or a Property before filing such request, it being understood, however, that the provisions hereof shall not be construed to limit the ability of any Partner, including the General Partner, to file an administrative adjustment request on its own behalf pursuant to Section 6227(a) of the Code; and (vi) the General Partner shall consult in good faith with the Simon Designee and the DeBartolo Designee regarding the filing of a petition for judicial review of an administrative adjustment request under Section 6228 of the Code, or a petition for judicial review of a final partnership administrative judgment under Section 6226 of the Code relating to the Partnership before filing such petition.

 

6.8          Withholding .  Each Partner hereby authorizes the Partnership to withhold or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Partner any amount of federal, state, local or foreign taxes that the General Partner determines the Partnership is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Partner pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the Partnership pursuant to Code Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, or 1446.  Any amount paid on behalf of or with respect to a Partner shall constitute a loan by the Partnership to such Partner, which loan shall be due within fifteen (15) days after repayment is demanded of the Partner in question, and shall be repaid through withholding of subsequent distributions to such Partner.  Nothing in this Section 6.8 shall create any obligation on the General Partner to advance funds to the Partnership or to borrow funds from Third Parties in order to make payments on account of any liability of the Partnership under a withholding tax act.  Any amounts payable by a Limited Partner hereunder shall bear interest at the lesser of (i) the base rate on corporate loans at large United States money center commercial banks, as published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal , or (ii) the maximum lawful rate of interest on such obligation, such interest to accrue from the date such amount is due (i.e., fifteen (15) days after demand) until such amount is paid in full.  To the extent the payment or accrual of withholding tax results in a federal, state or local tax credit to the Partnership, such credit shall be allocated to the Partner to whose distribution the tax is attributable.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Rights, Duties and Restrictions of the General Partner

 

7.1          Expenditures by Partnership .  The General Partner is hereby authorized to pay compensation for accounting, administrative, legal, technical, management and other services rendered to the Partnership.  All of the aforesaid expenditures shall be made on behalf of the Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Partnership for any expenditures incurred by it on behalf of the Partnership which shall have been made other than out of the funds of the Partnership.  The Partnership shall also assume, and pay when due, the Administrative Expenses and such portion of the General Partner’s and its respective subsidiaries’

 

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REIT Expenses as shall be appropriately allocated to the Partnership by the General Partner in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment.

 

7.2          Powers and Duties of the General Partner .  The General Partner shall be responsible for the management of the Partnership’s business and affairs.  Except as otherwise herein expressly provided, and subject to the limitations contained in Section 7.3 hereof with respect to Major Decisions, the General Partner shall have, and is hereby granted, full and complete power, authority and discretion to take such action for and on behalf of the Partnership and in its name as the General Partner shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes for which the Partnership was organized.  Any action by the General Partner relating to any transactions involving the Partnership or a Subsidiary Entity in which the Simons, the DeBartolos or any Affiliate of the Simons or the DeBartolos has an interest (other than a non-controlling minority equity interest, which has no management or veto powers, in a Person, other than the Partnership or a Subsidiary Entity, which is engaged in such transaction) other than through ownership of Partnership Units, shall require the prior approval of a majority of the Independent Directors.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and subject to Section 7.3 hereof, the General Partner shall have, for and on behalf of the Partnership, the right, power and authority:

 

(a)           To manage, control, hold, invest, lend, reinvest, acquire by purchase, lease, sell, contract to purchase or sell, grant, obtain, or exercise options to purchase, options to sell or conversion rights, assign, transfer, convey, deliver, endorse, exchange, pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber, abandon, improve, repair, construct, maintain, operate, insure, lease for any term and otherwise deal with any and all property of whatsoever kind and nature, and wheresoever situated, in furtherance of the purposes of the Partnership, and in addition, without limiting the foregoing, upon the affirmative vote of no fewer than three (3) of the Independent Directors of the General Partner who are not Affiliates of the DeBartolos, the General Partner shall authorize and require the sale of any property owned by the Partnership or a Subsidiary Entity.

 

(b)           To acquire, directly or indirectly, interests in real or personal property (collectively, “property”) of any kind and of any type, and any and all kinds of interests therein, and to determine the manner in which title thereto is to be held; to manage, insure against loss, protect and subdivide any property, interests therein or parts thereof; to improve, develop or redevelop any property; to participate in the ownership and development of any property; to dedicate for public use, to vacate any subdivisions or parts thereof, to resubdivide, to contract to sell, to grant options to purchase or lease and to sell on any terms; to convey, to mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any property, or any part thereof; to lease any property or any part thereof from time to time, upon any terms and for any period of time, and to renew or extend leases, to amend, change or modify the terms and provisions of any leases and to grant options to lease and options to renew leases and options to purchase; to partition or to exchange any property, or any part thereof, for other property; to grant easements or charges of any kind; to release, convey or assign any right, title or interest in or about or easement appurtenant to any property or any part thereof; to construct and reconstruct, remodel, alter, repair, add to or take from buildings on any property; to insure any Person having an interest in or responsibility for the care, management or

 

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repair of any property; to direct the trustee of any land trust to mortgage, lease, convey or contract to convey any property held in such land trust or to execute and deliver deeds, mortgages, notes and any and all documents pertaining to the property subject to such land trust or in any matter regarding such trust; and to execute assignments of all or any part of the beneficial interest in such land trust;

 

(c)           To employ, engage or contract with or dismiss from employment or engagement Persons to the extent deemed necessary by the General Partner for the operation and management of the Partnership business, including but not limited to, employees, contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, surveyors, mechanics, consultants, accountants, attorneys, insurance brokers, real estate brokers and others;

 

(d)           To enter into contracts on behalf of the Partnership;

 

(e)           To borrow or lend money, procure loans and advances from any Person for Partnership purposes, and to apply for and secure from any Person credit or accommodations; to contract liabilities and obligations, direct or contingent and of every kind and nature with or without security; and to repay, discharge, settle, adjust, compromise or liquidate any such loan, advance, credit, obligation or liability (including by deeding property to a lender in lieu of foreclosure);

 

(f)            To pledge, hypothecate, mortgage, assign, deposit, deliver, enter into sale and leaseback arrangements or otherwise give as security or as additional or substitute security or for sale or other disposition any and all Partnership property, tangible or intangible, including, but not limited to, real estate and beneficial interests in land trusts, and to make substitutions thereof, and to receive any proceeds thereof upon the release or surrender thereof; to sign, execute and deliver any and all assignments, deeds and other contracts and instruments in writing; to authorize, give, make, procure, accept and receive moneys, payments, property, notices, demands, vouchers, receipts, releases, compromises and adjustments; to waive notices, demands, protests and authorize and execute waivers of every kind and nature; to enter into, make, execute, deliver and receive written agreements, undertakings and instruments of every kind and nature; to give oral instructions and make oral agreements; and generally to do any and all other acts and things incidental to any of the foregoing or with reference to any dealings or transactions which any attorney for the Partnership may deem necessary, proper or advisable;

 

(g)           To acquire and enter into any contract of insurance which the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate for the protection of the Partnership or any Affiliate thereof, for the conservation of the Partnership’s assets (or the assets of any Affiliate thereof) or for any purpose convenient or beneficial to the Partnership or any Affiliate thereof;

 

(h)           To conduct any and all banking transactions on behalf of the Partnership; to adjust and settle checking, savings and other accounts with such institutions as the General Partner shall deem appropriate; to draw, sign, execute, accept, endorse, guarantee, deliver, receive and pay any checks, drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances, notes, obligations, undertakings and other instruments for or relating to the payment of money in, into or from any account in the

 

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Partnership’s name; to execute, procure, consent to and authorize extensions and renewals of the same; to make deposits and withdraw the same and to negotiate or discount commercial paper, acceptances, negotiable instruments, bills of exchange and dollar drafts;

 

(i)            To demand, sue for, receive, and otherwise take steps to collect or recover all debts, rents, proceeds, interests, dividends, goods, chattels, income from property, damages and all other property to which the Partnership may be entitled or which are or may become due the Partnership from any Person; to commence, prosecute or enforce, or to defend, answer or oppose, contest and abandon all legal proceedings in which the Partnership is or may hereafter be interested; and to settle, compromise or submit to arbitration any accounts, debts, claims, disputes and matters which may arise between the Partnership and any other Person and to grant an extension of time for the payment or satisfaction thereof on any terms, with or without security;

 

(j)            To make arrangements for financing, including the taking of all action deemed necessary or appropriate by the General Partner to cause any approved loans to be closed;

 

(k)           To take all reasonable measures necessary to insure compliance by the Partnership with contractual obligations and other arrangements entered into by the Partnership from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, including periodic reports as required to lenders and using all due diligence to insure that the Partnership is in compliance with its contractual obligations;

 

(l)            To maintain the Partnership’s books and records;

 

(m)          To create or maintain Affiliates engaged in activities that the Partnership could itself undertake; and

 

(n)           To prepare and deliver, or cause to be prepared and delivered by the Accountants, all financial and other reports with respect to the operations of the Partnership, and preparation and filing of all federal, state and local tax returns and reports.

 

Except as otherwise provided herein, to the extent the duties of the General Partner require expenditures of funds to be paid to Third Parties, the General Partner shall not have any obligations hereunder except to the extent that Partnership funds are reasonably available to it for the performance of such duties, and nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or require the General Partner, in its capacity as such, to expend its individual funds for payment to Third Parties or to undertake any individual liability or obligation on behalf of the Partnership.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or the Act, any action of the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership or any decision of the General Partner to refrain from acting on behalf of the Partnership, undertaken in the good faith belief that such action or omission is necessary or advisable in order (i) to protect or further the ability of the General Partner and its respective Subsidiary Entities, as applicable, to continue to qualify as REITs or (ii) to avoid the General Partner’s incurring any taxes under Section 857 or Section 4981 of the

 

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Code, is expressly authorized under this Agreement and is deemed approved by all of the Limited Partners.  Nothing, however, in this Agreement shall be deemed to give rise to any liability on the part of a Limited Partner for the General Partner’s or any of its applicable Subsidiary Entity’s failure to qualify or continue to qualify as a REIT or a failure to avoid incurring any taxes under the foregoing sections of the Code, unless such failure or failures result from an act of the Limited Partner which constitutes a breach of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 10.4(b)).

 

7.3          Major Decisions .

 

(a)           The General Partner shall not, without the Consent of the Limited Partners, (y) on behalf of the Partnership, amend, modify or terminate this Agreement other than to reflect (A) the admission of Additional Limited Partners pursuant to Section 9.3, (B) the making of additional Capital Contributions and the issuance of additional Partnership Units by reason thereof, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (C) the issuance of LTIP Units pursuant to Section 9.3(a), (D) the withdrawal or assignment of the interest of any Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or (E) any changes necessary to satisfy the REIT Requirements, or (z) permit the Partnership, on behalf of any Subsidiary Partnership, to amend, modify or terminate the organizing agreement pursuant to which such Subsidiary Partnership operates other than to reflect (A) the admission of additional limited partners therein pursuant to the terms thereof, (B) the making of additional capital contributions thereto pursuant to the terms thereof, (C) the withdrawal or assignment of the interest of any partner thereof pursuant to the terms thereof, (D) any changes necessary to satisfy the REIT Requirements, or (E) any amendment, modification or termination which the General Partner reasonably determines will not adversely affect any Partner.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended without the prior written consent of each Partner adversely affected if such modification or amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner’s interest in the Partnership to a general partnership interest, (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited Partner, (iii) reduce the interest of any Partner in the Partnership, (iv) reduce any Partner’s share of distributions made by the Partnership, (v) amend this Section 7.3 or Section 7.5 or (vi) create any obligations for any Limited Partner or deprive any Limited Partner of (or otherwise impair) any other rights it may have under this Agreement (including in respect of tax allocations, rights to indemnification under Section 7.8, rights of the Limited Partner or a Secured Creditor of a Limited Partner under Section 9.2 (which rights are subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 9.4), rights of a Limited Partner under Section 9.5 or Article XI, or the rights of a Limited Partner under Section 10.4(a) or 10.5); provided , however , that an amendment or modification that reduces the percentage ownership interest of any Partner in the Partnership or reduces any Partner’s share of distributions made by the Partnership shall not require the consent of any Partner if such change is made on a uniform or pro-rata basis with respect to all Partners.

 

(b)           For all periods during which the Simons hold at least ten percent of the Partnership Units then outstanding, the General Partner shall not, without the prior Consent of the Simons, on behalf of the Partnership, undertake any of the following actions (together with any act described in paragraph (a) hereof, the “Major Decisions”):

 

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(i)            Make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors (or cause or permit (if permission of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Partnership is required) such an assignment to be made on behalf of a Subsidiary Partnership) or appoint or acquiesce in the appointment of a custodian, receiver or trustee for all or any part of the assets of the Partnership (or any Subsidiary Partnership);

 

(ii)           take title to any personal or real property, other than in the name of the Partnership or a Subsidiary Entity or pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof;

 

(iii)          institute any proceeding for Bankruptcy on behalf of the Partnership, or cause or permit (if permission of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Partnership is required) the institution of any such proceeding on behalf of any Subsidiary Partnership;

 

(iv)          act or cause the taking or refraining of any action with respect to the dissolution and winding up of the Partnership (or any Subsidiary Partnership) or an election to continue the Partnership (or any Subsidiary Partnership) or to continue the business of the Partnership (or any Subsidiary Partnership); or

 

(v)           sell, exchange, Transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets.

 

(c)           The General Partner shall not, without the prior Consent of the Limited Partners,

 

(i)            amend the Articles of the General Partner to increase or decrease the Ownership Limit or alter any other provision of said Articles or of any of the definitions of defined terms contained in such Articles which would have the effect of changing the Ownership Limit in any way;

 

(ii)           except in connection with the dissolution and winding-up of the Partnership by the Liquidation Agent, agree to or consummate the merger or consolidation of the Partnership or the voluntary sale or other Transfer of all or substantially all of the Partnership’s assets in a single transaction or related series of transactions (without limiting the transactions which will not be deemed to be a voluntary sale or Transfer, the foreclosure of a mortgage lien on any Property or the grant by the Partnership of a deed in lieu of foreclosure for such Property shall not be deemed to be such a voluntary sale or other Transfer); or

 

(iii)          dissolve the Partnership.

 

Without the consent of all the Limited Partners, the General Partner shall have no power to do any act in contravention of this Agreement or applicable law.

 

7.4          General Partner Participation .  The General Partner agrees that (a) substantially all activities and business operations of the General Partner, including but not limited to, activities pertaining to the acquisition, development, redevelopment and ownership of properties, shall be

 

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conducted directly or indirectly through the Partnership or any Subsidiary Partnership or Subsidiary Entity, (b) except for a property acquisition authorized by the General Partner with the Consent of the Limited Partners, all property acquisitions shall henceforth be made through the Partnership or any Subsidiary Partnership or Subsidiary Entity, and (c) except as provided below any funds raised by the General Partner whether by issuance of stock, borrowing or otherwise, will be made available to the Partnership whether as capital contributions, loans or otherwise, as appropriate.  Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding sentence, the General Partner shall have the right to form Qualified REIT Subsidiaries to act as general partners of Subsidiary Partnerships of the Partnership.  The General Partner agrees to conduct its affairs, to the extent it is so able to do, in a manner which will preserve the equivalence in value between a Share and a Partnership Unit.

 

7.5                                Proscriptions .  The General Partner shall not have the authority to:

 

(a)                                  Do any act in contravention of this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  Possess any Partnership property or assign rights in specific Partnership property for other than Partnership purposes; or

 

(c)                                   Do any act in contravention of applicable law.

 

Nothing herein contained shall impose any obligation on any Person doing business with the Partnership to inquire as to whether or not the General Partner has properly exercised its authority in executing any contract, lease, mortgage, deed or any other instrument or document on behalf of the Partnership, and any such Person shall be fully protected in relying upon such authority.

 

7.6                                Additional Partners .  Additional Partners may be admitted to the Partnership only as provided in Section 9.3 hereof.

 

7.7                                Title Holder .  To the extent allowable under applicable law, title to all or any part of the Properties of the Partnership may be held in the name of the Partnership or any other individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or otherwise, the beneficial interest in which shall at all times be vested in the Partnership.  Any such title holder shall perform any and all of its respective functions to the extent and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined from time to time by the General Partner.

 

7.8                                Waiver and Indemnification .  Neither the General Partner,  nor any of its Affiliates, directors, trust managers, officers, stockholders, nor any Person acting on their behalf pursuant hereto, shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Partnership or to any Partner for any acts or omissions performed or omitted to be performed by them within the scope of the authority conferred upon the General Partner by this Agreement and the Act, provided that the General Partner’s, or such other Person’s conduct or omission to act was taken in good faith and in the belief that such conduct or omission was in the best interests of the Partnership and, provided further, that the General Partner or such other Person shall not be

 

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guilty of fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence.  The General Partner acknowledges that it owes fiduciary duties both to its stockholders and to the Limited Partners and it shall use its reasonable efforts to discharge such duties to each; provided , however , that in the event of a conflict between the interests of the stockholders of the General Partner and the interests of the Limited Partners, the Limited Partners agree that the General Partner shall discharge its fiduciary duties to the Limited Partners by acting in the best interests of the General Partner’s stockholders.  Nothing contained in the preceding sentence shall be construed as entitling the General Partner to realize any profit or gain from any transaction between the General Partner and the Partnership (except as may be required by law upon a distribution to the General Partner), including from the lending of money by the General Partner to the Partnership or the contribution of property by the General Partner to the Partnership, it being understood that in any such transaction the General Partner shall be entitled to cost recovery only.  The Partnership shall, and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless each of the General Partner and its Affiliates, their respective directors, officers, stockholders and any other individual acting on its or their behalf to the extent such Persons would be indemnified by the General Partner pursuant to the Articles of the General Partner if such Persons were directors, officers, agents or employees of the General Partner; provided , however , that no Partner shall have any personal liability with respect to the foregoing indemnification, any such indemnification to be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Partnership.  The Partnership shall, and hereby does, indemnify each Limited Partner and its Affiliates, their respective directors, officers, stockholders and any other individual acting on its or their behalf, from and against any costs (including costs of defense) incurred by it as a result of any litigation or other proceeding in which any Limited Partner is named as a defendant or any claim threatened or asserted against any Limited Partner, in either case which relates to the operations of the Partnership or any obligation assumed by the Partnership, unless such costs are the result of misconduct on the part of, or a breach of this Agreement by, such Limited Partner; provided , however , no Partner shall have any personal liability with respect to the foregoing indemnification, any such indemnification to be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Partnership.

 

7.9                                Limitation of Liability of Directors, Stockholders and Officers of the General Partner .  Any obligation or liability whatsoever of the General Partner which may arise at any time under this Agreement or any other instrument, transaction, or undertaking contemplated hereby shall be satisfied, if at all, out of the assets of the General Partner or the Partnership only.  No such obligation or liability shall be personally binding upon, nor shall resort for the enforcement thereof be had to, any of the General Partner’s directors, stockholders, officers, employees, or agents, regardless of whether such obligation or liability is in the nature of contract, tort or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Dissolution, Liquidation and Winding-Up

 

8.1                                Accounting .  In the event of the dissolution, liquidation and winding-up of the Partnership, a proper accounting (which shall be certified by the Accountants) shall be made of the Capital Account of each Partner and of the Profits or Losses of the Partnership from the date

 

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of the last previous accounting to the date of dissolution.  Financial statements presenting such accounting shall include a report of the Accountants.

 

8.2                                Distribution on Dissolution .  In the event of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership for any reason, the assets of the Partnership shall be liquidated for distribution in the following rank and order:

 

(a)                                  Payment of creditors of the Partnership (other than Partners) in the order of priority as provided by law;

 

(b)                                  Establishment of reserves as determined by the General Partner to provide for contingent liabilities, if any;

 

(c)                                   Payment of debts of the Partnership to Partners, if any, in the order of priority provided by law;

 

(d)                                  To the Partners in accordance with the positive balances in their Capital Accounts after giving effect to all contributions, distributions and allocations for all periods, including the period in which such distribution occurs (other than those distributions made pursuant to this Section 8.2(d), Section 8.3 or Section 8.4 hereof).

 

If upon dissolution and termination of the Partnership the Capital Account of any Partner is less than zero, then such Partner shall have no obligation to restore the negative balance in its Capital Account unless and except to the extent that such Partner has so elected under Section 4.8.  Whenever the Liquidation Agent reasonably determines that any reserves established pursuant to paragraph (b) above are in excess of the reasonable requirements of the Partnership, the amount determined to be excess shall be distributed to the Partners in accordance with the above provisions.

 

8.3                                Sale of Partnership Assets .  In the event of the liquidation of the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Liquidation Agent may sell Partnership property; provided , however , that all sales, leases, encumbrances or transfers of Partnership assets shall be made by the Liquidation Agent solely on an “arm’s length” basis, at the best price and on the best terms and conditions as the Liquidation Agent in good faith believes are reasonably available at the time and under the circumstances and on a non-recourse basis to the Limited Partners.  The liquidation of the Partnership shall not be deemed finally terminated until the Partnership shall have received cash payments in full with respect to obligations such as notes, purchase money mortgages, installment sale contracts or other similar receivables received by the Partnership in connection with the sale of Partnership assets and all obligations of the Partnership have been satisfied or assumed by the General Partner.  The Liquidation Agent shall continue to act to enforce all of the rights of the Partnership pursuant to any such obligations until paid in full or otherwise discharged or settled.

 

8.4                                Distributions in Kind .  In the event that it becomes necessary to make a distribution of Partnership property in kind in connection with the liquidation of the Partnership, the

 

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General Partner may, if it determines that to do so would be in the best interest of the Partners and obtains the Consent of the Limited Partners, transfer and convey such property to the distributees as tenants in common, subject to any liabilities attached thereto, so as to vest in them undivided interests in the whole of such property in proportion to their respective rights to share in the proceeds of the sale of such property (other than as a creditor) in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof.  Immediately prior to the distribution of Partnership property in kind, the Capital Account of each Partner shall be increased or decreased, as the case may be, to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income, gain, loss and deduction inherent in such property (to the extent not previously reflected in the Capital Accounts) would be allocated among the Partners if there were a taxable disposition of such property for its fair market value as of the date of the distribution.

 

8.5                                Documentation of Liquidation .  Upon the completion of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, the Partnership shall terminate and the Liquidation Agent shall have the authority to execute and record any and all documents or instruments required to effect the dissolution, liquidation and termination of the Partnership.

 

8.6                                Liability of the Liquidation Agent .  The Liquidation Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Partnership from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, costs, damages and causes of action of any nature whatsoever arising out of or incidental to the Liquidation Agent’s taking of any action authorized under or within the scope of this Agreement; and provided , however , that no Partner shall have any personal liability with respect to the foregoing indemnification, any such indemnification to be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Partnership; and provided further , however , that the Liquidation Agent shall not be entitled to indemnification, and shall not be held harmless, where the claim, demand, liability, cost, damage or cause of action at issue arose out of:

 

(a)                                  A matter entirely unrelated to the Liquidation Agent’s action or conduct pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; or

 

(b)                                  The proven misconduct or gross negligence of the Liquidation Agent.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Transfer of Partnership Interests and Related Matters

 

9.1                                General Partner Transfers and Deemed Transfers .  The General Partner shall not (i) withdraw from the Partnership, (ii) merge, consolidate or engage in any combination with another Person, (iii) sell all or substantially all of its assets or (iv) sell, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its Partnership Units or Preferred Units (except to the Partnership), in each case without the Consent of the Limited Partners.  In the event of the withdrawal by the General Partner from the Partnership, in violation of this Agreement or otherwise, or the dissolution, termination or Bankruptcy of the General Partner, within 90 days after the occurrence of any such event, a majority in interest of the Limited Partners may elect in writing to continue the Partnership business and shall thereupon select a substitute general partner effective

 

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as of the date of the occurrence of any such event.  Upon any transfer of any Partnership Units (not Preferred Units) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1, the transferee shall become vested with the powers and rights of the transferor General Partner with respect to the Partnership Units transferred, and shall be liable for all obligations and responsible for all duties of the transferor General Partner, once such transferee has executed such instruments as may be necessary to effectuate such admission and to confirm the agreement of such transferee to be bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement with respect to the Partnership Units so acquired.  It is a condition to any transfer otherwise permitted hereunder that the transferee assumes by operation of law or express agreement all of the obligations of the transferor General Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership Units and no such transfer (other than pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation wherein all obligations and liabilities of the transferor General Partner are assumed by a successor corporation by operation of law) shall relieve the transferor General Partner of its obligations under this Agreement accruing prior to the date of such transfer.

 

9.2                                Transfers by Limited Partners .  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.2, the Limited Partners shall not Transfer all or any portion of their Partnership Units , LP Preferred Units or LTIP Units to any transferee without the consent of the General Partner, which consent may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not be considered a limitation on the ability of the Limited Partners to exercise their Rights pursuant to Article XI hereof.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the provisions of Section 9.4 hereof, any Limited Partner may at any time, without the consent of the General Partner, (i) Transfer all or a portion of its Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units to an Affiliate of such Limited Partner, or (ii) Pledge some or all of its Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units to any Institutional Lender.  Any Transfer to an Affiliate pursuant to clause (i) and any Transfer to a pledgee of Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units Pledged pursuant to clause (ii) may be made without the consent of the General Partner but, except as provided in subsequent provisions of this Section 9.2, such transferee or such pledgee shall hold the Units or LP Preferred Units so transferred to it (and shall be admitted to the Partnership as a Substitute Limited Partner) subject to all the restrictions set forth in this Section 9.2.  It is a condition to any Transfer otherwise permitted under any provision of this Section 9.2 that the transferee assumes by operation of law or express agreement all of the obligations of the transferor Limited Partner under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units, as the case may be, arising after the effective date of the Transfer and no such Transfer (other than pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation wherein all obligations and liabilities of the transferor Partner are assumed by a successor corporation by operation of law, and other than pursuant to an exercise of the Rights pursuant to Article XI wherein all obligations and liabilities of the transferor Partner arising from and after the date of such Transfer shall be assumed by the General Partner) shall relieve the transferor Limited Partner of its obligations under this Agreement prior to the effective date of such Transfer.  Upon any such Transfer or Pledge permitted under this Section 9.2, the transferee or, upon foreclosure on the Pledged Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units, as the case may be, each Institutional Lender which is the pledgee shall be admitted as a

 

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Limited Partner and shall succeed to all of the rights, including rights with respect to the Rights, of the transferor Limited Partner under this Agreement in the place and stead of such transferor Limited Partner;  provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, any transferee of any transferred Partnership Unit or LP Preferred Units, as the case may be, shall, unless the Ownership Limit is waived in writing by the General Partner, be subject to the Ownership Limit applicable to Persons other than the Limited Partners and/or their Affiliates which may limit or restrict such transferee’s ability to exercise the Limited Partner’s Rights, if any.  Any transferee, whether or not admitted as a Limited Partner, shall take subject to the obligations of the transferor hereunder.  No transferee pursuant to a Transfer which is not expressly permitted under this Section 9.2 and is not consented to by the General Partner, whether by a voluntary Transfer, by operation of law or otherwise, shall have any rights hereunder, other than the right to receive such portion of the distributions and allocations of Profits and Losses made by the Partnership as are allocable to the Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units, as the case may be, so transferred.

 

(b)                                  The Limited Partners acknowledge that the Partnership Units and LP Preferred Units have not been registered under any federal or state securities laws and, as a result thereof, they may not be sold or otherwise transferred, except in accordance with Article XI or otherwise in compliance with such laws.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Partnership Units or LP Preferred Units may be sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to Article XI unless such Transfer is exempt from registration under any applicable securities laws or such Transfer is registered under such laws, it being acknowledged that the Partnership has no obligation to take any action which would cause any such interests to be registered.

 

9.3                                Issuance of Additional Partnership Units , LP Preferred Units and LTIP Units .

 

(a)                                  At any time after the date hereof, subject to the provisions of Section 9.4 hereof, the General Partner may, upon its determination that the issuance of additional Partnership Units , LP Preferred Units or LTIP Units (collectively, “Additional Units”) is in the best interests of the Partnership, cause the Partnership to issue Additional Units to any existing Partner or issue Additional Units to and admit as a partner in the Partnership any Person in exchange for the contribution by such Person of cash and/or property which the General Partner determines is desirable to further the purposes of the Partnership under Section 2.3 hereof and which the General Partner determines has a value that justifies the issuance of such Additional Units.  In the event that Additional Units are issued by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 9.3(a), (i) in the case of the issuance of Partnership Units, the number of Partnership Units issued shall be determined by dividing the Gross Asset Value of the property contributed (reduced by the amount of any indebtedness assumed by the Partnership or to which such property is subject) as of the date of contribution to the Partnership (the “Contribution Date”) by the Contribution Deemed Partnership Unit Value, computed as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the Contribution Date, (ii) in the case of the issuance of LP Preferred Units, the aggregate liquidation preference of LP Preferred Units so issued shall equal the Gross Asset Value of the property contributed (reduced by the amount of any indebtedness assumed by the Partnership or to which such property is subject) as of the Contribution Date, and (iii) in the case of the issuance of LTIP Units, the number

 

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of LTIP Units outstanding at any time shall not exceed the number of Shares reserved and available for issuance at such time under any equity-based incentive plan of the Partnership or the General Partner that has been approved by the stockholders of the General Partner.

 

(b)                                  In addition, the General Partner may, upon its determination that the issuance of GP Preferred Units is in the best interests of the Partnership, issue GP Preferred Units in accordance with Section 4.3(c) hereof.

 

(c)                                   Each class or series of LP Preferred Units issued in accordance with Section 9.3(a) shall be described in a written document (the “LP Preferred Unit Designation”) that shall set forth, in sufficient detail, the economic rights, including distribution, redemption and conversion rights and sinking fund provisions, of the class or series of LP Preferred Units.  Upon the issuance of any series or class of LP Preferred Units, the General Partner shall, upon request, provide the Limited Partners with a copy of the LP Preferred Unit Designation and such LP Preferred Unit Designation shall be attached as an exhibit to this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Each class or series of LTIP Units issued in accordance with Section 9.3(a) shall be described in a written document (the “LTIP Unit Designation”) that shall set forth, in sufficient detail, any performance conditions and the economic rights, including distribution and conversion rights, of the class or series of LTIP Units.  The General Partner shall, upon request, provide the Limited Partners with a copy of the LTIP Unit Designations and such LTIP Unit Designation shall be attached as an exhibit to this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   The General Partner shall be authorized on behalf of each of the Partners to amend this Agreement to reflect the admission of any Partner, any increase in the Partnership Units or issuance of Preferred Units or LTIP Units in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.3, and the General Partner shall promptly deliver a copy of such amendment to each Limited Partner.  The Limited Partners hereby irrevocably appoint the General Partner as their attorney-in-fact, coupled with an interest, solely for the purpose of executing and delivering such documents, and taking such actions, as shall be reasonably necessary in connection with the provisions of this Section 9.3 or making any modification to this Agreement permitted by Section 7.3 (including, without limitation, any modification which, under Section 7.3 hereof, requires the Consent of the Limited Partners where such consent has been obtained).  Nothing contained in this Section 9.3 shall be construed as authorizing the General Partner to grant any consent on behalf of the Limited Partners, or any of them.

 

9.4                                Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a)                                  In addition to any other restrictions on Transfer herein contained, in no event may any Transfer or assignment of a Partnership Unit , Preferred Unit or LTIP Unit by any Partner be made nor may any new Partnership Unit, Preferred Unit or LTIP Unit be issued by the Partnership (i) to any Person which lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own a Partnership Unit, Preferred Unit or LTIP Unit; (ii) in violation of applicable law; (iii) if such Transfer would immediately or with the passage of time cause the General Partner to fail to comply with the REIT Requirements, such determination to be made assuming that the General Partner does

 

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comply with the REIT Requirements immediately prior to the proposed Transfer; (iv) if such Transfer would cause the Partnership to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e) of the Code); (v) if such Transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, cause any portion of the underlying assets of the Partnership to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to Department of Labor Regulations Section 2510.3-101 as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA; (vi) if such Transfer would result in a deemed distribution to any Partner attributable to a failure to meet the requirements of Regulations Section 1.752-2(d)(l), unless such Partner consents thereto, (vii) if such Transfer would cause any lender to the Partnership to hold in excess of ten (10) percent of the Partnership Interest that would, pursuant to the regulations under Section 752 of the Code or any successor provision, cause a loan by such a lender to constitute Partner Nonrecourse Debt, (viii) if such Transfer, other than to an Affiliate, is of a Partnership Interest the value of which would have been less than $20,000 when issued, (ix) if such Transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership, cause the Partnership to cease to be classified as a Partnership for federal income tax purposes or (x) if such Transfer is effectuated through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof)” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code.

 

(b)                                  No GP Preferred Unit may be Transferred by the General Partner to any Person who is not then a general partner of the Partnership.

 

9.5                                Shelf Registration Rights .  The General Partner agrees that, upon the request of any Limited Partner that has not entered into a registration rights agreement with the General Partner relating to Registrable Securities (each, a “Shelf Rights Holder”), made at any time following delivery of an Exercise Notice (as defined in Section 11.1), the General Partner will, if it has not already done so and provided that the General Partner is eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, within 60 days thereafter file a “shelf” registration statement (the “Shelf Registration”), on an appropriate form pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, with respect to the sale of Registrable Securities (as defined below) by the Shelf Rights Holders in ordinary course brokerage or dealer transactions not involving an underwritten public offering.  The General Partner shall use all reasonable efforts to have the Shelf Registration declared effective as soon as practicable after such filing and to keep such Shelf Registration continuously effective following the date on which such Shelf Registration is declared effective for so long as any Registrable Securities are outstanding.  The General Partner further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration, if required by the registration form used by the General Partner for the Shelf Registration or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and the General Partner agrees to furnish to each Shelf Rights Holder copies of any such supplement or amendment at least three days prior to its being used and/or filed with the SEC.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the General Partner shall furnish to the Unit holder a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner stating that in the good faith judgment of the Directors it would be significantly disadvantageous to the General Partner and its stockholders for any such Shelf Registration to be amended or supplemented, the General Partner may defer such amending or supplementing of such Shelf Registration for

 

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not more than 45 days and in such event the Unit holder shall be required to discontinue disposition of any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration during such period.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the General Partner irrevocably elects, or the Partnership is so required under Section 11.3, prior to the filing of any Shelf Registration to issue all cash in lieu of Shares upon the exchange of Units by the holder requesting the filing of such Shelf Registration, the General Partner shall not be obligated to file such Shelf Registration Statement.  The General Partner shall make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, a statement of operations covering a period of twelve (12) months, commencing on the first day of the fiscal quarter next succeeding each sale of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration, in a manner which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(a)                                  Securities Subject to this Section 9.5 .  The securities entitled to the benefits of this Section 9.5 are the Shares that have been or may be issued from time to time upon the exchange of Units pursuant to Article XI hereof and any other securities issued by the General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in exchange for any of the Shares (collectively, the “Registrable Securities”) but, with respect to any particular Registrable Security, only so long as it continues to be a Registrable Security.  Registrable Securities shall include any securities issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as a dividend or distribution on account of Registrable Securities or resulting from a subdivision of the outstanding Shares of Registrable Securities into a greater number of shares (by reclassification, stock split or otherwise).  For the purposes of this Agreement, a security that was at one time a Registrable Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) such security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act, and either (A) the registration statement with respect thereto has remained continuously effective for 150 days or (B) such security has been disposed of pursuant to such registration statement, (ii) such security is or can be immediately sold to the public in reliance on Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act, (iii) such security has been otherwise transferred and (a) the General Partner has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership not bearing the legend set forth on the Shares upon the initial issuance thereof (or other legend of similar import) and (b) in the opinion of counsel to the General Partner, the subsequent disposition of such security would not require the registration or qualification under the Securities Act or any similar state law then in force, or (iv) such security has ceased to be outstanding.

 

(b)                                  Registration Expenses .  The General Partner shall pay, as REIT Expenses, all expenses incident to the Shelf Registration, including, without limitation, (i) all SEC, stock exchange and National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration, filing and listing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in complying with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) all fees and disbursements of the General Partner’s independent public accountants and counsel and (v) all fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the General Partner in connection with the Shelf Registration pursuant to the terms of this Section 9.5, regardless of whether such Shelf Registration becomes effective, unless such Shelf Registration fails to become effective as a result of the fault of the Shelf Rights Holders; provided , however , that the General Partner shall not pay the

 

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costs and expenses of any Shelf Rights Holder relating to brokerage or dealer fees, transfer taxes or the fees or expenses of any counsels accountants or other representatives retained by the Shelf Rights Holders, individually or in the aggregate.

 

ARTICLE X

 

Rights and Obligations of the Limited Partners

 

10.1                         No Participation in Management .  Except as expressly permitted hereunder, the Limited Partners shall not take part in the management of the Partnership’s business, transact any business in the Partnership’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Partnership; provided , that the foregoing shall not be deemed to limit the ability of a Limited Partner (or any officer or director thereof) who is an officer, director or employee of the Partnership, the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof, to act in such capacity.

 

10.2                         Bankruptcy of a Limited Partner .  The Bankruptcy of any Limited Partner shall not cause a dissolution of the Partnership, but the rights of such Limited Partner to share in the Profits or Losses of the Partnership and to receive distributions of Partnership funds shall, on the happening of such event, devolve to its successors or assigns, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and the Partnership shall continue as a limited partnership.  However, in no event shall such assignee(s) become a Limited Partner except in accordance with Article IX.

 

10.3                         No Withdrawal .  No Limited Partner may withdraw from the Partnership without the prior written consent of the General Partner, other than as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

10.4                         Duties and Conflicts .

 

(a)                                  The Partners recognize that each of the other Partners and their Affiliates have or may have other business interests, activities and investments, some of which may be in conflict or competition with the business of the Partnership, and that such Persons are entitled to carry on such other business interests, activities and investments.  In addition, the Partners recognize that certain of the Limited Partners and their Affiliates are and may in the future be tenants of the Partnership, Subsidiary Entities or other Persons or own anchor or other stores in the Properties of the Partnership, or Subsidiary Entities or other properties and in connection therewith may have interests that conflict with those of the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities.  In deciding whether to take any actions in such capacity, such Limited Partners and their Affiliates shall be under no obligation to consider the separate interests of the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities and shall have no fiduciary obligations to the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities and shall not be liable for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the other Partners in connection with such acts; nor shall the Partnership, the General Partner or any Subsidiary Entities be under any obligation to consider the separate interests of the Limited Partners and their Affiliates in such Limited Partners’ independent capacities or have any fiduciary obligations to the Limited Partners and their Affiliates in such capacity or be liable

 

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for monetary damages for losses sustained, liabilities incurred or benefits not derived by the Limited Partners and their Affiliates in such independent capacities arising from actions or omissions taken by the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities.  The Limited Partners and their Affiliates may engage in or possess an interest in any other business or venture of any kind, independently or with others, on their own behalf or on behalf of other Entities with which they are affiliated or associated, and such Persons may engage in any activities, whether or not competitive with the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities, without any obligation to offer any interest in such activities to the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities or to any Partner or otherwise.  Neither the Partnership nor any Partner shall have any right, by virtue of this Agreement, in or to such activities, or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of such activities, even if competitive with the business of the Partnership or Subsidiary Entities, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the prior consent of the General Partner, no Limited Partner shall knowingly take any action, including acquiring, directly or indirectly, an interest in any tenant of a Property which would have, through the actual or constructive ownership of any tenant of any Property, the effect of causing the percentage of the gross income of the General Partner that fails to be treated as “rents from real property” within the meaning of Section 856(d) of the Code to exceed such percentage on the date hereof.  Each Limited Partner shall have a duty to notify the General Partner on a timely basis of any potential acquisition or change in ownership that could reasonably be expected to have such effect.

 

10.5                         Guaranty and Indemnification Agreements .

 

(a)                                  The Partnership shall notify the Limited Partners no less than 45 days (or, if the Partnership itself has less than 45 days’ prior notice, as promptly as practicable) prior to the occurrence of any event that the Partnership reasonably expects will reduce the amount of Partnership liabilities (including liabilities of any Subsidiary Partnership) that the Limited Partners may include in their individual tax bases of their respective Partnership Interests pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.752-2 and Treasury Regulation §§ 1.752-3(a)(2) and (3).  Upon receipt of such notice, each Limited Partner shall inform the Partnership of any action it desires to take in its sole and absolute discretion in order to increase the “economic risk of loss” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.752-2) (the “Incurrence”) that it has with respect to liabilities of the Partnership or any other Subsidiary Partnerships.  The Partnership shall cooperate with each Limited Partner to facilitate the Incurrence by such Limited Partner with respect to Partnership Liabilities or liabilities of any Subsidiary Partnerships in such a way that the Incurrence has the least amount of real economic risk to such Limited Partner and provided that the Incurrence does not have a material adverse impact on any other Partner in the Partnership or any such Partner’s Affiliates.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.5(a) above, no Limited Partners shall have any right to negotiate directly with any lender of the Partnership or any other Subsidiary Partnership, any such negotiation to be undertaken in good faith by the General Partner on behalf of, and at the request of, all affected Limited Partners.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

Grant of Rights to the Limited Partners

 

11.1                         Grant of Rights .  The General Partner does hereby grant to each of the Limited Partners and each of the Limited Partners does hereby accept the right, but not the obligation (hereinafter such right sometimes referred to as the “Rights”), to convert all or a portion of such Limited Partner’s Limited Partnership Units into Shares or cash, as selected by the General Partner, at any time or from time to time, on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in this Article XI.  The Rights granted hereunder may be exercised by a Limited Partner, on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in this Article XI, upon delivery to the General Partner of a notice in the form of Exhibit B (an “Exercise Notice”), which notice shall specify the number of such Limited Partner’s Limited Partnership Units to be converted by such Limited Partner (the “Offered Units”).  Once delivered, the Exercise Notice shall be irrevocable, subject to payment by the General Partner or the Partnership of the Purchase Price for the Offered Units in accordance with the terms hereof and subject to Section 1 of the Registration Rights Agreements.  In the event the General Partner elects to cause the Offered Units to be converted into cash, the General Partner shall effect such conversion by causing the Partnership to redeem the Offered Units for cash.

 

11.2                         Limitation on Exercise of Rights .  If an Exercise Notice is delivered to the General Partner but, as a result of the Ownership Limit or as a result of other restrictions contained in the Articles of the General Partner, the Rights cannot be exercised in full for Shares, the Exercise Notice, if the Purchase Price is to be payable in Shares, shall be deemed to be modified such that the Rights shall be exercised only to the extent permitted under the Ownership Limit or under other restrictions in the Articles of the General Partner.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Person shall be permitted to exercise its Rights hereunder during the first half of a taxable year of the General Partner even if upon conversion of the Offered Units into Shares, the Shares held by such Person will exceed the Ownership Limit, so long as such Person shall immediately following such conversion sell so many of such Shares as shall cause the Ownership Limit not to be exceeded upon consummation of such sale.  The General Partner hereby agrees to exercise its right pursuant to its Articles to permit the Ownership Limit to be exceeded in the circumstances described in the preceding sentence.

 

11.3                         Computation of Purchase Price/Form of Payment .  The purchase price (“Purchase Price”) payable to a tendering Limited Partner shall be equal to the Deemed Partnership Unit Value multiplied by the number of Offered Units computed as of the date on which the Exercise Notice was delivered to the General Partner (the “Computation Date”).  Subject to the following paragraph, the Purchase Price for the Offered Units shall be payable, at the option of the General Partner, by causing the Partnership to redeem the Offered Units for cash in the amount of the Purchase Price, or by the issuance by the General Partner of the number of Shares equal to the number of Offered Units (adjusted as appropriate to account for stock splits, stock dividends or other similar transactions between the Computation Date and the closing of the purchase and sale of the Offered Units in the manner specified in Section 11.7(d) below).

 

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11.4                         Closing .  The closing of the acquisition or redemption of Offered Units shall, unless otherwise mutually agreed, be held at the principal offices of the General Partner, on the date agreed to by the General Partner and the relevant Limited Partner, which date (the “Settlement Date”) shall in no event be on a date which is later than the later of (i) ten (10) days after the date of the Exercise Notice, (ii) five (5) days after the expiration or termination of the waiting period applicable to the Limited Partner, if any, under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (the “HSR Act”) and (iii) until such time as the General Partner has become eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, ten (10) days after the date of effectiveness of any registration statement required pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 to register the Shares to be issued upon redemption of Offered Units.  The General Partner agrees to use its best efforts to obtain an early termination of the waiting period applicable to any such acquisition, if any, under the HSR Act.  Until the Settlement Date, each tendering Partner shall continue to own his Offered Units, and will continue to be treated as the holder of such Offered Units for all purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation, for purposes of voting, consent, allocations and distributions.  Offered Units will be transferred to the General Partner only upon receipt by the tendering Partner of Shares or cash in payment in full therefor.

 

11.5                         Closing Deliveries .  At the closing of the purchase and sale or redemption of Offered Units, payment of the Purchase Price shall be accompanied by proper instruments of transfer and assignment and by the delivery of (i) representations and warranties of (A) the tendering Limited Partner with respect to its due authority to sell all of the right, title and interest in and to such Offered Units to the General Partner or the Partnership, as applicable, and with respect to the ownership by the Limited Partner of such Units, free and clear of all Liens, and (B) the General Partner with respect to its due authority to acquire such Units for Shares or to cause the Partnership to redeem such Units for cash and, in the case of payment by Shares, (ii) (A) an opinion of counsel for the General Partner, reasonably satisfactory to such Limited Partner, to the effect that such Shares have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, and (B) a stock certificate or certificates evidencing the Shares to be issued and registered in the name of the Limited Partner or its designee.

 

11.6                         Term of Rights .  The rights of the parties with respect to the Rights shall remain in effect, subject to the terms hereof, throughout the existence of the Partnership.

 

11.7                         Covenants of the General Partner .  To facilitate the General Partner’s ability fully to perform its obligations hereunder, the General Partner covenants and agrees as follows:

 

(a)                                  At all times while the Rights are in existence, the General Partner shall reserve for issuance such number of Shares as may be necessary to enable the General Partner to issue such Shares in full payment of the Purchase Price in regard to all Partnership Units which are from time to time outstanding and held by the Limited Partners.

 

(b)                                  As long as the General Partner shall be obligated to file periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the General Partner will timely file such reports in such manner as shall enable any recipient of Shares issued to a Limited Partner hereunder in reliance upon an exemption from registration under the Securities Act to continue to be eligible to utilize Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, or any successor rule or regulation or statute thereunder, for the resale thereof.

 

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(c)                                   During the pendency of the Rights, the Limited Partners shall receive in a timely manner all reports filed by the General Partner with the SEC and all other communications transmitted from time to time by the General Partner to the owners of its Shares.

 

(d)                                  Under no circumstances shall the General Partner declare any stock dividend, stock split, stock distribution or the like, unless fair and equitable arrangements are provided, to the extent necessary, fully to adjust, and to avoid any dilution in, the Rights of any Limited Partner under this Agreement.

 

11.8                         Limited Partners’ Covenant .  Each of the Limited Partners covenants and agrees with the General Partner that all Offered Units tendered to the General Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, in accordance with the exercise of Rights herein provided shall be delivered free and clear of all Liens and should any Liens exist or arise with respect to such Offered Units, the General Partner or the Partnership, as the case may be, shall be under no obligation to acquire the same unless, in connection with such acquisition, the General Partner has elected to cause the Partnership to pay such portion of the Purchase Price in the form of cash consideration in circumstances where such consideration will be sufficient to cause such existing Lien to be discharged in full upon application of all or a part of such consideration and the Partnership is expressly authorized to apply such portion of the Purchase Price as may be necessary to satisfy any indebtedness in full and to discharge such Lien in full.  In the event any transfer tax is payable by the Limited Partner as a result of a transfer of Partnership Units pursuant to the exercise by a Limited Partner of the Rights, the Limited Partner shall pay such transfer tax.

 

11.9                         Dividends .  If a Limited Partner shall exchange any Partnership Units for Shares pursuant to this Article XI on or prior to the Partnership Record Date for any distribution to be made on such Partnership Units, in accordance with the Articles of the General Partner such Limited Partner will be entitled to receive the corresponding distribution to be paid on such Shares and shall not be entitled to receive the distribution made by the Partnership in respect of the exchanged Partnership Units.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

General Provisions

 

12.1                         Investment Representations .

 

(a)                                  Each Limited Partner acknowledges that it (i) has been given full and complete access to the Partnership and those persons who will manage the Partnership in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) has had the opportunity to review all documents relevant to its decision to enter into this Agreement, and (iii) has had the opportunity to ask questions of the Partnership and those persons who will manage the Partnership concerning its investment in the Partnership and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)                                  Each Limited Partner acknowledges that it understands that the Partnership Units to be purchased or otherwise acquired by it hereunder will not be registered under the

 

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Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) thereof for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering, and will not be registered or qualified under any applicable state securities laws.  Each Limited Partner represents that (i) it is acquiring such Partnership Units for investment only and without any view toward distribution thereof, and it will not sell or otherwise dispose of such Partnership Units except pursuant to the exercise of the Rights or otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof and in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of any applicable state securities laws, (ii) its economic circumstances are such that it is able to bear all risks of the investment in the Partnership Units for an indefinite period of time including the risk of a complete loss of its investment in the Units and (iii) it has knowledge and experience in financial and business matters sufficient to evaluate the risks of investment in the Partnership Units.  Each Limited Partner further acknowledges and represents that it has made its own independent investigation of the Partnership and the business conducted and proposed to be conducted by the Partnership, and that any information relating thereto furnished to the Limited Partner was supplied by or on behalf of the Partnership.

 

12.2                         Notices .  All notices, offers or other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and may be personally delivered or sent by United States mail or by reputable overnight delivery service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person, upon receipt when delivered by overnight delivery service or three business days after deposit in United States mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid, and properly addressed, by or to the appropriate party.  For purposes of this Section 12.2, the addresses of the parties hereto shall be as set forth on Exhibit A hereof.  The address of any party hereto may be changed by a notice in writing given in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

12.3                         Successors .  This Agreement and all the terms and provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of all Partners, and their legal representatives, heirs, successors and permitted assigns, except as expressly herein otherwise provided.

 

12.4                         Liability of Limited Partners .  The liability of the Limited Partners for their obligations, covenants, representations and warranties under this Agreement shall be several and not joint.

 

12.5                         Effect and Interpretation .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA.

 

12.6                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

12.7                         Partners Not Agents .  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to constitute any Partner the agent of another Partner, except as specifically provided herein, or in any manner to limit the Partners in the carrying on of their own respective businesses or activities.

 

12.8                         Entire Understanding; Etc .   This Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein or therein or to which the signatories hereto or thereto are parties constitute the entire

 

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agreement and understanding among the Partners and supersede any prior understandings and/or written or oral agreements among them respecting the subject matter within.

 

12.9                         Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid by such court, shall not be affected thereby.

 

12.10                  Trust Provision .  This Agreement, to the extent executed by the trustee of a trust, is executed by such trustee solely as trustee and not in a separate capacity.  Nothing herein contained shall create any liability on, or require the performance of any covenant by, any such trustee individually, nor shall anything contained herein subject the individual property of any trustee to any liability.

 

12.11                  Pronouns and Headings .  As used herein, all pronouns shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and all defined terms shall include the singular and plural thereof wherever the context and facts require such construction.  The headings, titles and subtitles herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in any construction of the provisions hereof.  Any references in this Agreement to “including” shall be deemed to mean “including without limitation.”

 

12.12                  Assurances .  Each of the Partners shall hereafter execute and deliver such further instruments (provided such instruments are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the executing Partner) and do such further acts and things as may be reasonably required or useful to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement and as are not inconsistent with the terms hereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement or caused this Agreement to be executed effective as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

GENERAL PARTNER:

 

 

 

WASHINGTON PRIME GROUP, INC., an Indiana corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Robert P. Demchak

 

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